I'm sorry this one is a little late. I was very distracted. I re wrote parts of this one a few times and it was frustrating me.
By the way, I've been drawing fan art for Vaas. If you're interested, the links are on my profile. There's a shirtless one on there, which I'm sure you'll enjoy! :D
A big thank you to those who reviewed! I am chuffed that you guys enjoyed the previous chapter: The Lady Artificer. SickMonkey89. KelseyParryMP. Peppermintcookz. Lily. VaasFan. BBoop. TroubleDrive. ForTheWicked0127. I appreciate you guys taking the time to tell me what you think!
Since I can't personally thank the guest reviewers, I'll leave that here:
Lily: Thank you for your frequent reviews! :)
VaasFan: I hope this week is a little better for you. I'm glad I could help cheer you up a little last week! =)
BBoop: Writing their banter is my favorite part! I just love Charlie and Lucas. Haha, yeah, who wouldn't want to roll around in bed with Vaas? ;)
A big thank you to Black-fl0wer for helping me, as always. She's such a fantastic lady!
I am a little unsure of this chapter (which is why it took so long to edit and post) so lemme know what you think.
By the way, in case anyone was wondering: Eli's name is pronounced - (E-ly). :)
Off we go!
Seven days, a hundred and sixty eight hours, ten thousand and eighty minutes and six hundred and forty-eight thousand seconds had passed since Eli had agreed to Vaas's arrangement. After spending the past few days running willy nilly for the pirate lord, tending to his every beck and call, performing degrading, menial tasks not even a cheap labourer would take up, she was dangerously close to putting a bullet in that smug face of his. Vaas had appointed her the duty of cleaning the unholy outhouses around the camp that, quite frankly, needed torching. The pirate lord had also given her the task of being his personal chauffeur, driving him around the island to tend to his business at different camps and outposts. The proverbial cherry on top, the one she loved the most, was when she had to clean up after Vaas had finished with the 'rejects'. She had to pick their brains off of the floor, lift their corpses into an old, beat up truck, that had a dodgy wheel no less, haul the lifeless sacks of meat three miles down the road, up a steep, slippery incline and roll them ungraciously into a mass grave, heaving with a mountain of decomposing corpses.
During the day, she had to follow him around like a maid and at night, she received no reprieve from his presence. He barged into her shack without invitation, taking up the space on her bed with his feet propped up, demanding that she put on Looney Tunes or a film to pass the time. Eli had refused at first, but the pirate lord had threatened to melt down the tags if she didn't comply, so she did. Some nights he would sit in there for hours, watching films back to back until dawn. Eli often sat on the very bottom of the bed, curled up like cat to sleep. Other times she was forced to sleep on the floor or at the table, much to her annoyance.
The only saving grace to it all, was that they had managed to capture the second outpost within a two mile radius, securing the area, making travelling around much more easier. The rebels had been none too happy about it and had attempted to re take the outpost, only to fail miserably when Vaas had blown them to pieces with his favourite weapon of choice, an RPG.
The only way Eli found herself able to cope with the stress of it all, was through a regular dose of drugs, which she began to deeply regret. A dependency slowly set in, followed by the side effects of withdrawal, cold sweats, mood swings and shaking. She inwardly hoped that she could keep it in check whilst they stayed on the northern island, and that the others wouldn't notice.
The silence encompassing her shack soothed her agitated nerves, along with the pills she took only moments before. Sparky and Doc had steered clear of her path, in fear she would shoot them down with the laser beams so apparent in her glare. Eli sighed, prodding her gradually shrinking cheek; the swelling had all but gone, leaving a bruise in its wake, matching the two purple hand prints around her throat. Charlie and Lucas had been livid when they arrived back from the outpost. Had Eli not pulled rank on them both, they would have caused chaos among the camp, more than likely getting someone (probably them), killed.
A soft knock sounded, stirring Eli from her thoughts, and for the first time that week, she smiled upon seeing Charlie poke his head around the door. The medic took it as a good sign, stepping into the room, he returned the gesture.
"Hey," he greeted. "How's it going?" He stood awkwardly, hands stuffed into his cargo pockets, rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
"All things considered, not too bad, I guess," she mused. Charlie nodded.
"I just got off the phone with Roy, he wanted an update," the medic informed. "He's pleased with our progress, wants us to press on asap." Charlie sighed, scuffing his boot against the floor, he ground his teeth together with frustration, brows pulled into a scowl.
"What?" Eli asked, dread pitting in her stomach. It wasn't often the medic looked so stricken.
"Roy wants us to head into Bad Town, speak with Buck, said he has some Intel for us." At the mention of the Australian's name, Eli frowned.
Buck. One of Volker's best hitmen and a world class asshole at that. She and Buck never saw eye to eye. Each time they would meet, he would openly express is disdain for her, constantly questioning why Volker would allow a woman into his ranks and comment on how much of an ugly eyesore she was.
