The Alpha Squad and The Mystery of The Black Cupid.

The Alpha Squad:

The Mystery of The Black Cupid

　

　

Chapter 1

　

　

They woke up next to each other and stared into each others’ eyes. How long had it been? Twelve, fifteen years? His name was Victor Dates and her name was Ellie Ward. They had been high school sweet hearts but broke up shortly after their freshman year in college. They were tied up to a bed in a hotel suite, and they were gagged so they could not call for help. But they looked into each others’ eyes knowing this would be their last minutes. Different thoughts were running through their heads: How was he in the hotel with her?  Last he knew he was on his way home to his family. Last she knew she was had just left the library after researching on a story that she had been working on for The L.A. Times. She was single, never married but to her work. Now that these could be her last minutes she thought of the roads not taken. However the question that was on both their minds was: Who did this to them?

Their answer came very soon. He walked in using the key card to access the room. He looked over them, and stared into their fearful faces. He had brown hair, and was wearing a black archers’ outfit. He wore a mask over his in the shape of a heart; it was black with red cracks running through it. “My, my, my, what do we have here?” He asked them playfully, even though he knew their answered would be muffled by the gags. “Two former lovers in bed together. This is how they’re going to find you, you know?  Oh don’t worry about your loved ones, they will find notes by your side saying that you two just had to see each other…one…last…time.” They muffled angrily at him, but he chuckled at them. “Save your energy it won’t be much longer.” He finished writing their notes to their loved ones for them and placed them on the desk. He grabbed his bow and took two arrows out of the quiver and placed them in the bow. “Say your prayers love birds, heaven awaits you!” He then shot the arrows with precise precision! Both arrows penetrated their hearts! He placed a note of his own on the bed that said, “This is only the beginning!”

Captain Carlton had seen some bizarre homicides in his days but this topped the cake. The forensic teams had come through and done their job, but he stuck around for he was waiting. Waiting for the one man that could probably help him. “You called?” The deep voice asked him from behind. 

“About time you got here.” Carlton said turning to The Dark-Rider.

“Wanted to wait until you were alone.” Dark-Rider told him.

“We got a double homicide here.” Carlton said getting to the point, if anything he had learned working with The Dark-Rider he preferred having the facts right away. “Two former Silverton alumni found here this morning by a housekeeping attendant. Two shots one in each of them right in the heart by this.” He held up an arrow that was in a bag and handed it Dark-Rider. “Figured you would want to have one of them for evidence.”

“Your superiors going to mind you handing me evidence?”

“Not as long as you get it back in a decent amount of time.” Carlton answered him.

“I’ll be sure to bring it back to you by tomorrow evening.” Dark-Rider assured him.

“Now, here’s the strangest thing, both of them were brought here…” Carlton started to say.

“What’s so strange about that?”

“Mr. Dates lives in Salem, which isn’t too far from here as you know. But Miss Ward lives in Los Angeles. She was last seen leaving the city library and had been missing for two days.” Carlton finished.

“And was found here this morning.” Dark-Rider nodded. He then grabbed a scanner out of his belt and scanned the room and bed.

“What are you looking for?” Carlton wondered.

“Looking for transporter residue.” Dark-Rider told him and then explained, “If The Society was involved and whoever did this used a transporter there would be residue left over for 48 hours.” He scanned a bit more and then shook his head putting the device away. “Somehow he brought them in here without anyone noticing.”

“According to witness reports Mr. Dates had booked the room himself and Miss Ward followed after.” Carlton said reading his notes.

“Video footage?” Dark-Rider wondered.

“Yeah we got it…” Carlton started to say.

“I just need the time and day.” Dark-Rider told him, and Carlton told him. “I’ll get my team on it and we’ll be in touch. We’ll also check their email accounts.”

“We already tried that but it’s as if they’re email accounts had been erased!”

“Don’t worry we’ll retrieve them. I’ll be in touch.” Dark-Rider told him as he jumped out of the window and flew into the air.

“Man! I wonder what it’s like to fly like that?” Carlton asked out loud as he saw his friend leave The Silverton Inn.

Dark-Rider heard Carlton ask the question as he was about to go full speed flying. He smiled under his mask! He wished some people would know what it was like to fly and feel free. But he knew that it was limited to himself and others like him.  A small group of them existed in Silverton called The Alpha Squad. They were the towns’ and worlds’ heroes. Well take that back they were one of the teams now, The Beta Force was in New York and Zendra was nearly finished with completing her team in Ireland based out of Castle Dark-Rider. Dark-Rider flew into a mountain and phased right through until he came into the headquarters of The Alpha Squad. It was nearly 4:00pm when he finally got there.

