Hey Thanks for the reviews. Now that its summer I really will have a lot more time to write, so hopefully the updates continue to come quick.
Rinoa's POV
December Twentieth
My fingers twitched. I couldn't help it. I was freaking out in my mind. A simple finger twitch I could live with as long as I didn't panic outwardly. Besides, the finger twitch helped remind me that I wasn't fucking dreaming, because I was on a roof with Squall Leonhart. The leader of the vigilantes that protect this city.
Vigilantes' sounds awfully bad but in reality it is exactly what they are. Sorry, we are. A strange thought still that I was apart of the team, but it's clear right now. Crawling across rooftops slowly approaching our destination. The building that holds my father's asset, the murderer of Zell's family, and our connection to the Capella family.
Now only if I could keep my cool enough to get through this without embarrassing myself. I've been told as long as I do exactly what Squall says then I'll make it through this unharmed. I find that highly improbable. Everyone thinks highly of Squall, and I kinda see why. He has that aura about him whenever you speak to him seriously. Yet I've yet to see him do anything special.
Each person I've witnessed something incredible, some talent, some skill, but I've only seen Squall shoot once. He didn't even really help with the set up for this mission. He locked himself in his room for like ten days. Sometimes he literally didn't come out for days. Quistis would go in and drop some food off, and she only stayed in for a minute or two. Nothing more than necessary. One would think a leader over sees the activities for the mission. Not Squall though. Maybe he just trusts his team enough that he doesn't have to.
Well whatever he is, I'm stuck with him and I have to put all my trust in him because I am still nervous beyond belief. Like a kid about to enter a new school. This was my first task, everyone would judge me from it. Not only that but I might die. Something that I didn't have to face my first day of school.
I quickly scurried behind Squall. Keeping my back down and head low. He was carrying a small ladder so he stood a little straighter. We hurried to a gap and he wordless put the ladder between it. He hurried across and I followed. He picked the ladder up and we were on the move again.
We haven't said a word since the garage before we left. His words still carried with me though.
Everyone stood at the cars that would be taken. They all stood in a circle just glancing around at each other. I stood among them finding myself itching to leave. Mainly because my nerves were already getting to me so I just wanted get this over already.
Squall took a breath and then made eye contact with everyone. "As you guys know this is something we haven't done before. Yet that doesn't mean we go about this differently. We stick to the plan, we follow my instructions, and we'll all get through this."
I could tell everyone hung on his every word. They dripped from his mouth like fire. They were dangerous about the task, yet they gave hope and life in them. I could feel my whole body tighten listening to him.
"If I call everyone to drop back, then fucking do it." He growled. "There are no heroes here today. We are a team and if our team breaks, we are simply people. People that cannot win individually. I do not want someone charging to their death."
"It's not gonna happen 'cause this is going to go without a hitch," Seifer's deep voice replied.
Squall nodded. "You guys are my family, I don't know what I'd do without you. We aren't saving the world from blowing up. If this mission is too dangerous I'm pulling us out."
"Don't be so dramatic," Selphie tried to joke but she still sounded solemn.
Squall half smirked. "Fine, then before I make a complete pussy out of myself. Let's just go, get that bastard, and come back."
Everyone nodded but no one said a word.
"Heads in."
I watched as everyone stepped forward to each other and I quickly followed their actions. We all got in a huddle and touched our heads together. I felt arms warp around me and my body reacted before my mind could. I put my arms around the waists of the people next to me.
Everyone tightened their hold on each other. We just stayed like this for a little bit. Not long so it wasn't weird. And you know what, it wasn't weird. I knew this group went through more things than most ever did. They were beyond close with each other and nothing they ever did together seemed 'gay' or 'weird'. It just seemed…right.
"Our lady of victory." Squall whispered.
"Pray for us." Everyone said unison.
It was a strange moment to see everyone so serious. I figured they didn't do this every time they went out. In fact I know they didn't. I once saw Zell and Irvine go to just take care of some street scum. They were basically waved bye from the couch as they left the apartment. That meant that this must've been extremely huge.