"Buck," she spat with disgust. "I hate that jerk!" Charlie inwardly agreed. His encounters, however brief, were always unsettling for himself and the other male mercs. The Aussie eyed them like pieces of prime meat ready for the chomp. The man wasn't afraid to voice his thoughts, nor make an inappropriate grab at them either. He petrified them!
"Roy said he's got some contacts in the town that are willing to give him info on the outposts nearby. Said it was important that we speak with him," the medic huffed, entirely unhappy with the scenario, but what could he do? Call Roy back and tell him he didn't want to go because he was afraid the hitman would make a pass at him and grab his ass? Yeah, right.
"Well, if Roy's given the order, we have no choice," Eli said with much reluctance. "Oh, hey, did you get any news on Teddy?" She asked, perking up considerably at the thought of the other merc.
"Yeah, Roy said he touched down yesterday. Mission went smoothly," Charlie answered. She sighed, jealous that Teddy had gotten out of coming to the northern island. Still, it would be good to see the big hulk again. She missed him.
"Have you told Lucas yet?" Eli smirked at the anguish passing over the medics face; oh, she did not want to be him when Sparky found out. "Have fun with that," she grinned.
"I hate you," Charlie groaned, hanging his head.
"Nah, you don't. I'm the only one you can have an intellectual conversation with! You love me!" Charlie scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"Your words, not mine. I find talking to my reflection to be more mentally stimulating than you—hey!" Charlie narrowly avoided a book flying by his face, hitting the wall behind him with a thud. "That was a fucking thesaurus! You could have done some serious damage!"
"I'm sure you would have survived!" Charlie scowled, leaning down to pick up the heavy book, he rose a brow in question.
"A Spanish thesaurus?" Eli shrugged. She had no idea who it belonged to or why it was even in there. She had stumbled upon in when she cleaned out the shack one day. Curious, she flipped it open, going over the several words highlighted in the thick volume. Whoever had read it, had expanded their vocabulary considerably.
"I found it in the corner."
"Weird. I didn't even think half of these guys could read!" She grinned.
"Go and tell Sparky we'll be heading out soon. I'm going to get geared up and inform the boss," she said, standing up from the bed and making quick strides across the room to fetch her military fatigues.
"How are we going to get there?" He questioned. Walking would take far too long and driving would prove dangerous in such a hot zone.
"How about we go by sea?" Eli suggested, moving over to the map pinned up on the wall. "There's a network of rivers. If we take a small boat, we can pass through there."
"Alright, but I get to steer the boat!"
"Fine!" Charlie abruptly left after their agreement in search of the techie, leaving Eli to kit herself out, ready for the journey ahead. Once dressed, she placed her weapons on the table in a neat order before making her way out of the shack and down the incline in search of the pirate lord. Eli paused, lifting the sunglasses from her eyes, she quirked a brow at the sight of Vaas lounging on the old hammock, lazily swinging in the passing breeze.
"See something you like?" Vaas smirked upon seeing her standing beside him, arms folded over. The sight of Sunny's dogtags resting on his chest had her practically shooting fire out of her eyes. Vaas knew it annoyed her, which is why he chose to wear them. It also meant that Eli wouldn't go snooping around for them when she could blatantly see them in the pirate lords grasp.
"Not really, no," she sighed, pulling a lollipop from her back pocket, she unwrapped the brightly coloured paper, popping the strawberry candy into her mouth. "Charlie got word from Roy this morning. He informed us that Buck has some important Intel for us and that we have to meet with him in Bad Town." Vaas frowned, eyes narrowing with disgust. He too had had his fair share of run ins with the pervert; though Buck knew not to push him too far, lest he wished to lose a finger.
"And you're boring me with this, why?" Eli rolled her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose to ease the tension.
"Since you're our boss, it's our duty to inform you when we leave the base and where." Vaas waved his hand nonchalantly.
"I don't fucking care where you go or what you do, unless it's me, of course," he smirked, enjoying the deadpan expression falling over her face. "It'll be nice to get some peace and fucking quiet from you three," he said with a heavy sigh. "So go on, piss off. Have a nice day and try not to die." With a dismissal wave of his hand, Eli left his presence, shooting him one last scowl over her shoulder, grunting at the wide grin he gave in response.
The wind whipped across the ocean, pushing the swell of waves against the raft, rocking the boat in a rhythmical sway. Charlie stood at the helm, steering the vessel over the choppy waters; eyes darting left and right, keeping a careful watch on jungle fringe. He glanced over his shoulder at his comrades, smirking at the petulant pout upon the techie's face. He sat in the back, arms crossed over his chest with a face like thunder. Lucas had had a fit when the medic informed him of their trip into Bad Town. Eli and Charlie had to drag him out of the shack, down the hill and throw him onto the boat, pinning him down when he attempted to jump overboard. Eli stood behind him on the mounted gun, sweeping the heavy weapon left and right.