“About time you got back!” Light-Blader pouted. She was his girlfriend so she had the right.

“Carlton is too much of a talker.” He told her as he handed the arrow to Sparks. “Have this analyzed and give me a report as soon as you can.”

“On it Dark-Rider.” Sparks saluted and raced to his lab, where he would be joined by Frezor, Blaze, and Metallacia.

“I assume you have something for me?” Mindra asked rhetorically as he started heading her way.

“Yes, look up the names Victor Dates, and Ellie Ward. May also wanna use your computer at the school newspaper, they went to Silverton High.” Dark-Rider instructed.

“I got to go their anyways, this’ll make an interesting story.” Mindra said as she deactivated her Bio-Suit. “I’ll call you as soon as you find something.”

“Molder, Star-Girl, Shieldra find out what you can about anything that could knock a person out for up to two days.” Dark-Rider told them, and they nodded.

He then turned to his girl friend and partner, “You and I are going to be doing some research.”

“What kind?” She asked as they sat down in front of I.Q.

“Security Videos’ from the Hotel, and we also need to hack into their email accounts to find out if they had received any emails from each other before they were murdered.” Dark-Rider explained as they went to work.

“I’ll look for their emails if you look at the videos’.” She offered sweetly.

“Sure sounds good.” He said with a “business as usual” tone.

Light-Blader sighed and went to work. They had been dating for about a month now since New Years’. She knew Mike/Dark-Rider was the one since they first met. She couldn’t believe that now that they were dating that she had ever been this close to someone in all her life. Oh sure there were guys on the island that she had lived most of her life on, but they were always coming and going, and there was no way she could have a long distance relationship. Then she met Mike. He had come with her sister Erin/Star-Girl and Dan/Molder. When she saw him there was no question in her mind. She looked at him briefly as they were working. She could tell that he was studying hard on the video. She sighed again and went back to work.

Dark-Rider wasn’t trying to ignore his girl friend/partner. He had heard her sighs and knew it was a signal for him to look her way at least once for her to smile at him. He wanted to, even take off his mask so that way he could smile right back, but right now they had a case to solve and that took priority over everything. He realized he was starting to be like a comic book hero that he had read for years but he saw the mistakes that character made and didn’t want to mimic him…though he liked the fact that they both wore black.  Maybe I’ll just look at her at least once.  He thought to himself after hearing her sigh a third time, he looked and she looked. She smiled, and he nodded saying that he was smiling back.

　

　

Chapter 2

　

　

Morning came early for The Alpha Squad  and they skipped their Holo-Dome sessions to meet in The Meeting Room. Ally told them that it was true that both victims were students at Silverton High from 89-92. She also told them that they were high school sweet hearts and showed photos of them from yearbooks. Molder and his team said that they were unable to find a substance that would knock someone out for two days. Sparks and his team informed that the arrow was hand made recently and the pointed end was shaped like a heart. Dark-Rider and Light-Blader said that their emails showed that they were being black mailed and to show up, but the emails had been erased by the victims themselves.

“So what we have here is a dead end.” Shieldra said hopelessly.

“I wouldn’t say that.” Dark-Rider countered, “The video tape…there’s something about it.”

“Like what?” Molder asked.

“I’m not sure, but there’s something…odd about it.” Dark-Rider stated.

“Until we can retrieve more evidence than we really have no idea what to do.” Mindra said throwing a pencil on the table.

“We’ll keep working on it.” Dark-Rider said, “I’ll be talking to Captain Carlton later today after school and will find out anything that he can tell me.”

“Well speaking of school we need to get started getting ready for it.” Sparks reminded them. They all nodded and left The Meeting Room.

Lunch time came fast for the teens as they sat down to eat. It was a nice day out for February but they had decided to eat in. They decided to eat in groups today to spread out a bit just not to give themselves away. Mike and Erica sat down on the steps in the hallway and ate their lunch. Across the hallway were Erin, Dan, and Nicole. Nicole kept staring at the new couple. Memories flashed through her mind. She had dated Mike herself. There had been a chance that they could’ve gotten back together, but the both of them had decided that they weren’t meant to be. “Would you look at those two?” Nicole asked Dan and Erin.

“What about them?” Erin asked taking a bite out of her apple.

“I mean, they’re always together.” Nicole whispered in a complaining tone.

“Uh oh, sounds like someone’s getting jealous.” Dan said playfully.

“Oh very funny.” Nicole said getting up.

“Where you going?” Dan asked her.

“To the newspaper room, I’m sure Ally would like the company.” She said as she left.

“I have to agree with you, she is jealous of my sister and Mike.” Erin told him.

