Chapter 55: The Green Tea Betrayal
The night air was heavy, the kind of thick, damp chill that clung to Kara's skin as she stood in the shadowed alley, her delicate white dress brushing against her legs. Streetlights flickered overhead, casting pale beams of light that seemed to shudder as if even the city itself was uneasy about what lurked in its darker corners. The cracked sidewalks and graffiti-scarred walls felt like a stage set for a scene out of some grim thriller, and Kara could practically hear the ominous music in her head.
Beside her, Rogue shifted uncomfortably, her fingers wrapping loosely around Kara's arm in a show of frightened solidarity, though Kara knew full well Rogue was more than ready to snap a neck if needed. Gwen stood on Kara's other side, eyes wide and body tense as she glanced over her shoulder, playing her part perfectly.
"I can't get a signal…" Kara whispered, her voice trembling as she stared down at the glowing screen of her phone, though there was nothing wrong with the device. "We're lost. I don't know where we are."
Gwen leaned in closer, her hand wrapping around Kara's other arm, her voice low but shaking just enough to sound authentic. "Are we in a bad neighborhood? I don't like this, Kara. Maybe we should turn back."
"I…" Rogue hesitated, swallowing as though fighting rising panic. "I think we took a wrong turn somewhere. I don't know how we ended up here."
The three of them huddled closer, shivering slightly, their wide eyes darting around as though expecting something to leap from the shadows. Kara could almost feel Gwen suppressing a laugh under her perfectly worried expression.
Right on cue, heavy footsteps echoed against the brick walls as three men emerged from the darkness, each one exuding danger. The tallest, their leader, loomed over them, a muscular figure wrapped in a worn leather jacket, glowing red eyes narrowing as faint blue sparks danced along his fingertips. To his right, a wiry man whose body shimmered with metallic plates that shifted under his skin, reflecting the flickering light in sharp glints. The third was a beast-like figure, broad-shouldered and hulking, covered in short gray fur, yellow eyes gleaming as he licked his lips like a predator sizing up its prey.
The leader was the first to speak, stepping forward with a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "Well, well. Looks like three little lost kittens wandered into the wrong alley."
The beast-like one chuckled, a guttural noise that rumbled deep in his throat. "I don't see a problem with that."
The metal-skinned mutant cracked his knuckles, his eyes glinting dangerously.
Kara inhaled shakily, stepping slightly ahead of Gwen and Rogue, her hands clasped together, her wide blue eyes brimming with false desperation. "Oh… oh my goodness, you're right. We're so lost," she said softly, her voice quivering just enough to sound authentic.
She took another step forward, trembling slightly as though holding back tears. "Please, we didn't mean to come here. Can you… help us?" Her gaze was wide and pleading, the very picture of helplessness.
Rogue and Gwen mirrored her, glancing around nervously and clutching at each other's arms as though terrified of what might happen next.
The leader's smirk faltered for just a moment, uncertainty flickering behind his eyes as he glanced at his companions.
"I mean… uh," he started, clearing his throat as though suddenly unsure of what to do.
For a long moment, he hesitated, then gestured awkwardly toward the street behind them. "If you just… go down this way and take a left, you'll be out of here in no time."
The beast-like mutant snarled, turning sharply toward his leader. "Come on, man. Look at them. You're telling me you're just gonna let them go?"
The metal-skinned one sneered. "They're already here. Might as well have some fun."
The leader hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other, his eyes darting between the three of them and his two companions.
Kara let her lower lip tremble, her eyes shimmering with tears that caught the flickering light, making them look even bigger, even more vulnerable. "Please… we're just three girls all alone," she whispered, her voice cracking just a little for effect.
She bit her lip, looking up at him as if he were her only hope. "You're so strong… so kind… you wouldn't let anything happen to us, would you?"
The leader's expression twisted, something flickering behind his eyes as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "Of course not," he said firmly, his jaw tightening.
He turned sharply to his subordinates, his face darkening with growing anger. "You two need to shut up."
The beast-like mutant bared his fangs, his yellow eyes narrowing. "What, you getting soft now?"
The metal-skinned one let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head. "Are you serious? You actually feel bad for them?"
The leader's fists crackled with blue energy, sparks snapping in the air as the tension rose. "They're innocent," he growled, stepping forward, his muscles tensing. "And you two are disgusting."
Before anyone could react, he swung his fist in a burst of blinding blue light, slamming it into the metal-skinned mutant's jaw. The sickening crack of bone echoed off the alley walls as the man's head snapped back and smashed into the brick behind him, leaving a dent before he collapsed, unmoving.
The beast-like mutant snarled in rage, lunging at the leader, his claws extended and teeth bared.
Gwen leaned in closer to Kara, her lips barely moving but her voice dripping with satisfaction. "And that's how you set up a tragic betrayal."
Kara watched the unfolding chaos, her blue eyes bright with a mixture of glee and fascination, her hand pressed lightly to her chest as if swooning. "Oh," she breathed out, her lips curling into a soft, pleased smile, "this is fantastic."
The leader roared as he tackled the beast-like mutant, their bodies slamming into the ground with a crash of claws and fists, a storm of blue energy and shredded fur flying in every direction as they fought. Gwen and Rogue exchanged glances, both of them perfectly calm as if they had expected every second of this.
Kara tilted her head slightly, watching with wide-eyed wonder as the leader slammed his fist into the beast-man's ribs hard enough to send him flying into a trash pile. A loud metallic clang followed as the metal-skinned mutant groaned from where he lay on the ground, half-conscious, blood dripping from his mouth.
Beside her, Rogue casually folded her arms. "Think he'll finish them both off or do we need to step in?"
Gwen shrugged, her gaze locked on the fight. "Let's give him a minute. He's invested now. Might as well let him have his moment."
Kara let out a soft laugh, her eyes never leaving the brawl. "I can't believe how easy that was. It's like watching a live drama."
"And you played your part perfectly," Gwen added, her voice calm and approving.
Kara sat back, watching as the fight raged on, her heart pounding with excitement. Her first real Green Tea setup was working beautifully.
The leader drove his fist into the beast-man's stomach again, and as the furred mutant let out a pained grunt, Kara's eyes glimmered with satisfaction.
"Oh, this is just the beginning," she whispered, already imagining the final blow she was going to deliver.
And in that dark alley, under the flickering streetlights, Kara felt fully at home in her new role as the Green Tea Queen in training.
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