Desert Rose Chapter 44: Checkmate (Patreon)

⚠️WARNING: ⚠️Gore/trauma/and a whole lot of sensitive stuff in here so be careful 🖤

***

“Okay, let’s go over this one more time.” Megumi had a map of the city laid out for everyone to see. The map had different colored marks leading from the bar to the target's home. All the bars are in the same area making it easy to bar hop, but also easy for them. “In case any of them tries to leave we need to find a good spot to catch them. Blind spots. Make sure there is no camera. Mark the spot on your map when you scout the area. We can’t let any of them slip away.”

“Oo can we pick code names? Can my code name be Six Eyes ~?”

“Why six eyes?”

“Because I’m spying duh?”

“Satoru! I need you to focus.”

“Sorry sorry~ no more silly side remarks until we catch the bad guys.”

Getou patted his boyfriend’s head, knowing such a task would be tough.

“Alright, are there any questions?” Megumi looked around making sure everyone knew the plan. Seeing as there was none he nodded his head, “Great, let’s head out.”

You stood up to hug them goodbye, “Be safe.” You kissed Megumi on the cheek as he hugged you tight,

“I will.”

You then threw your arms around Toji, and squeezed tightly, making him chuckle, “We aren’t going to get into contact with them, baby girl. We are just scouting the area.” He kissed the top of your head rubbing your cheek sweetly, yet that didn’t stop you from giving them all a warm goodbye.

“Aw~ how sweet.” Gojo cooed as he hugged you, “You girls don’t have anything to say to us? I could die out there!”

Nobara waved her hand without looking up, “Bye.”

Gojo gasp in pain, “Shoko?”

Shoko took off her headphones, she had been listening to audio tapes so she could get her accent right. “Don’t die!”

“Love you too babe.” Suguru snorted while pushing his heartbroken boyfriend out.

“My code name used to be the killer.” Toji spoke to Gojo as he lit up.

“Holy shit you are so bad ass.”

“We will be back soon.” Megumi walked behind the others while reaching his hand to Sukuna, “Give me the keys, I’m driving.”

“Tch- why?” Sukuna looked at him as if he had grown two heads.

“Because we are in your- … we will be in Kenjaku’s precinct, if we get pulled over because you are driving hella fast they are going to wonder why you are out here.”

Sukuna clicked his tongue, tossing the keys to Megumi. He hated it when he was right.

Getting into the car Megumi started it and then back out of the driveway.

“She’s in the window.” Sukuna murmured.

Stopping the car, Megumi looked up to see you watching them go. You shapped your hands into a heart and they waved.

“Aw… she’s such a sweet girl… I just want to go back in and hug her-“

“Fuck her-“

Megumi glared at his not boyfriend boyfriend who never asked to be his boyfriend boyfriend. “I swear you have one cell and you share it with Gojo.”

“Don’t disrespect me like that.”

~

Megumi was driving with his phone mounted to the windshield. His phone telling him where to go as Sukuna stared at the map.

Sukuna pointed to a circled area,” What’s this spot?”

Megumi glanced over, only needing that one second to know. He had stayed up all night with his dad staring at the map and going over the addresses that their targets left available on social media. That really showed how many fucks they gave. They weren’t scared of shit. “That’s for Mahito. For whatever reason he loves going to that location, it’s always in his videos of him taking a picture in the park, he’s such a man-child.”

“He kind of sounds like Gojo.”

Megumi made a face, “Please don’t compare the two.”

Sukuna snorted, “You seriously think that sick bastard wouldn’t take the bait? We pretty much set this up like a Christmas gift to him.“

“Just trying to be…”

*Ding*

Megumi looked at his phone at the same time Sukuna did.

HIGH HEART RATE: Your heart rate rose above 120 BPM while you seemed to be inactive for 10 minutes starting at 5:05 pm.

“High heart rate?” Sukuna looked at him, “What? You scared or something?”

“No… that’s not mine it’s Rose…the bracelet I got her tracks her heart rate…can you give her a call and make sure she’s okay?”

“She’s probably just watching a scary movie.”

“Call her please.”

Sukuna rolled his eyes as he pulled out his phone dialing your number. He sat back waiting for you to pick up but you didn’t, it kept ringing.

“Well?” Megumi raised a brow, trying to not sound too panicked.

“She didn’t pick up-“

“I’m turning around.”

“She’s probably just…” Sukuna trailed off already dialing Nobara’s number. He was trying to calm Megumi down but now he was starting to get worried. He put his phone on speaker as Megumi made a very illegal U-turn.

“We just left she’s probably worried about us. Sukuna tried to reason but as they waited for Nobara to pick up, their heart rate was skyrocketing.

“Hello?”

“Thank Kami.” Megumi sighed.

Nobara snorted, “What?”

