Disclaimer: I am not Stephen Sommers (director of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra) and so therefore I do not own his works. What I ADD into the story is mine (example: different characters, the plot, etc.) but the original themes, ideas, plots, characters, script, etc. are solely the works of this awesome, famous person, and his associates.
Chapter Three
Voices. That was the first thing Sage heard, as cliché as that sounds. They were close, at her back, and murmuring lowly. One had a deep tenor that made him manly and mystique—almost charming. The other was gruff and slightly higher in pitch, but still distinctly masculine. Sage recognised one of them, the less striking tone, and the realisation jolted some unspoken surprise within her gut. But she remained unspoken. From past experiences, she'd learnt that playing dead was actually quite handy. Although this time, she was just playing sleep.
With that thought, the memories from very recent past events rushed back to her unexpectedly, like a burst of light. She hadn't really forgotten them, but now they were focussed in the centre of her mind: Hawk's steely gaze, his harsh voice, the boat, the van, the struggle, the chloroform...And as if waiting for her acknowledgement, an unexpected, splitting headache assaulted her skull. She grimaced, but bit her tongue to keep from groaning. It was painful, yes, and a bitch, but she needed to stay silent.
The voices cut through her pain: "—ow gets back. She should be awake by now..." The statement came from the deeper man with the gorgeous tenor. His words sounded doubtful, and his unsure tone received a curt reply from the other man. He reacted defensively, Sage could imagine the body action to go with it: furrowed brows, fierce gaze, hands lifted in the air for innocence. "It's not my fault if I overdosed her. I had to make sure she was knocked out!"
Now that wasn't innocent.
As Sage listened, she realised the younger male's voice was almost identical to another man she knew. A man who dressed in white, consistently armed himself with two sharp katanas, and had a kickass stunning smile. A man who was dead.
Storm Shadow.
Sage's eyes flew open, purely on impulse, and her head twisted to the right. It took a second for her hair to catch up and rudely slap her on the cheek, but she disregarded the act as she was helplessly caught in the dark eyed gaze of the man before her. His facade was beautiful: his dark eyes were slanted, his face smooth and brown with light pink lips and highset cheekbones shadowed where the hard light of the room did not reach. He had a strong, angled jaw, and his short-cropped black hair was spiked haphazardly about his head. A loose, short-sleeved white shirt covered his powerful torso, untucked and loose. The pureness contrasted brightly against the smooth olive toning of his skin. His arms were strong, his shoulders broad. His figure was tall and slender, lithesome and deadly. Sage couldn't help it, she gasped.
The first thought she had was of that perfect white-clad ninja five years ago, but upon closer inspection, she realised the boy was younger—a lot younger, possibly a teenager—and yet he looked so much alike Storm Shadow. There were clear traits that both distinguished and unified the pair. He was different and similar, a clone and yet unique.
Within her mystified stare, the boy arched a brow. It was wonderful and seducing, exactly like Storm Shadow. Sage closed her eyes, turning her head away. Her heart was pounding. She breathed deep to calm it, and then lifted her head to gaze around the room.
It was beautiful. The walls were a stunning dark mahogany that was both smooth and rough. The floor was a thick, bright red carpet that crept softly between her bare toes. The furniture alternated between mahogany and black silk, and the fireplace...
Wow.
Sage's eyes widened as she glanced about, stunned by the chaste exquisiteness and splendour surrounding her. Ornate carvings of Japanese symbols rested in both the large wooden desk before her, upon the tall, thick frame of the fireplace behind that, and the wide double doors to her right.
This place was magnificent.
And through her stunned glances around the room, she didn't notice the figure that had stepped forth from her left to stand before her now. He was tall and lean—though not at all weak. Beneath the casual black pants and fitted green top his muscles were defined and powerful. His broad shoulders and grey-eyed gaze faced Sage in a stance she felt was less intimidating than stern. His mahogany hair, smooth and neat as it brushed his forehead, made his face more distinct and luring than if it were spiked. He caught her gaze, and smiled widely.
Sage's lip curled and she spat on the floor. He shrunk back in disgust and surprise.
