Warning: This story is very dark. It's rated for a reason. Some chapters will be fairly disturbing.
Nonetheless, you should still R&R.
Disclaimer: I am poor and I own nothing.
Father Abel Nightroad. Codename: Krusnik. A deadly member of the Vatican's AX team. Our story begins with this character, so different; fragile, yet tough as stone. Silly, but serious as a heart attack.
He was not one to toy around with. Emotions like a wildfire; deadly, unpredictable, mysterious, blazing hot.
And what he has endured his whole life, the pain and hardships... None of it amounted to this. This ache inside that tore him up, set his heart on fire. It was a pain that grew as time went by, a distinct hopelessness that made him, at times, want to rip someone's heart out with his own bare hands.
Right now was one of those times. One of those times when he had to fight a war with himself, as to not let that anxiety have the best of him.
But they had taken her from him. The one light, one hope that gave his life meaning. The one person in this whole world he had ever felt so completely alive and happy with.
They took her to wherever the hell rat-hole they were cooped up in. Those damn monsters would pay with their lives.
Abel paced back and forth in Cardinal Sfoza's office, waiting.
What were they doing to her? By God, if they even harmed a hair on her precious head...
"Abel, sit down." Catherine walked around him and sat in her chair.
"I'd rather stand." He said harshly, his eyes cold and menacing.
Catherine sighed. "Abel, I assure you, we are doing all we can to find her. Just calm down and give us some time to--"
"Calm down? Give you time? There isn't time! She could be rotting in a ditch right now, and you want me to calm down and give you time?! I should be out there looking for her! It's my fault she's gone in the first place! I let them take her right out from under my--"
"Abel!" He shut up immediately, his glare dropping to the cool, marble floor. "I understand your concern, but you are in no condition to go out and search yet. We've had this conversation before."
She was right. The bullet wounds on his right leg and torso had yet to heal, and weakened him greatly. But his health was no matter.
Esther's life was more important than his.
"I assure you, we are doing our best."
"Maybe your best," He said as he turned to the door, his voice sharp," is not enough." He limped out the door furiously.
Once this damn leg heals, I will find you Esther. I promise.
Catherine sighed, resting her head on the solid wood of her desk. "Damage report, Lady?" She looked up at Tres tiredly, who stared at her with the same, expressionless face he always wore, holding a glass of water in his gloved hand. "I'm fine Tres, just a headache." He reached out his hand and placed an asprin before her, setting the water down with it. "Thank you." She downed the asprin and a few sips of water. "Tres, if you wouldn't mind, please make sure Abel doesn't do anything stupid while he is recovering."
"Affirmative, my Lady. I will watch him."
"Thank you, Tres." She rubbed her temples, silently begging the asprin to kick in quickly. She understood Abel's suffering, by losing Esther, then not being able to go out and search for her. He felt useless, she could see it in his eyes. He was blaming Esther's kidnapping on himself, when really, there was nothing he could have done. He wasn't the only one. Leon, too was restless, for he cared about Esther as if she were his own flesh and blood, like a little sister. He was dragging Hugue around everywhere he could, threatening to beat any Methuselah he came across down for answers. She had every AX operative she could spare out looking for Esther, with the exception of Tres and Abel.
Why would they have taken her in the first place?
She hoped, begged God, Esther was safe. There were so many things they would be doing to her, so many horrible things she could think of, that just made her sick. She must be terribly frightened.
She finally relaxed a bit when she heard the reassuring click of her door, signifying the android had gone out to keep the restless and angry Abel from running off wounded.
He walked down the halls of the Vatican swiftly, searching for Abel. He found him standing on a balcony overlooking a large, white courtyard. Tears were falling form his eyes as he looked out onto the large, snow dusted field. Tres noted his heart was beating fast. He was unbelievably angry.
Tres, too was worried about Esther. Well, as worried as a machine could be. He didn't appreciate being left here to stand by and watch as AX members called in and tell his Lady about their failed attempts to find the girl. Normally, he would never dare to disobey Cardinal Catherine's orders, he hardwired it into his programing a long time ago, but today, it was different.
It was a matter of life and death for poor Esther, after all. He couldn't stand by with that on his mind.
Abel turned when the sound of Tres's gun clicked behind him. "Damage report, Father Abel."
"What do you mean?"
Tres held both of his guns at his side, clutching them tightly. "Damage report, Father Abel." Abel blinked, tears still falling despite of his confusion. He sniffed. "I'm fine."
"'Fine' enough to walk on your own?" Abel's eyes narrowed. "Yes, Tres, I am fine."
"Affirmative. Pack your belongings quickly. We are departing now."
Abel raised his brows. "But I thought Lady Catherine said to stay here?" Tres turned away from him, guns still at his sides.
"She did."
Abel whistled, amazed Tres of all people would disobey orders. "And what are you holding those for?" Tres robotically sighed. "Precautions. We are currently under close regard, Father Nightroad. I will not have them stop us."
Abel, still amazed, did as Tres told him, quickly packing his things. He followed the Gunslinger to the front gate.
"Halt!" A short, red headed guard held his spear out in front of him. "I have orders from Cardinal Sfoza not to let a F-F-Father Abel Nightroad out of the vacinity of the Vatican."
Tres raised his guns. "Withdraw, or elimination will proceed."
The guard began to sweat, his eyes flicking back and forth nervously, obviously looking for back-up. However, unfortunately for him, no one else was in the yard. "Uhm.. I'm sorry! I-I cannot let him past I--"
"Target confirmed." Tres's eye sparkled red. He shot at the mans feet, making him screech like a small child, more specifically, a small female child. He ran away clumsily, nearly tripping over his own feet, not daring to look back. Tres lowered his guns. "Mission complete. Obstacle depleted. Proceed."
"Thank you Tres." Abel said silently as he limped quickly to the car they planned to 'borrow'. They would have to begin their search in Naples. He wasn't sure if anyone had checked there. Probably, since that was were Esther was taken from. But he had to check again, just to be sure.
Please, Lord, don't let us find her too late...
A/N: Please review. Sorry if it was short. It's just the intro. Since the story is just starting, the chapters probably will be a bit shorter. Sorry about that.