“Megumi just got an alert for Rose that said her heart rate increased so he freaked the fuck out.”

“Are you kidding? Rose’s watch is connected to your phone?”

“I-“Megumi gulped, “-just in case she freaks out and hides somewhere I can know where she is or if she’s scared!”

“That’s sounding reeeeall Sukuna of you.”

Sukuna chuckled, “He learns from the best.”

“That was not a compliment you psycho.”

“Can you just check on Rose? What is she doing?”

“She’s upstairs….” Nobara trailed off.

“Nobara?”

“…I just heard something…” Nobara’s voice dropped down to a whisper.

“What?”

“…”

“Nobara!”

“I think there’s somebody-“

BAM!

There was a loud sound that was akin to the phone hitting the tile floor, and then the call dropped.

That was all Megumi needed to set fire to the engine. The car lurched forward as it hummed to life.

“What the fuck!” Sukuna snapped as he called Toji. He was about to text in the group chat but Megumi stopped him.

“Don’t send it in the group chat, whoever is there may see it on their phone.” Grabbing his phone he was already calling Gojo. “We don’t want to alert anyone.”

Sukuna’s phone crackled first.

“Hello?”

“Dad! You need to get back to the house I think the girls are in trouble!”

“What?”

“There’s no time, call Nanami I’m calling Gojo!”

As soon as he said that Gojo picked up.

“Six Eyes speaking.”

“Gojo get back to the house!”

“What? Why?!”

“It’s the girls! I think they are in trouble!”

“What the fuck how?“

“What’s going on?” Getou questioned in the back.

“Turn around! The girls are in trouble!”

“What!? We just left!”

Megumi looked toward Sukuna as they thought the same thing.

They had just left.

Almost as if…Someone was watching them.

***Earlier***

Mahito sat behind a tree, halfway asleep.

Someone elbowed him waking him up. “Aye, they’re leaving.” Naoya spoke next to him with binoculars in his hands.

Mahito rolled over picking up his binoculars as he watched Nanami and Yuuji climb into a car and then the rest of the men. Yet he didn’t see you. Pressing on his black earpiece he spoke to the others. “Which car did she get in?”

Reggie chuckled in his ear, “None.”

“Aaah~, who’s in the cabin?”

“Just the girls.”

Mahito and Naoya shared a wicked grin as they looked at each other. The bluette chuckled looking back at the cabin. That’s when he saw you peaking out the window giving Megumi and Sukuna a heart shape. For some reason that pissed him off making him jealous, and after all the time he spent with you! Well he will make you pay for moving on so fast and killing his friend. A two in one. “My oh my what a wonderful Christmas gift wrapped beautifully in a bow.”

Haruta got on the mic with a trembling voice, “C-can we get this show on the road it’s fucking cold out here!”

“I told you to dress better.” Dagon sighed.

“Dagon, all the others gone?”

“Yes, the last car just passed.”

“You’re lucky we’ve been blessed with this wonderful opportunity, let’s move in.”

Mahito couldn't help the giddy smile he had as they began to circle the cabin. “I’ll get the bitch, help me up.”

Naoya leaned against the side as he hoisted Mahito up on the ledge. Crouching, Mahito slowed and crawled to the window, careful to not make noise. Peaking in the window he watched you walk into the bathroom with a towel. Leaning in he heard the shower start to run. Taking out his tools he carefully removed the screen and then pressed into the window, jiggling it back and forth before the lock flipped. Sliding it open he stuck his head in the room looking around. So far so good. Turning around he gave Naoya a thumbs-up. Stepping inside he walked over to the bedroom door that you left open. Grabbing it he pushed it closed and then locked the door.

Just as he closed it he heard the bathroom door click open, snapping his gaze to the door you stepped out but then froze, you were still wearing your clothes, you must have forgotten something and come back out to grab it.

Mahito smiled at you as surprise recognition and fear crossed your face.

“Heeeey~ remember me? Oh I know you remember me. I remember you.” He took a step and you took a frightened step back.

“What? Don’t be so afraid, it’s me~ we had so much fun together~.”

You slowly backed into the side of the door, tears streaming down your cheeks. “S-stay away-.”

“Now now, none of that. Be a good little bitch and I’ll go light on you. I’ll leave your friends alone, and you…”

Your phone began to ring on the nightstand, the two of you looking at it as Sukuna’s face popped up.

Mahito poked his bottom lip out, “Sukuna? Really? You have a thing for sadists don’t you ya little masochist?”

“H-he loves me…”

“Ah? Hurtful, I love you too.”

“No… you…m-monster…”

Mahito shook his head as your phone rang the last few times and went silent. Your sad orbs looked toward it making Mahito whine for you. “Poor little baby. No one is coming to save you now.”

