CLONING DARKNESS

Chapter I – Target Acquired

Huff…huff…

I have…to get away!
Nothing else occupied Mia's mind as she ran down the flight of stairs, with the pursuer hot on heels.
If I don't…I'll be killed!
She glanced back to catch a glimpse of her assailant; a dark shadowed figure with slits for pupils that glowed luminously in the black night and red, blood-like saliva dripping from its fangs. It wasn't…human.
And with that thought, she tripped on the next step, and fell down three whole flights of stairs, crashing into every hard and sharp corner there was.

She lay at the bottom, horribly winded and bruised, barely able to breathe through the pain. Mia could barely grasp what was happening to her as the world around span at a sickening pace. She could barely keep conscious, every part of her was hurting or numb.

Mia was suddenly turned over onto her back and pinned to the ground, she felt burning hot breath on her shivering skin and stared right into the haunting eyes of the monster. It suddenly grabbed her by the throat and upwards, so that she could barely breathe without inhaling its horrid stench.

"H-Help…" She choked on the remaining air she had and gasped as she was forced down harder and deeper into the floorboards. She heard them snap underneath the oppressive weight and wondered why her spine was still intact.

A droning noise suddenly took over her senses and she realised it was speaking to her in its tongue.

I finally have you…and now…you shall suffer.

"Help m-me…s-somebody…please…" Tears prickled at her burning eyes as it raised a sharp clawed hand. She experienced an unearthly feeling as some part of her lifted, and seemed to be absorbed into the monster.

Now…you shall die.

There was a sudden noise of knife against flesh, and Mia was sure she had met her fate. She then realised warm blood was splattered all over her, but there was no pain. Had she died before it could sink in?

The figure looming over her broke up into millions of dark particles and was absorbed by some force. Mia stared at her saviour.

Xekuto was holding a luminous silver blade which glowed in the moonlight and stained with what looked like jet black ink. His emerald eyes shone a piercing jade.

She realised it was that…thing's blood.

"Mia." He said as calmly as he could and dropped the sword, letting it hit the ground with a dull clang. He took his grey coat off himself, wrapped it around her and brought her close to him.

"You're hurt." He whispered, and repositioned her so that she was in less pain. Xekuto's eyes widened slightly upon seeing the angle of Mia's left leg. It was twisted and broken.

"S-So are you," She managed, staring with horror at a deep flesh wound across his side in the exact mark of the monster's claws.
Mia then remembered how it had begun.

How that monster had materialised without warning in the office whilst the three of them were just about to leave for their apartment.

How it had absorbed Diego before he had had a chance to blink.

How he had come for Mia and then raked his claws into Xekuto's side when he leapt in front of her to protect her and thrown him into the side of the room, splattering his blood everywhere.

How Xekuto had gasped for Mia to save herself and run as the monster neared him to finish him.

Mia blinked and then swallowed. She buried her shivering face into the crook of Xekuto's neck.

"That…th-thing…it killed D-Diego…" she croaked and held onto him tightly.
"A-And…it could have taken you as w-well…oh my God…"

She felt his warm arms around her waist bring her closer.

"Diego's not dead, Mia. He should be back in the office." Xekuto said gently.

"Wh-what…?" She gaped at him uncomprehendingly, her mouth dry and unable to say anything else.

"I've seen those creatures before. They absorb others for more strength and gain the victim's abilities. But once they're killed, everything they took will return, slightly battered, in the exact same place it was absorbed." He explained calmly, reaching out a hand to wipe away the blood smeared on Mia's face.

"He's…going to be a-alright?" She managed.

"Yes. He's fine." Xekuto said comfortingly and slowly stood up, with her cradled in his arms, making sure her broken leg wasn't dangled awkwardly.
"We'll go check on him now."

They reached the top of the stairs faster than Mia could remember and the door opened with a creak. Diego was already awake, a hand running through his ruffled black mane of hair. He winced slightly as he stood up and briskly walked towards them.

"D-D-Diego?" Forgetting that she was injured, Mia slipped out of Xekuto's arms and attempted to close the rest of the distance between them, only to fall onto Diego's chest with a cry of pain.

"Mia…!" He held her with the least amount of pressure that was possible. Diego realised with shock that she was sobbing fitfully into his shoulder and wrapping her arms around him as tightly as she could.

"Oh God…I thought y-you d-died…" She choked and hugged him with all the remaining strength she had left.

"What was that…thing?" He murmured, comfortingly stroking Mia with a shaking hand and then looking up to his colleague.

"A creature from another world," Xekuto replied as he placed her gently down on the slightly damaged couch. "We should leave here immediately, in case more are on their way."

"You're…not joking to lighten up the situation, are you?"

"You really think I would be when I'm bleeding all over the office carpet?"

"Y-You're…BLEEDING? Oh, God, Xekuto!" Mia was up at once in panic and stumbled over to him.

"Mia, you need to stay put. You're injuring your leg more by…"

"But you're more hurt than I am, y-you might pass out if you lose any more blood! We need to get you to the hospital immediately!"

"Well, that's where we were planning to go anyway." Diego groaned with the effort of standing himself up from the couch and made his way towards the door.
"Here, Kitten, I'll support you if you need." He reached out a hand.

"Y-Yeah…" She murmured, and holding tightly onto Xekuto's arm, pulled them both towards the exit.