“Yeah, I had a feeling that was going to happen.” Dan sighed. He then informed Erin of Mike and Nicole’s relationship.

Nicole went into the newspaper room and saw that Ally was eating and working at the same time. “I see you’re still hard at work.” Nicole observed.

“Yeah, this case we have has me baffled.” Ally said as she was looking up on the internet on bows and arrows.

“Trying to get into our killers’ head?” Nicole asked her.

“Just trying to get an idea of how they work and the history of them.” Ally said.

“Want some more help?”

“Sure grab a chair.” Ally offered and they got to work.

After school was over, Mike, Dan, Erin, and Erica were on their way to The Arcade to open it up for a few hours. Since Mike had bought it had been a second safe haven for the group. Plus this way it gave each member of the team time away from the others if they needed it. After opening it, Mikes’ communicator bleeped saying it was from Captain Carlton. He went inside the office and deepened his voice, “Go ahead Captain.”

“We have three more pairs of victims.” Carlton’s voice came through the communicator. “Meet me in my office in six hours.”

“I’ll be there.” Dark-Rider told him.

　

Six hours later he and Light-Blader came into Carlton’s office and shut the door behind him. “Here are the autopsy reports on Dates and Ward.” He handed the files to Light-Blader. Dark-Rider gave him back the arrow. “Oh thanks, not like there’s really a need for it since we now have six more.” Dark-Rider told him what they had found out so far from the previous murder. “So now we have serial killer on our hands.”

“Yet he changed his M.O.” Dark-Rider mentioned, “Were these last six found dead today also students from Silverton?”

“Yes they were.” Carlton answered. “But these six were all married to their high school sweet hearts.”

“Interesting, so he tries to blackmail the first two victims by forcing them to meet together.” Dark-Rider mentioned.

“Oh that reminds me.” Carlton said flipping through his notes, “Dates had also been missing for two days! His wife reported him missing after the 24 hour window.”

“But how can that be possible?” Light-Blader asked. “The video shows them coming in fifteen minutes apart from each other.”

“Well all I can say is that he’s attacking couples’ that were high school sweet hearts and killing them in cold blood.” Carlton stated, “Plus Dates’ and Wards’ cars were found today next to each other in a parking lot a couple of blocks away with this carved into their windows.” He gave them a copy of a couple of photos showing a heart with an arrow going through it. “Plus he left us notes.” He then gave them a Xerox copy of the notes that the killer had left. The first one said, “89”, and second, “90”, and the third, “91”. “I have no idea what this means.”

“I believe it’s years.” Dark-Rider told him.

“Years?” Carlton asked in confusion.

“Yes, Dates and Ward graduated in 1992. He’s playing catch up.” Dark-Rider deduced.

“Well that does make sense. But why start on those years?” Carlton asked.

“That is something we’ll have to find out.” Dark-Rider said as they left.

　

　

　

　

　

Chapter 3

　

　

The teens went to school next day and went about their usual routine. Ally worked in the newspaper office a good chunk of the day beings she was far ahead enough in the rest of her classes trying to find out all she could on the victims that had been killed by an unknown killer. They were given a profile on the killer by Captain Carlton; they were looking for someone from the class of 1992. Ally looked at today’s date and it was 2/10/2017. There was a 25 year gap for someone now seeking revenge for they would have to be in their mid-forties. Sure if someone stayed in shape they could easily be able to pull it off. The question on everyone’s mind was how in the world was this person able to pull it off.

Dark-Rider had brought the cars that belonged to the first two victims to The Big House. He went over both cars the previous night, and found an unknown substance in the cars and gave a sample to both Dan and Dave since they had a chemistry class and would have the time to look into what it is. He wished he could easily just skip class and get to the case, but priorities were priorities. He looked at the clock in his Economics classroom and it was only 1pm. He had lunch with Erica but felt that someone was watching them. He would look around and saw no one. During lunch Erica had been discussing what kind of dress she was going to wear this weekend. He tried to concentrate on what she was saying but this case bugged him more than any other case they had come up against. What bugged him more than anything is that he didn’t have an answer.

Dan and Dave were in their chemistry class which was the last class of the day. 

Since they were ahead in their class so they were able to have some free time to test whatever substance they wanted. They tested the sample in a test tube and ran some tests what it had been liquefied. The color was light brown, and they started to accidentally get a whiff of it and they started to feel sleepy. They backed away as soon as they put a towel over their mouths. Thankfully no one else was now in the room for class was now over for the day but was given permission to stay around. They put a sample of the liquid into a vial and closed it up, then dumped the rest of it down the drain. “Some sort of knockout gas.” Dave stated as they left the classroom.