"Cheer up, Lucas!" Eli shouted over the rush of wind. "At least Buck likes you! That man wouldn't piss on me even if I was on fire!" Lucas's face twisted deeper into a sour pout.
"I'd rather he spat in my face than try to touch my dick!" Charlie barked at the techie's comment, earning him a glare.
"I don't know why you're laughing, Doc. We all know Buck has a thing for your gentlemanly accent." The colour drained from the medics face, Sparky's words every bit true. Buck had a penchant for accents, Charlie's especially. The hitman constantly complimented him on his British accent, saying that it sent "shivers" down his spine, much to the medics disgust.
All too soon the trio arrived at their destination. Charlie expertly steered the boat down the river; Eli and Lucas hopped out when he pulled it up beside the dock, anchoring the vessel with a thick rope. They stared at the sight of Bad Town, sharing a heavy sigh. The three mercs made their way up the embankment and into the shanty town, carefully skirting around the rubbish and debris strewn along the ground; broken glass and splintered wood with plastic and twisted pieces of metal stacked in messy heaps. The locals eyed them guarded suspicion, moving further away when they approached; shutting doors and closing windows, securing themselves in their small homes, peering through the knot holes.
"Friendly as ever," Charlie muttered wryly, glancing into the open door of a local shop, where an old woman stood behind a counter, shot gun resting on her shoulder, giving him a sharp glare.
"At least the ladies like us!" Lucas chimed, waving at the group of scantily clad women loitering outside of a derelict shack with an obnoxious neon sign humming on the roof.
"Those are hookers, Lucas, not ladies," Charlie informed the techie.
"Dude, that's a little harsh."
"But true."
"Don't encourage them," Eli sighed, hitting him on the arm when he began to call back to the prostitutes.
"Aw, c'mon! I haven't gotten laid in months! Cut me some slack!" He whined.
"I'm sure you'll live," she shot back boredly, tentatively stepping a cross a small, well worn bridge.
"But what if I don't, huh? What if I die right here, right now? Would you be able to live with the guilt of knowing you stopped me from getting laid one last time?" Eli came to an abrupt halt, causing the techie to knock into her back; she spun on her heel, hands reaching up to grip his shoulders, she stared him dead in the eye, face portraying boredom.
"Your penis doesn't concern me. At all. Even if it fell off and you never had sex again, I wouldn't even care. In fact, I would be overjoyed. Because at least then you would stop whining about sticking it in something!" Lucas winced, cringing at her words.
"Ouch, that's just cold!" Eli gave an audible groan, shooting him one last glare, she released him from her grip and continued on her march through Bad Town. Charlie chuckled from behind Lucas.
"Mate, if you're that concerned about getting fucked, I'm sure Buck will happily oblige!" He teased, grinning from ear to ear at the sickly look passing over Sparky's face.
"Don't even say shit like that! Ugh!"
"Will you two stop bickering?"
"This place is disgusting," the medic mused, face scrunched up with revulsion at the pungent smell of piss and alcohol wafting from the bar when they rounded the corner; they stood in front of the run down tavern, shoulders tense, brows furrowed, inwardly wishing the shithole would spontaneously combust into a ball of fire, never to be looked upon again. But they had no such luck. They would have to endure.
"Good luck to us," Lucas muttered, running a hand through his brown hair nervously.
Eli pushed open the door leading to the dank, humid bar; she turned away, cringing when a wave of different smells assaulted her, almost knocking her over. A veil of smoke hung heavily in the room, smothering their senses with the potent odour of cigars and cheap tobacco, mixing unpleasantly with the fumes of alcohol and urine lingering in the air. The incessant buzzing of flies could be heard, the irritating noise grated against her ears, the noise drowned out the song playing on the barely working jukebox, the lights flickered and waned, barely casting a glow in the dark corner.
A few patrons hunched over the small, worn tables; cards fanned out in front of them with an overflowing ashtray and empty bottles of beer. One of the men playing poker grunted when a large rat scurried across the table, running in front of him without fear. The man back handed the rodent, throwing it roughly to the floor; the flea ridden creature fell onto his boot, prompting the man to kick the creature across the room and into the far wall.
"Can't say I missed this place too much," Charlie and Eli nodded in agreement at the techie's words. They moved further in, cringing when they caught sight of a familiar face seated in a dark corner; he flashed them a wolfish grin, beckoning them over. The two males groaned, muttering 'oh god' followed by a string of profanities.
