The Mind World And The Outcast Hero

An Unexpected Sacrifice

Shortly after the three assassins had defeated the Scorpion mercenaries, they turned their attention towards Isabella. However, to their surprise, Isabella had already defeated her opponents. Both bodyguards were left dead at her feet and the leader, Scorpio was down on his knees, bleeding from his head.

"Izzy!" Called Nathan as he ran towards her.

"Oh, hi, Nathypoo!" She replied sweetly.

"What are you doing? Shouldn't you finish that guy off already?"

"Yeah, but I was thinking that it might be a good idea to take him back to headquarters! He might have some intel on what the Cliques are after!"

"Uh— then shouldn't you tie him up or something..?" Interjected Sindy.

"Well, I would but I didn't come on this mission expecting to restrain anyone... So I don't have any equipment to do that..."

"Then knock him out..?"

"I'm not a blonde! I was planning on doing that but I was asking him some questions first!"

Sindy then took a deep breath to calm herself down. She couldn't allow Isabella to get to her.

"Okay then!" Exclaimed Andrew as he stretched his arms. "The mission is complete so we should get going! I can't wait to check out the Gaming Lounge on Floor C!"

Andrew then turned himself around before proceeding to walk away. Sindy also decided to follow as she was quite tired herself. However, this was when something terrible happened.

Since Isabella had become distracted, Scorpio grabbed one of his hooks before proceeding to launch a desperate attack to save himself. Fortunately, Isabella managed to react quickly, ready to counter Scorpio's attempt to catch her off guard.

Regrettably, to Isabella's astonishment, she was not Scorpio's target. Instead, he flung one of his hooks towards Nathan who had not been expecting this. Due to this, Nathan was certain that he wouldn't be able to counter the attack in time.

Fortunately for Nathan, Isabella wasn't about to let him die. At the very last second, she threw one of her tessens like a boomerang which managed to deflect Scorpio's attack, saving Nathan's life in the nick of time.

Sadly, little did they know that the situation had gone exactly the way Scorpio had intended. Before Isabella could properly recover, he picked himself up and ran towards Nathan. 

Realizing this, Nathan quickly attempted to reach for his sword but Scorpio was much faster than he had anticipated. Before Nathan could even properly unsheathe his sword, Scorpio slipped behind him and placed his hook against his throat, taking him hostage.

"Don't move!!" Warned Scorpio to the others. "If any of you even attempt to take a step forward then I'll kill him!"

Immediately, Sindy and Andrew turned themselves around before freezing in shock. They could hardly believe what they were seeing. How had things taken such a bad turn in such a short time?

"Nate!!!" Screamed Sindy in worry.

"Stay where you are!" Continued Scorpio. "The tip of my hook is coated with my Poison Art! All it takes is a single cut to end his life!" 

"Okay, listen big guy... I don't know what you think you're doing but you're outnumbered here. Let my friend go and you might keep your life..!" Warned Andrew.

"Do you truly think that you're in any position to tell me what to do?" Asked Scorpio as he pressed the blade of his hook closer to Nathan's throat.

The situation had taken a drastic turn. The assassins couldn't help but watch in silence not knowing what to do. If they weren't careful then Nathan would surely die.

 On the other hand, Nathan felt pathetic for allowing himself to be taken hostage. However, he knew that there was nothing that he could do about it. He just had to hope that Isabella would somehow be able to help him. Unfortunately, Nathan soon came to realize that Isabella also wore a look of uncertainty across her face. She didn't know what she was supposed to do.

"Let him go..!" Demanded Isabella.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart but this is the only way that I can escape. I'm not going to do that," proclaimed Scorpio.

"But if you kill him then you'll die too... You won't have a hostage to keep yourself alive after that!"

"Hmph! This kid is the Mind Hero, right? I don't have anything against him but I do despise the Real World. If I killed someone from the Real World before I died then I would at least feel a little accomplished."

Nathan was terrified. Usually, Isabella would be cool, collected, and jovial. However, the look that was currently on her face was different from anything he had seen before. She seemed scared and confused. She was genuinely afraid of seeing him die.