“So it would seem.” Dan agreed while he yawned.

“Oh don’t start that man!” Dave laughed at his friend.

“Can’t help it, I got a good whiff of that stuff.” Dan told him as they were passing through one of the outside hallways. Then without warning an arrow shot through the air at them and they saw it in time to dodge. “He must’ve found out what we were doing!”

“No kidding!” Dave said as he was about to ice up.

“No don’t!” Dan warned him.

“Why not?”

“If you do that then he’ll probably know who we really are!” Dan told him bluntly.

“Good point.” Dave agreed, and then he activated his communicator. “Frezor to any Alpha Squad members.”

“Shieldra and Mindra here go ahead.” Shieldra’s voice came through.

“Molder and I are being attacked by our archer friend he’s on top of the gym building.” He explained.

“We’ll activate Bio-Suits and apprehend him.” Mindra told them.

“Good, cause we gotta get this sample back to out lab.” Frezor told them. They stayed put until they heard the girls go after the archer. They ran towards the car and sped out!

“Going somewhere?” Mindra asked the archer dressed in black.

“Out of my way girls.” He warned them. “You’re not whom I’m after.”

“We saw whom you were after and we can’t have you get to them.” Shieldra told him.

“Then I guess I’m just going to have to kill you.” He told them as he shot out two arrows and Shieldra put up a force field to protect them.

“Can we get your name before we take you into jail?” Mindra asked him.

“The name’s Black Cupid.” He answered, “But I don’t have time for name games, maybe some other time.” He shot another arrow but this time into the roof and let it out a giant flash of light which blinded the girls long enough for him to escape.

“At least we got a description to Dark-Rider.” Mindra said wiping her eyes.

“Yeah, but he’s not going to be happy that we didn’t apprehend him.” Shieldra deduced as they grabbed the arrow and left the school premises.

They returned to The Big House and immediately reported to Dark-Rider and the others. “He was at least 5’8”-5’10”, athletic build, and very good with an arrow.” Shieldra told them. “He also wore all black and had a black mask in the shape of a heart with red cracks running through it.”

“Did he give a name?” Dark-Rider asked.

“Yeah he called himself Black Cupid.” Mindra answered.

“At least now we can add something to the profile.” Jacob said as he typed the information into I.Q.

“This is a nice piece of engineering.” Sparks said admirably, as he inspected the arrow that had a flash bomb at the tip of it.

“If you ask me, he’s being a copy cat of a couple of my favorite heroes in comic books.” Dark-Rider commented.

“Well I will say this he’s pretty handsome.” Shieldra giggled.

“Did you happen to get his eyes or hair color?” Jacob asked.

“No the mask covered the whole head except his mouth. And his eyes were hard to see.” Shieldra answered as she was trying to cool down from blushing.

“Do you have an age?” Dark-Rider asked.

“Definitely our age.” Mindra stated.

“Then we need to be looking for someone at the school.” Dark-Rider said in a matter of fact tone. “Mindra go to the welding shop tomorrow and find out if someone has been making arrows there.”

“Actually I would belay that.” Sparks interrupted, “I highly doubt he would make these in a welding shop at a high school.” He held up both arrows.

“Why would you say that?” Dark-Rider asked.

“The metallic alloys that these arrows are made of are not found in the metal of welding shop.” Metallacia answered, “Plus no one is allowed to bring any metal to class, they have to use the materials at hand.”

“Then we’re looking for someone who would have their own shop at their home or something.” Molder added.

“Dark-Rider incoming message.” Jacob announced and backed away from the terminal.

“Dark-Rider here.”

“We have another killing.” Captain Carlton’s face appeared on the screen.

“Where?” Dark-Rider asked him.

“In Salem, sometime last night.” Captain Carlton answered. “At Willamette University.”

“I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Dark-Rider assured him.

“Might want to bring some of your colleagues with you.” Carlton told him.

“Why is that?”

“Cause there’s enough blood here we’ll need to find a way to figure out whose blood belongs to whom.” He told him.

“We’ll be there in a few minutes, Dark-Rider out.”

“Black Cupid strikes again.” Light-Blader sighed.

“So it would seem.” Dark-Rider agreed with remorse. “Sparks, Frezor, Molder, Mindra, and Metallacia you’re with me.” They nodded and headed to the Battle Van. 

“The rest of you update the profile and think of whatever you can who this person can be and reports by the time we get back!” He hopped into the command seat within the van and they drove out to Salem.

