Thank you so much for the reviews, I'm trying to update now as best I can, and I hope those of who are still reading enjoy the story!
Now back to Shattering Glass…
Christopher was poised, ready to go, when suddenly the creature began flicking his hands through the air, fingers touching unseen things in the empty space.
Eyes widening, Belinda stepped from around Christopher and approached the broken man, but the creature's eye kept closed as it focused on the air. Then, slowly, bits of light twirled off its fingertips, and the sparks began to write in elegant handwriting.
Thank you.
The alphas gave a breathless laugh, stunned at the turn of events. Electric blue eye opening, the creature looked at them solemnly before continuing to spin his fingers through the space.
How can I help you?
The sparks twirled in the air as the loopy handwriting hung suspended in the air, glowing brightly as though someone had written through the walls of time and space, giving them a view of a universe where the beings were of true light and the planets of silver glass. So beautiful was the light that now illuminated the dull space that the alphas almost didn't realize that the cuts on their bodies were slowly healing, the last oozes of blood running down their skin before the gashes and burns healed, and the sparks running over their bodies and bathing them in soothing warmth.
Belinda looked up at the creature in shock, a small tear falling unnoticed down her cheek. Approaching it quietly, she whispered quietly. "Who could do something so terrible to someone so good?"
Monsters that hide in the shadowy corners of laboratories.
The ground shook underneath them and a scream ripped the air. Christopher looked to the door.
"We don't have much time."
Nodding, the creature looked over the people in the cells, before returning to the smoke.
"What's he doing?" Belinda asked as he disappeared into the smoke.
But Christopher didn't answer, instead looked intently into the darkness where the creature's silhouette approached, someone leaned against him.
Belinda's eyes widened when a small involuntary cry was pulled from her companion's lips, Christopher jumping forward and pulling someone from the arms of their newly found friend. She approached steps uncertain as she heard the sobs from the man that now cradled a body in his arms.
"Chris…?"
He looked up at her, face covered with trails of tears that cleaned the smoke off his skin. She took a closer look at the figure in his arms.
She probably had been beautiful before she had entered this hell. Black hair was raggedly cut to her shoulders, matted, thin, and missing in places. Long gashes ripped her pale face, but her eyes remained a vivid green. Skeletal arms wrapped tightly around Christopher's neck, and chapped lips murmured words in his ears. It didn't take long for Belinda to realize who she was.
"You came for me." Maria whispered voice hoarse and weak.
"Of course I did, I've been trying to get to you since that afternoon."
"Why?"
"Because I love you."
Christopher traced her jawline, kissing her gently, unseeing of the wounds that marred her face.
Another crash rocked the building and dust fell from cracks in the ceiling.
"We need to get out of here Chris."
The alpha nodded, lifting up Maria into her arms, cradling her frail body against her face. Answering Belinda's questioning look he spoke in a soft tones. "I'm not going to send her in the midst of the fight; she'll be safest with us." He turned to the mutated alphas. "You're welcome to come with us."
No. We've waited too long to fight, we won't rest until we get the blood we deserve.
"Of course. Come on Belinda, we need to go."
With that the two alphas raced away, turning corners, Christopher holding Maria as tight as he could. As they neared their destination, bullets screamed past them, nipping at their clothes. Soldiers in bullet proof suits were hot on their trails, their machine guns deafening in the echoing halls.
Belinda turned around and stopped, screaming. "KEEP GOING, DON'T LOOK BACK."
Christopher shot her a look before disappearing into the smoke down the corridor. Closing her eyes, she tugged at the atoms in the air, death approaching with every breath she took.
But not today.
Belinda opened her eyes and screamed, waves of acid flying from her hands towards her enemies. The soldiers shouted as the liquid burned through their vests, killing them in seconds.
The alpha didn't wait to see if there were any survivors, she ran down the hallways, leaving the cries behind her.
Christopher breathed a sigh of relief as his partner entered his sight, watching as she caught her breath once she realized she was amongst friends. Hazel wrapped her in a fierce embrace before tugging at her arm as they set to work. Bill and Hazel had already done a lot, just finishing connecting the bombs that had packed their bags. They now set to work on those in Christopher's and Belinda's packs, the lights flickering in the wide space that was the middle of Binghamton.
They were finishing putting the last connections together with trembling adrenaline pumped fingers when soldiers poured in from one of the doors, guns and grenades intent on blood.