"Well well, aren't you boys a sight for sore eyes!" Bucked greeted heartily, his eyes racking over each of them with hunger. The excitement faded from his face when he shifted his gaze to a rather pissed off looking Eli; arms folded over her chest, a dark glare settled on her features.
"Lennox," Buck said with revulsion, his face scrunching up with disgust, as if someone had just spat in his beer. The Aussie reclined back in his seat, leg propped up on the table, giving them an ugly view of his crotch.
"You're lookin' a little peaky, mate, why don't ya come over here 'n' sit ya'self down on ol' Uncle Bucks lap?" Buck suggested to a rather stricken looking Charlie, who discreetly moved further behind Eli.
"I'm good here, thanks," he muttered, swallowing a thick lump of nerves gathering in his increasingly tight throat. Was it hot in here, or was just him? Buck merely shrugged.
"How about you, Sparky?" Lucas promptly shook his head, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights.
"What's the matter, mate? Does Uncle Buck make you nervous? Don't be shy! I'll be real gentle with ya'!" Buck barked with laughter at the perturbed expressions on their faces. The two male mercs stood behind Eli, using her as a human shield, effectively repelling the perverted Aussie.
"You look like you could do with a little more red meat! Put some colour in those nice cheeks of yours," he flashed Lucas a smile, giving him a wink. "Don't ya' worry, I've got a nice, juicy piece right here! There's enough for both of you two beauts!" Buck said huskily, grabbing the his crotch to accentuate his meaning. When none of the mercs made a move or sound, Buck sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Sit the fuck down already, you're messing up the Feng Shui in 'ere," he muttered, annoyed that the men hadn't taken up on his offer. No matter, he always did enjoy it when his prey refused. He laughed when the three mercs shuffled to the opposite side of the table, squeezing themselves in the tight space, elbows and knees knocking into one another.
"So," Buck began, swinging his leg off of the table, he propped his elbows on the surface, leaning further in. "What the fuck is wrong with you, aye? Ya' got a face like a slapped ass! Then again, you always have," he spat at Eli, giving her a cold sneer.
"Rumour has it that poor Sunny kicked the fuckin' bucket," he said nonchalantly, watching their expressions changing with a flick of a switch. He smirked at the darkness pulling at Eli's features. "Judging from the looks on your faces, I'm guessing it's true. Fuckin' shame. Such a handsome man," Buck said with a hint of forlorn. Eli clenched her fists into a vice, teeth grinding together; her shoulders pulled taut from tension, back straighter than an arrow. She shot the Aussie a demonic glare, provoking a wide grin in response.
"I always wondered how long it would be before he croaked following you around like a fuckin' dog. That boy was too loyal for his own good!" A fist hit the table with a bang, giving the group of mercenaries a start. They glanced over to Charlie, his white knuckled hand resting on the surface; face contorted into anger.
"It wasn't Eli's fault!" He spat venomously. The others looked at him in bewilderment. They rarely ever saw the medic so angry. "It was a stupid fucking mistake, okay? We lost a good soldier that day and we're all living with regret. I would appreciate it if you'd keep your god damn mouth shut on the matter!" Buck slowly blinked, surprise visible on his worn face.
"Well well, looks like the gentleman has got a bit of a temper. I like that," he teased with a smirk. "But since you asked so nicely, I'll let it go."
"Can we cut this bullshit and get to the chase? We've got better things to do," Eli snapped impatiently, all too eager to get out of the hotbox of a bar and away from the antagonizing Australian.
"You're a fuckin' killjoy," he commented with irritation. "But whatever. I'll be glad to see the back of that ugly face of yours." Eli bit her tongue, inwardly restraining herself from reaching for the knife strapped to her thigh and running it through his stupid grinning face. Why was she surrounded by such annoying, obnoxious men as of late?
"So, what's this Intel you've got?" Charlie prompted impatiently. A smirk tugged at the corner of Bucks lips; he tilted his head to the side, eyeing the medic up and down.
"Ah ah," he began, waggling a finger back and forth. "First, you'll 'ave to do something for me!"
"What?!" Lucas baulked. "But Roy said-"
"Hey!" Buck barked loudly, cutting him off. "Rule number one: never give anything for free, got it?" The mercs huffed, giving him a scowl. "If ya' want my info, you're gonna 'ave to do something for me." The trio shared a look of concern.
"Like what?" Charlie dared to ask, swallowing a thick lump in his throat.
"One of ya' lads can get on your knees and taste my fuckin' cock," he said, watching with great pleasure as the colour drained from their faces.
"No way!" Lucas and Charlie protested loudly, eyes wide with visible fear. Buck shrugged.
"Do you want the fuckin' Intel or not?!" They shared a heavy sigh, eyes passing secret words between them. Eli and Charlie nodded, turning to a bewildered Lucas.
"What?" He squeaked with concern. "Oh no. No, no, no! I refuse!" He quickly said, pushing his chair back to stand.
