I've been wanting to make this series for a long time now and I am excited to finally get it under way! This is a story inspired by Minecraft and the mob talker mod. I intend for this to be a fairly long series but I have a new job so I won't have as much time as I'd like to write so I won't be able to promise a new chapter every week :(
Fear not though as I have a beta-reader/helper to help me out with my story. I speak of course about Gabriel. He has helped me with this story in so many ways already and he deserves a bit of credit.
Now, this story is open to free editing. I fix errors and change small parts of the story in the beginning but will only fix grammatical errors when we move out of the beginning. Keep an eye on the update section of the A/N's so you don't miss anything!
I also don't own any real world names, like Nissan, Swedish Fish, and Jacket from Miami Hotline (who is my favorite sociopath).
Now I've been talking for WAY too long so I'm gonna shut up and let you start reading!
Updated: 1/18/16
"Hoo, man that was tiring!" Connor said, stretching his arms above his head.
"Not surprising given your wild and reckless fighting style," Gabriel teased, smiling as he received a light punch in the arm.
"Seriously dude, you have got to stop charging in there with a sword. It's a horrible strategy," added Austin.
"Pfft, as if you're one to talk about strategy Austin," Connor said with a grin, thinking back to how Austin had literally pulled up a chair in the hallway and sat down, waiting for the action to come to him. It rarely did.
"Ladies, ladies, you're all brilliant strategists, so shut up." Martin said firmly, sarcasm practically dripping from his voice when he said 'brilliant'. Martin was giving a small smile that was barely visible behind his almost natural, "Russian Czar" expression and attitude.
The small posse of friends were all dressed for battle and toted guns with small orange tips at the end of the barrels. They had all just come back from a long day of airsofting, which is kind of like paintball except you have more realistic guns that fire small plastic pellets at high velocities. They were currently walking back to Connor and Austin's cars to be taken back home.
Connor was a 19 year old with pale-ish skin and dark blue eyes. His white medium length hair was partially hidden under his black skull cap. He wore black cargo pants and knee pads with complimenting black leather boots. He had a holster on each thigh for his twin revolvers in a cross-draw position. He had a black Amoeba am-014 rifle with an underbarrel flashlight and a black marksman's scope resting on his shoulder. Connor was wearing his favorite crimson leather jacket under a black tactical-vest that had the word Spectre embroidered on it in jagged, red letters. Under the jacket he wore a simple grey t-shirt and a blue bead necklace with a sterling silver pendant shaped like a wolf's head. There was a training kukri knife on his belt and a training scimitar on his back.
Gabriel was 18 and had dark black hair that was shaved on the sides and the hair he had on top of his head was tied back into a long ponytail that reached just above the center of his back. He had bright green eyes and softly tanned skin. He was hauling his PKP Pecheneg and had his modified M4 slung on his back. The M4 was capable of emptying an entire clip in under a second, delivering a blistering amount of pellets at over 700 fps. Gabriel had sawed the stock off to make it more maneuverable and easier to carry, as well as shortened the barrel. He was wearing a dark green mesh half-mask and goggles that were hanging loosely around his neck. He wore his dark green tac-vest over a tan t-shirt and a long sleeve camo shirt under that. He had desert camo cargo pants with the ends tucked into his black combat boots. The word Archangel was embroidered on his vest in white, curving letters.
Izzy was wearing typical camo pants and shirt with a tan plate-carrier on his chest. He had his modded M4 in his arms and a SIG-553 on a strap around his torso. Nathan was wearing a black Avenged Seven-fold t-shirt and worn jeans. He had a Spectre
Martin and Austin both looked like they were taken straight out of "American Sniper." They had on standard military equipment with matching M4s. The M4s had holographic sights, lasers, tac-lights, grips, and a mock suppressor. Anyone watching would've thought they were actual Marines. They were, without a doubt, the more militaristic of the group.
