Villain Retirement

"It's an urge, much like a thirst. Telling us over and over again to kill you."

"M… me?"

"All of you."

Ellie has known Diley for almost a full year now, yet this was the very first time she was seeing him like this. He always seemed animated and full of life– but the expression he was showing right now was enough for Ellie to realize that she was, indeed, still talking to Darkday; albeit a clone.

She thought there was a way that she might be able to get through Riley, or at least Diley with the way their conversation was going– but with just one line… she knew that they were someone that could no longer be reasoned with.

Riley is Darkday– not the other way around.

You can't reason with a storm, you just have to be ready when it strikes.

"It's ready."

And almost as if putting an official end to their conversation, several plates suddenly started floating to the table.

"We… are also eating?" Ellie could only look at Diley as she saw the plate in front of her.

"Of course, why do you think we stayed?"

Ellie has heard the name of the dish earlier, but to think it really was just… an egg. Granted, the egg held a certain darker hue to it, almost brown. The egg was split in half, exposing the slightly soft yolk.

"Let me," Diley then stood up from his seat as he grabbed a plate the plate that was placed at the center of the table, holding the ladle then slathering some of the tamarind sauce on Ellie's plate; afterward, he took pinches of ground pork rinds and sprinkled it on top.

He did the same for Megawoman's plate, then Riley, then his.

"..."

"..."

And yet even after a quarter of a minute, no one was touching their food as Riley remained stagnant.

"Eat," Riley then finally said.

"What about you, boss?"

"I can't," Riley shook his head, "Megawoman is unable to eat– so you guys go on ahead. I just want her to know that I've cooked one of her favorite meals."

"This… is one of Megawoman's favorites?" Ellie looked at the plate– although it was just an egg dish, with all the other ingredients surrounding it and the way Riley plated it, it almost felt too fancy to eat.

But as Diley began to eat his in almost a single bite, Ellie proceeded to do the same. The worst thing they could really do right now was poison her; which actually makes her family safer.

And so, Ellie proceeded to bite the egg, not the entire half of it– but enough for a mouthful experience. And as soon as she did so, she almost closed her eyes due to the tingling sensation that the tamarind caused as it lathered around her teeth.

It was so soft that the taste almost instantly scattered inside her mouth, with the yolk almost exploding. Even the whites, which would otherwise be almost tasteless, had this sweet and somewhat salty tang to them; Riley used telekinesis to hasten and make sure every corner of the egg was marinated with the sauce he made.

And lastly, the ground pork rinds. Everything else was soft, and once she started to chew– the crispiness of the pork rinds started singing inside her mouth like an orchestra.

Experiencing all of this happening almost all at the same time inside her mouth… it almost made her want to request the dish back in the dining hall in the Guesthouse.

"You know… if you decide not to become an evil mass murderer. Maybe you should consider becoming a chef or something, you'd be a popular celebrity chef."

Ellie then said with a chuckle as she finished the bite. But a few seconds later, she could not help but widen her eyes as she realized what she just said. A sweat almost instantly ran down the side of her cheek as her eyes slowly turned towards Riley…

…but he didn't seem to mind as he only just looked at her, before turning to look at Megawoman.

"Thank you, Ellie."

"!!!"

Ellie almost jumped from her seat as she heard those words, but as soon as she realized that it was Diley, not Riley who said it, she was able to hold herself.

"Y… yeah, sure." She could only let out an awkward chuckle.

And then, once again… silence. Until Riley let out a breath.

"I figured you like it, Ms. Croft?" He then asked.

"Yes. It's… the first time I'm eating something like this and I'm usually picky…" Ellie worded out, still a little aloof and reserved; a huge contrast whenever she talked to Diley, "But it was very nice."

"That's good," Riley nodded, "At least Megawoman knows that it tastes nice."

"Is… can she hear us?" Ellie took a sip of water as she finally gained the courage to look at Megawoman's face. She… just looked ordinary. She held a certain beauty, sure…

…but if she were to just walk on the streets amongst other people, you wouldn't really think that she was the greatest hero that had ever walked the Earth.

