Chapter Twelve: Misguided

Four Supervising Officers were in a room together, desperately trying to think of ways to stop the Elf attacks.

"How do we know that he's even real?" Samon asked for the millionth time.

"Seventeen had a slit throat one time and a cut-up stomach another," Hajime told Samon for the millionth time. "Besides, her attack and many of the inmate disappearances line up. Now either shut up or help contribute ideas to stop this Elf guy."

Samon sighed in annoyance. "Fine."

"So we know that Elf is after Seventeen," Kiji stated. "We could use her as bait."

Hajime looked at Kiji in surprise. "That's not a bad idea."

"No, it isn't," Kenshirou agreed. "We know that we couldn't use Fifteen or Six-thirty- four since they're already done with that."

"No, we couldn't," Hajime agreed. "So we'll use Seventeen as bait. We'd have to get her to agree to it, though."

"Of course," Kiji stated. "We can have guards set up around a perimeter, staying hidden and out of sight. They'll be ready to surround Elf as soon as he appears."

"What happens if he runs away again?" Samon put in.

"We know he'll leave Seventeen behind," Kiji reasoned. "He always has in the past. If this idea doesn't work, we'll regroup and try to come up with another one."

"So we'll have to make sure that they will be completely surrounded," Hajime said. "Otherwise he'll be able to get away too easily."

"That goes without saying," Kenshirou replied. "So as soon as Elf appears, we'll have him surrounded. Then maybe we can prove Six-thirty-four's innocence."

"What's that got to do with this?" Samon demanded.

Kenshirou sighed at Samon's incompetence. "Six-thirty-four was framed, but there isn't enough proof to release him yet. Elf is the man who framed him."

"Why was he framed?" Samon asked.

"Samon, shut up," Hajime ordered, slamming his fist against the top of Samon's head. "We're not here to discuss Six-thirty-four's innocence. We're here to discuss how to capture Elf. If you're going to be annoying, leave."

"So we'll be using an inmate as bait," Kenshirou confirmed.

"If Seventeen says yes," Hajime reminded him.

"Well, that goes without saying," Kenshirou agreed. "So if Seventeen agrees, we'll put her on the roof in the middle of the night. We'll surround the area with guards, the four of us included, and make sure that she appears alone."

"Should we set up code words?" Samon asked. "For Seventeen to use if something goes wrong."

"The monkey's got a good idea for once," Kiji pointed out.

"What do you mean 'for once?!'" Samon demanded.

Hajime elected to ignore Samon's outburst. "We'll have to use something subtle. Something that Elf won't know."

"Perhaps we could come up with a phrase," Kiji suggested.

"Good idea," Kenshirou agreed. "Something like, 'the dog's gone.'"

"That seems too obvious," Hajime countered. "No, it needs to be something more like, 'I'll never go along with you.'"

"That seems like a good one," Kiji replied. "It's subtle, but not too much so. As soon as we hear it, we'll jump out and surround Elf."

"But only if something goes wrong," Kenshirou stated. "We'll obviously jump out and surround him if nothing goes wrong, so that phrase is just for if something happens and Seventeen needs us sooner."

"We should have Seventeen try and hold him there so we can easily surround him," Hajime pointed out. "That way we won't have to worry about him escaping before we can grab him."

"That's a good idea," Kiji replied. "So is the plan set?"

Everyone nodded.

"Good," Hajime said. "I'll let Seventeen know the plan. She wants Elf gone as much as any of us, so I'm sure she'll agree."

"When will we set this up?" Kiji asked.

"Tonight," Kenshirou answered. "At midnight. Everyone, take your most trusted guards. We'll need about twelve guards in total, so each of you pick two from your building."

Everyone nodded as they finished up, then they all went back to their own buildings.

It was free time now and Elizabeth was in the game room again. She was humming to herself as she played darts with Trois. Don't Stop Me Now by Queen. Queen was one of her favorite bands and she loved to listen to them whenever she got the chance. Don't Stop Me Now was her favorite jailbreaking song.

Trois watched Elizabeth hum and smiled. He found it rather cute. He couldn't help but think of how close they were the other day, how he could have kissed her if he had had the guts to, but he couldn't. He knew in his heart that she wasn't ready, and in a way, he wasn't all that ready either. Maybe someday. Give her more of a chance to see Trois and get along with him.

Elizabeth was up. She fired a dart, but it landed outside the circle. She had found one thing that she was horrible at.

Trois smiled. "I guess we've found something that you're not all that good at."

Elizabeth laughed. "I guess so."

"Seventeen!" Hajime called.

Elizabeth's smile fell. Why was it always her? She tried to be good! Honestly! "I better go see what Hajime wants. . ."

"Good luck," Trois told her as she turned around to get to Hajime.

"Yes, Sir?" Elizabeth asked, trembling.

"The other supervising officers and I have been thinking of ways to catch Elf," Hajime began. "Supervisor Mitsuba came up with a plan that might work."

"May I ask what it is?" Elizabeth was relieved. This is all it was? Phew. She thought that she was in major trouble if Hajime was calling her out in the middle of free time.

"We want to use you as bait to lure Elf here."

"Is that safe?"

Hajime nodded. "Eleven other officers and myself will be surrounding you, out of sight. As soon as you can grab him and force him to stay there, we'll come out and surround you. Supervisors Gokuu, Mitsuba, and Yozakura will be assisting us. Four supervising officers, eight normal guards."