"What about Charlie!?" The medic scowled, arms folding tightly across his chest.
"I'm pulling rank on this one. There's no way I'm doing it!" He shot back. Lucas made a noise a kin to whimpering dog.
"This isn't fair!" He whined loudly, pulling gently at his hair. "Can't we flip a coin?! Rock, paper, scissors?!" Eli sighed, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling.
"Is there a second option?" She drawled out, a stony mask upon her face. Buck frowned, displeased at their refusal. No matter, there were other things he desired just as much.
"There's an old mine shaft to the south east of 'ere. Couple of the locals were diggin' it out, looking for precious stones 'n' all that shit," he began in a hushed tone, leaning across the table. "Well, get this, it turns out they unearthed a fuckin' tomb down there! Carved stone pillars, statues, you name it! Said there was some nice lookin' treasure too."
"And they just told you this?" Lucas asked suspiciously, slowly taking back his seat at the table. Buck laughed.
"Of course not. Had to break their fuckin' fingers first!" He grinned madly, eyes flashing at the fond recollection.
"So why didn't they take the treasure for themselves?" Charlie inquired.
"The witless fucks said there was an old rope bridge leading across a gaping chasm. Said they lost one of their friends, took a little tumble down the cliff. Guess it wasn't worth the risk to 'em." Eli scoffed.
"But it is for us?"
"Of course it is!" He snapped irritably, giving her a look of disgust. "You want the Intel I got, don't ya?" She reluctantly nodded. "Then it's fuckin' worth it."
"What is it?" Lucas questioned suspiciously.
"Ah, see, rumour has it there's a tomb of a lost emperor or some shit down there. The fat bastard had a penchant for figure heads. Ivory, Jade, even gold! Now, see, I'm not a greedy fella," the mercs inwardly scoffed. "I just want that Jade figure head. The one carved like a dragon. Legend has it that the dragon is supposed to be lucky fucker!"
"And what if we don't find it?"
"Then I guess you'll be on your hands and knees when ya' get back, boy," Lucas grimaced at the mental imagery, praying to all things that were holy they would find the artefact.
"We don't exactly have the correct gear for this," Charlie chimed in.
"Well ya' lucky sods, I've got just the thing for ya'. Me mate Hector has all the supplies you'll need. Free of charge!" Buck informed the medic with a wink.
How kind of him.
"This mine shaft," Eli began, shifting the Australians attention away from Charlie. "Where is it?"
"Don't ya' worry about that. Ol' Buck will take ya' there himself once we've stop by Hectors."
The mercenaries followed Buck out of the bar and through Bad Town, skirting around the well worn path towards the make-shift fence wrapped around the perimeter, where Buck had a Jeep waiting on the grass verge. They reluctantly climbed into the vehicle, slinging their gear into the back; Charlie had drawn the short straw, sitting up from next to the Australian with his hand firmly on his knee, gradually moving higher until Charlie swatted his hand away, claiming he had seen a spider. Buck merely laughed, grinning from ear to ear at the medics antics.
They stopped by an old shack on the outskirts of town, hidden behind a curtain of vines and tall grass. Buck had instructed the mercs to wait in the Jeep whilst he went inside the derelict shanty to retrieve their gear and exchange words with the man. He emerged almost half an hour later, climbing gear slung over his shoulder, he threw them into the back, hitting Eli in the face; she scowled, shooting him a venomous glare that he expertly ignored. They passed through the lesser known back roads, carefully driving over the bumps and around the snaking vines threatening to re claim the dirt road. Shafts of light flashed through the thick jungle encompassed all around them, flickering the shadows in a bright dance. Eli sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose to ease the headache stirring in the back of her head.
"You okay?" Eli asked the quiet techie, leaning closer so he could hear over the rattle and creaking of the rusted Jeep.
"I feel violated," he muttered. "That man raped me with his eyes!" Eli flashed him a rare grin, causing him to scowl in response.
"Aw," she mocked with a pout. "Want me to hold your hand and tell big, bad Buck to go away?"
"Shut up!"
"Hey, be grateful! At least you aren't getting groped in the front seat like Charlie," she snickered, casting a glance over her shoulder to see the medic edging further away from the Australian, leaning precariously out of the Jeep to stay out of his reach. Lucas nodded his head, thankful that he had jumped into the back before the medic had time to react and firmly wedged himself between Eli and their gear, much to Charlie's annoyance.
"So, cave exploration, huh? Sounds like fine!" Eli grunted, scowling beneath her sun glasses.
"It's not exactly what I had in mind, but it's better than the alternative," she mused, running a hand through her sweaty bangs. She wasn't sure what was worse, being a personal skivvy for Vaas, or venturing into a dark, dangerous cave for Buck, all because he was a selfish, egotistical prick. Lucas shuddered, nodding his head in quick agreement.