Even though they are usually called the Saints, or Divine Retributioners, I didn't think they'd actually pray. They didn't seem like the people, but I guess when they get down to the reason why they are all together, they are quite religious. Then again I don't think they go to church or anything, they probably just say prayers when they think it's really dangerous. That's normal, I know a couple people that do that.
"That's it," Squall whispered. The first words since the prayer.
The building was a standard square apartment building. It looked a little run down. They even said that the inside might have some missing walls and other broken down shit. Yet they could have a lot of men staying in there. It was after all a gang apartment building for all its members. If things went wrong it could get very, very bad.
"Does it look like their could be a lot of security?" I asked.
We stopped at the edge of the last building before our target one. We laid low just in case and peered our eyes over the edge.
"I don't think so," He replied. "I don't even see any cameras."
"Well could they be hidden?"
"They could, but hidden cameras on a roof is hard. No walls, ceiling, plants, windows, or anything to hide them behind. If they were on this roof then they would have a bad angle. I'm guessing they don't have them to draw attention, because what apartment building has cameras on its roof. I don't even think ours does."
"Okay," I nodded and peered over the edge. "How long do you think that gap is?"
"Fifteen to Twenty feet," He replied calmly as he started extending the ladder.
He got the distance he wanted and then slowly lifted it. He rested it on the edge of the current building we were on and than started extending it. I helped hold it down cause it started getting heavier real quick. But we did it without fault and soon we had a makeshift bridge to the other building. We quickly crossed it, well he quickly crossed it, I took my sweet time. I didn't care if he was glaring at me from the building.
We took the ladder onto our roof just so no one would be able to see it. We crossed over the ladder at the side of the building. In the back was the parking lot, where a car just pulled up. To our left was the front of the building and the main street, where every once-in-a-while a lone car would drive by.
When the ladder was safely laid down on our current roof Squall looked across the parking lot. Irvine was concealed there. I don't know if Squall could see him 'cause I sure couldn't. Squall made a hand gesture and I saw a shadowy figure move slightly. There was a red dot that flashed twice very briefly.
"JR just arrived," Squall translated for me. "We'll wait here for a bit more, just to make sure he's in there and on the phone. It will keep him distracted."
So that is what we did. We stayed on the ground and didn't say a word. We listened to the hum of the electric circuit boxes and telephone poles. We could here the cold wind blow over us. That was the other thing. It wasn't warm up here, it was freezing. We had to wear the janitor outfits so they weren't very warm either. But we did have on overcoats and gloves. There was also a bag Squall was carrying. I believed it held the Tosser – as it was deemed – in it.
After what felt like forever we slowly made our way over to the door. Checking for any security we might've missed. There was none of course; I mean why would Squall ever be wrong.
When we got to the door Squall examined the lock for a moment. He pulled out his little lock pick tools from the bag he had with him. It took him about a minute to open the door. We went inside and shut it behind us.
We quickly began taking off our winter clothing to just have the janitor uniforms on. We stayed in the corridor for a little while warming up. It wasn't heated but without the breeze it was all we needed. We couldn't look like we were all cold and red if we were on the top floor. That wouldn't make much sense. Something I'd never think about, but Squall thinks of it as easily as someone might think to ask if their guest wants sugar in their coffee.
When we finally warmed up enough we made our way down. We walked normally now. But I remember the guys telling me to get a floor down first before acting completely normal. It would be strange for workmen to be on the top floor when it was barely finished.
That was also true, the place was run down. The paint was peeling off the walls in the hallway. Some doors were missing and tarps were put up. Some light bulbs were bare just hanging from the ceiling. Plastic was filling gaps in the ceiling as well. It wasn't anything I'd ever want to live in. Can't believe people survive in this at all. Probably has mold all in the walls and whatnot. Whoever lives in these are the lowest of the low.
"Reminds me of my first apartment in Deling," Squall randomly decided to start a nice conversation to make me feel bad.
I mumbled not wanting to reply.
We made it down the next floor and now we started hearing some noise. It was extremely late but that didn't mean everyone was asleep.