Izzy stood off to the side, not really saying much but laughing along with his buds, throwing in the occasional jab or taunt. Aaron was doing something blasphemous with a calculator. He tapped Connor's shoulder and showed him the calculator's screen. Connor groaned and facepalmed, turning the calculator over to show Gabriel. Gabriel barked out a laugh to see the words PIGEON repeating all over the screen randomly. Aaron and his ways with graphing calculators. The pigeon thing no one understood. One day Aaron came into the cafeteria, slammed his hand on the table and pronounced them all to be pigeons, pointing to each of them accusingly. They went with it because why the hell not? The group of friends mingled a bit more as the sun dipped below the horizon, throwing everything in shadow. They reached the parking lot a minute later and piled their equipment in their gun bags and then piled themselves into Connor's black Nissan X-Terra and Austin's white Mitsubishi 3000gt.
Izzy went with Austin and Everyone else got into Connor's offroad behemoth. Connor drove everyone to their homes until it was just him and Gabe. They had moved out of their parent's houses as soon as it was legally possible and lived in separate rooms at the same apartment complex. They had been looking for a good place to live and wound up deciding on the same building without even planning on it. Connor chose it because it was near the university and Gabriel because there was an, "amazing donut shop right next door." Connor was sure there was another reason but with Gabe who knows?
They were 20 minutes away from the apartment when things went wrong.
"Hey dude?" Said Gabriel.
"Yeah?"
"You realize the exit is right there right?"
Connor looked as Gabe in alarm and swerved to get into the next lane,earning several angry honks and stares, but he was in the left lane and there was no way to get there in time. Sure enough, as soon as they reached the right lane they passed the exit. Connor rolled down the window and swore loudly, much to Gabriel's amusement.
"Missing that exit is going to add another 10 minutes at least," Connor grumbled. He looked at Gabriel.
"Why does this always happen? We always end up lost!"
"Only when you're driving," Gabriel mumbled.
"You want to say that a bit louder?" Connor said threateningly.
"No, no. I'm fine leaving it as a mumble." Said Gabriel, a smile showing plainly on his face, hands raised innocently.
"Gah, I have no idea where we are. I'm pulling over so I can try to get Google Maps to work." Said Connor, already pulling out his phone.
"Ha! Good luck with that." Said Gabriel.
They pulled over underneath a streetlamp. The sky was completely dark now and they were in the ghetto but they weren't worried. Connor looked like an amped up terrorist and Gabriel knew martial arts so neither was worried about being bothered by the locals. Plus Connor kept a weapons stashed inside his car.
Gabriel got out to stretch a bit while Connor tapped away at his phone, silently cursing at it for being a useless piece of trash. He got out while the phone loaded Maps. He took off his tac-vest and training swords and put them in the back of the car. He also removed his sweaty skull cap and let the winter wind blow through his damp white hair, chilling his head. He shook his head to try and dry his hair a bit faster. He strapped a curved dagger he had hidden under the driver seat to his lower leg and climbed into the car. He saw that Maps had finally loaded, so he took some Swedish Fish from his car stash and munched on the cherry candy while tried to locate their apartment building.
He looked out the window in exasperation after he saw that it had started raining. He sighed and went back to tapping his phone.
A few minutes later Connor got Google Maps working but as he turned to tell Gabriel he noticed something was wrong. Gabriel was still as a statue, head cocked slightly to the side.
"Hey, dude. You alri-"
"Shh, shh," Gabriel hushed quietly, holding a finger up. He turned to Connor with a strange look on his face.
"Do you hear that?" He said. Connor turned the engine off and got out of the car, straining his ears to hear what Gabriel had heard. He listened, and listened. He heard nothing but the soft patter of rain on the pavement and his car and he and Gabriel's light breathing. After a few seconds of silence he was about to tell Gabriel he was going crazy when he heard something out of place. Gabriel looked at him with alarm on his face.
"Did you hear-" Gabriel began.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. A girl yelling. Where did it come from?"
The two boys listened for a moment. When they heard another shout, this time from what sounded like a man, they acted.
