hello again minna! We hope you like this chapter we worked on it for a while:) we got a lot of positive feed back for this story so were gonna try and make it the best story we can. I, myself would like to thanks Astral (of course:)) and Mishi Kawaii who helped me out with this story and Lover's prayer. Just a slight reminder that this story is Rated R and may not be suitable for those sensitive people out there. These characters aren't mine but belong to our goddess Naoko. By popular demand I have made this chapter longer cause that's what you wanted:) And just to clarify, for all those who e-mailed me about this, I did not get the name BabySerry off of BabySpice. I came up with it because out of all my friends I'm the youngest and they all started calling me Baby, and it just kinda evolved into BabySerry (mind they all know how obsessed I am with Sailor moon). Well without further ado here is chapter 2:) Always a Price to Pay by: BabySerry and Astral Chapter 2: A more beautiful morning "Well, I guess all the chores are finished for tonight," Raye looked around the outside of the Cherry Hill Temple in satisfaction. "Finally, I can rest. Hey Chad," she began, then remembered that he was at a karate match along with her Grandpa. "Oh well, just means I can have some time to myself and the fire." She sighed, turning around towards the temple she heard a noise coming from behind her. At that moment, a figure emerged from behind a tree. "Raye, just who I've been looking for," "Who's there?!" Raye called out, spinning on her heals somewhat startled. "Oh, it's just me." said a low, starchy voice walking into the light, and Raye smiled at the familiar face. "What a surprise, I didn't know you were coming here tonight." Raye commented politely turning around and motioned for her friend to come with her. "Would you like a soda or something?" "No thank you, there's something else I want." "Hmmm what could that be?" Raye wondered aloud walking up the steps to the front door. "You'll find out soon enough." Walking slowly towards Raye, her friend grabbed tightly onto her shoulders and pushed her down roughly onto the asphalt, Raye felt as though she was going to lose consciousness from the impact with the cement. Moving her head up slowly she noticed the dark, blank stare her friend was giving her. She watched her friend pulling something from the coat pocket. "W-what are you doing... what is that..." Raye grunted, struggling to raise her head. She was pushed back to the ground. The killer grabbed her hands and tight them up at the wrists with a thick rope. The killer moved down towards her legs and tied her ankles together. "That should keep you still." The killer snarled, reaching into the coat pocket again. Raye raised her head and from the corner of her eye, she saw something sharp and silver. "Don't worry, this won't hurt a bit." Raye felt the cold metal object near her hair and closed her eyes. Suddenly it started to buzz. Raye opened her eyes in horror and relief. 'It's not a knife...' Raye thought. 'But what is it...?' She knew as soon as she felt it pressed against her head, buzzing sharply. 'Oh my god... it's an electric shaver...' she thought, confused and bewildered. She felt her long, purplish hair being shaven off. She tried to get up again but the killer kicked her head back down to the ground. Raye groaned in pain, small streams of blood poured from the small gash in her head. Little by little her hair fell to the ground until she lay on the cold, rough cement bald and crying softly. Raye looked up with heavy eyes to see the killer reaching into the coat pocket and pulled out a needle. "What are you going to do with that?" Raye asked tying in vain to inch away from her killer but failing miserably. "not to worry my dear...not a bit of that lovely hair will go to waist." The killer grabbed a thin piece of hair and threaded the needle. Bringing the needle dangerously close to Raye's skin the killer slowly pierced Raye's arm, cautiously threading the thin hair into her precious arm. Raye screamed in agony as a small tear ran down her face. Small droplets of blood oozed out of Raye's arm as the last piece of hair was sewn into her arm. The killer proceeded to the other arm and began to start the horrifying process of sewing her other arm. Raye screamed again as the pain shot through her. "Now now my dear there is really no need for all the noise" "Fuck you..Let me go you bastard" Raye screamed. "Well aren't we the harsh one today." Raye looked at the killer sharply and spat in the killer's face. "Fuck you!" "Well if your going to be difficult." The killer said, punching Raye in the stomach. Raye groaned in pain, the hot burning agony ripping through her stomach, arms, and head as she bit her lip and waited for the end of this nightmare. "There now we are finished." The killer said, grabbing Raye by the legs. "Where the hell are you taking me.....let me go now...please just let me go." Raye protested. She was dragged unmercifully through the temple, blood flowed freely