"At least we have the proper gear, right?" He said optimistically. The mercs had enough sense to pack their basic survival gear each time they ventured out of the camp, just in case. On more than one occasion had they been stranded and left to fend for themselves in the past. They weren't taking any chances this time.
"We may have the gear, but we don't exactly know what we're doing."
"Ah, don't worry, Looney Tunes! I did a bit of rock climbing when I was a kid! I've got us covered!" Lucas chimed happily, recalling the fond memories of his childhood. Eli sighed dramatically with her head in her hands.
"We're so fucked."
"Here we are!" Buck called loudly, pulling the Jeep to an abrupt stop just before a large rocky overhang. "See that path there?" He pointed to a small dirt trail leading between two large boulders. "That leads to the mine shaft. Don't worry, it's been abandoned for years. Ya' shouldn't run into any other fuckers."
Reluctantly, the three mercs jumped out of the vehicle, gear slung over their shoulders, they followed Buck down the trail, marching through the tall grass and stepping over the thick vines snaking across the dirt. They stopped just outside of a large, cavernous hole leading into the abyss; a cold, musty breeze blowing from within.
"Well, in ya go!" Buck said with a grin, gesturing to the ominous cave. The three exchanged worried looks, eyeing the creaking, rotten support beams and crumbling cave walls, they turned to Buck, brows furrowed.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Eli questioned with quiet concern.
"How the fuck should I know?" He barked with irritation, giving her a scowl. "All I know is that beaut of a figure head is in there with my fuckin' name on it! Now go on, in you go! Chop chop!" The Australian practically pushed the woman inside the cave, causing her to stumble.
"One of you little rippers give me a bell when you're done! Ol' Buck will come pick ya' up!" He shouted into the cave, his obnoxious voice bouncing off the walls.
"I hate that guy," Charlie muttered, unconsciously brushing himself down to get rid of the invisible germs the Australian had left when he practically molested him in the Jeep. The shafts of light at the entrance of the tunnel began to fade, plunging the mercs into a world of darkness.
"Let's get some light in here," Eli imused; she bent down, digging through the pack Buck had given them, only to stop short, glaring at the insides.
"What?" Lucas questioned upon seeing the frown settling on her face.
"That asshole gave us rock climbing equipment. We can't use this!" She shrieked, holding the cables and harnesses in her tightly clenched fist.
"Why not?"
"Because rock climbing and caving are two entirely different things!" She spat back with annoyance.
"Well, It's too late now. He's already left," Charlie chimed in, notifying them of Bucks departure.
"Great!"
"We'll have to make do." The medic said with a sigh.
Typical Buck. I bet he did this on purpose! Eli inwardly seethed, cursing the crazy Australian with every name under the sun.
"Since that twat didn't give us any lighting gear, we'll have to use the pistol attachments," she instructed, pulling the device from her pack and mounting it onto the bottom of her pistol, switching it on with a burst of light.
"Man, if I had known we'd be in a dark cave I'd have brought our night vision," Lucas whined with disappointment. The other two inwardly agreed, but there was little they could do now. They pressed on, carefully treading through the old mine shaft, pausing when a loud groan rocked through the unsteady tunnel, causing a stream of stones and dust to fall from the ceiling. At the end of the cavernous tunnel, they came to man made hole carved into the wall.
"This just screams horror movie to me," the techie muttered, staring through the narrow crevice. Eli took point with Charlie bringing up the rear. She took off her pack, placing it at Lucas's feet, she began to squeeze into the tight space, grunting and cursing when the rough surface scratched against her skin.
"I'm out," she said with relief, glancing through the wedge at a rather pale looking Lucas. "Pass me my pack." Lucas obliged, pushing the bag through the narrow passage until she pulled it out.
"Did I mention I was claustrophobic?" Lucas muttered nervously, swallowing a lump of nerves in the back of his throat. A sudden rush of heat crawled up his back, sweat beading on his brow, he swept the torch over every inch of the narrow squeeze, chewing his lip anxiously.
"If you don't hurry up, you're going last!" Charlie snapped impatiently, he pushed the techie forward, tapping his foot in the dirt floor.
"Alright, alright, geez!" Lucas pulled off his pack, pushing it through the gap until Eli took hold, pulling it from his grasp. With a deep, shaky breath, he stepped forward, shimmying ungracefully between the jagged rocks; cursing a colourful string of profanities with each step.
"See, you made it," Eli said with a grin, hitting the techie on the shoulder. "Good job." Lucas returned her grin with a crooked of his own. He turned away from Eli, whom waited patiently for Charlie, and balked at the sight before him. He stood on a shelf of a cliff, a rickety, old wooden bridge stretched across a pitch black hole, swinging dangerously in a gentle breeze, leading to a large tunnel on the other side with two large, carved statues of Chinese dragons standing at the entrance. A trail of broken pottery and cracked stone laid strewn outside of the hole, disappearing into the dark void.
