NOTES: Hi! Me again. Yes, I'm still alive. No, I haven't forgotten this fic. As I've said in the other notes on my other works, I have been sick, and have developed very very nasty Arthritis. Basically, I'm not supposed to do anything strenuous with my joints…among them is typing lovely fanfics like this. But, if I pace myself right, and I can get my crazy stories typed and ready to upload. So, no worries.
All right…now we are back to the Maxwell household on L2. The four Maxwell kids are there, Duo, Hilde, and the two Winner kids.
BIG WARNINGS: Violence, blood, Death. Implications of rape. Just read the little theme quote I have for this chapter. It generally explains the chapter!
Alright! READ!
Part III: Innocence Lost
Chorus: Why do you cry out thus, unless of some vision of horror?
Cassandra: The house reeks of death and dripping blood.
Chorus: How so? 'Tis but the odor of the altar sacrifice.
Cassandra: The stench is like the breath from the tomb.
Aeschylus, Agamemnon
The smell of French toast tickled Shadi's nostrils, slowly urging his eyes to open and obey the rumblings of his stomach. Lifting his head, he blinked blearily at his surroundings. It took him a moment to realize that he was not in his room in the mansion, but in a girl's room judging by the white sheets and white canopy with purple flowers spattered on the surface. Slowly he sat up, and looking down at himself he found that he was wearing clothes that did not belong to him. The t-shirt that he wore was sizes too large, and the shorts he wore…
He squinted at them then flinched.
Had the clothes design named: Feminie. A women's clothes designer.
He had to urge to shout for Zara, demanding what kind of sick joke she was trying to play on him, and who dared to undress him. It was then a surge of memories hit him, causing him to gasp and nearly hurl.
He remembered…he remembered everything.
Swallowing the bile that made his throat burn, he slowly slid off the bed and stood on bare feet. He was in the Maxwell household on L2. Duo Maxwell was his father's trusted friend. And Zara…
Zara!
Breaking into a run, Shadi scrambled out of the room, nearly tripped down the narrow stairs and stumbled into the family room where he found Christopher Maxwell sitting alone on the couch, glaring daggers at the vid screen that was shut and black. Shadi stood there, staring at the man, not knowing what to do. He knew that the young man had helped him, carrying Zara to Duo Maxwell, his father. But the man had a feeling about him, one of confusion and anger. Shadi did not know how to deal with him at all.
Christopher turned and looked at him, his violet eyes narrowed and dark, compared to Shadi's own light violet/gray eyes. He was angry, Shadi knew, but at what?
"Finally, thought you'd sleep forever."
Shadi did not know how to answer this, blushing slightly.
Christopher waved his hand, "Never mind. You hungry?"
The young boy's stomach growled, answering the other's question without Shadi's consent. This made Chris smirk slightly, and Shadi felt a sense of relief. A smiling Chris did not seem as dangerous and an angry Chris.
"Your sister woke up about three hours ago. Zara, right?" Shadi nodded. "Yeah, she's in the kitchen with my sisters…" He paused again and looked at Shadi's state of dress.
There was a silence.
Then Chris snorted, and Shadi bristled angrily. Chris raised his hands and said gently, "Hey, don't get angry at me! I wasn't the one who dressed you! You can go yell at my dad, he's the one who dressed you up when you decided to faint in the bath!"
Shadi turned pale. "I what?" No…he so did not…
Chris seemed to take pleasure at the boy's horror. "Yeah, we had to break the door down cause you weren't answering. Dad thought you'd gone and slit your wrists or something, but there you were, sleeping like a baby."
"Quiet!" Shouted Shadi angrily, knowing that his face had turned into a bright tomato. "Its not funny!"
"Actually, it is."
Shadi gave the man a dirty look that usually was reserved for Zara; he had never met anyone so rude and inconsiderate other than her. But at least Zara was his sister. They were not supposed to get along and at times be nasty to each other. Siblings fought and hated each other's guts. It was a Law of Nature. Yet this guy was a total stranger…
With three sisters…
Chris seemed to see the frozen horrified look come over the other's young face, and asked, "What's the matter now?"