　

　

　

　

Chapter 4

　

　

The Battle Van parked right in front of one of the dorms at Willamette University. The Alpha Squad members filed out and went into the dorm to where they would find the crime scene and a bloody mess. “I think I’m going to be sick!” Mindra said as she ran into the bathroom.

“Well I hope we don’t have to go in there.” Molder chuckled, and Dark-Rider gave him a look that even though he was wearing a mask, Molder could tell that Dark-Rider was scowling underneath.

“What do we got?” Dark-Rider asked as he turned to Captain Carlton.

“Adam Greene and his fiancé Diane Bars.” Carlton started to say, “Same M.O. as the last few victims.”

“According to my data from my scanner, the blood on the walls belonged to both of them.” Sparks said putting his scanner away.

“Thanks Sparks.” Dark-Rider then motioned him to search for clues. “What else can you tell us?”

“His roommate found both of them.” Carlton shrugged.

Dark-Rider turned to the girls and nodded for them to find out what room Diane had belonged to and to search it. “So they weren’t living together?”

“No, school’s rules state that if they want to live together they have to be married.” Carlton stated.

Dark-Rider looked at the two college kids, they were tied up to the bed, and an arrow shot straight into their hearts. He looked up to the ceiling and noticed that it wasn't just blood splatter that was on the wall. He turned to Sparks, “Get Mindra back here pronto!” Sparks saluted and within seconds he was back with Mindra, “Tell me what that says.” Dark-Rider pointed to the symbols on the wall spelled in blood.

She stared at it and then answered, “Three more couples to go, try and stop me.”

“He’s taunting us.” Frezor mentioned.

“Agreed, we need to head back to The Big House.” Dark-Rider said out loud minutes later after they were finished. “We’ll be in touch.” He told Carlton and they left.

Chapter 5

　

　

The Alpha Squad members that remained continued working on the profile. Shieldra typed in the information. The twins worked on trying to isolate what the sleeping compound was and Blaze was testing the engineering of the arrow that they had recently come into their possession. As soon as Shieldra was done she then began to brain storm. Usually this was Dark-Riders’ expertise beings that he could never sleep, but was sure that he had his reasons on wanting the four of them to stay behind. She tried to think now; the first set of victims’ four couples in total was graduates of the early to mid-nineties. Which would allow someone that they were being killed by an offspring of someone who had gone to school with them. She looked at the year books that had been installed by Sparks and she began to study them.

Light-Blader and Star-Girl had finished putting the sample that Molder and Frezor had gave them through the gas analyzer and then ran it through the data base. Minutes after doing so it showed that the compound was a gas called Sweet Dreams 93. They have each other a high five and began to research what the gas was used for.

Blaze ran both arrows through the weapons analyzer to see if by chance the weapons computer had any information available. She studied the engineering that had blinded both Shieldra and Mindra from apprehending their foe. The computer showed that the flash bomb that was at the end of the arrow was a military grade that special ops teams have used for many years. Somehow Dark Cupid was able to find a way to weld it onto the arrow. Blaze knew one thing was for sure that someone had a lot of patience to weld this together for it had looked as if the arrow and the flash bomb was one in the same.

The girls got together and began to brainstorm together and compare facts. “So we know it has to be somebody that not only goes to our school but someone whose dad or mom went our school as well.” Shieldra started the conversation.

“And they know their way around chemistry set beings that the sleeping gas he used is military grade.” Light-Blader said.

“It was used a lot during The American Riots to put hostiles to sleep and then put them in wagons.” Star-Girl finished. “But the gas has also been used throughout the years since 1993. This is why it’s called Sweet Dreams 93.”

“And the arrows?” Shieldra asked Blaze.

“Hand made.” Blaze answered as the Battle Van drove in. “Well time to inform the boss.”

　

Chapter 6

　

　

The Alpha Squad met in The Meeting Room while Mindra looked up the symbols that were found at the latest crime scene. Both teams shared information and by the time they were done Mindra ran into the room. “You guys are not going to believe this!”

“What is it Mindra?” Dark-Rider asked her.

“I looked up those symbols and this is what I found.” She told him as she typed up on the mini-computer that was linked to I.Q. “These are the symbols that were found at the crime scene. And we already know what they say, but now we know their origins. They are the letters that are used by a group that calls themselves The Archers Guild of Darkness.”

“And who are they?” Shieldra asked.

“They are a guild of archer assassins that are for hire from just about every government in the world. They also practice black magic and use it to add to their power as they progress through the ranks.” She then showed them of the display of some ancient texts. “They’ve been around since the time of the crusades. The Vatican would call on their help to kill Islamic forces. They didn’t start introducing black magic until one of their lead assassins started to delve into it. From there they’ve been assassinating people of high importance down to the homeless, leaving symbols of warnings, but no one was able to decipher them.”