Gabriel grabbed a makarov from the glovebox and went to the trunk with Connor. Together they removed the floor of the trunk and found a hidden compartment filled with weapons, survival supplies, medical supplies, etc. Gabriel opened a green ammo box and stuffed two extra 9mm cartridges in his tactical vest. Connor opened a large cigar box and removed a black cylinder. He handed it to Gabriel and Gabriel applied the silencer to the barrel of his gun. Connor reached in the trunk and removed a scimitar with a similar design to his trainer. The blade itself was 21 inches long and it had an angled grip which allowed Connor to use some extraordinary moves that would be difficult otherwise. He also took a machete and slid the machete sheathe onto his back so the handle was near the right side of his waist.
Now armed, the boys ran towards where they had heard the commotion, both knowing that what they were doing was really freaking stupid. But someone had to help.
They ran towards an alleyway between a dinged out old diner and an apartment building. They stopped at the entrance and hid behind a dumpster. Connor peeked around the dumpster to get an idea of what was happening. The dim light that lit up the alley was flickering so it was difficult to see and it kept screwing with Connor's vision.
There were five guys, their backs were turned and hoods were up. They were standing menacingly around two cornered girls. One girl had long black hair and tanned skin and seemed to be holding a dark steel shortsword. However, the girl was out of breath and could barely hold onto the sword as it swayed in her hands. The other girl was standing behind her and had snow white hair and pale skin in contrast to her friend with the sword. The white-haired girl had a curved stick in her hands, and she looked nervous and angry at the same time.
Can't blame her, a stick and a really tired friend ain't much of a defense on five dudes in a small alley, Connor thought.
Connor turned back to Gabriel and whispered to him.
"Hey, go bring the car around. Turn the headlights into the alley. Do it quietly. Oh! And take your time. I want a minute to talk to these guys." Connor gave his keys to Gabriel, who raised an eyebrow in an unspoken question. Connor just smirked in an unspoken answer. Gabriel sighed and ran off to the car.
Connor grinned and threw up his hood; obscuring the top half of his face. He unconsciously reached into his pocket, his fingertips brushing against the white box that he carried with him everywhere. The instant his skin touched the plastic his entire demeanor changed: his shoulders lost their tension, his neck loosened up and he rolled it with several cracks, his grin was more relaxed and genuinely amused than before. Everything he saw swayed slowly around him, like he was in a warm daze. He walked out from behind the dumpster and pulled out the small white recorder in his pocket. He hid the scimitar behind his leg and held the recorder out to his side. His smile widened and he pushed a button on the side.
"#%&Hello.*"
The men stiffened. Then they slowly turned around. Connor angled his head and pushed the button again.
"#%&What a lovely day right?*"
They took a hesitant step back, one of them muttered something under his breath. Connor's smile vanished into a mask of emotionlessness as he revealed the sword behind his leg. The steel shone in the dim light. Click.
"#%&Do you know what time it is?*"
He didn't give any indication that he wanted to move. But suddenly he was charging them, sword trailing behind him and scratching against the ground, sending sparks up behind him.
The men jumped a bit but quickly recovered and advanced on the threat. The first one Connor met was lunging with a switchblade.
Connor hopped to the side and brought his arm around in a wide arc. The lunge missed him and Connor's sword swept past the next two men, making them stop in their tracks as the sword bit deep into the back of the first man. He cried out in pain and fell face-first into the pavement. Connor put a boot to the man's side and ripped the blade free. He turned and faced the next two, who froze in front of him. Then the fourth man charged out from behind them with a pair of brass knuckles.
He punched and his knuckles met steel as Connor put his sword between them. Connor put his right foot next to the man's left foot and pivoted on the end of that foot. Connor spun and whipped his steel away from the knuckles. The man recovered from a stagger and turned to deliver another punch. But Connor was coming back down from his swing and slammed the hilt of the sword into the back of the man's head. As he fell Connor turned to the other two, who were mid-attack with knives.