The look of total panic in Shadi's eyes made Chris want to laugh even more, but he remained in control…until Shadi asked, "Did…did your sisters…they didn't…"
A huge grin was plastered over Chris's face, seeming to curl evilly. Shadi moaned, mortified, and collapsed into the love seat, covering his burning face into his hands. Chris burst out laughing, and went over and ruffled the boy's light blond hair. "You have no luck, kid. That's for certain. But if it makes you feel better, only Sylvy saw you. Heck, those are her shorts you're wearing.
Shadi whimpered. Yes, he remembered Sylvy. She was the middle one. Helen was the oldest and she was taking care of Zara with her mother, Mrs. Hilde. Kayla was the youngest, though she was older than him. But Kayla seemed always pissed at something. Sylvy was the calm one with gentle eyes.
Such pretty eyes…
"Shadi!"
Shadi jumped in surprise and lifted his head, meeting Zara's teal gaze. His older sister gave him a withering look as she leaned in close to him. "What are you doing?"
Zara was also wearing different clothes, though hers fit perfectly. Her long blond tresses, though, had been cut so that now it hung at her shoulders, pulled back by a gray bandanna. Startled, Shadi reached tenderly and touched the severed strands, "Zara…"
Suddenly he shivered, feeling and odd, yet strong sense of doom…
The girl's eyes melted slightly from their withering look, and gently pulled his hand away. "They had to cut it, because it had been burned."
"From…from the explosion." Whispered Shadi, he found that he felt chocked up, like he couldn't breathe…
Zara sighed and said, "Yeah."
"But…but Baba loved your hair long! And Umi…"
Zara's eyes flashed angrily and she snapped, "Stoppit! You think I didn't know that? My hair was burned, Shadi, meaning it was dead! So stoppit! Quit looking at me like I'm going to die cause I cut my hair!"
Shadi visibly cringed and her harsh tone. Usually he would snap back at her, but he didn't feel up to a verbal battle with his sharp-tongued sister. Anyway, she always beat him in these battles. Not wanting her angry with him while he was feeling vulnerable, he changed the subject. Taking a reign of his approaching and uncalled for panic attack, Shadi opted to change the subject. Once he got his voice under control he managed to ask, "How are you feeling? You scared me when you fainted and wouldn't wake up."
For a moment she did not answer. She stayed leaning over him, her eyes never leaving his face. He knew that she noticed his almost panic attack. Thankfully, she did not say a word about it. Instead Zara sighed and said in an almost gentle tone, "I'm much better. Helen and Mrs. Hilde are really good. Helen wants to be a doctor, did you know?"
Shadi shook his head and looked over to Chris who had been silent the whole time since Zara came in.
Zara straightened and said, "Well, she does. She's real nice, and so is Sylvy. I was helping them all make French toast. It's been real fun. Too bad Umi and Baba decided that two kids were enough. Having sisters is kinda fun."
Chris groaned, and Shadi made a face. "Yeah, fun for the girls. Baba told me all the horror stories about him and all our Khalat. One sister is enough!"
"Thank you!" Said Chris suddenly with enthusiasm, patting Shadi on the shoulder heartily. "We men have to stick together!"
Zara shrugged, "Your just a little boy, Shadi. And it shows how much you know. Since you don't appreciate me, you can make your own French toast."
"What!" Gaped Shadi flabbergasted at how Zara had twisting things…again.
Zara turned and started to walk away, then looked Chris over her shoulder. "I'm sure Helen and Sylvy will agree as well."
"Hey!" Shouted Chris, jumping to his feet. "Don't get in between me and my breakfast! Or next time you faint, your carrying yourself."
Zara gave him a sly smile. "I agree." She flicked her newly shortened hair over her shoulder and disappeared into the kitchen where the sounds of female voices drifted out…as well as the smell of freshly made French toast.