“Good thing for us we have our own Rosetta Stone.” Molder complimented.

“Something tells me though that person we’re after is just starting out.” Dark-Rider deduced.

“Most likely, plus they prefer never to bring in new recruits. They prefer bringing in those of the descendants of those whom already belong to the guild.” Mindra finished.

Dark-Rider sat in his chair for a moment, and then sprung up and headed to I.Q. The others over the years have known when he did this it meant he had something in mind but needed more information. Dark-Rider sat down at I.Q. and opened a com-link, “I.Q. patch me into Black Ops.” Within seconds his dads’ face showed on the screen, “Sorry to bug you dad but we need some information.”

“What can I help you with?” Black Ops asked. Dark-Rider told him of all that had transpired. “Black Cupid huh? Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.”

“You know of him?” Dark-Rider asked in surprise.

“Yes, before The Ghost Squadron and I worked alongside Jacob we were hunting down a man who called himself The Black Cupid. He was with the group you mentioned and he was assigned to kill couples of high political importance. Whether it be a President and his wife or visa versa. Even Ambassadors of other countries. We were never able to apprehend him. Each time we got close he either used a flash grenade or some gas that put us to sleep that was called…”

“Sweet Dreams 93.” Dark-Rider finished.

“But do you think it’s the same guy?” Black Ops asked.

“I doubt it.” Dark-Rider shook his head, “We believe it his son.”

“If it is then you best be careful. Last time we had a run in with Black Cupid Sr. he was able to fill a whole room with darkness by uttering some words.” Black Ops warned them and then Dark-Rider filled him in with the fact that he used black magic. “Then to be sure to put on your Spiritual Armor when next you go against him. Black Ops out.”

“Well that’s a bit more information than we had a few minutes ago.” Frezor stated.

“Yes but we still don’t know who he is!” Dark-Rider said with irritation in his voice. “Mindra, look through the year book from the class of 1994, find out who was who even in high school politics‘! It has to be someone who had a grudge against these people that have been killed! Then cross reference to those who are in our class.”

“I’ll get on it tomorrow.” Mindra yawned. “It’s just now past midnight.”

“Very well the rest of you get some sleep, I’m going out on patrol.” Dark-Rider wished them and they all went their separate ways.

　

　

　

Chapter 7

　

　

Black Cupid looked at the two couples that were now lying on a giant bed. He had to go through great lengths to bring them here. Thankfully the guild was generous enough to aide him by bringing them to The Silverton Inn. Where he had been working this whole entire time. The police were too stupid not to look underneath the bell hop stand where he stashed his bag that contained his costume and weaponry. He also took into consideration of The Alpha Squad. They were onto him he was sure of it, but that didn’t matter now there was now only two left now that he had just ended the lives of these four people.

He remembered seeing them in the hallways. The guys used to stuff him in lockers and the girls would ignore him and tease them. Even though he was a very handsome guy he was considered a freak. He was more interested in things like science and hunting which they would never understand would actually go hand in hand for his life. Now he was nearly finished only one couple remaining. He dressed out of his costume and then headed to his car.

Moments later he was at Silverton Hospital. He walked into the nearest door and walked to the room where his father was lying on his death bed. He looked at his father with loving eyes. He had only found out a couple of years ago that his father was now dying of an unknown disease. When they had found that out his father began teaching him all that he would need to know of being The Black Cupid. Now he had to go through the passing of the torch. He had killed those whom his father had gone to school with and now he had killed all but the final two of whom he himself had gone to school with. But before that there was one more thing he had to do. His father looked into his eyes, and nodded.

Black Cupid Jr. closed the doors and shut the blinds. He whispered something in his fathers’ ear and his father once again nodded in approval. He turned off the heart monitor and then grabbed a pillow to begin smothering his father, until he was dead. He snuck out the window and left the hospital. He didn’t want to kill his father, he had just lost his mother a few years back, but now he was alone as far as blood goes. He now had the guild, but first he had one more mission, one more task to perform.

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Chapter 8

　

　

The Alpha Squad returned to The Big House after school was over. Mindra busted into The Meeting Room once again, “Again, you’re not going to believe it!” She then posted up on the screen a bunch of pictures, “These killings have been going on for at least over three generations! All of the victims were all King and Queen of Hearts!”

“The Valentines’ Day dance!” Light-Blader exclaimed.

“Exactly! And they were all killed in the same fashion.” Mindra added.

“Then we need to get to the other possible victims.” Molder said nearly jumping out of his chair but Dark-Rider motioned to sit down.