"Zartan." she snarled the word like a curse, and a sort of trivial fear flashed across his face for a brief amount of time. Sage knew she could be one menacing bitch when she wanted to. Unfortunately for him, this was one of those times. "So you impersonate Hawk, kidnap me, and then knock me out?" Her voice rose in anger and accusation as she progressed. "And now I'm chained to a fucking chair?"
Zartan recovered slightly; he even smirked. "What can I say? I'm a master of disguise, Sage." His voice was smug, and it made Sage's teeth grind together in annoyance.
"You better hope I don't get out of these cuffs, or you're a dead man, Zartan." It wasn't an empty threat, and Sage's stormy eyes proved that. Zartan swallowed, unable to speak.
"My, my," the Storm-Shadow-alike sneered, capturing Sage's attention; "you are quite quick to anger, aren't you?" Sage hissed and bared her teeth. He smiled deviously.
"And who the hell are you?"
The boy straightened and gazed at her for a moment before answering, "Blood Claw." Sage cocked a brow and snorted.
"Blood Claw?"
"Ariel Gallow?" he retorted, and her face hardened before she looked away. "Zartan, go and retrieve Sensei." Zartan turned and snarled, but stalked obediently toward the door and vanished through it with a hollow boom. Sage could see why: she wouldn't much like being ordered around as a dog, either. Cutting through her musings, Blood Claw spoke: "So, Sage—"
She cut him off brusquely, "You drugged me." And at her indictment, Blood Claw cocked a brow.
"It was quite easy to do. The prison has dulled your skills." With his statement, something clicked at the back of Sage's chair, and she glanced over her shoulder. The handcuffs she'd unconsciously broken free from clattered loudly to the floor, and she grinned. Her arms were free.
A soft silvery wink flashed out of the corner of Sage's eye, and her head darted up just as a cool steel blade was placed to her throat. Her eyes dropped, and she followed the smooth contours of the elegant katana blade from its point at her neck to the finely adorned black-leather hilt, up the muscular brown arm to its cut-off at the white sleeve, up the thick neck, over the high cheekbones, and into the dark, calculating eyes staring back at her like a wall. Her brows drew together, and then an indescribable emotion settled heavily her gut.
"You're a ninja."
At her words, the boy smiled, and she saw with sudden clarity the killer behind it. Despite his youthful appearance, he'd already slaughtered many that dared to stand in his path. He was verging on nineteen, and he was already a murderer. Just like Sage.
"I'm glad you noticed." He murmured arrogantly, pricking Sage's skin with his blade.
"Do it," she seethed quietly, baring her teeth at his antics. "I dare you."
"I—"the quiet opening and closing of a door cut the young man off as he glanced up quickly. He stiffened, and so did Sage, when she heard the voice.
"Blood Claw."
The katana disappeared from Sage's neck and the boy stepped back quickly, lowering his gaze. Sage's gut tumbled to her toes, and she stilled like a statue, her eyes frozen wide in horror, unable to move.
"Sage." his voice calling her name made her flinch, and she turned her head further to the side, evading his presence. She hunched her shoulders and closed her eyes tightly. Her hands, hanging loosely by her sides, trembled.
"Ariel Gallow," he tried again, and she made a soft noise that sounded oddly like a wounded animal. Her breathing was shallow and fast, her heart stuttering in fear. She tried to resist him, but he was too luring. "Look at me."
Slowly and reluctantly, Sage lifted her head and opened her eyes, and there, standing before her, blocking the fireplace at his back with his solid, dominant build, was the white-clad ninja she knew.
Storm Shadow in the flesh.
Her gut corkscrewed in pain and she cried out before she could stop it. His dark eyes stared at her intensely, and her head swam.
Breathe. She reminded herself urgently. Breathe.
Darkness began to cloud her vision, and she leant forward to support her face with her hands that rested on her knees. She closed her eyes and inhaled deep, ragged breaths.
Breathe, her mind whispered. She complied, and slowly, the sharp ringing in her ears, the hard pounding of her erratic heart, and the alarming blackness clouding her eyes began to disappear. She held herself in that position for a little while longer, calming herself, as neither Storm Shadow nor Blood Claw moved to help her.
When she regained control, he spoke again, "Sage." She fisted her hands against her forehead and gritted her teeth. Looking up, she stared into his eyes.
"You died."