Connor had his back to them. He pulled his sword up to level with his face, pointing towards the men. He dodged one thrusted knife and shot out his right arm to the other. The blade wedged itself in the chest of the man, with the edge pointing outwards towards the man's right side. Connor stepped in close and put his free hand on the hilt. He pulled out a few inches and pushed on the sword, cutting through the man and sliding the blade free from the first and into the second. He pulled back on the sword and it slid backwards out of the second man's side. Both collapsed to the ground next to him.
Connor was about to walk towards the girls when he heard the sound of a gun safety being clicked off behind him. Connor froze. Behind him was the man he had hit on the head, one hand on his throbbing forehead and the other clutching a pistol. The man was panting heavily with blood oozing down one side of his face. Connor turned his head to glance at the man. The man's grip tightened on the pistol.
FLASH!
Suddenly the whole alley was lit up. Connor held a hand up to cover his eyes and when he removed it he found the barrel of a gun in his face.
PFFT!
The gun slid from the man's grip and he fell onto the ground with a pained groan. Connor shook his head wearily, finding the recorder back in his pocket. He looked up and saw a figure coming towards him with the light shining on his back. As he got closer Connor recognized Gabriel. Gabriel had the silenced makarov in his hand and he didn't look happy.
"Dammit man, I thought you were going to talk to them!" He said, looking around at the blood spilled on the ground.
"Even in this hell of a city, this'll be on the news for days!" Connor shrugged and turned his back to Gabriel.
"You mean I told you that I, of all people, was going to try to talk my way out of trouble?" He said snarkily. Gabriel sighed and conceded his point. Together they made their way to the last man, who had elected to grab the dark haired girl and keep her between him for the duration of the fight. Gabriel brought the gun to bear but kept his finger off the trigger. Connor hefted the sword onto his shoulder with a smirk.
"You're a coward, ya know that?" Connor said.
"You know what we do with cowards?" Gabriel asked. The man looked between the both of them with panic on his face. The knife he had to the girl's throat trembled. The girl moaned as the man struggled to keep her upright.
Connor knelt down and put his sword on the ground. Then, in one fluid movement, he whisked the knife on his leg out and threw it overhanded at the man. He cried out as the blade sunk into his exposed shoulder. He let the girl go and stepped back. Gabriel aimed and fired a shot into the man's left leg. He cried out again and fell on his back. Then both boys went to stand over his head and leaned in.
"'We leave em' for the buzzards.'" They said at the same time. The man panted in pain as he grasped at the knife in his shoulder and the gunshot on his leg. Connor reached down and yanked the knife free, much to the man's displeasure. Returning the knife to his leg, Connor turned to the girls. The black haired one was barely conscious, sitting on the wet ground like DiCapprio's French girls. Her hair clung to her back, neck, face, and chest. She was wearing a black short jacket that ended at her stomach and mid-upper arms. Her short shorts were of a similar color and she had black stockings. Her skin was sun-kissed and she had startlingly green eyes.
The white haired girl was dressed similarly, with the exception that her clothes were white and gray. Her hair was as long as her friend's and was snow white. She stood there looking at them both, unsure of what to think. When she came to the conclusion that these men weren't going to attack her she slid to the ground with a tired huff.
Connor and Gabriel shared a look.
"Hey, you need help?" Gabriel asked her. She shook her head wearily.
"Pfft. Like hell you don't. Its almost winter, its raining, your in shorts and a short jacket, and you're tired to boot. And your friend is practically the living dead right about now. I think the question was rhetorical, you need help." Connor said. The girl glared at him. After some consideration, she nodded. Gabriel went to help her up and then motioned to Connor. Connor then went to pick up the black haired girl, carrying her bridal style. A little coloration came to his cheeks when he realized how tight her jacket was on her C's but quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts. They went over to the car and opened the doors, but then the white-haired girl shook her head and lightly pushed away from Gabriel. She used the wall for support and made her way over to a closed Italian restraunt, standing under the red and white awning over the front door. Gabriel looked at Connor and Connor shrugged, moving to set the girl down in the backseat.
Gabriel elected to go talk to the girl under the awning while Connor took care of the other girl.