“No need for that Molder, they’re already dead.” Dark-Rider told him, “They were found killed in at The Silverton Inn.”

“Just like the first two victims.” Blaze said in horror.

“Which means Black Cupid must work there.” Metallacia concluded.

“Or did.” Sparks corrected.

“Either way, he knows we’re most likely onto him.” Dark-Rider said as he began pacing the room, “Which means he won’t be there.”

“I finally was able to get that video tape analyzed!” Jacob busted into the room, “The showing of both victims were from two different times but they never seen coming into the building, except by the Bellman who had worked the front desk while covering someone.”

“Then we need to find out who he is!” Frezor stated bluntly.

“Already have, his name is Ronny Teal!” Shieldra pointed at the picture of the young man from the previous years’ year book. “He was an archery champion and his father before and so on and so forth. Plus his father was found dead last night at the hospital murdered by suffocation.”

“Passing of the torch.” Mindra muttered, “For them to take over their predecessor they must kill them.”

“Wow talk about harsh.” Star-Girl said with disgust.

“What we need to do now is set him up for one final bout.” Dark-Rider mentioned.

“But how?” Asked Sparks.

“By becoming bait.” Dark-Rider answered.

“Yeah, it should work, I had put mine and Dark-Riders’ name in the hat to be the next King and Queen.” Light-Blader mentioned.

“But even if we don’t win whoever does is going to be the target. He most likely will attack as soon as the names our announced.” Dark-Rider predicted, “We need to be sure he doesn’t kill them.”

“Wait! I just remembered something!” Blaze spoke up. “Once The King and Queen and rest of the court is announced The King and Queen will be dancing on a platform that’s placed in the middle of the gym floor.”

“And remember what’s on the beneath the gym floor?” Mindra began to ask.

“Okay time to map out our plan.” Dark-Rider said with enthusiasm.

　

　

　

　

Chapter 9

　

　

It was Saturday night Valentines Day! The teens and the rest of their friends were dancing the night away in the gym. The Alpha Squad spread themselves around the area to be sure they could survey all sides of the gym. Earlier that day they had constructed the platform to have a trap door underneath it that would lead into a room below the gym floor. They also had talked to the school authorities saying the only way that they would be able to capture The Black Cupid was by setting up the dance like normal. The police were guised as chaperones. The Alpha Squad paired themselves up and made sure they stayed in close contact with one another by meeting every ten minutes at punch bowl and snack area.

Mike and Erica was enjoying themselves, it was nice for them to act like a normal teenage couple even though they were also on duty. They danced a few slow dances together and kissed a couple of times at the end of each song. At the last hour of the dance they had announced that Mike and Erica had won the spots as King and Queen! As they headed to the plant form Mike made motion signals with his fingers to Ally to have the team to be ready for anything. As soon as the rest of the court was announced they had everyone dance to a couple more slow songs. Mike looked at Erica whom was wearing a Queens’ crown on top of her head and she looked at his crown. They noticed something different about them, and they nodded at each other that they knew there was something amiss.

The Black Cupid had placed himself in the bleachers of the gym. They had some of them out for people to sit down, and it was a perfect place in his mind to kill the targets. He had made the crowns himself in his welding class. A lot of the guys had given him grief of doing so. But he knew that even if one of them had volunteered they would’ve gotten the same treatment from their friends even in a joking manner. But he had other means of wanting to make the crowns, evil means at that. He had placed a special jewel in them that would allow him to find the targets without them noticing. “During the last song.” He thought to himself, “that’s when I will make my kill, and then I will truly be The Black Cupid.”

Finally the last song began to play. Mike and Erica began to dance with a bit more separation, so that way when Black Cupid did strike he would have an easy target. Mike couldn’t use his “Eyes of Truth” because of his glasses that he wore, otherwise he would be able to find out exactly where Black Cupid.

Black Cupid readied his bow with two arrows. Thanks to the two jewels on the crown acting as a homing signal there was no way he was going to miss as he let them go.

Mike saw the arrows a second before he threw himself and Erica onto the platform and they fell into the room below. “You okay?” he asked her and she nodded and they activated their Bio-Suits.

The rest of The Alpha Squad ran into the restrooms so they could activate their Bio-Suits and ran back into the gym joining up with Dark-Rider and Light-Blader.

Black Cupid as soon as he saw that he had missed his targets that he had to leave. By the time he got out from underneath the bleachers he found himself in front of The Alpha Squad. “You! You’re the ones responsible from me accomplishing my goal!”

“Your time of being a assassin is over Black Cupid.” Dark-Rider told him.

“That’s what you think…” Then he began to chant a spell that caused the whole room to become completely dark! “Try to find me losers!”