"I hope so, Ms. Croft," Riley sighed.

"Then… maybe you could just feed her? Maybe she could taste it?" Ellie almost stuttered, "I… heard that people automatically swallow when something is stuck in their throat."

"Well, that's quite disrespectful, no?" Diley almost let out a chuckle.

"I… it's just awkward that the two of us are eating and they're not."

"See, boss? I told you she's quite different from the rest," Diley covered his mouth as he looked at Riley, "She complains a lot, but she might have been the one that adjusted the most amongst the Guests."

"...What?"

'Want to see more chapters?' Please visit [P a n d a - N o v e l .C O M] "No one else dares question me," Diley breathed out, "But you, you're not even afraid. But then you did join a bunch of terrorists pretending to be Darkday. I suppose you have a screw loose like the rest of us?"

"No, I–" And she was doing it again. And as soon as she realized that, she just opted to shut her mouth and look at her plate. Diley… was sort of right. She joined the Dark Millenium when someone recruited her without even a second thought. It involved a little money, of course… but even still.

"..." Riley could only look back and forth between Diley and Ellie, before once again placing his attention on Megawoman. And this time… Megawoman looked back.

"!!!" Ellie once again almost jumped from her seat, but then quickly realized that Megawoman was still unconscious… and that Riley was just probably controlling her.

Riley then slowly looked at his plate, before proceeding to get a serving of egg with his hand and gently placing it in front of Megawoman's lips.

"Just one, Megawoman," Riley then whispered, "Don't worry, I will make sure it won't hurt you in any way. I… just want you to have a taste. Remember how you told me you liked this dish the 2nd time we talked?"

"..." Ellie could only widen her eyes as she watched the scene. She looked at Diley to see what he was thinking… only to see him tearing up.

Suffice to say, she easily regretted suggesting this as it all seemed too… sensual.

Riley then gently touched Megawoman's chin with his free fingers, almost gently opening it with his telekinesis. And very slowly and with much care, Riley slowly placed and slid the egg through her lips, careful not to spill any sauce on them.

"..." Ellie could now only look away, she really shouldn't have suggested this. Fortunately, it did not last long as Megawoman's jaws started moving and chewing the food, and then swallowing.

Riley then quickly gave Megawoman a glass of water to wash everything down.

"..." Seeing them like this, one would almost think they were… No– not a couple. In her perception…

Riley almost looked like a child taking care of her mother.

"Well, I'll go wash the dishes," Diley then stood up, "You can relax first, Ellie. Watch the aquatic lifeforms or something, we'll leave once I'm done."

"...Sure," Ellie also stood up, taking one final glance at Riley and Megawoman as they remained sitting at the table.

"Did… you like it, Megawoman?" Riley gently tapped the corners of Megawoman's mouth, "I hope you tell me once you wake up… before we start killing each other again."

"It's good."

"..."

"..."

"Thank you, Megawoman."

"..."

"..."

"!!!"

And almost as if time slowed down, Ellie, who was on her way to look at the ocean floor, turned her head back to the table. But before she could do so, Diley was already in front of her– his arms, quickly wrapping around her.

"Wha–"

And before she could even utter a word; an almost deafening thunder exploded. The only thing she could feel was some sort of… force pushing her away as everything, everywhere, suddenly turned dark.

And as her eyes started to adjust, she could see herself suddenly surrounded by water; and soon, the ocean was beneath her feet– and then, she was surrounded by clouds.

"What?" Ellie could only blink as her head slowly turned towards Diley, who currently had his arms wrapped around her, "What… just happened?"

"The end," Diley whispered as he let go of Ellie, who remained floating in the air, "The end is happening."

And as soon as he finished uttering those words, a beam of light suddenly shot out from the sea– almost as if a tower suddenly erected itself; large enough to be seen by the neighboring countries surrounding the Black Sea.

A light that signaled the return of the Megawoman.