She was just standing there, hugging her arms close to her under her chest. She was looking out into the rain and didn't say anything for a few seconds. Gabriel waited patiently next to her for her to start, looking out at the rain like her.
"I-" She started hesitantly.
"I...I don't trust you. Either of you."
"That's fair," Gabriel said calmly.
"Especially the one in the hood. Is he...was...he with those men back there?" She asked.
"Connor? No. He's just...a little messed. These days, everyone has something wrong with them." Gabriel said, gazing over to the car, where Connor was putting a blanket from the trunk over the girl.
The girl was quiet for a time. Gabriel leaned against the restraunt and looked down to his boots.
"This town is rough. I'm surprised you two are out here alone, let alone at night!"
"Why? Is it worse at night?"
"Well, yeah. Not sure what those guys wanted with you but it could have been a number of things. The days in this city are bad; murder, robbery, mugging, and rape, it's all pretty common here. But the nights are the worst. Human traffickers, drug lords and gangs. All of the worst parts of the city live after 10 pm." She seemed to debate this for a few seconds before responding.
"Then why do you live here?" She asked with cautious curiosity.
"A...are you part of this dangerous night life?"
Gabriel laughed.
"Us? No no no. We missed an exit on the road and it's taking us longer than usual to get home is all. Rather fortunate really, otherwise I'd be asleep in bed and you'd be God knows where."
"Who's God?"
"Huh? Seriously?" He asked her incredulously.
She just looked at him blankly. He sighed and explained it was the deity of a religion that many people followed. His family followed it but he and Connor were somewhat in a gray area. Connor had his own thoughts about the afterlife and how the universe came to be. But the prospect of "God" was such a big one that it was common for it to be referenced even by those who don't believe in it. She scrunched her eyes together, trying to comprehend it all. Eventually she just nodded and turned back to the rain.
"I never got an answer." Gabriel said. She moved slightly to show she was listening.
"What were you two doing alone out here at night? You escape some human traffickers?"
"Human what?"
"Oh come on! Have you been living under a rock for the last twenty years?" He exclaimed. She looked at him in surprise.
"I don't mean to be insulting but this is all pretty much common knowledge. *sigh* Human traffickers take people and sell them as slaves to other shadowy organizations or really rich people who can get away with hiding it." Her look told him this was her first time hearing about them. He just sighed.
"People actually do that?" She asked him.
"Yep, no one does anything though. Well, except for that one guy on the news. Spectre or something like that."
"Spectre?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah it's some vigilante who has been cleaning house around the city. Cops would get anonymous tips at first, but then he started doing the dirty work himself when the cops didn't, or rather couldn't, do anything about it. There's a half-hearted attempt to find him by the police. But honestly I don't think they want him to be caught." There was a pause for a few seconds before she spoke again.
"I don't know."
"What?"
"Your question. I don't know why we were outside after dark. It was just that time when we got here. Which, by the way, where is here?" Gabriel looked like he was on the verge of putting his fist through the wall. This girl had to have been raised in a cellar or something. But he kept his cool and responded.
"This trash of a city," he began, gesturing idly to the rain-swept city streets.
"Is called Micro City. Don't let the name fool ya. It's anything but small. We're just a few minutes drive from the city skirts actually. The center of the city is the eye of the shit storm so we try to avoid it."
"Micro City...well, now that I answered your question will you answer one of mine?"
'That's all I've been doing for this whole conversation,' he thought.
"Sure."
"Why are you two here? If it's that bad here then why stay?" Gabriel looked over to Connor, who had placed a blanket over the now passed out girl in the back seat, and was now sitting in the open trunk. He had his sword on his lap and was busy cleaning blood off of and then polishing the steel.
"Partly because he is still attending school here. Due to finances he was forced to go here and not the one in Illinois that he wanted. He still has three years to go, I just hope we live long enough for him to get a degree." She looked at Connor for a second as well before responding.
"Well, then I get why HE would want to stay. But what about YOU?" He thought for a minute.
