XXII
Jonas narrowed his eyes as he stormed into the lab; his young assistant jumping in surprise,
"M-Mr. Warren! How nice to see you're--"
He slammed the door to the observation room; the assistant sighing,
"--doing better."
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The raven-haired man growled as he sat down at his desk. He glanced up at Sven through the window, snorting shortly,
"All of that effort to stop me and your friend was still defeated..."
The green-haired man did not respond. Shaking his head, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and searched through his address book. Upon finding the number he was looking for, he pressed dial and placed the phone to his ear. He took another look at Sven; stifling a laugh,
"How pathetic."
It rang a few times; a raspy, male voice answering shortly,
"Hello?"
"Has your team found her yet?"
"Why hello, Jonas. It's been a while hasn't it?"
"Cut the small talk and tell me now. Have you found the bio weapon?"
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They laughed; pushing their glasses up as they turned to a nearby monitor,
"Have I found her, you ask?"
On the screen was the image of a sleeping young blonde. They grinned,
"Why, of course..."
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Merrick sighed as he sat down on the couch in the living room. It was now four in the morning. It had taken him a lot of strength to pull himself away from Eve. Even if asleep, she didn't need to be alone in the state she was in. She was still sniffling a little when he'd finally left. Leaning back against the soft cushions, he ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes. His heart felt heavy.
'I can't be feeling like this when she wakes up. If she ever found out I was in her room without her knowing, she'd kill me.'
He sighed deeply, gazing up at the ceiling with his right eye,
"What am I gonna do?"
"Who'ya talkin' to, hun?"
The boy straightened, his eyes widening as he spotted Blanchett across the room,
"B-Blanche...what're you doing up?"
She shrugged, stepping out of the shadows with a grin,
"Couldn't sleep. And 'pparently neith'a could you."
He swallowed hard as she stepped closer. She was wearing a low-cut, burgundy nightie made of silk and lace. It barely passed her upper thighs. Her hair was tied up in a messy bun behind her head. Giggling softly, she sat down on his lap and wrapped her arms around her neck,
"I say we make the most'a this...sleepless night we's havin'."
The muddy-haired boy blushed as she smashed her lips against his; his eyes widening as she pressed him back against the couch. She ran her soft hands slowly up his neck, burying them in his hair. He found himself unable to resist...
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Eve groaned as she opened her eyes. Her head was pounding like a war drum. Feeling something wet on her cheek, she frowned, wiping it away. She pulled the covers off and placed Sven's hat into the shoulder bag at the foot of the bed; heading to the door. She hadn't noticed the weird light being emitted from the wallet on her bedside table. Grabbing the knob, she sighed and pushed the door open, heading out into the hall,
'Maybe there's some aspirin in the medici--'
Glancing out into the living room to her right, she gasped; stopping in her tracks. She spotted Blanchett on the couch with...
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The boy jumped as he felt her hands slide up his shirt and he pushed her away, shaking his head,
"What are you doing?"
She giggled again,
"I told'ya before, silly. I'm just havin' a li'l fun."
He frowned as she leaned in to kiss him again; turning his head away,
"What's gotten into--?"
His eye widened as he spotted her standing in the hall,
"Eve..."
Scowling darkly, Blanchett glanced back at the girl; a vicious glint in her eyes. Eve stood there silently for a moment; coughing shortly as she turned away,
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything..."
Merrick tensed as she began to walk away; pushing the auburn-haired woman off of him,
"Eve, wait! This isn't what it looks like!"
He stood, heading toward the hall,
"Eve!"
Taking in a deep breath, Blanchett stood and quickly grabbed a hold of him by the arm. He turned to face her; his eyes widening as he caught sight of the pistol in her hand. Her voice was low and menacing,
"I wouldn't go aft'a her if I was you...sugah."
The muddy-haired boy stood completely still, his breath halted in his throat,
"Blanchett...what the hell are you doing?"
She giggled, brushing a few curly strands from her face,
"Well, what's it look like? I'm gonna kill that pretty little girlfriend'a yers..."
She wrapped her arm around his neck, pressing the nozzle to his chest,
"And after that...then I'm gonna kill you."
A sharp pain drove through his head at that moment and he cursed; glancing back as Eve reappeared in the hall,
"Eve, run!!"
The blonde frowned as she turned to him; her eyes widening as she spotted Blanchett's pistol. The woman took aim at her then and fired; Eve diving out of the way as the bullet collided with the wall. Merrick tensed as she hit the ground; his eyes wide,
"Eve!"
Blanchett spun around then; whacking him in the temple with butt of the gun. He let out a yelp as he fell; colliding with the table behind the couch before crashing to the floor. Upon hearing the clatter, Eve pushed herself up; her heart stopping as she spotted his motionless body a few feet away,
"Merrick!"
"You might wanna worry more about yerself right now, hun."
