An intruder - STREGA

(chapter originally by faith at writing.com)

Mitsuru had just drawn in a breath when the commotion began.

"May I have your attention please?" Came a slimy voice from in the back.

Mitsuru froze in shock. At the back of the auditorium stood a shirtless man with pale skin and long white hair. Mitsuru knew him instantly. Takaya Sakaki. He was a disturbed young man who led a small circle of Persona Users with an apparent deathwish for the human race. What little they knew about him was troubling: The Kirijo Group had at one time engaged in experiments to forcefully bring out a Persona in a human host. The experiment had proven a failure. While some hosts did manage to manifest a Persona, the being so manifested proved difficult to control and at times openly hostile to the one it was bonded to. The first experiments resulted in the Persona eventually turning on the host and strangling the life from them. **** were created to suppress the power of the User to prevent the Persona from breaking free. But those **** had their own side effects, most obviously a sharp decline in mental stability. STREGA was a group made up of the discarded experiments of Kirijo, a twisted combination of a street gang and suicide cult for Persona Users led by Takaya. His motivations were still unknown, but he seemed to actively oppose the goals of SEES in general and Mitsuru's group in particular. Whatever endgame the Shadows intended, Takaya was evidently eager to be their wingman.

Mitsuru stared daggers at him as he made his way down the aisle. Carefully she began to reach for her Evoker.

"Let's not be hasty." Takaya said, drawing a large revolved from his jeans and firing once into the air. Someone screamed.

"CALM YOURSELVES." Takaya shouted, his eyes never leaving Mitsuru. "Please remain seated. I would hate to waste more bullets just because of a few antsy children."

Mitsuru breathed in sharply. "Do as he says everyone."

Takaya smiled, and flipped open a cell phone with his free hand. "Jin, are you in?"

"You bet. Their security is a joke. Right now the school is on a solid lockdown. And all security cameras are live and rolling." Came the voice over the land.

"Splendid." Takaya said, an oily smile on his face. "Hello, everyone. I'm afraid your time at the assembly is going to be a bit longer than expected. We find ourselves in need a few hostages, and you fit the bill far too well. But do not worry. I have nothing personal against...most of you. Make no fuss, and there is every possibility you will get out of this alive and whole. How likely the possibility is, unfortunately, hinges largely on whether are demands are met. But I'm certain we can negotiate an equitable arrangement."

Mitsuru's mind was reeling. What was this madman thinking? He could not have picked a worse day to do this (from her perspective). Aigis was undergoing repairs after a night spent in the labryrinth. Ken, Akihiko, and Junpei were likewise bed ridden from the debilitating effects of Tartarus. This was a crisis and half her people were unavailable.

"What do you want?" She demanded.

"We demand restitution for the crimes of the Kirijo Group." Takaya said with a smile. "They have violated innumberable environmental and human rights over the years. We are a group who demands justice."

Mitsuru paused. That...was not unreasonable in and of itself. The Kirijo Group prior to her father's takeover had been a corporation filled with deadly ambition and steeped in corruption. Their crimes against STREGA were only one example of this. Both Mitsuru and her father were determined to make up for the sins of the corporation. That being said...

"I understand how you feel. But you must realize that threatening the lives of innocent people will not change the past." Mitsuru said.

"Really, Mrs. Kirijo? Attempting to reason with a terrorist with a gun? Have you not followed your local media? We are all madmen devoid of compassion and bent on creating chaos." Takaya said.

Mitsuru glared again. Was this just a game to him. "...You said you had demands..."

"Indeed. And they are simple. First, I would like you to step out from behind the podium."

Mitsuru complied, her heart pounding.

"Good. Now, I would like Yukari Takeba, Fuuka Fuuka Yamagishi, and Minako Arisato to stand up. Oh, and do loosen your grip on those little toys of yours ladies. I'm well aware of your movements. You aren't going to catch me off guard. And really, what do you intend? Even if you did manage to use those silly little faux pistols, what then? I'm surrounded by your fellow students. Are you going to give away all your secrets here and now? Can you stop me before my pistol goes off? What could you even do to me that has enough punch to be effective that won't endanger all your fellows?"

As one Mitsuru's teammates reluctantly drew their hands away from where their Evokers were holstered. Even more reluctantly they stood. Takaya walked with a swagger to the front of the auditorium. He shoved a large black trashcan onto the stage next to him.

"All right ladies. I think I'll make my first demand simple. You each come to me, drop off your little toy pistols in the garbage, and then join your senpai on stage. For each pistol that goes in the can, a hostage goes free. Why don't we begin with you, Kirijo-san?"

Mitsuru reluctantly withdrew her Evoker and tossed it into the trashcan in one smooth motion. She had no means left to summon a Persona! One by one her teammates complied.

"Very good. Now all of you, stand on stage. Keep your hands behind your head unless I'm giving you other instructions. Oh, and keep your knees shoulder width apart."

The girls exchanged looks, but complied.

"All right. You in the back, starting on the left. Congratulations, you've made it out of this alive. You four may go. Feel free to spread the word. No need to keep this secret."

The students practically bolted out the door, which unlocked at Jin's command.

"Excellent. Excellent." Takaya mused. "Now then, Mrs. Kirijo. Are you ready to make penance for your family's sins?"

Mitsuru held her breath. She had no idea what was coming next, but the butterflies in her stomach were back and worse than before.

"I'll release another student if my next demand is met." Takaya said. "So, let's not keep everyone in suspense. I demand..."