"If a guy walks past you and he looks mean, then look a little timid of him," Squall gave me some last minute advice. "Let them think you are scared to be where you are, because that will most likely be how anyone maintenance person here is like."
We turned a corner, I had no idea where we were going but it seemed Squall did. I almost froze when we turned that corner however. When we did there were two men talking walking towards us. I stiffed naturally. They didn't notice though, actually they didn't really notice us at all. They simply walked by without caring about us in the least.
"No one ever looks at a low life maintenance worker," Squall smirked liking the fact his plan was working perfectly so far.
We finally made it down to the seventh floor. We passed a couple people but no one even looked at us. Well actually one or two did, but it wasn't in curiosity. It was simply waiting for me to walk by and check out my ass. No matter where I go, it always happens. Damn perverts.
Squall led me to a door and stood there for a moment. He glanced left and right to see we were alone in the hallway. So far this building didn't really seem to crowded. Then again maybe they were out causing havoc, or simply sleeping in their beds. Either way I knew this was the door, and behind it was J.R.
Squall gave me a quick look over. "You know your role."
I nodded.
"Well then," He surprisingly smiled. "We have a meeting to attend."
He took a couple steps back and then charged the door. He rammed his shoulder into it causing the simplistic lock to shatter. He skillfully caught the door before it banged into the wall to stop a booming noise that may have woke people. I darted into the room after him and shut the door.
I turned around in time to see J.R's wide eyes staring at Squall charging. J.R was sitting behind a desk and jumped to his feet. The phone was still next to her ear. Squall planted on hand on the desk as he vaulted over it. Squall grabbed the phone and slammed it down while simultaneously kicking J.R in the stomach.
J.R stumbled back and tried to pull a gun out but Squall was too quick. He darted forward at the man with incredible speed. Squall grabbed his arm as he brought the gun up. With a twist and turn the gun was yanked out of J.R.'s hand. Squall elbowed J.R. in the face and then reached his foot behind his. J.R. fell to the ground and Squall quickly jumped on him. He pulled back and landed a punch square in his noise. He did it once more landing it in the side of his head. In the soft spot, and it knocked the murderer out in seconds.
"The bag," Squall urged not even out of breath.
I shook myself out of amazement. I grabbed the bag and tossed it to him. He quickly grabbed the main item out of it. The Tosser. He took the drill out as well. He took the wire out of the front of the tool and held it up. I hurried over and grabbed it. I began wrapping it around J.R as he drilled the Tosser to the floor.
"Make sure it's tight," Squall told me. "If he splats on the pavement this was pointless."
"Relax," I growled, "It's tight."
When he was done he stood up and walked over to the unconscious man. He dragged him over to the window.
"Why is it called the Tosser?" I suddenly asked flicking the switch on, "Not like, the Repeler."
Squall smirked, "'Cause you simply toss them out the window."
That's exactly what he did. He threw J.R. out the window. The steel cord tightened. Squall drilled the contraption to the floor in an angle to the window. So the cord was in the corner of the window causing the body to go down not in direct sight of the window. Sure maybe an arm might pass by lower windows. But most of the body would stay between the two columns of windows. If someone looked hard enough, we would be caught definitely. But they ensured me that was rare for someone to be staring out their window at a parking lot.
"Press the green button," He ordered.
I followed his command and the contraption slowly began letting more cord out.
"Rinoa come here," Squall called me to the window with a finger.
I walked over wondering what it was about.
"Watch how well our team works," Squall told me smiling obviously proud of his team. "Irvine will take out the two guards sitting in the parking lot. It will be obviously if anyone drives in but once we have the body out it won't matter."
As I peered into the darkness. I saw as the two guards standing at a wall just having a conversation suddenly drop. The second one to get hit barely had time to even look shocked before a bullet dug in his head. Their bodies slowly slid down the frost-covered wall. They looked like they were both just sitting on the ground resting their backs.
They told me that they would do this before and I thought it was dangerous. Yet they told me it was the safest way, which really mean it was the only way. If anyone else needed to come for those guards than we would be fucked. That's why Irvine scouted this place the past couple days. When its dark and cold out, no one comes and checks on the guards. Who would want to? It's freezing out.