"He wouldn't survive if I wasn't here. Not just from the city, also from stress. He handles stress about as well as a landmine. I need to be there to stop him from blowing a top and doing something crazy. Also, I have family and friends here." He shook his head and looked at her shivering form. He wasn't wearing anything he could put over her to keep her warm.
He gestured to Connor to back the car up and bring a blanket. He nodded and put away his sword. As he went to the driver seat, Gabriel tried to talk to her again.
"Listen, you need to come with us. I don't see you and your friend surviving the night in those clothes." She stiffened at the thought of going with two strangers, but there was one little voice telling her he was right.
Connor had backed the car up and was now heading over to them with a blanket from the trunk. Gabriel took it and offered it to the girl. She looked at it, then at the two boys. She held their gaze and clenched her teeth. She took the blanket and wrapped it around herself tightly, blushing at the warmth it held.
"It's thermal, but won't stay that way in this cold for long. We should go soon." He said as he made his way back to the car. He gestured for Gabriel to follow. When they had gotten closer to the car they started talking.
"Hey man," said Connor.
"Hey," replied Gabriel.
"So, you mind filling me in here?" Asked Connor. Gabriel sighed and began to relay everything the girl had just told him.
"Apparently they aren't from around here. They don't know how they got here or where here even is. I don't have the details yet." Gabriel said, glancing over at the white-haired girl, who was clutching the blanket to her tightly, shivering despite the thermal blanket.
"Well, that dark haired one is tired as hell. She passed out from fatigue as soon as she sat down. You get their names yet?"
Gabriel shook his head.
"Nah, she doesn't trust us too much. Especially you, there's something about you that disturbs her. But eh, that's the normal reaction people get after first meeting you." Gabriel smiled a little as Connor lightly slapped him upside the head.
"And I understand I guess, they wake up and the first guys they meet attack them. Then out of nowhere two more show up and kill all of the others. I wouldn't trust me either in her situation."
"Yeah, I get it. And I'm pretty sure they aren't dead yet. If any of them have brains they'll call an ambulance and maybe they'll live. I'm not calling shit for those A-hats though. But anyway, we need to get her in the car. That blanket won't last too much longer."
Gabriel nodded again, a vacant look in his eyes as he watched the white-haired girl out of the corner of his eye. Connor tapped his shoulder and tried to get his attention.
"Hey, earth to Gabriel. Come in Gabriel. Hey, dude. Yo..." Gabriel didn't acknowledge that his friend was even there. He was too lost in thought. Connor sighed and walked back to the car. Gabriel was thinking, there was something about that girl. Something, familiar...
HONK HOOOONK!
Both the girl and Gabriel nearly jumped out of their skin. Gabriel looked over to see a very annoyed Connor glaring at him from the driver seat. Gabriel sighed and went over to the white-haired girl.
"Look, I know you have no reason to trust us..."
"Besides the fact that we just saved you from a bunch of thugs!"
"Shut up, Connor! You're not helping!"
Connor shrugged and started to fiddle with his phone and the various wires he had connected to the radio.
"As I was saying, you have no reason to trust us, but right now you need our help. Like it or not." The girl seemed to debate this and let out an exasperated breath. She went over to the car and looked at the door confusedly. Gabriel raised an eyebrow and went to open the door for her. She silently thanked him and sat next to her sleeping friend. Gabriel closed the door and got in the passenger side. After they had piled in, Connor started the engine and made his way to their apartment. The drive was short but was filled with questions and answers between the girl and the boys.
When they arrived at the apartment they decided to stay at Connor's place, since Gabriel's was a whole floor up and Connor had to carry the black-haired girl in. At his request, Gabriel fished the key out of Connor's pocket and let them in, flipping the light switch on his way in. Connor carried her into his bedroom and set her down on the bed. He covered her up with the sheets and closed the door. Gabriel was sitting down on the couch and had his head back and his eyes closed, lost in thought. Connor pulled up a chair from the dinner table next to the window and sat in it backwards, resting his arms on the back of the chair.
