Orso Fiction 034

Orso Fiction Chapter 034-Zero Hour
“Are we ready?”, Bradley Ratliff, the Primo Sky Commander, asked. He turned to his team of seven, all dressed in identical black jackets. They all offered an affirmative nod. “Good. Remember what we’re fighting for.”

“Is it just me, or is the Commander more serious than usual today?”, Matt Carney, the Primo Storm Officer, asked.

“It’s the strangest thing…”, Rachel Larkin, the Primo Thunder Officer, answered. “When Bradley needs to be serious, he can be.”

“And up until then, we don’t let him near scissors.”, Hayley Madeira, the Primo Rain Officer, said with a smile.

“We think it has to do with knowing how Zach’s trusting him while he’s away.”, Laura Wise, the Primo Mist Officer, said pensively.

“Those two are so bizarre”, Adrien Wagner, the Primo Cloud Officer, added. “They just know each other too well…”

“You guys know I can totally hear you, right?”, Bradley called back. Everyone else went silent. “Alright. Let’s go. From here on, you’re under strict orders to not lose, understand?”

He didn’t turn to see their reactions, for he already knew what he would see. In each of their eyes was undying conviction. Prepared for combat, the seven left.

---

Silently, they arrived. The Seven Skulls stood in the park, still as the grave. Baldovino, Valerio, Guerino, Placido, Severo, and Alphonso stood, unthinking, unknowing. The six of them watched the horizon, waiting for their enemy.

---

Osvaldo, pulled a cloth off of a scrying glass, and focused for a moment, until the Seven Skulls were shown in the glass. He didn’t want to admit it to Sonia, but the drug that was controlling the boys had…one flaw.

---

“Here we go.”, Taylor Houston, the Primo Head Agent, said, holding the now glowing compass. “That’s the signal.”

“Think we’ll be back in time for dinner?”, Mike Fornaro, the Primo Storm Agent, asked.

“Of course.”, Nicole Roberts, the Primo Thunder Agent, said confidently. “We’re invincible.”

“I’d like to think that, but we should be careful.”, Allison Boyd, the Primo Rain Agent, reminded her. “We don’t know everything they’re capable of.”

“I still can’t believe we’re going to have to fight them, after we saved their lives…”, Paige Lewis, the Primo Sun Agent said pensively.

“What they’re fighting for, they hold very dear.”, Sabra Bushey, the Primo Mist Officer, said to no one in particular. “They won’t back down.”

“Their Cloud the most so…”, Jess Biemiller, the Primo Cloud Officer, said to herself. She pictured the girl’s twisted expression as she was forced to accept Paige’s aid and the steel in her voice when she told Jess she would avenge their disgrace.

“Don’t let yourself falter.”, Taylor said. “We’ll win, and be done with this. Failure is forbidden from here on.”

Taylor began her walk out without turning for even a second, knowing that behind her were six faces as resolute as her own.

---

“Hold on a moment…”, Vincenzo said aloud, pausing for a moment. He looked up at the school he was close to. “South Carroll…Oops. Not where I’m supposed to be.”

He paused for a second to consider if he should start trying to find Century, his true destination.

“I know what you’re thinking.”, a woman’s voice came from behind him. “And it doesn’t matter. They’ll find you.”

Vincenzo turned to see the old woman, leaning on a black parasol. Behind her were six teen girls.

“Auntie!”, he cried, and ran to her, squeezing her in a hug. “How are you!?”

Sonia, unprepared for this, hugged him back, though not as hard.

“I’m doing…just fine.”, she said.

“Wow, I haven’t seen you in forever!”, Vincenzo said. He looked around her. “Oh, are these the girls? Wow, it’s nice to meet you all! I’m Vincenzo, Sonia’s nephew, Berenger’s son.”

“Are you mocking us?”, Adelina asked coldly. Vincenzo raised an eyebrow.

“Hmm?”, he asked. “Mocking you?”

“If you’re Berenger’s son, than you’ve sided with the Orso, and not with us. Are you trying to make us angry?”