So we should be good.
A car pulled into the driveway with its lights off. That was the car Selphie was driving. There were enough lights from the building to see the parking lot enough. We didn't need to send car lights into the building to attract attention. Selphie pulled up right underneath our window. Seifer quickly got out of the car and stood underneath J.R. The trunk popped open on the car and he just stood their waiting.
J.R was about ten feet to the ground. We were almost done; once he was out we could just turn and leave through the roof. Then we'd all be safe. We were so close, I could almost taste the celebratory wine we're gonna have back at the apartment. Another plan going off without a hitch. Another reason why the Saints were beyond amazing. My first mission would be a complete success. Maybe they would let me go on more missions. Anything's possible right?
Sadly lady luck was not with us. She was probably getting fucked.
The Tosser suddenly stopped releasing cord. Squall and me shared a worried look. He hurried back over to the tool and pushed the green button again. Nothing happened. He pulled on the wire and it wouldn't budge.
I peered down at Seifer to see him waving his concern. I held my hand out holding up a finger for one second. I don't know if he could see it but Irvine could and he could then make the correct signs to Selphie whose current job is to watch Irvine. Just like I predicted a second later Selphie got out of the car and ran over to Seifer and said something to him. I could tell from here he looked pissed.
I turned back to Squall. "Squall you gotta do something."
"Fuck, I know. Lady lucks getting fucked right now."
It wasn't the time to smile given the current situation but I found it amusing we thought the same.
He pushed the red button. The tool started to reverse and I felt my hopes skyrocket once again. He pushed the green button to get it going forward again but it wouldn't. He flicked it off and it didn't stop either.
The Tosser, or Shitter really, now was stuck in reverse. The body was on its way back up. We were royally fucked.
Squall hissed and pulled out his handgun. He put the tip on the cord and let out one single shot. A single shot that did disconnect the cord. A single shot that dropped the body fifteen feet to Seifer whose reactions were fast enough to catch it. A single shot that was able to put the plan back in motion. A single shot that just woke up everyone on our floor, the floor above us, and the floor below us.
"Rinoa things have changed, "Squall urgently told me. He walked over to the window and looked out towards where Irvine would be. He made his two fingers into scissors and cut the open air. Second he held up one finger and twirled it in a circle. Then he punched his open palm. Next he had his index finger and middle finger walk on the palm. After that he swung his hands over each other like an umpire calling 'safe' in baseball.
He then darted away from the window and grabbed the desk. I stood there just grabbing my mother's necklace as I watched him pull the desk over in front of the door. There was a cabinet in the corner of the room he pulled it over as well. He leaped up onto the desk and moved the ceiling tile over. He looked at me and held out his hand.
"Quickly."
I snapped out of my little daze and rushed over to him. He pulled me up on the desk and then helped push me into the ceiling. Now wasn't the time but I couldn't help feel slightly hot when his hand touched my ass helping me up. He then leaped up on his own using his upper body strength. He replaced the tile and then we were on our way. He put a finger to his mouth singling silence.
I could hear footsteps and shouts.
"Was that a gun!"
"Yeah it came from the calling room!" Another shouted.
"J.R was in their wasn't he?" Another asked.
"The door's stuck!"
"They locked themselves in!" I heard pounding. "Open up! J.R! You there?"
I felt my shoulder tapped and I saw Squall urging me with his eyes to get a move on. I followed but my mind was on the fact of how ingenious Squall was. He barricaded the door to make it think like we were trying to keep them out. So when they try to get in there, we were sneaking away through the ceiling tiles.
After a couple minutes Squall picked up a title and dropped into the room. He stood under it and I dropped into his arms. He put me down and hurried to the door. He laid on the floor and put his head to the ground. Listening for vibrations? Maybe looking under the crack?
"Do you have your gun?" Squall quietly asked.
"Y-yes." I didn't mean to stutter it just caught me off guard.
"Get it out but don't shoot unless you have to." Squall cursed under his breath, probably heard something. "We gotta go."
