A/N: This is pretty much AU. Oooh, I don't have much to say. Except that this was spawned from a dream I had in which I was Neliel. The three others, Halibel, Grimm and Nnoitra were all involved as well. As for any others, don't worry, I'll find a way to explain. Anyway, enjoy it.
A scream pierced the air half past midnight. Neliel spun around to stare Grimmjow in the eye. She mouthed "Let's go." They turned and ran. The grass rustled softly beneath their feet, and they heard no other footsteps but their own.
Neliel led the way, Grimmjow at her heels. He trusted her, for whatever reason. Perhaps it was because she was strong. He didn't care. He just didn't want to die. As much as he loved the thrill of battle, he knew this was one he could never enjoy. This was not a battle of pride but one that was a matter of life or death. It wasn't just his life on the line this time.
Neliel turned down a dead end street, much to Grimmjow's sudden terror. A dead end street seemed to be the worst place to be! Where had her unflawed logic suddenly disappeared to? She was still running, her feet moving faster and faster. She stopped at a nondescript yellow house. Carefully, she edged around the back, hopping over a chain link fence with relative ease.
Grimmjow followed suit, knowing there was no other choice. Neliel lifted a mat on the back stoop and fumbled for a moment. She produced a key, and with it unlocked the back door. Grimmjow locked the door behind them, bolting and chaining it. Neliel raised her hand to her chest, obviously winded from the assault of running and fearing for her life.
She raised her finger to her lips, warning him not to speak. She slipped her feet out of her shoes and crept through the eat-in kitchen. Grimmjow stayed put, knowing he was in a good spot where he was. He heard a faint whispering sound, and then saw Neliel beckoning him toward the backrooms.
He ducked beneath the windows so he wouldn't be seen as he crept through the house. The windows had curtains, but they were thin and shadows could be detected from outside. He met up with Neliel in the bedroom, where he found two others.
Halibel and Nnoitra sat on the floor, underneath the high placed privacy windows. He praised some unknown deity for Neliel's ability to find such a place. Grimmjow opened his mouth to whisper, but Halibel pressed a pad of paper into his hand. He and Neliel sat on the floor across from them. He wrote "What are you doing here?"
"The same thing you are." Halibel wrote back. "We won't be staying much longer. They're moving in closer, and you shouldn't stay much longer either."
"How close are they?" Neliel wrote.
"Too close."
Neliel leaned back on her hands, surrendering the pen and paper to Halibel. It was then that Grimmjow saw the dark circles under Neliel's eyes. He saw tremors coursing through her body. She shut her eyes, and for a short moment, she looked peaceful.
"There are three other rooms if you'd like some privacy. I'd recommend the one next door to this." Halibel wrote. Neliel nodded, picked up her knapsack and led Grimmjow to the next room. She opened it and pulled out two tightly rolled mats. Then she pulled out a tightly rolled blanket.
Two small pillows were quick to follow, and then Neliel was unrolling two mats. Grimmjow sat on one, finding it to be surprisingly comfortable. Neliel blinked, yawned silently, and reached into the bag one last time. When her hand came out, it held a small, opaque bag. Delicate fingers plucked a strand of meat from within. She handed it to Grimmjow before serving herself.
Though the meat was small, it filled their bellies enough so that maybe they could sleep. Neliel lay down on her light green mat. Grimmjow took her cue, rolling on his side to face her. It was only in her eyes that he could see the fear. There wasn't much, but he knew it was there. He reached up and smoothed his thumb across her pink birthmark.
"These imperfections mark us as criminals." Neliel whispered hoarsely. She curled up in a ball, her hands up to her mouth. Grimmjow pulled her into his arms then, a promise to protect her. She sniffled once and then was silent. She acted as though she were asleep, but Grimmjow knew her face was tilted upward, her eyes upon him. He sighed irritably and kissed her forehead.
Then she slept. Her breathing grew regular and she relaxed completely. He wanted to sleep, but it was hard to come by when he feared for his life and Neliel's.
The gauzy curtains ruffled in a gentle breeze. Neliel dozed lightly on her large bed, comfortable in the lazy summer afternoon. Everything was right in her world. She awoke hours later to a pounding on some door far away.
"Miss Neliel, you must go." A young girl, flawless, was telling her. Neliel blinked, shut her eyes and shook her head. "I mean it. They'll kill you. I don't want you to—" Suddenly, another girl burst into the room, sobbing and shaking. She was soaked in blood.
"Leave! They'll kill you!" This sobered Neliel. She sat up, and jumped out of the bed. Quickly she shed her luxurious nightgown, opting instead for nearly skin tight, black clothes. "Why are they doing this?" The blood soaked girl cried, falling to her knees. Neliel silenced her with a glare.
"Will you die like a coward?" Neliel demanded. The girl hiccupped and dried her tears hastily. Neliel stood before the vanity mirror one last time, pulling her long hair back into a bun. Neliel's flawless girl stood before her, holding up a knapsack.
"I hope this has everything that you need." She whispered, a tear shining in the corner of her eye. Neliel drew the girl into her arms, inhaling the sweet scent.
"Stay alive. I'll find you when times are safer."
"I'm 'perfect'. They wouldn't dream of killing me." Their heads turned as someone pounded on the door. Neliel slipped her feet into a pair of shoes. The two nodded at each other, and Neliel disappeared into the evening.
Behind her she heard collective screams, and she felt a pair of eyes watching her disappear. She shut her eyes, but the visions of blood everywhere still permeated her vision. She ran faster, until she ran into something firm yet yielding.
"Watch it." He growled. Neliel backed up a step, holding a scream back.
"Oh. It's you." She whispered. Grimmjow Jeagerjaquez. He lived nearby, and yet he seemed to be in a hurry to go somewhere. "Where are you going?" She asked nervously.
"Away." He lifted his shirt slightly to reveal a large scar on his stomach. "They'll kill me."
Neliel turned from him, hoisting the knapsack higher. "I need to keep moving." She told him.
"So do I. So why don't we move together?" He asked. Neliel slapped him.
"I don't need your help." She hissed.
"You don't fucking wanna be alone, do ya?" He demanded, stung by her slap. "I don't need anyone—but a little help isn't a bad thing, dumbass."
A sudden rustling, not too far off, caught their attention. "Now come on!" He demanded, grabbing her arm and tearing off.
"You don't know where to go." Neliel told him after hours of running.
"And you do?" He shot back. She nodded.
"It's getting light. We need a place to stop and get some sleep." She sighed. "Or, at least, hide until the sun sets."
Suddenly, she was waking to the scent of blood. Grimmjow was shouting obscenities and fists were being thrown. Her face and body were covered in warm and cold liquid. It was blood. She sat up and edged backwards, her eyes wide. She was packing her things in a hurry, and Grimmjow's too. They didn't notice, and she prayed furiously that they wouldn't.
Luck was on her side this one time, and she stood to tear Grimmjow away. He looked positively frightened, no longer cocky and bold. A fist connected with her face and sent her spinning. She reeled, colors blinding her.
"Grimm—
He was being killed by six men, all in masks. He wasn't giving in, however, and it pained Neliel to see him struggle. Another fist connected with her face, and then she heard a rip. It wasn't her clothing, but something worse.
"Grimmjow!" She screamed, tears mingling with her agonized shrieks of terror.