“N-no no no no no- no no no -.” You began to shake your head as you slid down to the ground having a panic attack. He’s seen you have countless panic attacks. These ones are his favorite. It’s like you lose yourself and start rocking back and forth. It means that he has broken you mentally.

You were such a fragile and weak creature.

He watched you curl into yourself.

This was far too easy.

***

Megumi could feel his heart beating rapidly. He had never been so scared in his entire life. He was in full fight mode. He hadn’t prepared for this. Hadn’t thought that someone would be watching them. How? How did this happen? He thought of plan a-z. He thought for sure they had the upper hand. The element of surprise.

Now? Fuck- this was so fucked!

“Megumi don’t pull up to the cabin. If anyone sees us we might put them in danger. Go the back way.” Sukuna was trying to stay calm but he was panicking just as much as his boyfriend was. He was already getting out the gun, readying it up.

Megumi drove down a different path pulling up to a more enclosed space. Getting out they began to make their way up the hill to the cabin trying to be as discreet and quick as possible.

“You see that?”

Megumi looked over, at the many footprints and tire tracks and a trail of blood.

They were here. Past tense. The car no longer here.

Megumi looked at his phone and saw that you were within the cabin still. “She’s still here!” Now Megumi was running with Sukuna close behind him. He nearly tripped and fell but he managed to make it to the cabin. The back door was wide open, and there was blood trailing out.

“Holy shit…” Sukuna ran into the living room while Megumi was left frozen.

The living room looked like a disaster.

“Where are the girls…”

“ROSE! SHOKO! NOBARA!”

“Aye~ not so loud alright.”

Turning the boys watched Shoko as she rubbed her temple, gun in her hand and blood running down her face.

“Hey- hey, you good?” Sukuna got to her, scooping her up so he could carry her to the couch.

“Yeah… just a little cut…” she hissed, “Be careful not sure if they are still here…” her eyes fluttered closed as her body sagged in exhaustion.

“Keep pressure on the wound Shoko, Megs I’m going to check the rest of the house just in case and get the first aid kit, stay with her.”

Megumi took the gun from Shoko as he assessed her wounds. “Uh, what should I do?”

“Just find me something to put pressure on the wound.”

Sukuna moved toward the kitchen stepping over one of the guys. “Is that?”

“Dagon.” Megumi commented. The man was very- well dead.

Shoko chuckled, “Yeah~ He said… You wouldn’t shoot me and I did hehe. Surprise.”

Sukuna and Megumi gave her a small laugh, too worried and stressed at the moment to really enjoy it. “Proud of you.” Sukuna squeezed her shoulder as he moved to scout the rest of the house.

As he got closer to the kitchen he heard a weird noise. He wasn’t sure what it was but then he found Nobara who was standing in the hall with her arm looking broken. But she didn’t look the least bit worried about it. Too shocked to care.

“Nobara are you okay?” Sukuna questioned her but then he looked where her gaze was locked on.

There you were in the kitchen stabbing Reggie Star over and over again. Blood was everywhere and you looked like you took a bath in it.

He was speechless. He wasn’t sure if he should stop you. This was your anger and pain being unleashed. This was your moment.

“Sukuna! What the hell is taking you so…” Megumi came looking for him and paused now understanding why he was caught up. “Holy…”

“…Shit.”

“She… um… saved me…” Nobara‘a voice was smaller than the tiny grunts you were letting out while using both hands to stab the man with a large kitchen knife.

When Megumi noticed the tears that mixed with the blood on your face, then he stepped forward. He took small steps toward you and got down low, “Rose…” no answer. You were still on autopilot. “It’s okay Rose…”

Still nothing.

You couldn’t stop stabbing him.

“(Y/n)…”

You froze with a ka-chunk to the now unrecognizable body underneath you.

“It’s… okay (Y/n)….”

You snapped your wide eyes toward him, endless tears streaming down your cheeks. “Meg…Megumi…”

“…Yeah… it’s me..come here.” He reached for you slowly as you leaned into him so he could hold you tight as you cried. Knife clattering to the floor. Megumi held you, as he too started to cry, but he was much more silent than your broken wails. He didn’t care that there was blood and bits of human flesh on you- he didn’t care about your wet tears painting his cheeks. All he cared about was that you and the girls were safe.

His family was safe.

***

*Earlier *

Mahito bent down over your crouched form cooing to you softly as he patted your back. “Such a shame we have to get rid of you. If only you stayed in your place- hck!”

You had shot up so quickly slicing a pink blade at his neck, he choked on the blood that filled his lungs, grabbing at his neck. Trying to reach for you but instead he fell over and knocked the lamp right off the nightstand shattering into a million pieces. His eyes had grown wide with pain and fear. He couldn’t avert his gaze as he stared at you. The look of pure rage on your face as angry hot tears blended with the blood he just painted you with.

