"It's ok. I think I got it covered," Danny proudly reassured them, though breathless from the exertion of battle, "I mean, I'm not saying I want props for having done all that with broken ribs, but - "
Shnick.
It was such an odd sound, Laura couldn't think what could have made it. Not until Danny tumbled down onto her hands and knees and revealed the fresh red of the blood coating the back of her shirt, and someone stepping out of her shadow with a dripping blade and not one hint of remorse.
"Sorry Lawrence. The old man may be crazy, but he gave me a better offer."
The rest of Theo's meaningless words faded into a hum, as Laura watch the blood still gushing from the newly made hole. It had been only a few seconds, but there was already far more blood than she had seen on Kirsch. Laura felt a numbness overtake her as she pulled Danny up off the floor.
Kirsch threw himself ineffectively at Theo, but Laura's eyes stayed fixed up the girl in her lap. She tried not to think about heat soaking through her jeans, despite her attempts to staunch the flow. Laura focused instead on Danny who, even in her dying moments, was trying to take care of her.
"It's okay. I meant what I said before. That it's worth it. That I'm not scared. Ok? You remember that."
Laura cradled Danny as if holding her tight enough might keep her from slipping away. Nothing was worth this.
"I'm not scared. I'm not scared. I'm not - "
The last whisper of Danny's voice echoed in Laura's head as she gently slipped out from under Danny and lay her to rest on the seat. Her voice rose in fury as Theo dismissed her words. He did not even rise from the seat he had so casually lounged in as he watched his victim bleed to death. His victim, Laura realised. He had made Danny a victim. She had not known that knife existed until it was up to its hilt in her back.
Theo's head flew back with the force of Laura's palm striking his neck. He shot up out of his seat and clutched at his throat to support it as he struggled to draw in a breath. Immediately, Laura drove her knee between his legs, and took advantage of his loosened grip as he dropped to heavily to his knees. There was no hesitation in her movement as she swung knife up and buried it deep in the newly exposed hollow just above his left collarbone. She paused to see the shock in his eyes, the offence he clearly took at being bested by a tiny girl he had failed to view as a threat in her grieving rage. Then she pulled the knife free and left a wound pouring blood every bit as quickly as Danny's had.
She stood over Theo, watched the blood run through his scrabbling fingers. She felt nothing as she watched Theo fight for and lose the last vestige of his consciousness. He slumped forward, head hitting the the floor heavily. The flow from his neck grew sluggish and then finally stopped. His unnaturally grey face pressed against the floor, devoid of all movement.
It didn't feel any better.
Silently, Laura placed the knife on the floor before her and returned to her seat to cradle Danny's body. She felt Kirsch's eyes upon her, but she made no attempt to meet them.
Nothing would ever make this feel better.