Chris gave Shadi a chagrined look, but Shadi ignored the other. He was feeling sick, and it had nothing to do with Zara's bad temper. Once again her curled his legs to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. His sad thoughts drifted to his parents, praying that they fared well, and those men who had attacked were treating them kindly. He still wasn't sure what those men were after. Zara and him had seen their mansion getting destroyed by the mobile suit. At first they had feared that their parents had perished within the crumbling walls. Thankfully, Zara had a will as strong as steel, and had dragged him to the shuttle bay, boarded and escaped.
Then they had been attacked. What did those men want to gain by trying to capture them? And that man…the one who had grabbed Zara…the blood…
Shadi gasped and cried out as his shoulders were grabbed. He blinked his eyes and found Chris scowling at him, "Stoppit! What the Hell is the matter with you?"
Shadi choked on his words, not understanding why the Maxwell son was angry with him.
Chris let him go and huffed, "You started making moaning noises and were scratching at your hands. Look for yourself."
Shadi blinked at Chris incredulously then lifted his hands and looked down at them. Red welts crisscrossed the inside of his palms, in some places he had torn the skin. Shadi gaped at his hands in horror. He had done this to himself? But that was impossible…yet it was like his hands were still covered in blood…so much blood…
Shadi looked up at and stared at Chris. He really did look frightening when he was angry. Shadi forced a smile on his face, a smile that he had seen his father put on when something was wrong and he didn't want to show it. "I'm sorry," He said, "I must not be thinking."
The smile worked its charm, throwing Chris off. He looked confused for a moment then shook his head saying softly, "Look, I can't say I know what your going through, but whatever it is…" He stumbled over his words, but Shadi remained smiling sweetly up at him. This seemed to anger Chris as he snapped, "What are you smiling at? What is the matter with you?"
"Chris…who are you yelling at?"
Shadi and Chris turned to look at the speaker at the same time. Shadi felt the blush coming back. It was her…Sylvy! She had a curious expression on her pale beautiful face, her dark violet eyes twikling slightly under the artificial light, her long black tresses tied in a light braid she had draped over her shoulder.
"Huh?" Chris seemed just as stunned as he, but for different reasons.
Sylvy huffed slightly and walked past her brother, practically pushing him out of her way as she threw herself down next to Shadi and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Shadi nearly had a heart attack, and knew his face had turned the color of a tomato. Try as he might he could not bring himself to meet those star lit violet eyes.
She glared up at her brother and said accusingly, "Are you already yelling at him, Chris? I swear you can be so insensitive!" She then turned those beautiful eyes to him. "Don't pay any attention to him, Shadi. He's just a huge ogre."
Chris sputtered, and Shadi could not help the shy smile that tugged at his lips.
"How are you feeling?"
Shadi knew it would be very rude of him if he did not look up. His father had always told him that when speaking to someone he had to look them in the face. But his father had never met Sylvy…
Shadi lifted his head and found himself drowning into twin pools of amethyst jewels. Working his jaw, which seemed to have gone numb he managed to say softly, "Fine…thank you."
The girl seemed to hug him closer as she said in the gentlest voice he had ever heard, "That's good. I was worried when father carried you out of the bathroom. I can't imagine what you must have gone through." She let him go and looked away, her eyes downcast. "We all heard on the vid screen what happened to your parents. You must have seen your home destroyed."
Shadi looked at her, wishing he could take away the look of distress that marred her perfect features. Like Chris, the look of anger or sadness did not suite her.
Shadi asked hesitantly, "Did…did the vid say anything about…my parents. Are..are they hurt?"
It was Chris who spoke. "We don't know. All we can tell you is that they are alive, but being held by those stupid Liberators."
Shadi then remembered. That night of the attack, his father had been watching the vid in his office room. Shadi had been helping his father to file some of his business documents. He remembered hearing a man yelling something about 'traitors' being dealt with. But what did any of this have to do with his father? Did they want the money?
