This can't be happening

By Springborn

Chapter Four

(Mystery man POV)

"Silly humans," a dark voice chuckled from the shadows. "Let us give you our power." A cloaked man walked over to Lark's unconscious body and shoved a needle into her neck, injecting a pinkish clear fluid into her veins. The man with the staff smirked, seeing the woman get injected with the egg. "Let the fun begin."

(Third person view, Lark and Luis)

Lark's head snapped up as she let out a gasp, waking up. Her head felt light as she groaned softly, feeling somewhat woozy. She felt like she was having an out of body experience, feeling disconnected. She grunted and shook her head, trying to clear out the cobwebs from her brain and looked around slowly. It looked like a store room. She tried to stand but felt something weigh her down. She turned to look behind her and saw Luis. He was still passed out. 'Oh right…got knocked out. Great…' She thought sourly and looked at Luis again. 'Cute.'

"Hey, wake up," Lark said, her tone tired and weak She moved slightly and hissed in pain as the cuffs bit into her wrists till she felt something warm trickling down her skin.

"Ay yai yai," Luis moaned as he woke up. "Crawl out of one hole and into another."

"You okay?" Lark asked, looking around. She kept her eyes open even though her head pounded. She had to get out of this.

Luis looked at her from over his shoulder. "Si, I am. So what's a beauty like you doing here? You're an American, right?" he asked and grunted a bit. "Ah ah…easy there, the cuffs are tight."

"Yes, I am. The names Lark Kennedy" She said, trying to relax. "You?" She didn't want him to become suspicious if she told him she already knew his name. That would be a little hard to explain and doubted he would believe her.

"Luis Sera, I used to be a cop in Madrid and quiet the ladies' man," he said, grinning.

"I'm a detective. I was sent looking for the President's daughter, Ashley Graham" Lark said, closing her eyes and gave a light chuckle, surprising herself. "So far I'm doing a crappy job at it."

Luis was silent as he listened and smiled. "Glad one of us can see humor in this" he said and shifted slightly, grunting from the chains.

"Thanks. Axel is the only one that's been helping me with this" Lark said and frowned, looking around the room. She didn't see him anywhere. "What, where is Axel?" She grew concerned, trying to push down the fear in her stomach. She hoped he wasn't hurt or worse.

"They must have taken him. He your pet?" Luis asked, taking note of the tone of her voice. He debated on weather helping her or not. Why would he help a stranger? Even if she is beautiful.

"You can say that. He found me right after I got here. I know he's not your regular wolf. He seemed like he was mutated or something," Lark said, testing the strength of the cuffs once again. She hissed in pain as the metal cut deeper into her skin.

"Easy, Lark. We're tied together" Luis said, grunting as each time one of them tugged or moved the cuffs would scrap against their skin. The air in the room felt warm and muggy, making contact with the cool dirt floor.

"Sorry," Lark said letting out a sigh, feeling worried for her furry friend. "So have you seen Ashley? Do you know where they're keeping her?"

"In a Church, I think," Luis said, tilting his head back to stare up at the boards in the roof. "I remember the villagers talking about it."

Silence filled the room as they two went quiet, both thinking of different things. Lark frowned as she tried to think of a plan to get out of there but the question that Luis asked her earlier danced in the shadows, urging her to think about it. She shook her head. Now wasn't the time…

"You're bleeding," Luis said breaking the silence. He could feel something warm and wet drip onto his wrists.

Lark sighed. "It's not bad" she said. "I'll be okay." She trailed off and spoke. "Why did you ask if I had a boyfriend?"

"Hm? You're beautiful" Luis said simply. "Even with your different coloring."

Lark flushed; glad he couldn't see her face right now. "Thanks but I think you need to get your eyes checked" she said. "I'm single."

"Shocking" Luis said. "So how about a date after this?"

Lark sweatdropped at that, she would have been honored about being asked and she is. "Are you really asking me to go on a date?" she asked, shocked. "At a time like this?"

Luis laughed. "I am" he said. Lark was ready to say more when a loud moan and scratching noises came from the doorway. A villager who had blood dripping from his eye carried a double bladed axe. Luis and Lark started to struggle as the villager came closer, raising the axe over his head.

"Do something, detective!" Luis said, panic rising in his chest as he struggled against the cuffs.

"After you!" Lark yelled. Think Lark, think! She thought desperately. How did Leon get out of this? What did he do? The cuffs...something about the cuffs...the chains! That's it!

As the villager came closer, she whispered my idea to Luis. Luis thought she was crazy but agreed.

"Now!"

Luis and Lark leaned away from each other as the axe fell between them, cutting the cuffs and chain in half. Rolling away, Lark kicked the man in the chest and sent him flying. The man crashed into the wall and broke his neck, dying instantly. Breathed heavily, Lark stood up slowly, staring at the dead man. Luis walked over to where she stood and took her hands to check her wrists

"Do you have any bandages?" Luis asked raising his gaze to meet hers.