I know what is crossing everyone's mind. Don't we have silencers; why not just take them all quietly out? Well for one, in close quarters, silences are still loud. Second, shoot too much and they wear out, and getting silencers I guess are harder to get than an actual gun. Because no normal civilian needs a silencer for a shooting range. That can be bad sometimes. But the third and real honest reason. They are heavy and when you don't practice with them, i.e. me. Then your shot can be really off.
So long story short, Squall will be using a silencer but we don't want to resort to killing people. It causes us to run low on ammo, which we don't have much to begin with. So if we do have to shoot and run out of ammo, we will be trapped. Also leaving a trail of bodies is pretty obvious, and you can't quickly hide blood like bodies. That is why this is so dangerous of a job. Because we are severely disadvantaged.
Squall went into the hall and I followed quickly. He jogged quietly down the hall and ducked into another room. I followed him and he stayed there for a moment. He darted to the window and looked outside. He then hurried back to the door.
"Stay close with me," He told me again.
Like I'd go anywhere else. But I figured the time to argue was not now.
And like that, we were in the hallway again. Dashing down, I was just wondering if we'd actually run into someone when two armed men darted out of a room. They almost tripped over each other when they saw us. Squall held out his weapon towards them and I was quick to follow. They pulled theirs up as well and we were in a stand off.
"Who are you?" One asked.
"When nights comes, we strike," Squall smirked.
"What the fuck," The other said with a thick Centra accent. "Answer the fucking question you cunt."
"We come from the ground, and you end in the ground." Squall said again.
I honestly had no idea what the fuck he was talking about. I was starting to get extremely frightened however. Actually I was already beyond frightened. Two guns were pointing at me and I wasn't naïve enough to know we could stand here forever. Soon someone else would come and then we'd be fucked.
"Boss?" I asked just in case we got out of this I didn't want to use his name.
"We strike fast, and run fast."
Okay he lost it. I would just have to do this myself. Maybe I could shoot one. The one aiming at Squall, then if I ducked the one aiming at me would miss. I would shoot him from the ground. Yeah, that might work. It would be close but we had to act. We couldn't just stand here.
Okay on three. One…Two…
Then the lights cut out. I felt my legs swept out from beneath me and the gunfire went off lighting up the hallway. The flashes from the guns were bright white. I felt Squall's arm across my stomach so he'd know where I was. Then the fire stopped and I felt him grab my shirt and pull me off the ground.
The hallway lit up red from emergency lights. He sprinted down the hallway and I followed him as close as possible.
"What the fuck Heartily," He growled, "Didn't you get my hints?"
Hints? When night comes, we strike. When the lights go off, attack. We come from the ground, you end on the ground. Duck and shoot like hell. We strike fast, and run fast. Once again, attack then get the hell out of there.
Damn he really did leave me hints.
"How'd you know the lights would go off?" I had to ask.
"I told Irvine to tell Seifer to cut the power," He answered quickly.
When he snipped his fingers to Irvine. It was a signal to cut the power. Damn they are amazing. That is unbelievable. Squall knew back in the room that we'd need the lights out. Maybe he really does know exactly what we have to do to get out of here.
I watched as he broke glass with his elbow and then yanked a small sized axe off a wall. I think it was for fire purposes. I mean I know they have fire extinguishers. A little weird to have axes on the wall. I wasn't really complaining now.
Squall pulled me into another room. He spun around in the room looking all around. He closed his eyes and started walking to a wall. He put his hands on it and then slowly walked to the back wall. There were no windows in this room, and it was extremely dark.
"Squall-"
"Quiet!"
I would say sorry but I know he didn't want to hear it. I just watched him curious to what he was doing. When he tapped a wall he smiled. I could see it through the darkness. He brought the axe back and then slammed it into the wall. After a couple of hits the wall started to crumble. It was just plaster so he began picking apart with his hands. When it was big enough, he stepped into it and ushered me to follow.
I stepped in and we were literally walking between the fucking walls.
"How do you know where we're goin'?" I asked so quietly I wasn't sure if he heard it.