Shadi's thoughts came to a complete and utter halt when Sylvy reached and started playing with her hair. He could tell it was a nervous gesture, the way her thin white fingers tugged at the braid, yet this simple gesture made the panic return. It made Shadi feel, like Zara's cut hair, a sense of oncoming doom and death. But this time, it was stronger, and Shadi began to gasp for air.
"S-Shadi…what's wrong?" It was Sylvy's voice he heard, filled with concern and a little fear.
Shadi felt like shrieking in horror, he did not want to hear that tone from her voice. He leapt up, trying to distance himself from that feeling that was choking him. He couldn't breath…there as something in the air that was choking him….
"Hey kid, what the Hell is wrong with you?" That was Chris, once again sounding angry.
"Shadi! Please, what's wrong?!"
I know that smell…I know that smell…I can't breath from that smell…It's choking me that smell…
"Zara! Its your brother!"
"What happened?"
"We don't know. H-He was fine, then he started to hyperventilate!"
I know what it is…
"Chris did you do something?"
"What the Hell! I didn't do 'nothing, Helen! Tell her Sylvy!"
"Heh. He looks like he's going to scream."
"Shut up, Kayla, you're not helping!"
I've smelled it before…
"He's having a panic attack. It happens sometimes, but usually it happens when he has a nightmare or something."
"Make him stop! Calm him down! Do something!"
"I don't know how! Umi and Baba always sent me away when he got like this!"
Some one help me! The smell, it's…
"Shadi! Shadi, please, snap out of it!"
"Sylvy, don't touch him! He might lash out!"
"He's going to scream! Do it! Go ahead!"
It's…
"Why you little…"
"Zara don't!"
"Helen, can you give him a sedative?"
"Right, I'll get it."
Help me…
"Scream! Do it! No one will hear you anyway, so just do it!"
"Kayla SHUT UP!"
Its blood…I smell blood…and…
Suddenly something large and hard rammed into Shadi, knocking him back on the floor. He gasped, feeling air surge into his burning lungs. Red and black spots spotted his eyesight, and he blinked dizzily at the person who knocked him down, and who was now leaning over his face.
Kayla Maxwell, the youngest child of the Maxwell children, had Shadi practically pinned beneath her. She was slightly larger than Shadi, and heavier built. Behind them, the rest of the Maxwell siblings gazed in shocked horror, and Zara stared in awed rage as Kayla leaned close and whispered into Shadi's ear, her voice hissing and harsh, "I know…I know…"
Its blood…I smell blood…and…
The girl lifted away slightly, so that the two were facing each other, face to face. Their eyes met and Shadi gazed into the most grief-stricken eyes he had ever seen. Eyes that were in the brink of insanity, and knew it.
That smell…"I know…" She whispered, so softly that only he could hear, "I know what its like to scream…and no one hears…"
It's all over the house…"No one hears… no one listens… no one comes to save you…"
It's coming…"Like no one came to save me when I screamed…"
Blood and…
"I know…I know…"
And Shadi whispered so only she could hear…
"Death."
And she nodded, "Yes."
Then she was off him, yanked off by Chris who pratically threw her onto the couch while Zara latched onto him. Everyone was screaming, anger and tension sizzled through the air. Most of it was coming from Zara, who was caught in between yelling at Shadi for being a weak idiot, and Kayla for daring to touch him. Chris was looming over Kayla, his voice loud and booming. Helen and Sylvy were by him, helping him to his shaky feet and guiding him to the love seat. Shadi stared at them, watching in slow motion as he sat down. He saw all their mouths moving, bit heard nothing. He looked over past Chris to Kayla, who sat silently, staring up at her elder brother as he shook the walls with his bellowing.
Shadi felt dizzy, horrified at what had been revealed to him. Run. They had to run. They had to escape. He opened his mouth to warn them, to tell them what was coming…what was…
"Hey…" It was Helen who stood up in attention, a frown knotting her fine brows. "What's that noise?"