from her back and arms leaving a small trail behind them. The killer dragged her up to the top of the temple roof. The killer began untying the rope around Raye's wrists. "Now bitch it's time you learned to fly." The killer spat in her ear "Your going to be my fire bird." "What the hell?..." Raye started. The killer took out a pack of matches from the jacket pocket, Raye looked at the killer in disgust. While the killer was getting the matches ready, Raye lunged forward and dug her nails into the Killer's neck. "You should know by now.....I'm not that easy to get rid of ." The killer winced as Raye's nails pierced the skin. The killer quickly kneed Raye in the stomach. Raye bent over in pain, clutching her stomach. The killer reached up and brushed a hand over blood on The killer's neck. "Now is that the way you treat your friends." The killer walked up to Raye and kicked her in the ribs. Again and again The killer smashed the foot into Raye's rib cage until Raye lay there barely alive. "Much better." The killer smiled , taking the matches, the killer stood Raye up on her feet and lit the hair on fire. Raye started to scream weakly as the killer knocked her over the back of her head with a long black cane. Raye's limp body fell off the roof top, the killer watched with satisfaction as her head connected with the cement. A load crack could be heard from where the killer stood, Raye's blood flowed out of her cracked skull down the temple walk way. The killer walked to where Raye's body lay and picked her up. "I can't just leave you like this can I?" The killer said carrying her dead body to the front of the steps. The killer went inside Raye's room and picked out her best dress. "This will do nicely." Leaving her room the killer proceeded back towards Raye. The killer put Raye in the dress, cleaned the blood off her head and arms and lay her in the exact spot in which she fell. "Hahahahahaha now Ami you too will pay for your sins against my purpose." The killer laughed, walking out of the temple dropping the cane on the blood streaked steps. She was awaken with a start by the load bellowing of her radio. Lazily, Serena climbed out of bed and went to her closet to get her school uniform. "Luna wake up" Serena called but she couldn't find her in her room. ?Now where is she this time' she thought stumbling to the bathroom. After she took her shower and towel dried her hair, she went into Rini's room to wake her up for school. She crept quietly into Rini's room to find Luna sleeping on her bed. ?So that's where she was' Serena thought as she walked up to Rini. "Rini, honey it's time to get up" Serena said softly. Rini just rolled over and said "no mommy I wanna sleep some more please" "Rini why are you so tired?" "Hotaru and I went to go catch fire flies last night we came back really late." "Now Rini you know I don't like you out that late at night....what if some lunatic killer came after you" "Mommy really, I am a sailor scout I can take care of myself!" Rini said casually as she jumped out of bed and patted to the bathroom. After Rini was done her morning shower, the two of them went downstairs for breakfast. Serena's mom notice the ring on Serena's finger and smiled happily. "So Darien finally popped the question I take it." Serena blushed and nodded her head. "I still think that boy is too old for you." Serena's father complained, hiding his smile behind the newspaper he was ?Reading'. "Oh common dad," Serena giggled, "admit it, you like Darien" "now why would I want to do a thing like that.....that would ruin my ?protective fatherly image'." "Your hilarious dad" "I know." They sat at the table eating breakfast, talking, laughing, and planning for Serena's wedding when Serena looked at the clock. "I gotta go before I'm late" Serena said smiling. "Mo....I mean Serena will you walk with me to school today." Rini asked, getting up out of her chair and grabbing her lunch. "I suppose but we'll have to leave now or else we'll never make it on time." Serena grabbed her lunch bag and back pack and headed towards the door. "Bye mom I'll see you after school." "Bye sweet heart....have a good day." Serena's mom called from the kitchen just as the door slammed behind them. "And why are you so happy dear." Mrs. Tsukino asked her husband while she did the dishes. "I am not happy," Mr. Tsukino smiled "I just thought this article was funny." pointing towards the paper Mrs. Tsukino smiled knowingly. "Since when did you think stock markets were funny." She laughed. "Since always." Mr. Tsukino left the room with his arms crossed, smiling all the way. "Serena, want to eat lunch together today?" Lita asked. "Well as long as you don't mind Molly joining us." "Yeah sure....Where is Molly anyway" "Oh she's probably running a little late, it happens to everyone. I promised her that I'd eat lunch with her today cause I haven't spent much time with her since..well...ya know." Serena replied. "Yeah I know, being a sailor scout never really left us time to do anything." "At least now we can