World Traveler Villain

[Chapter: 38 Preparation And Plans]

"Ah!" A scream rang out as Lucas fell to the ground, hit by a stray bullet.

"Lucas!" Cade called out.

Tessa stopped and looked at Lucas, who had fallen to the ground with a horrified expression. "Lucas!"

William jumped up and stood in front of Tessa, using the shield to block several bullets aimed her way. "Run! Get away from here if you don't want to die!"

"Go!" Cade shouted, but his voice was filled with grief.

In truth, William could have easily saved Lucas, but was it really worth the effort? After all, Lucas held no personal connection to him—there was no bond, no shared history. He wasn't someone William was particularly invested in. He wasn't even an attractive woman, someone worthy of the time, so why bother?

Optimus Prime's massive hand grabbed Cade and Tessa, and William jumped onto Optimus Prime's back. "Drive." Optimus began leaping from the building to the ground, transforming into a rundown truck and speeding away.

The Confinement leaped from the building, roaring as it transformed into a sleek black Lamborghini and sped after them.

Inside the truck's cockpit, Cade and Tessa sat in mourning. "Lucas left us," Cade said softly.

"Yeah," Cade muttered, wiping his eyes.

William said nothing. He was busy contemplating his next move to gain more villain points. Helping Cade and Optimus Prime had been a mere diversion. His best course of action, he decided, was to undermine Optimus Prime, especially now that Prime was so disillusioned with humanity.

The battered truck came to a stop at an abandoned gas station. William and the others got out.

The creaking sound of metal accompanied Optimus Prime transforming back into his robotic form. "I'm sorry you lost a friend. Stay here until I'm sure no one is following us."

After saying this, Optimus turned back into his truck form and drove off in another direction.

Cade looked at William. "What are you? You're not an ordinary person." William's exaggerated actions had left Cade both shocked and suspicious.

"He's a pervert," Tessa interjected.

"Don't talk! Wait for your chance later," Cade snapped at her.

William smirked. "Mr. Yeager, my name is William. Everyone has secrets, but I can tell you this much—I'm not a bad person." Hehe, I'm a villain, he thought to himself.

Cade nodded reluctantly. "Since you don't want to explain, I won't press. But how did you meet my daughter?" This was his main concern.

"I met her at a car race," William replied with a smile.

Cade turned to Tessa. "A car race? How did you meet at a race? Tell me clearly."

"It wasn't her racing with me. It was that boy, Shane. She was with Shane at the time," William said casually, stepping aside to light a cigarette.

Cade took a deep breath. "Tessa."

Tessa's temper flared. "I'll just say it: Shane is my boyfriend, and he's a racer."

"What?" Cade couldn't believe his ears. "Boyfriend? You said boyfriend?"

"Yes, he's my boyfriend."

"Oh my god." Cade placed a hand on his head. "You've got a boyfriend? You're still so young! Didn't I tell you not to associate with the opposite sex?"

"Why? You don't let me do this, you don't let me do that. You just want to make me an ordinary person who's no longer extraordinary? Dad, you're too controlling! I'm not a bird in a cage," Tessa shouted. It was clear she was in a rebellious phase.

"I'm doing this for you!" Cade said helplessly.

"I don't want to hear that anymore! If you cared about me, you wouldn't have dragged that broken truck with you! Now everything's gone to hell. Lucas is dead, our home is gone—are you satisfied now? Tell me!" Tessa's voice broke as tears streamed down her face. She turned and ran off.

"Tessa!" Cade called after her. Then he sighed deeply. "I'm doing this for her, but kids her age just can't understand their parents."

William exhaled a smoke ring. "The more you try to control her, the more she'll rebel. She's 17 years old; you can't treat her like she's 7."

"You don't understand," Cade replied, shaking his head.

William nodded. "You're right, I don't. But I understand her. She's young and wants to be free."

Cade looked at William warily. He could tell that people like William were dangerous. "Stay away from my daughter and don't contact her again. And...thank you for your help today."

William grinned wickedly, thinking to himself, There's no point in trying to keep her away from me. Your daughter? I'll deal with her after I'm done with you. You won't even need to thank me for it.

William wouldn't act against Cade now. If the protagonist died at this point, the subsequent story couldn't unfold. And without the story, how could William earn more villain points?

Only Optimus Prime knew where the Autobots were, and William planned to follow him to meet the Autobots and perhaps claim one for himself. That would certainly be interesting.

Then there were the robot dinosaurs in detention, all overseen by the Big Macs. They were formidable fighters. If William couldn't claim them, he could unleash them for some villain points.

And "The Seed"—both Decepticons and Autobots were made from its metal elements. It was another thing William had to get his hands on.

"Before the game truly begins, I'll have to play the good guy for a while," William mused.

With his exceptional hearing, he caught faint sounds nearby and began walking in their direction.

Under a tree, Tessa sat crying silently. "Why? Why can't he just understand me?"

A tissue was handed to her. Tessa looked up to see William, and her anger flared. "Go away!"

"Is that how you treat the person who saved your life?" William squatted beside her.

"Well, I didn't ask you to save me," Tessa snapped, turning her face away.

William's expression shifted into a smirk. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at her head. "If that's how you feel, I'll kill you right now. No problem at all."

Fear filled Tessa's eyes. "You...what are you doing?"

"You said you didn't need saving and were fine with dying," William replied coldly.

"You must be joking," Tessa stammered, panic and disbelief in her voice. "I don't believe you'll do it."

William smiled faintly, almost mockingly. "Isn't it fascinating how people treat life as an unshakable entitlement? They act like they're untouchable, even when death stares them in the face, clinging to the illusion that denial will save them."

Bang!

"Don't!" Tessa's eyes widened.

*****

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