"I'll make a deal with you for this boy's life!" Continued Scorpio.

Before responding, Isabella slowly began to tremble as she tried to gather her words.

"W-what are you proposing..?"

"Out of everyone here, you're the only one that's strong enough to defeat me. So if you kill yourself then I'll consider letting him go."

Knowing that Isabella was quite narcissistic, Nathan doubted that she would take her own life for his sake. Even Scorpio had his doubts since this wasn't his first time encountering her. Nevertheless, Nathan rathered that it remained that way. He did not wish for anyone to die in his place.

However, Isabella was terribly confused. She did not know what it was that she was supposed to do. She couldn't allow Nathan to die. With desperation creeping up on her, she took a step closer towards them.

"I said don't come any closer!! If you do then I'll kill him! This is your last chance! Kill yourself and I'll let him go!"

With no other option, Isabella stopped in her tracks. Her breathing became heavy and cold sweat washed her face. Even her hands were shaking like an earthquake. Apprehension was tearing her apart.

"Why am I feeling like this..?" She thought to herself. "No one's life is more important than mine, right? Then why am I so scared..? This isn't like me... I-I..."

"This is your last warning! Do it now or he dies!" Shouted Scorpio.

Isabella then looked up at Nathan with her face wrinkled with distress. It was evident to Nathan that something was very wrong. He had never seen Isabella display such fear and uncertainty before. This made him extremely worried. 

To make matters worse, Sindy and Andrew could do nothing but watch. The last thing they wanted was for their actions to result in Nathan's death. They were frozen by horror.

"Fine..." Muttered Isabella. "I'll do it... I'll take my own life! 

"Good! Hurry and do it then!" Demanded Scorpio.

"Wait!!" Shouted Nathan. "Izzy, don't do this! Let me die, damn it! I don't want you dying in my place!"

"Shut up!!" Exclaimed Isabella with tears in her eyes. "Scorpio, Just promise me that you'll let him go when I die! Please don't hurt him..!"

Nathan couldn't believe his ears. Why was Isabella going to such extents to save him? She never once seemed like the type to sacrifice herself for someone else. It made no sense.

 Nathan desperately wanted to change her mind. Unfortunately, Isabella only smiled warmly towards him, refusing to change her decision. She had already made up her mind.

Nathan could do nothing but watch with a blatant expression of sorrow across his face as Isabella prepared to take her own life. Slowly, she brought her tessen closer to her throat as she whispered a few words towards him.

"So in the end, I guess it was true," she muttered softly. "The feelings I have for you are real. It's funny though... I never thought that I would fall in love with someone... Maybe it's because of how willing you are to put others before yourself. Yes, that's it..! I've never met anyone as selfless as you before... That's why, somewhere deep down, I started asking myself if you would have been the hero that I needed back then... So, with that thought, I won't regret dying for you, Nathypoo!"

Nathan bawled upon hearing Isabella's words. This couldn't be the end for her. He refused to accept it. There had to be something that he could do. Sadly, the only thing that he could do was nothing.

"IZZY!! ISABELLA!! NO!! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!! SINDY, ANDREW! ANYONE!! DON'T LET HER DO THIS!!!"

Unfortunately, Sindy and Andrew refused to help. Instead, they reluctantly turned away from her, refusing to watch. They couldn't choose Isabella's life over Nathan's. Nathan was far too precious to them as a friend compared to the short time they had known Isabella.

"Guys!!!! Why the hell are you just standing there?!! Stop her damn it!! Don't let her do this!!!"

Following Nathan's heartfelt screams was the sound of blood pitter-pattering to the ground. Nathan then looked up in disbelief to see that Isabella had stabbed herself in the chest. She then coughed up a pool of blood before falling to her knees. Her face was filled with sorrow as she looked up at Nathan. Finally, Isabella then forced a smile across her bloodied lips before presenting Nathan with her last words;

"I'm sorry..! Please take care of yourself, Nathypoo!"