rest, and start doing the things we love to do right?" "I always loved the fighting" "Well I hated it." "Considering you are the leader and the most powerful senshi I would have figured you'd get the biggest rush out of it." Serena smiled. "I do have to admit that watching that bitch Galaxia die was the joy of my day." Lita laughed and put a hand on Serena's shoulder. "Yeah I'll bet." Before Serena could respond Mrs. Kmet walked in (the grade 12 teacher, I made different teachers for different grades) and put her books on her desk. Mrs. Kmet was a tall, skinny women with brown hair and hazel eyes. She was very strict but also one of the best teachers in the world. She was a very simple women, and only asked the simplest things of her students, get your work done and come to class on time. She sat down in her chair and stared at the students. "Class settle down please, I need to take attendance." Mrs. Kmet shouted, the classroom went dead silent as Mrs. Kmet started calling out names. "Amy Anderson" "here" "Lory Aron" "here" "Molly Bake..." Mrs. Kmet was interrupted by the principle. "Mrs. Kmet may I speak to you for a second." "Of course Mr. Dawson." Mrs. Kmet stepped out of the room with Mr. Dawson. Serena and Lita looked at each other. "I wonder what that's all about?" Lita said "I have no idea....but if it's serious enough they'll tell us" Ms. Kmet walked back into the room, with a shaken look on her face. "I think something's very wrong," Lita whispered to Serena. "But what.." Serena replied. "C-class," the teacher began. She tried to keep a steady face while she uttered the news. "Molly is... dead." A look of shock spread over the faces of the class. "Dead?" Lita asked in disbelief. "Yes. Molly was..." Ms. Kmet stuttered, "...Murdered..." Everyone was silent, nobody could utter a word. Most of them couldn't believe it, hoped it was just a horrible dream. For several minutes, hardly a sound was uttered, except the occasional person breaking down into sobs... but the most chocked up person was Serena, who had a look of utter terror on her face. Nobody could look at her without cringing, they knew the pain she must have been feeling. Suddenly, she buried her face in her hands and wept, and that was the moment most everyone else let go and sobbed, too. Serena got up and ran out of the classroom, she had to go see this for herself. She ran as fast as she could to Molly's house to see the police wheeling her body out in a body bag. Tears started to fall from her blood shot eyes, she gasped in disbelief and turned around, unable to face the dead body of her best friend. She was about to walk away when she noticed the police holding something that caught her eye immediately. 'A rose' she thought 'no it couldn't be.' She ran up to the policeman, questions coming out of her mouth, muffled by sobs and sniffs. "How did it happen... please tell me..." she managed to cough out. "I can't release the details. I'm very sorry," the policeman replied gently. Serena sighed and started to walk away, hanging her head, when he called out to her. "Wait, miss..." she turned around. "Were you a close friend of hers?" he asked. "Yes, I was..." Serena mumbled. The policeman looked at the tear-ridden girl and said, "I can't go into complete details yet but I can tell you just that... she was...strangled. We have a slight idea who it might be, but we don't have enough evidence to arrest him. I can assure you ma'am that we will catch the person who did this. I promise you." Serena nodded and thanked him softly, and he said, "Did she have any enemies?" Serena shook her head. "No, not Molly. She was the sweetest girl in the world... n-nobody would want to hurt her..." she started sobbing again. The police man put an arm around Serena trying to comfort her. "mind if we ask you a couple question ma'am" the police man said as gently as he could as not to scare Serena or make her even more stressed. "yeah sure" Serena said shakily. "When was the last time you talked to Molly?" "Yesterday...after school" "did she seem stressed or worried in anyway?" "No." "Hmmm" the policeman opened his note book and started to scribble something down. He looked at her and closed the book quickly. "Ma'am....do you know a Darien Shields?" "What?!?" Serena asked in shock. ?Why on earth would they think it was Darien it just doesn't fit.' "Would you like me to repeat the question?" The policeman asked, looking at her strangely. Serena shook her head slowly and took in a deep breath. "Well Darien is my boyfriend.......why?" "Well thank you ma'am...and we are really sorry that this happened to your friend." The policeman was about to walk away when Serena grabbed onto his wrist. "Answer my question....why do you want to know who Darien is?" Serena asked in a panic. The policeman pulled her over to the side of the building. "I'm not supposed to say anything....but considering you are a big part in this matter I'll tell you." The policeman whispered. "Tell me what?" "We found Darien Shields DNA on Molly's body?" "What how?" "Basically