"We're crossing that?" He said almost breathless, eyes wide with worry. Eli sighed from beside him, sweeping her sights over the large cave. Dim shafts of light peeked through the spider web cracks and thick foliage covering over the top, lighting the area in a faint glow, giving them a view of the vast innards of the cave; thick, dark stone carved from time, slick from the condensation dripping from the large stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Lucas jumped with surprise when Charlie kicked a loose stone over the edge, sending the small rock tumbling down the hole, hitting the edge nosily until it fell into silence.
"Hear that? Sounds like rushing water," Eli mused, listening to the faint sound of water churning from the bottom of the dark hole.
"I wonder how far it goes" he mused, intrigued.
"Dude, don't stay so close to the edge!" Lucas snapped, pulling the medic to a safer distance.
"Aw, is Lucas worried about me? That's so sweet!" Charlie mocked, puckering his lips into a kiss. "I didn't realize you cared!"
"If you two are quite finished, can we get moving?" Eli asked impatiently, anxious to get on with their task and get out of the tomb. The men nodded.
"Yeah, sure. We just gotta get across that first." Lucas gestured to the rotten looking rope bridge; several planks of wood were missing, a green mould and vines creeping across the rope.
Eli snatched the pack from Lucas and began to dig through the assortment of climbing equipment Buck and generously given them. She pulled out a handful of thick safety lines and harnesses with robust metal clips. She tossed the two mercs a harness of their own before she stepped into the straps, pulling it over her torso and fastening the clips.
"Is this it?" Lucas mused, glancing down at the equipment, tugging and fiddling with the clasps. "You sure this is safe?"
"Hey, if you'd rather not wear it," Eli trailed off, moving closer to the techie, arms raised to grab the harness. Lucas backed away.
"No, no, I'll take it!"
"So, I guess you attach this line to the back of mine and then Charlie's on yours?" She questioned, glancing at the two mercs for confirmation. They shrugged in response, clueless to the whole thing as she was. Eli sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"Right, we'll just wing it, I guess."
"You want me to put that on your epitaph?" Charlie teased, giving her a smirk.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I had no idea you knew what you were doing. Please, by all means, step up here and tell us what to do!" The medic rolled his eyes at her sarcastic bite.
"Point taken," he sighed.
"This thing is pinching my balls," Lucas whined, trying to dig the straps out of his crotch. "It's too tight!"
"At least you won't fall out." Eli sighed, rolling her eyes at the two men.
"Shall we get going?"
"We shall!" Lucas chimed.
"I'll go first." They made no protest when Eli stepped forward. She stood at the edge of the bridge, hands wrapped around the rope; knuckles white. Tentatively, she stepped forward, lightly pressing her boot against the wood, she released a shaky breath, relieved when the plank held her weight.
Lucas and Charlie stood on the rocky shelf in a stance, slowly feeding the rope through their sweaty, gloved fingers as Eli carefully moved across the bridge at a snails pace.
The overpass groaned from her weight and began to swing from the momentum. Eli grit her teeth, heart in her throat, she forced herself to breath, focus on moving her feet one at a time. Sweat began to bead on her brow and neck, dripping profusely across her dirty, clammy skin. She could barely breathe under the crushing tension anchoring her down. She told herself not to look down, think of nothing but crossing the bridge. It was a walk in the park. Nothing dangerous about it at all. Nope. Nadda. Eli sucked in a quick gasp when one of the wooden planks snapped beneath her feet, bowing from the pressure, it broke in two, forcing her to jump onto the next one, shaking the bridge with her quick movement.
Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. She repeated over and over in her mind, willing her shaking feet to move with precision.
"Keep moving, E. You're doing fine!" Charlie called from across the chasm. His words were meant to be encouraging, to urge her on, but they only served to annoy her, distracting her from the task of not falling to her death.
"Shut up!" She shouted through gritted teeth; she inwardly cursed when she felt her knees buckle, threatening to give out under the immense adrenalin pumping fiercely through her veins. Eli tightened her grip on the rope, pulling her suddenly dead weight body along. The end was just in her reach, she could see the flat, firm edge of the opposite shelf, welcoming her with open arms to step upon its safe surface.
Yes yes yes!
When she finally placed her boot on the rock, Eli fell onto her knees, shaking hand clutching at her chest; the sensation of a thousand drums beating beneath her fingers. She gave a heavy sigh, gasping for much needed breath, she thanked the stars above for her safe arrival. Wiping the dripping sweat from her brow, she pushed herself up onto shaky legs, she pulled a sturdy life line from her pack, securing it to the safety hook, knocking it firmly into the flat surface of rock.