Everyone settled down, even Zara who still looked like she wanted to rip Kayla's throat out. What they had not heard before because of their ruckus, was the crackling sound coming from outside. It sounded like an old motorcycle, or even firecracker (which were prohibited on the colony, though people continued to smuggle them in for celebration of the End of the One Year War over 25 years ago). All six youths stood still and listened in curiosity as the sound got louder, and closer.
Chris looked at his sisters, and then started toward the front door. "I'm going to…"
But suddenly the door burst open, and Duo Maxwell came in, cradling in his arms Hilde. He shoved past an astounded Chris and gently laid his on the couch. It was then Helen screamed and everyone noticed the blood on Hilde's chest, and all over Duo. Her eyes were closed, her features still and gray. A thin line of blood trickled down her chin. She did not move. She would never move.
She was dead.
"Mom! MOM!" Shrieked Sylvy, running to her mother's side, but her father caught her and held her back. Helen slowly fell to her knees. Kayla, who sat on the love seat curled into a ball and buried her head into her arms, rocking slightly. Zara clutched at Shadi. And Chris stood gaping his mouth moving, but no words coming out.
Duo whirled around, hurling a hysterical Sylvy into Chris who instinctively wrapped his arms around her and held her to him as she struggled. Duo stalked away from his dead beloved, and grabbed Kayla's thin arm, yanking her roughly up. Surprisingly, she did not protest, but obediently followed him as me marched to the fallen Helen and yanked at her arm as well. When she did not move he said harshly, "Get up, Helen. You have to help Chris."
The teenage girl trembled as she slowly stood. When she met her father's pale gaze with her own, she nodded her head. Duo took her face in one hand and kissed her forehead. He then reached to grab Zara, but Shadi said, "I have her." His voice was shaking. He knew that he looked pitiful, but he remembered what his father had told him. He was the man now, and he had to protect his sister.
Duo started toward the washroom. They crowded at the entrance of the small detergent smelling room, and watched in shock as the elder Maxwell yanked the washing machine away, revealing a metal trap door with a code lock. Punching some keys, the door opened. Duo turned to them and said, "The Liberators are here, just outside the house. They're here for me, and for all of you. Now you all are going to hide in here. It's a safe room that I built incase of…emergencies." He suddenly chuckled. "The door is going to lock as soon as it's shut, and cannot be opened without the code. No fire, grenade, or hacker can get in. Now, in you go."
"Dad…" protested Chris, "Wait…"
Duo's eyes flashed with something dangerous as he grabbed his son and shoved him down into the safe cell. Chris shouted in shock as he fell in, twisting he collided with the floor on his back, Sylvy crying and struggling safe in his arms.
"Daddy!" Cried Helen.
"Get in Helen." Snapped Duo. The girl stiffened, but slowly she lowered herself in. Duo then helped Kayla down, Helen catching her youngest sister as she was let go. For a moment, Duo paused, looking down at all four of his offspring. His eyes shattered into a million pieces as Shadi saw the grief that the man was actually feeling behind the smiling mask of Death.
Finally, he looked away from his children and turned to Shadi and Zara. Shadi let him take Zara in first. His sister was whimpering in fear as she was lowered, but Helen immediately had her in her arms, holding the girl.
"Dad! No!" Cried Chris again, struggling to his feet.
At his cry, three things happened at once. In the other room, the front door burst into splinters as men in masks and armored vests, armed with grenades and guns came into the Maxwell's white-carpeted family room. At the explosion, Duo grabbed Shadi and flung him into the cell at the same time Sylvy managed to break free from Chris. With amazing speed and strength she flung herself up and latched onto her father. Shrieking she pulled herself up and out, flinging away from Duo and running into the family room.
There was a scream and the sound of struggling.
"SYLVY!" Screamed Duo. But he turned around and with a final look at the children in the dark cell room; he shut the trap door, plunging them into darkness.
"Dad! No! Sylvy!" Chris banged at the door, and then began cursing in rage.
Helen grabbed his arm, weeping and tried to pull him
down. She cried softly to him, "Chris
please! They'll hear us!