ma'am we found a lock of his hair on Molly's body." Serena just stood there staring blankly at the policeman. ?It wasn't Darien I know it wasn't' Serena thought hysterically. "I've told you all that I can.....again I'm sorry about Molly." The policeman said running back towards his car. Serena had barely heard what the policeman had said, she just kept replaying it over and over in her head. ?Darien's DNA....the rope burns...the strange way he was acting it all fit. But why' Serena raised her head high, fire blazing in her eyes she ran towards Darien's apartment. "Lita where is Serena?" Amy asked in concern. They were eating lunch by the fountain. Lita looked at Amy then over in Melvin's direction. ?Poor guy' she thought ?he must be hurting right now.' Amy looked at Lita again and saw the tears well up in her emerald eyes. "Lita are you alright?" Amy put a comforting hand on Lita's shoulder. "Yeah I'm fine." Lita said a little harshly. Her expression softened when she saw Amy's stress filled look. "I'm sorry Amy, it's just this whole thing has got me really shaken up.....I'm scared." Lita cried putting her head on Amy's shoulder. Amy petted Lita's hair and soothed her to the best of her abilities when Luna came running up to them. Luna stopped for a second to catch her breath and looked at the two girls with tears in her eyes. "Com.....come quickly....Artemis and I just came from Raye's temple... hurry." Luna, Amy, and Lita ran frantically to Raye's temple. When they arrived at the temple Amy looked on in disbelief. "No Raye NOOO!!!!!!!" "Darien I know you home...open this fucking door NOW!!" Serena screamed as Darien opened the door. "Serena what ar...." He never got a chance to finish before his head jerked back and a sharp, stabbing pain ran through his left cheek. He put a hand to his face, looking down at Serena he saw the anger and pain in her eyes. "Serena...." "Shut the hell up you fucking bastard" she screamed "Why the hell did you kill Molly you sack of shit....and I want a straight answer before I blast your sorry ass back into the past." She was fuming, sweat started to poor from her skin and Darien looked at her confused. "Serena what are you talking about I didn't kill anyone." "Well would you mind explaining the fact that there are FUCKING ROPE BURNS ON YOUR HANDS AND MOLLY WAS STRANGLED TO DEATH!!!!" She was frantic. She couldn't calm down, she just couldn't believe that her only love killed her best friend. She looked at him with hatred written all over her delicate features. "Serena.....I was helping my neighbour move in last night.. And he couldn't get the refrigerator in the elevator so I had to help him hoist it up to his balcony, that does require a rope." "Then why the fuck where you so secretive....do you think I'm stupid? I know your lying." "I was so secretive because my neighbour's are illegal aliens and if anyone finds out they could get kicked out of Japan" (Authors note: I couldn't think of any other reason for Darien's neighbour's so I just made it up...sorry for the interruption) "then why was your DNA on molly's body?" Serena asked a little calmer now. "Well you saw her yesterday write","yeah", "I saw you yesterday so my DNA way on you and you probably hugged her right" "yeah" "well that explains why she had my DNA on her....listen Serena if you don't believe me go ask my neighbours....they live right there." Darien motioned to the apartment door with the number 24 on it. Serena looked at him in distress, the seriousness in his eyes was astounding as she turned around and proceeded to the apartment next to Darien's. She raised her hand gently and tapped on the door. A tall, skinny man opened the door and looked at Serena strangely. "Hello? How may I help you?" the man said in a thick German accent, Serena looked at him with hopeful eyes. "Umm I was wondering...do you know Darien Shields?" The man looked out of his door and saw Darien standing at infront of his door. "Oh yes, he helped me move yesterday..he is a very strong young man." Serena choked down a sob. "Thank you." Serena said walking back towards Darien. She looked back at Darien's neighbour then back to Darien. Serena stopped in the middle of the hall way, her eyes began to roll into the back of her head as her body hit the ground. "Serena!" Darien yelled as he ran to her side. He picked up her wrist, putting his fingers to her wrist he felt a slight throbbing. ? Oh thank goddess she just fainted'. He thought as he gently picked her up and carried her into his apartment. He placed her cautiously on his couch and ran back outside towards his neighbour. "Thank you so much for covering for me." "Well that's ok...what is all the secrecy about anyways?" "You'll find out soon enough." Darien said heading back to his apartment. ?They'll all find out soon enough.' Well there you go, it's finished, well this chapter anyway. Any flames, comments, questions, death threats....e-mail em to me or Astral or both cause we wanna hear them:) Love, Peace and Harmony BabySerry And Astral