After trekking over almost every type of terrain in existence for three weeks, the trio finally stood before three of the bases they had been searching for. Taking on all three at once would be certain suicide for the twins, but they didn't plan to.
Melody took her sister's hand, marveling at the openness she and Destiny had been practicing now since they'd met Will-a nickname agreed upon since it suited him better. It was as if the strange man had reminded them they were sisters, not just fighters. This new exploration of feeling brought to mind the idea of family. Of course they'd had parents at some point, but where were they? Dead? And siblings, maybe?
"Hey, Dess, if you could have another sibling, what would you want?"
Destiny squeezed her sister's hand, enjoying entertaining the idea of another family member to share a life with.
"Oh, probably a brother. Younger or older would be the real question there."
Both laughed, trying to picture a little boy to care for or a protective elder brother that would tease them but beat up anyone who picked on them. Nearby, Brody chuckled lightly aside from the pain; with the reality of his death ever-present, he didn't find as much humor in life. The only thing that kept him going was the need to keep the girls safe.
"Hmm, you know, Will's kind of like an older brother, except for the being invisible part. He's always there for us, and he protects us. He'd be a great brother."
Melody hummed her agreement, distracted by movement at the base down the hill from them. Brody had noticed as well, but his head was still reeling from Destiny's comment on his position as their protector. He couldn't help the solitary tear that coursed down his dirt-smeared face at the understanding they would probably never know his as their real brother.
"So you're the famous twins everyone's buzzing about? I don't see what's so great; we snuck up on you easily enough."
Two cold female voices finished that sentence behind them. Brody placed himself between the Lies captains and his sisters, praying it wouldn't come to his physically defending them. The girls didn't turn, just moved their clasped hands to grip each other around the waist.
"Are you captains in charge of this base?"
The slim girls bearing the colors smirked, and it was all Brody could do not to stagger back. He knew these girls! About his age, he'd fought them once before when he was young; he'd barely escaped with his life.
"Risuna and Maeve are our names, Destiny and Melody. Remember them well; we want you to die begging us for your lives."
Maeve launched at them, low to the ground and completely silent. Risuna sat on the ground with her eyes closed, a move Brody knew all too well. Risuna had the ability to listen to a fight and predict the movements of her opponents, information she would relate to Maeve, allowing them to win almost every fight. With the twins engaged, there was no way they'd be able to beat the older girls. Those smirks snaked across each one's face, their confidence a worrying issue for all three siblings. Brody moved behind Risuna, prepared to slit her throat, but her eyes flew open in alarm. With a gasp of shock that shook her whole body, she let loose a wild laugh.
"HE'S HERE!!!"
Brody put his good arm around her waist, sliding his bad hand over her mouth to prevent her communication to Maeve. With a gust of wind that betrayed his anger under the calm fancied, he became a physical being. Maeve ceased her attack, horror filling her once-confident features. She remembered him as well, how he'd vanished into thin air after she almost took his life.
"Destiny, Melody, these two will be of no help to you. With permission, I will kill this one right now. Do I have it?"
The ice in his eyes told the twins the story they would not get to hear. Somehow, these two had caused him great pain, and now it was his time to end it. Both girls nodded their heads once, the ice turning to a raging fire when he moved his good arm to her neck to snap it. His other hand slipped, and she gasped out her last words.
"They don't know who you are, do they?"
A snarl escaped his throat and the girl crumpled to the ground. Destiny executed Maeve, Melody at Brody's side staring sadly at his ruined arm.
"Who are you, Will? What won't you tell us?"
He bit his lip nervously, his physical form already beginning to fade away.
"There are things I cannot tell you right now; it's not the right time. Please just trust me, though. You will know all that is important before I die. Oh, and by the way-" A smile finally graced his battle-worn face, "You have a family. A brother, actually. He's out there searching for you; he has been for many years. You'll see him someday soon."
Both girls' eyebrows shot straight up their faces, more questions on their lips, but he was already gone.