Lark nodded. "Yes, they're in my pack. I'll get them," she replied, taking her hands away and grabbed the bandages from her bag. Luis took the bandages and started to bandage her wrists, being gentle.

"Is it too tight?"

"No, they're fine. Thank you."

Luis nodded and handed the bandages back to her.

"Thanks" Lark said as she checked the ammo for her guns and looked up to see that Luis had been watching her rather intently. She flushed lightly, feeling awkward. "Um…yes?"

"You have beautiful eyes, Lark," Luis whispered, leaning forward just enough for her to feel his hot breath on her neck.

"Um, thank you" She stuttered and went to pull back but stopped when she felt Luis kiss her. She squeaked, blushing heavily.

He pulled away, staring. "I'm not going to apologize for kissing you"

Lark swallowed heavily. "Very bold of you Luis" she said, brow raised. She may have liked the feel of the kiss but it kinda pissed her off that he kissed her. "You're lucky I didn't slap you."

"Why didn't you?" he asked slowly.

Lark looked away, glaring at the ground. "I don't know," she said honestly. "But don't let it go to your head Casanova."

Luis chuckled. "Okay, okay."

Lark gave a small smile. "Let's get going" she said, grabbing the single box of ammo that had been on the shelf and headed towards the door. Luis followed close behind.

Once the door opened and the two stepped out a new scene greeted them. Behind the broken stone wall are houses built into the mountains, setting the feel of a fantasy village that had been left to decay from neglect.

"This is different," Lark stated. "I don't remember this."

"They must have moved us," Luis said, standing behind her.

Lark nodded. "Yeah, probably to throw us off the trail."

"Over here, stranger," said a gravelly voice behind them. The two turned to see a man with a purple bandana over the lover half of his face and wore a long black trench coat. Luis and Lark shared a look before following the man to the back of the building.

Lark didn't want to feel too comfortable even though the Merchant proved to be a big help in the game, she couldn't be sure if he would be helpful to them now.

"Got something that might interest ya," he said pulling back his jacket flap to show us the various guns, ammo, and other things. Lark wondered how he could carry all that stuff on him and not lose any of it.

"Can we trust him?" Luis asked, leaning towards Lark.

"Yes," she said. "I think we can trust him. Anyway, I have to stock up on First Aid spray and hopefully buy a rifle."

"A rifle?"

She nodded. "I found rifle ammo back there so something tells me I better buy one.

"Good choice, mademoiselle. You sir should be lucky to have a fine woman at your side," said the merchant, winking. He took the offered gold from Lark and handed her the rifle. Lark checked it over and grinned.

Luis looked at Lark and chuckled. "Thank you."

Ignoring the remark, Lark spoke, "Yes, thank you. We better get going." She nodded her head the mand and started to leave.

Luis started to follow when the Merchant spoke, "I think I have something that might interest you, sir."

"What is it?" Luis asked stopping and turned to him, wondering what it could be.

The merchant pulled something small, square, and metalic-like from his pocket and held out for Luis to see. Luis stared in surprise. "Uh a little early for that isn't it?" He barely knew Lark and while he did admit she was different than most girls had had been with he hadn't thought about sex with her.

"You never know" Merchant said, shrugging handing over the package.

Luis took the small package and put it in his pocket. He wanted to woo Lark the old fashion way, feeling that would be the best way.

"Mierda(shit)," Luis swore in Spanish.

Lark waited for Luis to get done, her mind going back to the kiss. Her first one even if it had been brief. It was warm and made her tingly. If they had met under more normal conditions she probably would have enjoyed it. His cologne was heady but easy on the senses.

She looked up to see Luis walking around the corner to join her. "All set?"

"Yeah, I'm ready. What was that back there?" Luis asked curiously.

"I was antsy."

Luis shrugged. "Okay."

Taking out the rifle, Lark walked up to the cracked part in the wall. It gave her enough of an opening to use her scope. She brought the scope to her eye and adjusted the sight, using it to check the surrounding area. She couldn't see anyone, not a single villager. It didn't comfort her at all.

"What's wrong?" Luis asked, leaning against the wall, waiting for the verdict.

"It's empty, not a single person among the walkways. It doesn't feel right" She whispered. "You would think they wouldn't leave this area unprotected."

"So now what? Do we go in?"

"We have no choice. The map says we have go through and there isn't a way around it." She dug the map out of her pack and looked at it, hoping to find another way. Luis looked at the map and sighed heavily.

"I know the area here. Even I don't know a around." Luis looked uneasy.

Lark groaned, putting away the map. "Great" she muttered. She headed to the gate and pushed it open, grabbing her gun. "Well let's see how if they prove us wrong."

Luis rolled his eyes lightly as he entered the area. "This is going to be a fun ride."