Backstab
Chapter 9: Something worth fighting for
A/N: Heyy. I'm starting to sound like Wolfie-chan, but whoever hasn't seen "Abduction" (starring Taylor Lautner :) ) totally should cuz it's a really good movie. Also, sorry this chapter's kinda short, but I'm planning something big so keep reading ;)
Oo0oO
I was just getting back when Tyler awoke, stumbling gracelessly out of his dreamlike state and into the warm light of the afternoon.
"Huh what?" he blinked, forcing himself into a conscious state. "Wha-What happened?" He attempted to look about him, struggling to compose his thoughts as the effects of the tranquilizer began wearing off.
"You took a tranquilizer dart to your right shoulder." SweetPea explained calmly, nodding at my return. "You've been out cold for the last few hours."
"So that would explain why my shoulder hurts so damn much," he grumbled, somehow managing to find humor in our situation. Blinking, Tyler observed our surroundings.
We were currently in a small, abandoned shed not far from where Tyler had been shot, which was a quiet place nestled between a brick wall and a moderately sized house. As far as we could tell, the house was currently uninhabited, for those windows with open curtains peered into empty rooms coated in layers of dust. Though we technically could have set up camp inside the building, SweetPea and I agreed on the more inconspicuous shed, which had more than enough room for the three of us to lie down comfortably. Plus, given that the shed was surrounded by barriers on three sides, it guaranteed that we could not be snuck up on.
As SweetPea explained all of this to him, I layed out what I'd collected. Apparently SweetPea had liked to cook when she was living at home, and had sent me out to gather herbs to make a simple soup.
"Did you find the plants I described to you?" SweetPea asked, turning her attention from Tyler.
I nodded, somewhat pleased with myself. "I managed to find the sage and sorrel, and even a few meat scraps from the alley behind the butcher shop. But no basil unfortunately."
At this SweetPea sighed slightly, looking somewhat put out. "That's alright; at least you managed to gather some things."
Tyler looked at her curiously. "You cook?" he asked, unmistakable admiration in his voice.
"A bit," she replied, looking slightly embarrassed. "My mom wasn't around a lot and my dad couldn't cook for the life of him, so on most nights I was in charge of feeding the family." She explained, nostalgia creeping into her voice. Seeing the warm nature of our conversation, I smiled, and returned to my work sorting the herbs and handing them to SweetPea upon request.
Meanwhile, Tyler continued nodding politely, though I could tell by the look in his eyes that he had been distracted by another thought. Not wanting to broach him, I kept my attention on the task at hand, the conversation slowly dying out.
"Babydoll," Tyler said suddenly, gaining my attention and sitting up in his makeshift bed of canvas covers.
"Yes?" I responded politely, though his tone made me hesitate.
"Why...why did you bring me along?"
I blinked slowly, hoping he would elaborate further.
Catching my plea, he corrected himself. "What I mean is, you and SweetPea could have easily left me there and survived on your own, but you didn't. While I was unconscious I probably did little but slow you down, and yet you chose to bring me along anyways. Why?"
Likewise curious, SweetPea stopped in her task and looked up at me, also curious for my answer.
"You took the bullet," I said simply. "You thought it was real, you knew it could kill you, and yet you willingly took it to save me." Here I hesitated, this conversation sparking some curiosities of my own. "So I guess I can pose a similar question back to you, why did you take the hit?"
The question clearly caught Tyler off guard, and it was a while before he attempted to speak again.
"I... don't have much to live for anymore, other than temporary homes and sparse meals. I've lived on the streets for so long, and there's nothing here for me that I want to fight to hold on to. You two at least have somewhere to go, people waiting for you. My death wouldn't change anything."
As soon as he finished, silence met his words, as SweetPea and I contemplated the meaning of that statement. In his mind, he had nothing, no hope or home or things to call dear. He had no family, no friends or anyone who could possibly miss him if he died. This was a chilling thought, and I couldn't help but shake at the idea of it. Did Tyler truly have nothing to live for?
"You're wrong you know," said SweetPea in a small voice, interrupting my train of thought. Tyler and I turned toward her in surprise. "There's always something worth fighting for."
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"What do you mean they got away?!" a voice echoed through the dark room, the sound tinged with barely-controlled temper.
"They managed to...outrun us, sir. It seemed like they knew every alley in the city like the back of their hand, and it was all we could do to keep up to them as long as we did." A man responded, sounding regretful and angry. "Also, we believe that they took Harrow's gun and ammunition." There was a slight pause, and that scared the second speaker more than anything else.
"You were a group of 10 armed men against two girls, and they managed to 'escape'?" The second voice resumed, his tone shockingly quiet.
"There was also a young man traveling with them-"
"GET OUT OF MY OFFICE!" The first voice erupted, which was quickly followed by the sound of heavy footsteps departing from the room. Seconds later, there was a slam of a heavy wooden door, which quickly gave way to silence.
However, this silence didn't last more than a few moments, for it was interrupted by soft laughter.
"What. are. you. laughing. at?" said the owner of the first voice, the words forcing their way out through his clenched teeth.
"Oh nothing, simply the fact that you think you can actually catch them." There was another, more feminine chuckle. "Face it Blue, they're smarter than you and all your men combined. With that other boy there to help them there's no doubt they'll escape."
There was another moment of silence, before the man (Blue) also began to laugh, the sound coming out cold and angry. "On the contrary, my dear, they won't even get out of the city." He said smoothly. "My men are many, and my influence on the law great. Yes, they may be out of my reach for now, but soon they will fall into my clutches again. And when that happens I will be sure not to let them slip away." Here he paused, a devilish smile playing on his lips. "And of course, there's always you."
Sensing the sudden change in his demeanor, the second voice paused, shifting uncomfortably in her position on the office chair. "I'll die before I help you," she said, her voice turning hard and unforgiving.
Noting her sudden defensiveness, Blue laughed again, deep and loudly so the sound of it boomed frighteningly in the enclosed space. "That, dear Rocket, is not something you'll get a say in."
Oo0oO
A/N: I TOLD you I was planning something huge, and now you see what I mean. I must give credit to Dougster for giving me the idea to bring back one of the other characters.
All comments and reviews are appreciated, and thanks again to all the readers.