"GET DOWN." Bill roared, but he was too late as the alphas dove to the ground.
Blood splattered the walls as Hazel was hit in the back, falling to the linoleum with a scream.
"HAZEL!" Belinda screamed, diving towards her and protecting the younger girl with her body. Bill pulled out his gun amid the wave of bullets, firing back, desperately attempting to keep the approaching soldier's at bay.
Sweat dripped down Christopher's face as he shielded Maria, blue eyes meeting Bill's as the explosions rocked the earth beneath them, deafening and terrifying.
Suddenly a blurred shape began to attack the soldiers, sharp cracks accompanied with cut off shrieks as necks were broken with fast precision. Stealing the attention away from the alphas gave Bill the chance to get to his feet and start shooting the attackers, Christopher joining the fray with their unknown savior.
The last soldier fell with a ragged cry, and Bill turned to the man who had just saved their lives. Wiping blood off his hand, the man had piercing eyes and dusty brown hair, muscles rippling under the white jumpsuit that marked him as a Binghamton patient.
"Shane." He said, extending a hand to Bill. " Shane Richards. Formerly military and CIA."
"If I wasn't married, I'd kiss you." The dark skinned man answered with a relieved laugh, clasping the man's hands. "You just saved our lives."
"Well, you just saved all of our lives so it was the least I could do." The twenty six year old replied.
The sounds of bullets interrupted them as sharp lights appeared down the hallway.
"Ready for another round?"
"Always." Shane said with a wicked smile.
"BILL, CHRISTOPHER." Belinda cried out, and the men turned to the sound of the girl's broken voice. The alpha cradled Hazel in her lap, tears leaking out the girl's eyes. But it wasn't only Hazel, blood dribbled from Maria's chapped lips as the red stain on her shirt grew larger and larger with every ragged breath.
"No…" Chris choked, diving to her side and cradling her in his arms. Bill joined Belinda on the floor, looking down at Hazel with wide eyes.
"Hang in there kiddo." Her eyes opened and she smiled.
"I'm fine." She said weakly, attempting to get up, only to fall down as pain distorted her features. The sound of bullets and men's voices came closer and closer as her face grew paler and paler. "We don't have much time…" Hazel murmured. "I need to set off the bombs…it's the only chance we have to winning…we need to get Red Flag in here…"
"You don't have the strength to set off the bombs from down the hall…"
She gave Belinda a weak smile. "I know."
Realization dawned on Bill's face and he gripped her tightly. "No, no no! Don't you dare!"
"Someone has to set off the bombs, and it's not going to be either one of you. Bill, you have a wife who's waiting for you at home. Belinda, you have your parents out there…you need to explain to them what really happened all those years ago. No more running…" Hazel coughed, blood seeping from her lips.
"You can make it through this. You just need to go to the doctor; you'll be ok in no time…"
"I know…but these bombs have to be set off. I'm the only one with nothing to live for."
"You can live for us." Bill said softly and Hazel smiled softly at him.
"You, all of you, you saved my life. Reminded me that I'm more than just a mistake, and I'll never be able to find the words to thank you for that….but…but I'm ok doing this. This is my choice."
"No, Hazel. You're not going to stay, I am." The three alphas turned at Christopher's voice.
He was kneeling on the floor, hands wrapped around Maria, looking up at him as tears fell from the corners of her green eyes, breaths shallow and weak, front covered in blood.
"Christopher…"
"I'm not leaving her again, and she's dying. Hazel, you have your whole life ahead of you, but she is my life. I won't leave her here to die alone, not again." The sounds of boots echoed in their ears as the soldier's approached. "Go, leave now."
"No, no you can't do this Chris…" Belinda sobbed, but he only gave her a small smile.
"Yes I can, and I will. Now leave, please, I'm not going to watch you die as you're saying goodbye."
Bill nodded to Shane and the alpha lifted Hazel in his arms, the girl screaming as he bore her away from the scene, and Bill pulled at Belinda as she cried out, begging for Christopher not to do this.
But the aquatic alpha heard nothing of this as he held the lighter in his tanned hands, hands covered in Maria's blood. She looked up at him from beneath thick eyelashes.
"Don't leave me…"
"Never."
He kissed her forehead softly as the soldiers entered the room, guns screaming. Bullets ripped through his skin but he felt no pain as he smiled softly down at her.
Christopher breathed, closing his eyes as he threw the lighter at the bombs.
"I'll see you on the other side."
