The Path Of Fate: Chapter 25
A/N: Fear not, for I am still alive, and so is this story. Hopefully I haven't lost any readers...
Two men in ordinary clothing stepped out of the car, and swiftly moved toward the building. Without any hesitation, they entered.
The man watching from the charcoal gray car heaved a near silent sigh, trying to calm his nerves. The information he had obtained suggested that this girl was a highly skilled warrior. Being ex-military, he didn't believe in super powers, and he was sure his men were more than capable of handling her, but something nagged at the back of his mind. Always wondering 'what if'. It would be fool-hardy to assume that the battle had been won before it had begun, and he had long since learned to keep contingency plans. This, however, he wasn't sure how to plan for. After all, if two grown men couldn't wrestle one girl to the ground, what could he do by himself?
He had a weapon. He always did. However, this girl had to be taken alive. Shooting was not an option. If they couldn't capture her without weapons, they would be forced to retreat, and she would be on the alert.
He tried his best to alleviate the worry. Nothing would go wrong, he told himself. Everything would be fine.
He stared pensively at the building, and waited with baited breath for his cell phone to ring with the good news.
888
Jo paused, her lips pressed against Meg's neck. Slowly she raised her head, and quietly shushed Meg's protests.
"What is it, Jo?" Meg asked. She reached up and ran her fingers through Jo's hair.
"I hear something." She stated bluntly.
"You'll hear lots of things, Jo. It's an apartment building. If you listen long and hard enough, you'll no doubt hear people doing this kind of stuff."
Jo allowed herself to be pulled back down, and this time it was Meg who gently kissed Jo's neck.
Jo slowly closed her eyes. She was enjoying Meg's ministrations, but another, more instinctual animalistic part of her merely wanted to sharpen her hearing.
After spending nearly a month in Meg's home every day and evening, she had grown accustomed to the comings and goings of the people living here. It was rare to hear movement on this floor this late at night. And such heavy steps...
Getting closer...
Jo couldn't help it. Something wasn't right. She could feel it. It wasn't blind luck that had kept her alive this long, and she was glad that her senses were still razor sharp after all her time spent in this hospitable land.
"Someone is coming." Jo said, pushing herself off of Meg.
Confused, Meg scrambled to smooth out her shirt as she sat up.
"Coming?"
"Coming here." Jo said with conviction.
She cast a glance at Meg, then stood and turned toward the front door.
Just in time to see it splinter to pieces under the weight of the burly man who came stumbling into the apartment through the wreckage.
A surprised shriek from Meg reached Jo's ears, but she paid it no heed. Meg wasn't in any real danger; Jo was between her and the threat.
The large man never missed a step as he strode purposefully toward Jo, raising his strong calloused hands toward her throat.
She was undaunted by his direct attack; it was common to reach for the throat of a mortal enemy and she had come to react instinctively to it.
A roar erupted from her throat as she raised her right foot high in front of her, intending to kick him in the chest.
He grinned, and grabbed her outstretched foot in his large hands. He raised her foot high above his head, trying to make her lose her balance.
Jo swiftly jumped up and leaned back, bringing her other leg up toward his face.
She connected solidly with his chin, and a pained grunt escaped his clenched teeth as he released his grasp on her.
She didn't even feel it when she dropped onto the floor; she was standing the next second.
As she raised her gaze, there was another man in the apartment, standing next to the injured man on the ground.
Jo took two steps toward the second intruder, and swung her fist at his head. As he easily ducked the punch, Jo found herself wishing for her axe.
The intruder straightened up, his large fist aimed for her chin in a deadly uppercut. Jo leaned back, and grabbed his arm, holding him for a second as she raised her left leg.
Another roar of aggression filled the room as she brought her bare foot down on his leg, aiming for his kneecap but knowing any spot on his leg would suffice.
He was too large and muscled for the strike to break his bone, but it had definitely hurt him, as he reeled from the strike. It was clear he couldn't put any weight on his leg, and Jo was about to move in for a second strike when she felt something on her leg.
"Jo!" Meg's terrified voice rang in her ears.
Jo looked down to see the fist of her first opponent clutching her left ankle, squeezing as hard as he could.
As she looked up, she saw a fist flying toward her head. She ducked, but still got clipped on the skull, knocking her senseless for a second. She fought to keep standing; if she fell, she would be slaughtered quickly. She shook her head, and looked down toward the assailant on the ground holding her leg.
She ignored the pain in her head, and quickly brought her right foot down as hard as she could on his wrist. It broke audibly, and a feral grin formed on Jo's face.
She loved the sound of breaking bones.
Turning around, Jo grabbed Meg by the arm and pulled her down the hall toward the bedroom.
"Stay in the room with the door closed and don't open it until I tell you to." Jo said, pushing her into the door. She could hear the sounds of pained pursuit, and she quickly grabbed her axe from where it leaned against the wall.
"J-JO!" Meg looked at the weapon, terrified of what was about to happen in her living room.
Jo smiled. "Don't worry. This will end it quickly."
Jo placed her hand on Meg's chest, and pushed her. Meg stumbled back onto the bed, and Jo slammed the bedroom door.
"Now," She said, walking down the hallway. "My enemies will fall."
The two men saw her advancing, battle axe in hand, and decided that a timely retreat was in order.
Without waiting for her to raise her weapon, knowing they could not take her on without a weapon, they wasted no time fleeing.
They would re-group. They would re-plan. Then they would return.
Jo watched them flee, hatred in her eyes for their cowardice. Moreso than that, she thought, they had left her without a door. And with considerably less privacy for herself and Meg.
Jo sighed. She was no carpenter (Oh, the irony!) and she doubted Meg had the skills to fix this.
The best she could do for now was clean up. She frowned. Without a door, they stood a considerable risk of being attacked by thieves and bandits. This was unacceptable.
"Meg." Jo said, walking down the hall. "It is okay to come out now." Jo placed her hand on the door, and opened it.
"Everything okay?"
Her question was met with sobs, and Jo realized Meg was crying. Moving swiftly over to the bed, Jo dropped her axe as she climbed over next to Meg.
"Meg, what's wrong?" She asked quietly, taking Meg into her arms. Meg clung tightly to her as she cried, shaking her head.
"I'm just scared." She said quietly, between choked sobs and deep breaths.
Silence for a moment as Jo contemplated what to say. After a moment of deliberation, Jo gently reached out and raised Meg's teary gaze to meet her own. Jo gazed deep into her eyes, gently stroking her cheek.
"Meg," Jo whispered softly, "we have no door."
A/N: Short, but still alive!