Chris froze and looked at her, then slipped to the ground, holding her close. Kayla slowly crawled up to her elder siblings, and Chris enveloped her in his arms protectively. Even in the darkness Shadi knew that he was crying. Beside him Zara placed her head on his shoulder and he felt his shoulder become wet.
It was silent. Totally silent.
Then from above, Sylvy started to scream.
"DADDY!!!!" "Shut up bitch!"At her pain-filled voice Kayla threw herself away from her brother and sister, and started rocking. Helen buried herself deeper into her brother's arm, and Chris's shoulder's shook in silent sobs at the sound of his sister suffering.
"Please! Please stoppit! You're hurting me!"
Kayla started to chant, "No hears…no one listens…no one comes to save me…I know…I know…"
Shadi shivered and covered his ears as best as he could as Zara clutched at him painfully. His mind played tricks on him. He saw the beautiful Sylvy smiling at him, and heard her kind gentle voice. Yet he could not believe that piercing scream belonged to her. No…not to Sylvy. Maybe Mr. Maxwell had gotten her out and escaped. Maybe that was another girl screaming…
Her screams lowered till they couldn't hear anything.
"I know…I know…"
For how long they sat there in the dark safe cell, they had no clue. Only odd sounds from above, and Kayla's odd unnerving chanting broke the silence. Helen and Chris were at one side, Chris and Zara at the other, and in the middle was Kayla. For some reason, Shadi felt there was something off by this, like something was missing, or they were doing something wrong.
The unbidden thoughts of his father came into Shadi's mind. He had a feeling that if his father had been present he could have known what exactly what Shadi was missing. His father had always had an uncanny knack for noticing what was not obvious. He had told him that he had the same gift, it was just he was inexperienced and knew too little of the world. He thoughts drifted to his parent's situation. These Liberators wanted his father, and now Mr. Maxwell. It was becoming obvious to Shadi that money was not an issue. There was something else they wanted. Why else would they say that his father was a traitor?
"Kayla! Stop talking! Just shut up!" Hissed Chris suddenly, pulling away from Helen, and gripping Kayla's shoulders in his hands. "Stop it! You're not crazy! You're not! You're not!" He shook her harshly.
"Chris! Stop that!" Said Helen, pulling him away from the girl.
Kayla gave both her elder siblings a black look and pointed at them accusingly. "You don't know. You two don't know anything…" Then she twisted and pointed at a pale Zara. "Neither do you! You're brother heard you and he listened and he came to save you. That's why he smelled it. That's why he knows…cause you don't hear him at all!" She looked at Shadi then, a fiery yet sad look in her eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness. "Sylvy knows now. She knows…she knows…" The girl sobbed and rocked even more and whispered, "Daddy knew…he knew what it was like to scream and no one to come…no one…no one…"
Everyone froze when they heard someone stepping above them. Even Kayla quit her rocking and chanting. All five of them lifted their heads towards that trap door and waited as there was the sound of boots coming to stop right above the trap door. A minute or two passed before the trap door slowly opened. Chris immediately placed himself in front his younger companions, raising his fists in defense to fight off whoever was there to take them.
The artificial light of the washing room blinded them all before they found a single man standing at the entrance. He had messy dark brown hair, and a pair of cold cobalt blue eyes. He wore black pants and a white blouse that was unbuttoned at the top, and the cuffs rolled to his elbows. The man looked straight at Chris and reached a hand down. "Christopher Maxwell, my name is Heero Yuy, a friend of you're fathers. I am here to get all you kids out."
Shadi gasped, for it was true, Heero Yuy was there reaching to help them! Shadi had met Heero Yuy years ago when he had been very little. His parents had held a late party at the mansion, and Relena Dorlan and her husband were attending. Shadi had woken up after one of his nightmares and had drifted around the long corridors alone. He had then bumped into Heero Yuy who was leaning against the door.
"What are you doing here?" He had asked curiously. Why would a guest be standing around away from the party?
"I don't exactly mix in with your father's friends that well." Had been his reply.