Something passed over his eyes at her words, and then he smiled slowly. It was a dark and mysterious approach, both drawing and repelling. Sage's gut curled in on itself and her heart fluttered, but she didn't smile back. She couldn't. The beginning of a new emotion was brewing deep inside as she stared. Stared at his perfect body.
Anger. That was the only name for it. It wasn't love, and it wasn't distress—but it was passionate. Passionate, fierce, and hateful.
And Storm Shadow, of all people, understood why. Within the timeframe of a year, he'd managed to drag Sage on a deadly rollercoaster that made her question everything she had. He'd made her second-guess her past, her enemies, her future, and herself. He'd brought down her walls and then rebuilt them. He'd tortured and loved her, and then, within the blink of an eye, he'd disappeared. He'd left her for five years thinking he was dead. He'd left her thinking there was no way to find freedom again. He'd left her thinking she was alone.
Of course, Sage had never really given up on herself; he knew that. Not once. But she gave up on him, and seeing him here now, healthy and haughty, made her blood boil. How dare he make her suffer like that?She would not forgive him.
Not even realising she had moved, Sage found herself standing. It seemed, she thought, that her kidnappers were not very good at chaining her to a chair, or placing on handcuffs. Slowly and scornfully, Storm Shadow raised a brow. Sage trembled in rage, and then shuddered in disgust. He grinned, provoking her.
"You died!" She wailed. He waited, watching as her lips shifted painfully and bewildered emotions spread out across her face. He'd twisted her, that was for sure. But he'd heal her. Bring her back to her old life, her cold state. She'd softened without his presence.
Instead of stepping toward him, like Storm Shadow had expected, Sage shrunk back in horror. Fear this raw, he realised, he'd never endured from her. She was usually so cold, or so mild. But this, this was ecstasy.
He smiled wider, baring his teeth like a predator, and stepped forward. Sage counterfeited him, stepping back ten for his every one. She would be cornered soon, he knew by glancing to the walls at her back, and then he would take control.
"I saw you!" She shrieked, hurrying away from him. "I saw you fall. I saw Snake Eyes hit your chest, and then I watched you fall!" She was in denial, but at the word of his disgrace, Storm Shadow's eyes darkened.
Sage's eyes flickered for an exit as the white-clothed ninja continued to stalk silently toward her. His stance, she noticed, was much more dangerous than she remembered. His gaze, too, was more noxious.
He'd changed, and the shift in his mood made her uneasy. She deliberated nervously on her toes, scoping the room for exits or weapons, but he'd effectively isolated her to a bland corner of the space.
How could she allow herself to get into such a situation?
Fear was clouding her senses, and Sage was trying to desperately get control of herself, but the shock, and the confrontment, and the hate that came with Storm Shadow's reappearance was distorting her judgement. She was vulnerable and afraid, and the ninja was taking advantage of that.
"You cannot go anywhere, Sage." She looked at him wildly as he soothed her with a voice so similar to what she remembered. He was cunning, and his actions were effective. Sage hesitated.
"You're a ghost." She breathed, waking herself from the trance his eyes captivated her in. She couldn't afford to slip up, not this time. "You have to be."
At that, he grinned. Sage's skin grew clammy. "I am real, Sage." He murmured, drawing her eyes down toward the hem of his shirt as his fingers grasped it and lifted up. His actions exposed the attractive muscles of his toned abdomen, the defined edges of his six-pack, and then the hefty muscles of his chest.
And there, just to the left of the centre of his ribcage, was a faint white scar visibly raised against the dark tanning of his chest.
So, not only was Storm Shadow lethal. He was indestructible.
Sage stumbled and slammed her back against the wall she had unintentionally come close to. Winded, she slid down the hard wooden panels and fell to the floor, closing her eyes. She tried to breathe.
All this time, Sage had thought the ninja was like any other human being: someone that, no matter how well trained or deadly he was, could still die. But Storm Shadow was living proof that that was false.
If he could survive a blade to the heart, could he survive a bullet to the head?
She sensed as the ninja came to crouch before her. Whimpering, she cringed when his warm hand brushed the side of her face like a lover.
It was all a dream. It had to be. Storm Shadow couldn't defy death.
"Ariel Gallow," he began quietly, like he was cooing to a frightened horse. Sage could feel his calculating gaze boring holes into her head, "Open your eyes."