"What do you think I was doing in my room," He answered coolly obviously hearing me.
"You memorized the blueprints?" I grabbed his shoulder and forced him around. "There was like pages and pages."
He looked me sternly in the eyes. "Yes but it came in handy didn't it. Now stop wasting time, no more talking unless necessary. Just stay close."
Once again that was unbelievable. Those blueprints where as complex as any building. I could barely understand them as it was. He managed to memorize the entire building, even in between walls. That is utterly impressive, extraordinarily remarkable, tremendously astonishing, and fucking ridiculous with a capitol 'F' in fuck.
We stayed in the walls for a while and then he suddenly stopped. He must've been keeping count in his head, which was beyond impressive. Especially since he also memorized twists and turns. Not to mention this was all in the pitch black.
He punched through a wall and then jumped out quickly. I watched him spin around to make sure no one was there. He couldn't be subtle this time; if anyone was there he'd have to take them by quick surprise. Luckily no one was there.
He made the hand motion for me to come out and I did. Even though we were moving a lot we didn't even get off the same floor, which even I knew was dangerous.
Squall must've been reading my mind cause the very next place we ended up where right outside the stairs. We could hear someone coming down the end of the hall so we quickly barged into the stairs hallway. There was another man coming up them, maybe only a yard away. Squall quickly raised his gun but the man swung his arm across knocking the gun out of his hands.
Squall then raised the axe he still had with him. Squall swung it strongly but the man caught his arm and the blade stopped a foot away from his head. The man put his gun to Squall's chest but Squall grabbed it with his free hand. He slammed it against the railing causing the weapon to drop down the gap between.
I was pressed against the wall trying to calm my heart down. The man scared me just popping out of nowhere. Squall fighting the guy didn't help either.
Squall chucked the axe so he could have a second free hand. With it he grabbed the man and held him strongly. He attempted to tip him over the railing. The man saw it coming and tried the same on Squall. A horrorifying thought crossed my mind when I saw Squall being out matched. Squall changing his tactic in an instant jumped over the railing dragging the man with him.
I screamed thinking they were going all the way down. However they both made the gap and landed on the stairs going down the other side. They landed hard and started rolling down them. Grunts could be heard as they toppled down the stairs. They crashed into the wall and Squall shifted himself behind the man and wrapped his arm around his neck. He began trying to choke the guy but the thug was still stronger.
I saw Squall's silenced gun and grabbed it along with the axe. I ran down the stairs and stood watching them. It was a sight that caught me off guard. It was terrifying. Seeing a man being chocked to death. His face turning red and his teeth clenched. He was literally fighting for his life and he wasn't going to five up. He began elbowing Squall in the side.
"Rinoa!" Squall shouted waking me up.
"You want me to shoot him?" I asked dumbly.
"Only if it doesn't inconvenience you."
I ignored the wisecrack and took aim. People usually take this whole time to talk about their first kill. If they could pull the trigger or not. Afraid it would haunt them. Well not me, I squeezed that trigger rather easily and watched as the bullet dug into his chest. He lost all his strength and even though the bullet didn't kill him. Squall choking him sure did.
Squall pushed him off and stood up. He grabbed my arm and shoved me against the wall. "If you hesitate again, I'm leaving you. And keep in mind, the bullet could've went through and hit me. Take it from the side. Just be happy this guy was on the heavier side."
"Sorry," I mumbled. What? Did he really expect me to kill and fight so easily?
He took his gun and axe back and fixed his hair a bit. He stood their catching his breath.
"You know Squall," I started making sure I looked him in the eye. I wasn't going to be that scared girl that looks at the ground. "I'm new at this. I'm sorry, I might not be good. But yelling at me will only cause me to get jumpy."
He sighed. "Fine. You're right, but you can see why I might lose my temper."
I nodded.
"You did good don't worry," He told me although it didn't seem sincere. He probably realized he can't have me freaking out now and wanted to keep me happy.
"Let's get going." He said starting to make his way back up the stairs.
The door slammed into the wall above us and we heard voices. "Check the roof!"
"I can't believe we can't find them!"
"Who took him?"
