Dodger jolted back at her suggestion " You're mad.I'm not gonna hit a gi-irl."

Something about the sound made Dodger feel uneasy. He dreaded to turn around but he needed to know. He paused momentarily and wheeled around.

He gasped.

His worse fears had been confirmed. Blood was sprayed on the floor and Dash was half sprawled on the ground. Her right arm was limp and she did not have the strength to support herself up. Her entire right sleeve was soaked in fresh blood and a bullet-size hole was clearly visible. Desperately, she pressed her left palm on the blood-smeared ground and mustered all her remaining strength in her legs to get up.

Dodger yelled and encouraged her " Dash! C'mon! Get up! They're behin' yer! Dash!" He cried exasperated and decided to turn back to assist her.

He sprinted towards Dash and held her arms and pulled her up with all his might. Once she was on her knees, Dodger yanked her along, causing Dash to stumble for a few steps before she regained her momentum. Her right arm dangled crazily and the acute pain forced her to grit her teeth and occasionally bite her lower lip when the icy wind cut her dirty face like a thousand needles.

They ran as fast as their strong sturdy legs could carry them. Running through the deserted alleys, their footsteps bounced off the walls and echoed. Terror consumed them as they ran for their dear lives. Unable to cope with the unbearable pain, Dash clutched her right arm, which bled crazily and soaked her entire sleeve in fresh blood. As they ran, Dash could not keep up with Dodger and their hands lost grip again. Exhausted, Dash darted into another alley while Dodger continued to sprint ahead.

Hearing only his footsteps, he turned to find Dash missing and cried " Dash? Dash? Where are ya! Dash!" Then he looked down the alley and saw a fresh blood trial leading to another opening in the alley.

He retraced his steps and followed the bloody trial before he found Dash. She was panting and leaning against a wall. Dodger squatted down beside her, panting from exhaustion. His body wanted to stop running, but his fears would not let him stop.

" Dash… " he said between pants, " C'mon, we can't… stop now…" He drew in air and spoke " Yer blood's all over the floor. It'll lead 'em to us. We gotta go." He felt his legs trembling from the sheer tiredness.

Dash released her hand from her wound and fresh blood began to seep through her sleeve.

" It won't stop bleedin', Dodger." she panted.

Dodger whipped out a piece of their loot, a beige handkerchief, and wrapped it around her wound before tying it tightly. Dash cringed and flexed her arm in pain. Satisfied with his knot, Dodger grabbed Dash's good arm and said " C'mon now."

Dodger led Dash into another deserted alley. He felt his heart palpitating violently against his chest as he drew in fresh air once again. Then he poked his head out of the alley and ensured that they was no one behind. When he heard nothing except for their heavy pants, he leaned against the wall and rested his weight on it. His face was flushed against the bitter wind and his lips were parched and dry, but he was relieved and let down his guard.

" Don't worry, they're gone."

Dash untied the handkerchief to inspect the wound. She leaned against the wall and let her limp body slide down to a sitting position. She bared her teeth and gripped her sleeve before ripping it apart. Bewildered, Dodger asked " What're yer gonna do? You need a physician now. He'll treat it fer yer."

He squatted down in front of her and looked at her bloody arm. Dodger felt the urge to hurl as the putrid stench of blood went up his nose and he absorbed the gory sight before him. He noticed that her face was exceptionally pale, as if all blood had been drained.

" Yer... yer blimey joking! A physician's ...outta the question."

" You'll bleed to death like that!" Dodger said.

" 'cos the traps'll be all over the place. If yer seen with me, yer be caught too. Yer best leave."

" What d'ya mean?" he asked, " yer askin' me to...leave?"

" Why're yer so concerned anyhow?" she snapped " There's no valuables involved!"

" Why'd yer always think money's all I ever care 'bout?" He yelled back defensively, feeling that his pride and honour had been hurt.

" Well, ain' it?" She muttered under her breath.

" I'm not leaving yer here and nothin' yer say will make me!" Dodger sat down in front of Dash and crossed his arms defiantly, "Look, we're in this together, with money or not. I'm gonna be here to help you through this. Trust me."

She glanced up at Dodger and then at her severed arm and replied " But only if you help me."

" Yeah, anything."

" I need you... you to... knock me out if I make a sound. " Dodger looked at Dash with a bewildered expression " I needa dig out that bullet."

Dodger jolted back at her suggestion " You're mad.I'm not gonna hit a gi-irl."

Dash tried to reason with Dodger " You've hit me before, that ain't any different."

" No way. " He decided, " I ain't hitting you." He thought it improper to hit a female, Nancy would never approve of that.

" Look, yer gonna help me...or not?" she said exasperated, feeling her energy slowly draining from within her each minute.

Dodger turned his body and looked away with defiance in his eyes " Ain't touching you."

" Suit yourself." She wondered whether he really could be trusted. She pushed herself up against the wall with immense difficulty and finally managed to get on her feet. Dash merely walked a few steps before stumbling and leaning against the wall for support.

Meanwhile, Dodger who had watched her, could not bear to leave her in despair and yelled back at her " Hey Dash!"

Refusing to turn around, Dash walkd on, prompting Dodger to run after her. He stopped her and said " Hey Dash... I'll...I'll..I'll do it."

Dash returned Dodger a feeble smile and they bent down with their backs against the wall. Mustering up all her courage, Dash slowly raised her trembling hand to the wound and felt the warm blood. She winced as the wound began to smart. Nonetheless, she carried on and felt the bullet lodged in her flesh. She held the bullet firmly, and with the remaining strength she had, she tried to pull it out. She could feel a yell rising within her and could supress it no longer.

Dodger sensed that any moment, a scream would erupt from Dash. He mustered all his courage and lunged forward...

Hey! Sorry I didn't put up this chapter any sooner. But now it's up, please review! Will Dodger hit her or not?

THE SURPRISE IS NOT YET OVER!

Cheero