I hope this will hold. Eli mused once she had finished and began to test the weight, pulling and twisting against the clip; satisfied that it held, she beckoned the others over.
"If it can hold your fat ass, I'm sure we'll be okay!" Lucas called back, earning a middle finger from Eli. The techie laughed nervously, tentatively stepped onto the bridge, fingers curling tightly around the rope. It took him a little longer than Eli to reach the other end, but he did so without fault. He greeted Eli with a shaky hug, arm slung over her, pounding head resting against her shoulder, waiting with baited breath for the medic to cross.
"I think I might have pissed myself," he muttered on a breath, laughing when Eli looked at him with disgust.
"C'mon, Doc!" He shouted, voice echoing like a gong in the cavernous space.
"Be quiet, your obnoxious voice is putting me off!" The medic shot back, brows furrowed with deep concentration. Charlie took in deep, calming breaths with each careful step he took, pausing when the wood whined in protest from the unwelcome weight. He had reached half way across the bridge when an ungodly groan sounded, followed by the noise of rope twisting and chaffing. The medic slowly glanced over his shoulder, eyes shooting open when the two wooden pegs holding the bridge began to snap and splinter, swinging the bridge violently as the wood bowed.
"Fuck!" Charlie cried out in panic, breaking into a run when the rope supporting the bridge snapped loudly, wrenching free from his sweaty grasp.
"Run run run!" Lucas shouted frantically, watching helplessly beside Eli, who could barely breathe under the intensity.
"Come on!" Eli shrieked, voice pitching high with fear.
Charlie's feet pounded against the rotten planks, breaking them in half, causing the wood to fall from the bridge and into the abyss below. He had nearly made it; he could almost touch the other side. Suddenly, he began to fall, the unseen hand of gravity wrapped tightly around him with an unyielding embrace, pulling him backwards. Eli and Lucas reached out to grab him, fingers brushing against one another, just out of their reach; absolute fear apparent on their faces.
"Charlie!"
"Shiiiiit!" Lucas bellowed in alarm when the rope attached to his safety harness snapped taut, dragging him backwards; he clawed at the shelf, desperately trying to gain purchase on the slippery surface. The techie cried out when he slid over the edge, stomach turning violently from the plunge; the rope tensed, bringing him to a jarring stop. He stared up at the edge of the cliff with wide eyes, barely able to breathe.
"Charlie? You there?" He called quietly, almost afraid to speak louder in fear it would cause them to fall.
"Yeah, mate, I'm here." Lucas let out a shuddered breath, relieved the medic was still with them.
"Eli?"
"Climb the fuck up already!" She all but shrieked with panic. The thick line chaffed against her fingers, rubbing the skin a red raw. Eli shifted her weight against her precarious footing on the rocks; she wrapped the rope around her elbow and shoulder, bracing her entire body away from the edge. A sudden tug on the rope caused her to falter; her grip slackened, ripping the safety line from her grasp.
"No!" She shouted in terror, watching helplessly as the rope snaked over the edge, plunging Lucas and Charlie further into the darkness. Eli scrambled to her feet, desperately trying to gain ground and find something to hold onto; the harness line tugged her back, pulling her roughly to the floor, knocking the wind from her lungs; dragging her along the rough stone and to the edge. Eli's fingers gripped the jagged rocks, cutting sharply into her skin. She tried to pull herself up, but the weight dangling beneath her was too much. She couldn't even breathe under the strain crushing her chest.
Eli's sucked in a sharp gasp, eyes widening with absolute fear when the safety hook, the only thing holding them up, began to rattle against the rocks, slowly unhinging itself from the bed of stone, unraveling the connection rope until it came free, laying limp on the floor in front of her. Her hands became slick from the blood oozing from the cuts on her hand, rendering her unable to hold on any longer; Eli screamed at the top of her lungs when she fell away from the edge. The abrupt noise rang sharply in her ears, mixing with the anguished cries of Charlie and Lucas. Eli stared up at the roof of the cave, watching the shafts of light filtering through the cracks fade into the distance; shrouded by a thick, impenetrable darkness before the world turned cold.
Uh oh! I hope everyone is okay!
So, we got to see Buck! What did you think? I hope I pulled him off alright? You didn't get to see much of him in the game, so it was difficult for me write out his words and expressions. :x
Not much Vaas in this one, I know. But fear not, there will be much more canon in the next chapter!
Oh and before I forget: I will be using my *new* dA (syphonicz) to post updates on this fanfiction. So if it's late, feel free to check there. :)
As always, I am open to ideas/suggestions and I take constructive criticism well. Or if you just want a bit of banter, feel free to PM me. I am always up for a chat.
Lemme know what you think! I reply to all of the reviews (if not a guest) :)