"Weren't there two maintenance people in the building?"
"Shit," Squall cursed quietly. "Quickly downstairs."
We hurried down them as fast as we possible could while Squall explained the plan.
"If we get to the bottom floor we can sneak out the front door. It's dangerous but I doubt they'll be looking for that. It will be the only door not alarmed anymore probably either. Across the street there is a dumpster. You climb on that and jump to an escape ladder. Then jump over a fence. It will be close but once we're over that we are good. We'll be hidden from cars and people."
"That's far away," I responded. I glanced at a passing door to see forth floor.
A door below us slammed into the wall. "Hurry they found something on the roof!" We heard.
Squall didn't even have to tell me to go into the door for the third floor. He dashed down the hallway. I followed as quickly as possible. I figured he would be trying to get to the other side of the building. If this building were normal in anyway there would be another staircase. It was risky running like this but I bet most aren't on the third floor.
Once again, I was mistaken.
Two men popped around the corner just as we reached it. Not surprisingly I froze up again and not surprisingly Squall didn't. He brought up his left hand, which held his gun, and shot one man in the head. He fell like a rock and the other raised his gun against Squall. The brunette swung the axe up from underneath and caught him right in the armpit.
The axe dug in and the man screamed. Squall yanked it out and catching him in the ribs with it before ripping it out one last time and hacking him in the head with it. The man dropped and the axe was still in his head as he did. There were like juices and shit leaking out of the giant gash in his head.
Before I could think I found myself leaning against a wall puking my guts out. As usual my body began shaking and I found my knees getting weaker.
"Rinoa?"
"Damn it Squall!" I shouted.
"What?"
"Why'd you have to fucking butcher the guy?" Tears were starting to come to my eyes.
"He had a gun," Squall deadpanned.
"You didn't have to hack him with your axe." I slid down to the floor not being able to stand anymore.
Squall twisted the weapon in his hand. "It's more of a hatchet really."
"Holy fuck I don't care," I yelled holding myself.
Squall lost his little sarcastic attitude when he saw me completely fold upon myself.
"Rinoa come on let's go," He said gently.
"I'm scared…really scared."
"It's over now," He held out his hand.
"I'm really scared," I looked up at him with tears in my eyes. "Don't leave me, I'm sorry if hesitate."
He knelt down at my level. "I won't leave you, just stay close."
He grabbed my arm and slowly pulled me up. He turned to walk away and I quickly grabbed his arm with my hand. He nodded at me and began walking again. I kept my head down at the floor just thinking about keeping my hand on his arm. It made me feel safer, more secure. I just wanted to get out of here and go home.
"Rinoa we're almost out of here," He reassured me. "We'll go down another two floors and then just make a run for it. At night running full speed, we should be able to get away."
"If I can't make it…will you stay with me?"
"Yes Rinoa," He looked over his shoulder at me. "I won't leave you here."
We made it to the other stairs and hurried down them. I got a little better. I wasn't holding onto Squall's arm anymore. I kept as close as possible though. Not like there was time for me to collapse. This whole situation was keeping my mind racked and busy. We were going slower now, checking each corner carefully. We didn't see anyone else. Squall still held the hatchet even though he said no more. Then again I guess from a tactical perspective that would be a really good weapon.
But then I saw salvation, the front doors. There were only a couple people at them too. I know Squall could take them all out and we could make a mad dash. It was risk but it would only get worse. They might call backup if they had to. I figure they didn't want to alert higher-ups unless absolutely necessary.
"We'll sneak up as close as we can." Squall said.
They weren't facing us at all. They were peering outside incase they saw anything.
"Just walk slowly and when I start shooting, run."
I nodded and we both stepped out from behind the corner. We walked towards them and he lifted his gun. I kept mine holstered inside my maintenance uniform. I could feel it touching my side. Tapping me as if asking me to pick it up and shoot. But I know I wouldn't hit anyone on the run and maybe the silencer would really make all the difference here.
"Now." Squall said and started rifling off bullets.