"I don't either. They're boring and they pinch my cheeks hard and pick me up when I don't want them too, and don't listen when I say no and that's not nice."
"I agree."
"I had a nightmare, and my room is scary right now. So, don't tell Umi that I was up. She'll get mad."
"What about you father?"
"Na ah. Baba won't get mad cause he understands how scary my nightmares are. He says that when I get a nightmare I should walk awhile till I'm brave again, then I can go back to sleep."
"Does your Mother know that he said that?"
"No way! Umi would make Baba sleep on the couch again and Zara will be mad at me cause she'll say its my fault! But, its okay, cause I let Baba sleep in my room. When he sleeps in my room the nightmares get scared and runaway."
Heero Yuy seemed to smirk at that. "Are you brave again?"
Shadi remembered thinking about it before nodding his head. "I think so…but can you please come with me...just in case I'm not brave enough."
"I'm sure you are brave enough."
"Just in case."
"Hn"
Shadi pushed past Chris and took Heero's Yuy's hand. The man seemed surprised at the sudden trust, but then said gently, "Well met, Shadi Winner."
Before he managed to pull Shadi up the boy pulled back slightly, "Is it safe?"
"Yes."
Shadi turned back to the others, and flinched when he saw Zara's look of horror. "Don't worry," He told them in his most convincing voice. "This is Heero Yuy's, Vice Foreign Minister Relena Dorlan's husband. I know him, he's a friend!"
He allowed the man to help him out, and then next Kayla took the man's hand and was next to Shadi. She leaned close to the boy and whispered, "He knows…"
Chris let the girls out, and then came last. He immediately gave Heero a suspicious look. "My Dad said that no one knew the code. How'd you open the trap door?"
"I helped your father design that lock. Come." He turned away from them and led them to the family room.
All of them flinched at the carnage. The white carpet was stained with dirt and blood. The couches had been slashed with knives, and the vid and every other furniture was smashed. There were eight bodies of men in masks and armor staining the white floor. A body on the couch that they all knew was Hilde's body had been covered with one of the curtains. On the slashed love seat was another curled up body covered with another sheet of curtains that had been wrapped around snugly.
Heero went to the love seat and picked up the body carefully. He then went to Chris and tenderly gave the body to him. "This is you're sister, Sylvy. She's alive, but is severely injured. Can you protect her, Maxwell?"
"Y-Yes sir! Of course I can!" Gasped Chris, holding the sister he thought was lost closely to him.
Helen was immediately was by her brother's side, reaching Sylvy's body. Heero grabbed her hand. "Not now. Reinforcements will be coming soon. I have a shuttle ready for all of us at you're father's private shuttle bay. When we have gotten off of this colony you can check her. We will be going to the colony in the L3 District. I have a friend who has experience medicine and healing. Now, lets get out of here."
Heero reached down next to one of the dead bodies and picked up a machine gun. He started heading toward the door, when Chris said, "Wait! My…my Mother!"
"She's dead."
"I know that!" Cried Chris. "We just can't leave her here! You can hold Sylvy, and I'll take my Mother, alright?" He said beseechingly.
Heero gave him a look that even though it was solely aimed at him, the others shivered at it. "You're mother is dead, Maxwell. Hilde doesn't need protection anymore, for she's done her job and sacrificed her life for Duo and all of you. Sylvy is alive, and needs protection. Who will hold the gun while we run? Shall your sister hold it? How about Winner? It's time to grow up, Maxwell. Protect those who need protection, and not those who no longer need it."
Chris looked like he had been smacked in the face. His face had turned grayish, his lips thinned into a straight line. Helen whispered, "But…her body…"
Heero looked at her. "I've set a bomb that I can explode at the press of a button. Once we're clear of the colony I'm setting it off."
"YOU'RE GOING TO BLOW UP OUR HOUSE!" Yelled Chris in shock.
Heero glared at him. "Stop being selfish! Would you rather prefer to leave her body for the Liberators to use?! We are leaving nothing for them behind. Now MOVE IT!" He grabbed Chris by the neck and threw him toward the door. Chris stumbled forward to the broken entrance and looked back in dismay and grief. "Lead the way, Maxwell. I'm going to guard you the rear. Move."