"Gabe, dude. It ain't like you to do all this hard thinking. I'm surprised your head hasn't blown up yet." Connor joked.
"Gah, shut up Connor. Not in the mood." Gabriel said, laying his arm across his eyes. Connor looked at the white haired girl and pulled up a chair for her. She was hesitant at first but eventually she sat in the chair, eyes lowered to the floor. Connor watched her inspect everything in the room, pausing whenever she looked at any electronics, pictures, and furniture.
"You really aren't from around here are ya?" Connor asked. She looked at him with a blank expression.
"What?"
"I said you really aren't from around here, are you?" She shook her head.
"I live in a place very different from this foul smelling city. There's so much stone here its like a cave without a ceiling. The only exposed rock at my home was on the cliff edges."
Connor noted her voice. It was young, but mature. That was a quality that said alot about this girl. Not many teen girls her age had that much maturity.
Speaking of age...Connor thought.
"Hey, how old are you?" Asked Connor. Gabriel bolted upright and slapped Connor across the back of the head.
"Moron! You don't ask a lady her age! This is why you don't have a girlfriend!"
"First off, ow! And second, I don't have a girlfriend because every girl I meet either has a guy or is a complete bitch! I shouldn't have to explain my love life to you of all people! And she won't answer your questions so I thought I'd start with something that wouldn't make this seem like an interrogation!" Connor yelled, rubbing the back of his head. Gabriel was obviously pissed about something and Connor could tell. They'd spent just enough time together for him to know when something was bothering him.
"Look just because you're pissed about something doesn't mean you have to take it out on me!"
"I'm pissed AT you! You never can keep your mouth shut and one day its gonna get you killed!"
"No, I know when you're mad at me. I've seen that enough to recognize it on sight. And I'm unkillable, so it's unlikely my mouth will earn me my death. You're mad at something else, so? Spill it. What's eating at ya?"
"None of your business!" Gabriel finished, flopping back on the couch.
"Gabe?" Connor asked. Gabriel didn't move.
"Gabe?" He asked again. No response.
"Oh, oh fine then just kriffing pout!" Connor exclaimed. Connor closed his eyes and rubbed the back of his head again then sat back down.
"What's with all the shouting?" Asked a quiet voice. Gabriel looked up and Connor turned to look over his shoulder and almost fell out of his chair.
The black-haired girl was awake and was leaning lazily on the door frame. The blanket was slung over her shoulders but was slipping off her shoulder. Her dark hair was tangled and all over her face. Most girls looked like hell when they wake up after a hard sleep but this time? Connor and Gabriel fought to keep the blood from rushing to their faces.
The white-haired girl got up and ran over to help her friend. She pulled the blanket back over her shoulder and half carried her to the leather chair facing the TV. She set her down in the chair and went back to her seat. They sat, all four of them, in a square. They looked awkwardly at each other and when the black-haired girl was a bit more awake they started the introductions.
"So," Connor began, "My name's Connor, the boy-wonder on the couch is Gabriel. May I ask who you ladies are? And, if you don't mind, tell us why those men were chasing you?"
The girls looked at each other.
"Its..." Started the white-haired girl. She looked to her friend for help who finished with, "Complicated."
Connor sighed and leaned over, resting his arms on the back of the chair.
"Well we ain't going anywhere until this rain stops so I think we have time." He said. Gabriel sat back and put up his booted feet on the coffee table, hands clasped behind his head. Gabriel took in a tired breath.
"He's right. Not going anywhere for now. So, how about you tell us this 'complicated' story of yours? And please, don't skimp on the details. Start from the very beginning."
The girls shared another glance and the white-haired girl looked at Gabriel.
"Alright, so. The beginning..."
This chapter is by far the longest I've ever written and my hope is to keep all of the chapters in this story near the same length. Again, this story is open to free-editing. So make sure to check back in every once and awhile and see when it was last updated. I know it's a pain for you guys, I'm sorry. But my goal is to be satisfied with my story by its end and that can only happen if I can make some changes to it. Tell me what you thought in the reviews and I'll see ya in the next chapter!