Sage wouldn't do it. She couldn't open her eyes onto a face that was nightmarishly in her dreams. She had wake up. She had to wake up!
When she did not immediately comply, Storm Shadow's hand travelled down to seize her chin. He squeezed it tightly, shooting pain up from her jaw, but she ignored it. She was falling apart. This was all just a nightmare. Just one huge fucking hideous nightmare.
"Sage." his face was closer now, his breath warmer than if it were at a distance. Sage's own breathing was ragged and unsteady.
"Please," she whispered when his lips brushed hers teasingly. "Don't."
"Then look at me." he demanded. She shook her head, his hold tightened. She gasped.
"Blood Claw," Sage sensed as Storm Shadow turned away to address the waiting ninja.
"Yes, Sensei?" his voice, Sage shuddered. It was identical to Storm Shadow's—or was it Storm Shadow's?
"Find Zartan. Order him, on my behalf, to re-establish his role at Parliament. Stand guard outside. Ensure there are no followers. Make sure no one enters this room."
"As you wish, Sensei." soft footsteps and the closing of a door followed the boy's words, and then Storm Shadow turned back to Sage.
"Sage," he whispered softly, and she could feel his breath. "My dear blonde-haired assassin..."
"No," she wept quietly, feeling as the tears slid from her eyes. Traitors..."No."
"It is ok, Sage." He spoke gently, promising false truths that he was kind and caring. He was trickery. He was the devil. "I am not going to hurt you."
Sage's eyes flew open; she couldn't take it any longer. Lashing out with a foot, she forced the ninja back and jumped to her feet. She balled her fists.
"You died!" She screamed, hot, angry tears trailing down her cheeks. "You left me! You betrayed me, Storm Shadow! You gave me to the Joes to thrust me into a cell to rot for the rest of my life! You cursed me to hell!"
Emotions were bubbling in Sage's chest, choking off her words. She was suffocating. Her fingernails clawed at her throat, scratching the skin and restricting her lungs. She coughed violently, collapsing to the floor. Her shoulders shook.
The ninja remained where he was, watching her callously as she struggled to breathe and fight. He stared in disgust at the tears falling to the carpet, and curled his lip up at her behaviour.
"You are weak, Sage," he spat, watching as she gasped and sobbed. "Where is the cold assassin? The grey indifference? The solid wall? What happened to you? I see you here now, a grovelling, piteous mess, and I wonder if you ever really were worth my time. You disappoint me. You are despicable."
At his words, Sage fell silent and lifted her fiery gaze up to stare into his eyes. He smiled mockingly, aggravating a reaction, and she screamed at him.
"You goddamn left me, Storm Shadow! You fucking deserted me, and then you came back from the dead!Why the fuck can't I respond the way I am?" She staggered to her feet, jabbing a finger at him. "You think I am a disgrace, Storm Shadow. You want a disgrace? You want a monster? Look in a fucking mirror you psychotic bastard! That disappointment is you! That evil is you! You are the devil!" Her shattering high-pitched voice pierced the frozen air between the pair, and Storm Shadow acted. Springing forward, he seized Sage by the throat and slammed her hard against the wall. Her skull cracked against the wood, her head swam, and something warm and thick trickled down her back. She gnashed her teeth together harshly and kept from crying out. Storm Shadow's hold chocked off her air supply.
"I did not leave you, Sage, and I did not die. My death was false. I waited for night, until the Joes had left the Hangar, and then I crawled back out of that hole Snake Eyes left me in, and escaped. I was wounded, and for most, it was fatally, but the nanomites within my system allowed me to heal. It has taken time, but now I am mended, and I will continue Cobra's fight against G. I. Joe. I am unstoppable, and now you belong to me. No one here will stop me from what you have coming. You are my soldier now."
The dread settled heavily in Sage's gut as she slowly lifted her gaze to meet his eyes. All this time, she had thought Storm Shadow was protecting her from Cobra, but really, Cobra was protecting her from Storm Shadow. And now that he was gone, Sage was helpless.
For once in her life, she realised there was nothing she could do. She was at the complete and utter mercy if this white-clad ninja, and he goddamn knew it.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading, reviews are greatly appreciated! xx