She gasped, turning her attention back to Blanchett. The woman had the pistol aimed directly at her. Quickly, she transformed her arm into a shield; the bullets ricocheting as she fired. They flew everywhere; one grazing the auburn-haired woman's thigh. Her eyes widened in shock as Eve stood and she took a step back,
"What in tarnation--!?"
Eve narrowed her eyes threateningly; her other arm becoming a blade as she charged forward. Blanchett tensed; blocking the girl's blade with the shaft of her pistol. Every shot she fired, however, was easily blocked in turn. The fight went back and forth like this for a few minutes, the ruby-eyed girl frowning as she tried to see over the couch,
'I'm not close enough yet...I can't tell if he's all right or not!'
Blanchett smirked then, giggling a little,
"You worryin' over that boy, hun?"
Eve gasped as her shield disappeared, the woman taking the opportunity to fire a bullet into her arm. Letting out a cry, the blonde staggered back, falling down on one knee. She winced, feeling the blood trickle down her arm. At the sound of a loud click, she raised her head to see that Blanchett had the gun aimed at her again. Blanchett grinned, narrowing her eyes menacingly,
"Well, don't worry your pretty li'l head... you'll be joinin' 'im soon enough..."
Clenching her teeth, Eve leapt up and over the woman's head as she fired; wrapping her arm around the woman's neck. Blanchett gagged as her grip grew tight. Eve narrowed her eyes, her entire body shaking,
"Why?"
"Why what...?"
She grit her teeth, lowering her head,
"Why are you doing this!? I thought Merrick was your friend--"
She stopped mid-sentence as Blanchett began to cackle wildly. The auburn-haired woman sighed,
"Sorry...you must be mistakin' me for someone else. This ain't Blanchett Murphy yer talkin' to...the name's Amy Vincent."
The woman promptly elbowed her in the gut and Eve staggered backward; coughing violently.
Blanchett casually cracked her neck as she gazed down at Eve; her smirk ever-widening,
"Y'see...Blanchett decided t'leave town fer a li'l while. She tol' me to take good care of everythang while she was gone and I intend'ta do jus' that...startin' with you."
The blonde raised her head; her body tensing as she stared down the barrel of Blanchett's gun.
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'"You see...Blanchett decided t'leave town fer a li'l while. She tol' me to take good care of everythang while she was gone, and I intend'ta do so...startin' with you."'
Merrick groaned as he opened his eyes; glancing around slowly. Everything was a blur. Placing a hand to his temple, he winced. There was a fairly decent cut there. He felt dizzy as he pushed himself to his feet, his eyes widening as he spotted Eve. She was lying on the floor in a pool of blood, a bullet hole square between her eyes. Blanchett giggled, aiming the gun his way,
"Now it's yer turn, sugah."
As the gun sounded, he shook his head; his vision righting itself. Eve was still standing. Blanchett hadn't fired the shot. He grunted, calling out to her,
"Blanchett, don't!"
The blonde turned his way; her heart filled with relief,
"Merrick!"
Blanchett scowled, groaning in annoyance,
"Aren't you dead yet--?"
"Amy Vincent...I remember now. That name...you took it from your favourite movie, True Southern Belle. Amy Vincent was the name of an aspiring young star...who snapped under the weight of stardom and killed her lecherous manager! It was the role Echidna Parass one her first Ace Award for!!"
The auburn-haired woman began cackling; her scowl turning to a grin,
"Bravo, sugah, bravo! Tell me...when was it that ya figured it out, hmm?"
"It wasn't hard. Blanchett was kinder and more reserved than you. Refined. Like a lady."
She giggled again, pressing the gun nozzle to her lips,
"Ya always did know her best, didn't ya...Merry? Guess it's t'be expected from the man she loved so much."
He straightened, his eyes widening,
"Loved?"
"What? You tellin' me you didn't know?"
Blanchett giggled at his silence,
"You really are clueless. The poor girl was head over heels fer you and whaddidya do? Y'left her cryin' in the middle of that high school dance and faked yer own death just to get away from her. Not only that, but ya left her in the arms a'that good fer nothin' Garland, who wanted nothin' more than t'use her at his own pleasure. When the poor girl couldn't take it anymore, she asked fer my help and well, I gladly came runnin' to her aid."
Eve straightened,
'I see...I've read about this kind of thing before. Blanchett must be suffering from some sort of mental disorder...'
"If you loved me Blanchett...then why didn't you just say so!?"
Merrick shouted, his voice cracking with sadness. She snorted, narrowing her eyes at him,
"Would it have even made a difference?"
He raised his gaze, his eye welling up with tears,
"I loved you, too...but I...I couldn't run the risk. I had to runaway...I didn't want to see you get hurt because of me--"
"Well, a fine job ya did a'that, partner."
Clenching his fists tightly, he lowered his head, his entire body shaking,
"Blanchett...if I could...I would take it back. I would take it all back!! I wouldn't have run that night...I would've come back for you--!!"