“Hmm?”, Vincenzo asked again, then chuckled. “Miss, we’re not enemies. We’re rivals. My father, Auntie Sonia, and Uncle Osvaldo are in a competition. Sure, I’m going to help the Orso. But I don’t dislike you guys.”

“How utterly lunatic…”, Adelina muttered, before stepping back into line.

---

Rosangela, feeling much better, laid in her bed, watching the window.

“I wonder…”, she murmured. “How Fausty is doing…”

---

“Osvaldo!”, Faustino shouted, rolling as fast as he could, hunting for the man. “Where are you!?”

Silence echoed throughout the movie theater.

“OSVALDO!”, Faustino screamed. “WHERE ARE MY BROTHERS GOING!?”

---

“Here we are.”, Bradley said. “And it looks like our friends have been waiting for us.”

Across the field were the unflinching faces of the Seven Skulls.

---

Taylor came to a stop, looking up, as her compass began glowing even more brilliantly. Across the field were the stone-faced Seven Roses, an old woman in black, and a young man, waving happily at her.

“Looks like we’re at the right place.”, she said. “Get ready…”

---

In the trees of Piney Run Park, Malachi crouched, alongside Sarah and Hannah.

“Damn Zeke…”, Malachi murmured. “Sending us to record the battles so he didn’t miss anything…”

---

Atop the roof of South Carroll High School sat Miriam, Micaiah, and Isaac.

“I swear, he’s so lazy…”, Miriam groaned. “And I bet he’s just laying back, picking the brain of our new toy…”

---

Zeke smiled.

“Skulls…Roses…”, he whispered to the air. “But this is only the beginning…”


 * 10 Minutes Until The Ferraro Finale*

“We’ve been waiting.”, Ernesta said, eyeing the Storm Officer, beginning to walk a little off to the left.

“Wish I could say I cared.”, Mike said, following her.

---

Orabella glared at the Sun Officer, moving very slowly from Sonia.

“We won’t show you any mercy because of…”, she began. “Because of back then.”

“I didn’t think so.”, Paige replied. “But will you stop being so freaking rude?”

---

Raimonda began walking to her right, watching the Thunder Officer, looking down at the much shorter girl.

“Won’t you surrender?”, she asked. “I don’t want to have to hurt someone today.”

“I can’t back down.”, Nicole said firmly. “This is an important fight for me, too.”

---

Nerina began walking to the pool, the Rain Officer following her.

“Isn’t there another way we could settle whatever problem you have with us?”, Allison asked, not expecting much of a result. Nerina offered a sad smile.

“No.”, she answered. “There isn’t another way. I am sorry.”

---

Malvolia glared at the Mist Agent, moving only slightly, the opposite direction of Sonia.

“This will not be painless.”, she growled. Sabra flashed her a devilish smile.

“No. No, it won’t.”, she said, not breaking her stride.

---

Adelina turned, without making eye contact with the Cloud Agent, and began to move toward the track. Regardless, Jess followed her. Both were silent. When she reached the track, she suddenly turned.

“This a battle for the life of the one dearest to me.”, she said, looking at Jess with an air of superiority. “Speak now. What is your cause?”

Jess took a deep breath.

“I won’t change your mind.”, Jess said. “Why don’t you just pretend…that I’m fighting to snuff out that life?”

Adelina snarled.

“You’re playing with fire.”, she murmured.

---

Taylor placed the red, yellow, and blue Arcoferro on the table, as Sonia placed the green, indigo, and purple Arcoferro. Vincenzo reached into his luggage, and removed the orange Arcoferro, showing it to both parties, and placing it alongside them. The metals seemed to resonate with each other, as if they had met long lost brothers.

“We know the terms.”, Taylor said. Sonia nodded.

“One on one fights. After that, a battle royale. When only members of one team are standing, that team takes the whole set.”, Vincenzo stated. “Agreed?”

“Agreed.”, both Taylor and Sonia said.

“Then let the battles begin!”, Vincenzo shouted.

Next -->
 * The Ferraro Finale Starts Now*