“Can’t see through this stuff!” Molder complained.

“I can!” Dark-Rider told him, “Quickly form a line and I’ll lead us out of here.” He led them out of the gym, and then once they were out of there, he took hold of The Sword of Leadership and said, “IN NAME OF JESUS CHRIST THIS SPELL IS GONE!” A blast of light came from the sword and the darkness vanished so that the rest of the students could find their way out.

“We need to split up and find him.” Molder declared.

“No! I know exactly where he is going.” Dark-Rider told him, and he led the others to the welding shop. Once they were in there they found Ronny working on something.

“He went that way!” Ronny told them.

“No, he’s right here.” Dark-Rider grabbed him.

“My, my, aren’t you the detective.” Ronny taunted, “Detect this!” He threw down a gas bomb filled with Sweet Dreams 93! By the time they awoke it was an hour later and Black Cupid was no where to be found.

“Where do you think he went?” Light-Blader asked.

“Who knows, but one thing is for sure, we haven‘t seen the last of him.” Dark-Rider mentioned as they left to head back home.

Black Cupid had found himself back at his house where he was met by the leader of The Archers Guild of Darkness. “You have failed.” The Cloaked Archer told him.

“The Alpha Squad set me up.” Black Cupid told him.

“True, this means nothing to me. However, you are useful you have proved that.”

“Does this mean I am apart of The Guild?” Black Cupid asked him.

“Yes, but you must thank the fact that over the last few generations your ancestors’ have had their place in our Guild otherwise, I’d kill you now where you stand.” He then handed him a bag, “In here you will find a ticket to get on plane with a new identity. There you will return to The Guilds’ Palace and there continue your training.”

“I shall do as you say my master.” Black Cupid bowed.

“But there is one thing…you have failed us, which means a punishment is in order.” The Cloaked Archer told him as he took a knife and plucked out Black Cupids’ left eye! The boy didn’t scream but stood there, as his eye was taken from him, but The Cloaked Archer also healed it through magic. “Now you may leave.” He told him as he disappeared. Black Cupid left and just in time, for the police had surrounded his house.

Captain Carlton reported that everyone from the dance was safely home, but Black Cupid was never found. “He must’ve escaped to somewhere but only time will tell when he’ll come back.”

“I don’t think he will.” Dark-Rider told him. “I think The Guild will take care of him.”

“One could only hope. You’d think they’d be working for The Society.” Carlton pondered.

“There’s always that possibility.” Dark-Rider nodded.

“Well until next time.” Carlton saluted and the screen went blank.

“We found nothing at Black Cupids’ house…there’s no sign of where he had gone.” Molder reported.

“That’s okay Molder, when he’s ready to show himself, we’ll be ready for him, and something he can count on!” Dark-Rider assured him.

　

　

　

　

　

Chapter 10

　

　

It was exactly one month later and it was the day before Spring Break. The teens were going about their everyday routine of school, work, Holo-Dome sessions, and patrolling the streets of Silverton. Everything had been too quiet lately, especially for Dark-Rider. He had spent a lot of time honing his abilities in The Holo-Dome. Knowing that soon he wouldn’t have them for a time when it was time for him to go to Castle Dark-Rider.

He exited out of The Holo-Dome and Light-Blader was outside standing at the control station. “How’d I do?” He asked her.

“Perfect as always.” She told him with a smile.

“Why do I get the feeling that statement is a bit too biased?” He asked her.

“Well your jumps over the chasms were off by a couple of centimeters.” She admitted.

“Anything else?” He asked but before she could answer The Alpha Alarm went off and they rushed to I.Q. After pressing a few buttons and the others joining them they saw Zendras’ face on the screen. “Zendra what’s wrong?” Dark-Rider asked her.

“It’s about you coming to Castle Dark-Rider as soon as you can.” She told him, “The Leprechaun has returned!”

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

　

Reviews

[Matty Bosox]

When people hear the word action or suspense in reading a book or watching a movie that is exactly what they are expecting....I feel that you grasp the concept of if your going to write something that would be classified as either action or suspense...Do it from beginning to end....You nailed it with your start, the two lovers tied down and the way you describe the outfitting of this macabre villain is very pleasing...Unlike other writes or movies that are so called action or thrillers that when I was desperatly trying to get through them I was punching myself in the teeth repeatedly....Your work is not that at all...Your work punched me in the teeth, but in a very attention getting, wake up call way...Your work reminded me of a more adult version of Avengers....I wouldn't say Watchmen because....well....that would be humiliating since Watchmen is just terrible....As far as this goes...You got it right, very, very right...