"What about her?"
She motioned to Eve, her expression darkening,
"If ya took it all back...then you'd'a never met li'l Miss Sweeper over here. Tell me, Merry...could'ya honestly say that ya'd take back that night, knowing that? Knowing you'd never see her bat those pretty li'l eyelashes at ya...that ya'd never hear her beautiful voice again?"
The boy silenced.
Blanchett pouted, placing one hand on her hip,
"Oh, don't tell me you didn't think she figured it all out! Why, poor l'il Blanchett loved you so much that she was willin t'give you up! Unfortunately...I had other plans fer the both of you."
She aimed her pistol at him, Eve tensing. The blonde unconsciously began to wind her hair up into a pair of blades; jumping at the sudden sound of Blanchett's voice,
"Don't even think about it, darlin'. If you so much as look at me wrong, I'll pull this trigger and send yer boyfriend here on to kingdom come."
The muddy-haired boy sighed deeply. He opened his arms to the woman; his voice softening,
"Go ahead."
Eve straightened, her eyes widening in silent shock. Blanchett scoffed, raising an eyebrow at him,
"You plum crazy, ain't ya? D'y'think I'm foolin' around?"
"Not one bit," he began, a confident smile pulling at his lips,
"But I know you, Blanchett. You don't want this."
"I tol' you before, you stupid shit," the woman shouted angrily,
"The name's Amy Vincent--!!"
"COWARD!!"
She straightened, her eyes beginning to soften as he continued,
"Where's that little girl who used to beat me up and steal my lunch money? The girl who never backed down from a fight and didn't take shit from anyone? I know that she's still in there somewhere. I know you're still there, Blanchett."
Her shoulders loosened and she lowered the gun to her side. Her expression mellowed. She hiccupped softly, tears streaming down her cheeks,
"M-Merry?"
Eve swallowed hard; glancing back and forth between them. Her heart raced violently,
'He's got her distracted.'
She glanced over at the gun; cautiously winding her hair up,
'If I can just get it away from her...she won't have any leverage--'
BANG.
His eyes widened as the bullet embedded itself into his lower abdomen. He tumbled backward, colliding with the cabinet behind him before crashing to the floor. Eve let out a scream as he fell, her heart stopping,
"No!"
A loud cackle rang out, Blanchett covering her mouth,
"What? Y'think I'm that easy!? Don't make me laugh!"
She turned suddenly, slamming the gun into Eve's head. The blonde yelped as she hit the floor, her hair sprawling out around her. It hung down over her shoulders as she pushed herself up, her eyes widening as Blanchett stepped up behind her. Blanchett knelt down, taking a fistful of the girl's hair in her hands,
"And you...you thought ya'd be cute an' try t'take tha gun away from me, di'n't ya? Thought that if ya did that, you could save him?"
She leaned in closer, giggling maniacally,
"Well, guess what? Now he's dead. An' it's all yer fault. Funny how life works, idn't it?"
Shoving the girl, back down, she took a step back and aimed the pistol directly at her,
"Don't worry, tho'. You'll be with 'im ag'in soon enough."
Eve clenched her fists.
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Merrick grunted as he pushed himself up, his wound oozing with blood. He clamped a hand over it to stop the bleeding, but it didn't do much. He cursed,
'Dammit...what do I do!?'
The gun.
His eyes widened. That voice again...it was the voice from the forest. Sven.
'What gun?'
To your left.
Glancing to his left, he straightened. Sure enough, there lay a pistol about a foot away from him.
'It must've fallen from the cabinet when I hit it...'
Hurry, there's not much time!
Closing his eyes, he nodded silently, taking the pistol in hand. Using the cabinet to pull himself up, he staggered forward; his heart stopping at what he saw. Blanchett was aiming at Eve again...and she was ready to fire. His heart stopped.
BANG.
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Eve's eyes widened as the woman dropped her gun and watched silently as she watched toppled over. She then turned her shocked gaze to Merrick. His eye was cold and steely. The pistol in his hand was smoking. The bullet had hit with such precision...there was no doubt in her mind that he used to be a sweeper anymore. After a few seconds, he dropped the gun. Eve watched silently as he rounded the couch and stepped toward them. He dropped to his knees beside Blanchett's body, his eyes wide in terror as he gazed at the hole in her temple. His voice was soft and shaken as he spoke,
"What...what have I...?"
Her violet eyes were wide open; staring out into nothingness. Blood soiled the carpet beneath her head. Eve straightened as he began shaking; carefully reaching out and touching his arm,
"Merrick..."
Her touch gave him no comfort.
"What have I...?"
Blanchett was dead...and there was no taking it back.
'What have I done!?'
"BLANCHETT!!"
A/N: HALLOWEEN IS FAST APPROACHING!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO! ;D