Helen went beside her brother and injured sister and they walked out. Zara now seeming not to need Shadi's support anymore pulled away and walked behind them. Shadi feeling abandoned, jumped when Kayla's cold hand clasped it. He looked at her and she said, "We have to stick together, cause they don't understand, but we do."
Shadi swallowed hard and nodded his head, his eyes filling with tears as he looked back at the room that now smelled of blood and death.
And I knew it was coming…I could smell it coming…Hand in hand, the youngest Winner, and the youngest Maxwell walked out, with the veteran Heero Yuy, armed, covering their backs.
It was exactly 15 minutes and 37 seconds later, that the Maxwell household blew up in a ball of flames and smoke…destroying everything within it…the enemies…and a woman who had been killed protecting her husband and children…
Hilde Schreiber Maxwell.
***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***
Shadi woke up with a gasp, the threads of a nightmare disappearing before he could remember what it was. Slowly, he looked around, and found Zara, Kayla, and Helen asleep on the floor beside him. They had thrown a bunch of blankets on the metal floor of the shuttle and had cuddled together for warmth. On the cot just across from them was a beaten and unconscious Sylvy.
Shadi had no clue what the Liberators had done to her. Helen and Zara had started crying, and Chris had thrown-up while they were treating her extensive wounds. He knew they had whipped her, and had cut and burned her in some places. But there was something else they were not willing to tell either him or Kayla about. Though he immaturely resented the fact that they were hiding something from him, he was silently relieved, for deep inside him he did not want to know what they did to make her scream the way she did.
Getting up, he stepped over an open medical kit, and went to the hanger. There he found Chris asleep in his seat, and Heero Yuy looking over the controls. Without looking back, Heero spoke, "You should be sleeping."
Shadi jumped involuntarily and answered softly, "I…I had a nightmare, and need to walk it off." He blushed, knowing he sounded the same way he did all those years ago. He sounded like a frightened child. Like a coward.
"You were brave, Shadi Winner."
Once again Shadi jumped. "Excuse me?"
Heero still did not look back at him. "You were brave back then, and you were brave today."
Shadi felt a smile tugging at his lips. "How did you know what I was thinking?"
"I knew you're father very well, Shadi. You're a lot like him."
Shadi blushed again, but this time in pride.
"Go back to sleep. You need the rest."
"Yes sir."
Shadi turned around and walked back to where the girls still lay slumbering. But he stopped before he reached his side of the blankets when he saw the cot empty and the hunched form of Sylvy, wrapped in her blanket, and hovering over the medicine kit.
Shadi opened his mouth in joy, wanting to call to her, but something stilled his voice and froze his limbs. He watched in awed horror as Sylvy lifted a pale hand, holding a pair of scissors. With her other hand she yanked at her dark sable hair that had been released of its braid and started snipping the strands and flinging them away like they burned.
The scissors flashed in the dim light of the shuttle, and the hair continued to fly till she threw dropped the scissors and ran her hair through her now short-cropped hair. She then turned and looked at him, her face just as pale as her hands, but covered in bruises and cuts.
Yet it wasn't her hair or her face that made Shadi fear the hunched girl. It was her eyes that struck terror in Shadi's young heart. Those once violet star-lit eyes no longer shun brightly with life. They were cold, dead, and cruel, with not a hint of passion or kindness in them.
She grinned at him suddenly; her split and cut lips stretching, her dead eyes staring. And when she spoke, Shadi began to tremble at the stranger staring at him like she wanted to tear him to pieces and drink his blood.
"Hello. I am Death."
TO BE CONTINUED…@.@
Oh
My
God
I finally finished this chapter. Took forever but I did it!
Please give me some feedback!
Yes, I am the devil incarnate. I killed Hilde, raped Sylvy, and am too tired to go over this chapter to see what else I've done to the kids and their parents.
Love ya! Bye!