Of course the bullets hit dead on the mark. The men went down and the door was open for us to make a break for it. I felt my legs carry me like never before. I was pumping them and leaped over the bodies without hesitation. I saw Squall out of the corner of my eye pass me. He pointed forward at the alley he was talking about before. I heard shouts behind me but I didn't look back. I kept my feet moving. I was getting over that wall, I was getting out of her, I was not going to fucking die.
Squall was in front and he was getting some distance. I tried to run faster but I was already beyond my usual speed. He took a giant leap onto the dumpster and jumped onto half an escape ladder that was hanging down.
Now lady luck must've really been enjoying her little fuck 'cause she was still not with me. My toe, yes my toe, hit the curb because I didn't lift my foot high enough. That meant I jammed my previously broken toe. That meant I screamed bloody murder as I collapsed to the ground. Oh but lady luck was really and I mean really getting her brains racked that night. When I fell my foot didn't get out of the way and I fell on it weird as well. Virtually twisting it in some way.
So current status of my get-a-way. In pain lying on the dirty cold sidewalk while Squall was halfway to safety. I looked back at the apartment to see men charging at us. They weren't outside yet but they would be here soon. I tried to get up, I put weight on my foot but it couldn't take it and I fell once again. I felt terror rise up in me. I felt the fear that people must feel when they are about to die. I clawed at the ground to try and get to the alley. Maybe pull myself over the ten-foot wall.
I pushed with my knees and elbows. My hands my arms, anything I could. I felt them scrape and start to lose skin but I didn't care. I had to get out of there. I looked back to see a couple guys just leave the building. All they had to do was cross the street and they had me.
"You fucking idiot." And I heard gunshots and saw the men fall that were crossing the street.
Squall slid behind me. He outstretched his feet around me and pulled me so I was leaning against him. He slipped his ammo clip out and it fell on my lap. In the time I looked down at that clip back up, he already had another clip in the gun. He started shooting once again and I found my strength with him there. I raised my gun and began shooting at anyone I could see.
Some were sticking out of windows but most were charging from the bottom floor. Some jumped out windows on the bottom floor and some came from the sides that lead to the parking lot. There were even some on the roof just watching. They were all over, but I kept shooting.
My clip went dry and I pulled another one from inside my jumpsuit. I slipped it in the gun and started once again. I didn't even know if I killed anyone. I just felt the power in the gun. I felt myself feel more courage as I riffled the bullets off.
But even so they were still coming. There was no way we were getting out of it. And my little brief moment of tremendous courage sank. It sank far below my fear and terror that soon rose back to the surface of my brain. I found myself trying to push Squall back once again to try and get him moving.
"Rinoa we aren't getting away," Squall told me knowing what I was trying.
"We still can," I begged.
He shook his head and was firing the whole time. "Rinoa stay strong, we'll get through this. Keep your mind and don't give up. I'm not gonna leave you."
"Squall! Come on we can go!"
He seemed a little worried but definitely held it better than me. "Rinoa whatever you do don't tell them anything. You've been through training just for this moment. You can do it, I know you can."
I felt shivers rise within me. We were going to be tortured, that's what that meant. I was going to have to go through all that again. I can't do that. Not again.
I tried to wrestle my way past to keep crawling. But Squall held me tight with one hand.
"Rinoa if you lose your mind you'll kill us all," Squall was firing this whole time but I knew he wasn't keeping them all away.
"I can't stay calm." I made the mistake of looking back at the apartment. They were hiding behind cars and could easily cross the street whenever Squall changed his ammo.
"Saint Michael, Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil." It was a prayer, Squall was praying. "We humbly pray by the power of God, thrust into Hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl the world for the ruin of souls."
His shots stopped firing and he slipped the clip out. The men were already halfway across the street. He reached in for another clip but he must've been out. I slipped my hand onto my clips and quickly slid it in his gun. He had enough time to smirk at me but that was it.
The last thing I saw was a butt of a semi-auto smash into his face. 'Cause right after that I felt a heavy blow to the back of my head and I soon saw blackness.
Thanks to my beta Fallout1990 once again. This chapter originally had quite a few mistakes. They are now gone, thanks to him.