Elizabeth nodded, understanding. "I'll do it. Is there anything else you need to let me know?"

"Yes. If something goes wrong, just say the words 'I'll never go along with you,' and we'll come out immediately. Do you understand?"

"I do, Hajime. When is this going to happen?"

"Tonight. Midnight. I'll come get you at 11:45. Be ready. Don't be asleep when I come for you."

"Yes, Sir. I understand."

"Go back to free time."

So Elizabeth did.

When Trois noticed her coming back, he asked, "Is everything alright? You're not in trouble, are you?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "Kiji, he had an idea. To help catch Elf."

"What is it?" Trois asked gently.

"The guards want to use me as bait. They know Elf is after me specifically, so they need me to be there, waiting for Elf. When he comes and I manage to grab him to hold him down, the guards are going to surround us and take him in. Tonight."

"You didn't say yes, did you?"

Elizabeth looked at Trois, intensity in her eyes. She could be quite fierce if she wanted to be. "I did. I want the attacks to stop. I don't want anyone else to get taken. I'm going to do this, Trois. Nothing's going to stop me."

"Alright. . . Just stay safe, okay?"

"I will," Elizabeth promised. "Don't worry about me, okay? Now let's get back to playing darts."

Trois nodded. "Alright. I believe it's my turn."

Trois hit the bullseye. After another bad turn from Elizabeth, Trois chuckled.

"Yes, I know, I suck," Elizabeth said. "After all, one can't be good at everything. It makes them overpowered."

"Here, let me help you make a better shot," Trois said, positioning himself behind Elizabeth. He gently grabbed her wrist and moved her hand back to right above her shoulder.

Elizabeth was blushing furiously. Trois guided her arm through the correct motions, helping her fire a shot, one going just outside of the bullseye.

"Thanks," Elizabeth managed as Trois stepped away.

"Of course," Trois replied, taking his final shot. Another perfect shot. "It appears that I win for once."

"You've won multiple times," Elizabeth reminded him. "I don't win every time we play something."

"Only most of the time," Trois reminded her.

"That's not true, either. You're very good at pool."

"Well maybe we should play darts more often, that way you get better."

"Perhaps." Elizabeth gave a smirk, meant to be a little flirty. It probably looked weird, knowing her.

Trois was slightly stunned. Did she just. . . flirt with him? Maybe he did have a chance.

---

That night, Hajime did come and get her. At 11:45 precisely.

"Are you ready, Seventeen?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be," came her reply.

"Then let's get this over with."

The two of them walked up to the roof, where Hajime left Elizabeth standing, very much alone, in the middle of it.

Before he left, he asked, "Do you remember the key phrase?"

"I'll never go along with you," Elizabeth replied in a whisper, taking a deep breath.

"Good. Say it if something goes wrong and try and hold him down. We'll come help as soon as we can."

Now, it was past midnight. Elizabeth tried not to look nervous as her hair whipped around her face. She couldn't see the guards, but she knew that they were all around her, waiting for Elf to appear. But what if he never showed? Then all of this would be for nothing.

Unfortunately, or fortunately, take your pick, Elf did appear. He was standing behind Elizabeth.

"Hello there, Specimen Seventeen," Elf said.

Elizabeth immediately tensed up. "Why are you here?"

"Oh, I think you know why I'm here," Elf told her, going up to her and standing just behind her. "I'm here to take you with me."

"Good luck," Elizabeth hissed, turning around and grabbing his wrist.

Elf just laughed. "I know about your little charade, Specimen Seventeen. Call off your guards. They won't be able to help you," he hissed in her ear.

Elizabeth's eyes widened with fear. "I'll never go along with you!" she shouted.

Suddenly, all twelve guards appeared. Kiji, Samon, and Kenshirou were all holding their weapons while Hajime had his fists. All the other guards had guns.

"Stop!" Samon ordered. "Don't go anywhere, Elf."

Elf laughed maniacally again. He twisted Elizabeth around so that he was holding her close to him, her back to his chest. "You don't understand. You can't save her! I'll be taking this specimen with me. You stupid guards can't stop me!"

Elizabeth struggled. "Let me go, Asshat! I will never, and I mean never, go with you anywhere!"

"If you move, we'll stop you," Kenshirou threatened. "You're facing the Nanba prison guards. No one faces the Nanba guards and gets away."

Elf kept laughing. "You don't understand! If I move, so does this little bitch. If you shoot, you could end up killing my specimen, and none of us want that."

"We don't mind hurting her," Hajime informed Elf. "So long as we get you."

"Do whatever you have to do!" Elizabeth insisted as Elf kept holding her. "I don't care if you kill me, just make sure Elf doesn't get away!"

Elf pressed his arm against Elizabeth's throat, stopping her from speaking. "Little bitch," he spat.

As fast as lightning, Elf threw two knives at two of the guards, hitting them in their necks. Both of them collapsed, dead on the spot. Blood pooled around them.

"You'll pay for that!" Kiji shouted, beginning to run at Elf, but he was too late.

Elf was gone. He had taken Elizabeth with him. There were ten guards left alive on the roof of Nanba Prison. One inmate was gone, taken by Elf. They had no clue where she would be, what Elf was going to do with her, and why he had even taken her. Now they were stuck with no way to get her back, no way to track them, and no hope of stopping the missing inmate problem.