You didn’t look the least bit like you looked before. No! No! This wasn’t supposed to happen. You always wept and cried and been a good girl for him. You were always so easy- so broken.

You were prey.

Easy prey.

Yet now as he bled out on the floor looking into your eyes he felt fear for the very first time. He was the prey. When did you become a damn predator?

Not a drop of remorse twinkled in your eyes, if anything there was only pure glee as you watched the life leave his eyes. You wanted to stare at his dead body but, then you noticed the earpiece. Snatching it, you put it in your ear, listening to the other men talk. While listening you take Mahito’s gun taking the safety off. You didn’t have years of training but these men were stupid. They think you’re weak. They think this is a walk in the park.

Opening your door a crack you see Shoko coming toward you, she must have heard the lamp fall. Pulling it open fully she gasped at your bloody clothes but you quickly put a finger to your lips to silence her. Hearing the voices through the earpiece you knew exactly who was here. ‘Four’ you show her with your fingers and she nods, backtracking to her room.

“Mahito did you get the bitch?”

You blinked looking toward Mahito. Then pressing on the button you scrunched up your face and said, “P-please I-I’m sorry-plaahmmm!” You covered your mouth and then cut the mic off waiting for them to say something.

“Yeah~ I remember that sweet voice!”

“Ooo I want some fun! I see the hot girl in the kitchen~ Kenjaku wouldn’t be upset if I took a little souvenir~.”

The men start to laugh making your stomach drop.

The cold breeze tickles your legs, looking toward it you quickly go to it and climb out the window. The icy temperature didn’t bother you in the slightest. Adrenaline kept you warm. Dangling yourself on the edge of the roof you dropped down and walked toward the side door of the kitchen. That’s when you saw Nobara on the ground with Reggie Star on top of her…choking her.

You didn’t think much, running into the kitchen you took your pink knife and stabbed it into his back.

“Gah! You stupid bitch!” As he yelled in pain you grabbed a kitchen knife and then came back to stab him again and again and again.

That was all you remembered.

Because seeing Nobara on the ground was like an out-of-body experience. Because you didn’t just see Nobara. You saw (Y/n) there. You saw every other victim. Screaming and crying for help. You didn’t just do it to protect Nobara. You did it for Y/n and all the others in the past and to protect all the ones in the future.

Hearing his screams was music to your ears. Feeling his blood paint you red and watching him twitch in agony.

This truly brought a smile to your face.

***

Haruta was panting as he sped away. “Th-those psycho bitches!” He could not believe how a simple task turned into such a disaster!

Everything was going so well! He was entering the home when he heard Dagon say- “You aren’t going to shoot me-“ then BAM! The bitch shot him with a SHOTGUN! And then started shooting at them with a fucking automatic! WHERE DID SHE GET THAT? And to make matters worse she was laughing the entire time while smoking her cigarette! A fucking maniac!

Running to the kitchen he tried to get help but then he found you stabbing Reggie Star to death so he ran out to find Naoya leaning on the side of the cabin. Holding his bleeding leg.

“Help me!”

The idiot thought he was going to help him but actually, he was taking the keys. Grabbing them from him he pushed him down and ran away.

“HARUTA! HARUTAAAAA!”

“SORRY ~ You will slow me down!”

“What- YOU COWARD!”

Of course, he ran away! His life is more important! If anything it’s their fault! Where was Mahito?! Why did they lose that?!

It was only three stupid bitches!

He picked up his phone to call Kenjaku but before he could dial the number he blacked out.

Everything just went- black.

What the fuck happened?!

He groaned as he opened his eyes. His car smoking. There was another car right on the side of him.

Pushing the door open he groaned as he fell out, his bones hurt something fierce.

“Excuse me sir! Are you injured?”

“Hospital…-ack!” Take me to the hospital…”

“You know it is very unwise to be going so fast on icy roads. It’s very dangerous.”

He wheezed as he tried to look up at the man, “c-call call police-“

“Aren’t you the police?” Someone else spoke with a little snort.

What? What’s happening? Just as his vision cleared he gasped in horror seeing the blonde man standing before him.

“Is anyone in the trunk?”

“No! We are good!” Yuuji saluted Nanami.

“Excellent. Now we should get back to the cabin. We have a doctor that can fix you right up.”

Nanami dragged Haruta by the ponytail as he cried out in pain. “No-not that crazy lady! She’s a psycho!”

“Aye~ don’t talk about Shoko like that she’s the best!” Yuuji threw open the truck for Nanami as he tossed the man inside.

“No please-“

“Oh~ he said please Yuuji.”

“Yes, yes he did. Did you guys stop when Rose said please?”

Haruta gasped “I-I had nothing to do with it I-“

Yuuji scoffed, “Don’t try to make excuses now pal.”

SLAM