The Boat That Rocked (Rocketshipping Fanfic)
Part Twenty-Eight
Alphonse had ordered them to pull themselves up through the windows of the adjacent building, his gun constantly shifting from Jessie to Lisa and back again.
Alphonse followed after them, grunting as he lurched forwards on the broken tiles beneath the window. But the gun never lost its target, the barrel forever staring and his hand never moving from them.
Jessie took great satisfaction in the blood in that dripped down the man's face, falling from his chin, drying slightly on his upper lip. But it wasn't enough. A broken nose wouldn't stop him. Jaime had a broken nose and she barely flinched.
The thought of Jaime flared a different type of anger in Jessie. Where the hell was she?
Then another thought came. Glancing at the gun again, she noticed that the silencer she had heard before wasn't present. Had he taken it off? Why? Frowning, Jessie studied the gun. You could definitely put a silencer on that type of gun, so it doesn't mean he wasn't him.
Seeing Jessie's intense gaze, Alphonse moved the gun from Lisa to Jessie. "What is it, sweetheart?"
Might as well. "Where's the silencer?"
Alphonse blinked and she felt Lisa turn her stare to her.
"Oh, oh…" he chuckled. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a silencer. He opened his hand, straightening his arm out so Jessie could see it. It rolled slightly in his palm and she immediately saw the blood.
"It got a bit dirty, you see," his smirk grew. "And anyway, I didn't need it anymore. It's so much better to hear the shot as you kill someone, don't you think? Helps you feel it."
"You're disgusting…" she heard Lisa mutter under her breath.
Unfortunately, Alphonse heard her. The gun pointed at her but he didn't say anything, instead his eyes roaming over her body. He looks like he's picking out a choice meat from the butchers. The look in his eyes repulsed Jessie, her skin prickling.
He returned the silencer to his pocket.
"Who…" Lisa started.
"Yes, dear?" he spoke softly.
She flinched, pressing her back against the corridor wall, tiles clinking underfoot. "W-whose blood…" she couldn't finish, her face paling. Jessie's stomach suddenly turned over as she watched emotions flicker over the girl's face.
Alphonse seemed to be enjoying watching her changing expression as well, as his smirk widened into a sickly grin. "I think you already know the answer to that."
Lisa looked like she'd been struck, her head ducking.
Jessie ground her teeth together. So that's why she isn't here. It should have been obvious who had been the recipient of that silenced shot but Jessie had pushed it to the back of her mind, preferring to blame and disbelieve in Jaime.
The gun returned to Jessie. "Move into the room at the end of this corridor." He waved the gun. "Go."
They started moving down the corridor, Jessie touching her fingertips to the wall to try and balance herself, her head spinning and her body still incredibly weak. Lisa followed close behind her, her eyes flicking between watching Alphonse and watching Jessie so she didn't fall.
The building was in worse state than the previous and it was harder to walk through the broken tiles, the leaves and the roots that rose and fell from the floor creating obstacles as they reached the end of the corridor.
Jessie pushed open the door, wincing as it grated loudly on the ground. It only opened halfway, roots and rocks stopping it from going any further. She stepped inside and glanced around.
The floor sloped downwards towards the centre of the room where the floor has collapsed, a hole revealing the hallway of the ground floor, the reception area looking more like a forest than a piece of human civilisation.
Across the room, on the other side of the hole, the wall had half fallen, leaving only a small defence of exterior wall against the cold wind that filled the room.
The remaining floor was empty of diving roots, but vines had crept up from beneath and were reaching out across the ground. The majority of the tiles had disappeared or had never been there in the first place, leaving a rough concrete surface that was barely visible underneath the dirt that coloured the room brown.
Jessie moved to the right of the room where the floor looked more stable and leaned against the wall, her legs slightly bending as she slid down it. The pain in her shoulder was worsening and glancing at it proved that the bandages had indeed changed from a clean white to a dark red.
Forcing strength back into her legs, Jessie stopped herself from falling to the ground. I can't be vulnerable on the ground at a time like this.
Lisa joined her, standing beside her, her gaze now fully trained on Alphonse.
He stood at the door, barrel still pointed at them, his other hand lightly touching his face, fingertips trailing along his lips. "You really busted up my nose."
"Glad to be of service." Jessie replied, her voice sounding more breathless than she had expected. Lisa threw her a concerned glance but returned to watching Alphonse. Drawing more attention to Jessie's weak state would only work against them. Then again, there's no way out of this, is there?
Alphonse sniggered. Then he looked at Lisa, dropping his hand from his face, his tongue slowly licking his lips. "Hey," his voice was sweetly soft again. "Get over here."
Jessie grabbed Lisa's arm, pulling her closer to her, her will to protect the girl giving her strength.
The gun swung high, a shot bringing clouds of dust and stone falling from the ceiling.
Jessie slowly released her grip, teeth grinding again.
"Get over here." His voice was deeper now, growling, angry.
Lisa looked at Jessie, silently pleading, silently searching for a sign of hope, silently begging for Jessie to tell her what to do.
But Jessie had nothing to give her.
The girl moved across the room and stood in front of Alphonse. He leaned forwards, resting his arm on her shoulder so the gun could still point at Jessie. Using a long forefinger under her chin, he forced Lisa to look up at him.
The gun that glared soullessly at Jessie wouldn't have stopped her from rushing over and pulling Lisa away, but she knew it was impossible. Her entire body was trembling with the strength it took to keep upright. She didn't have the power to save Lisa. Jessie could only stand and watch, so incredibly helpless, so pathetic, as Alphonse lowered his face closer to Lisa's, pressing his lips to hers.
Lisa immediately tried to break away from the man's lips, but Alphonse curled an arm around her waist, bringing her closer against his body.
I feel sick.
Jessie closed her eyes and bowed her head, hands clenched tight into fists at her sides. I can't do anything. Nothing. I can't help her.
Jessie had turned away from what was happening before her but she couldn't block out the sounds. Alphonse was breathing heavy, the sound of his lips as he pressed himself against Lisa, moving from her mouth down her neck, resounded in Jessie's head more than the gunshots.
But what was worse was the sound of Lisa crying. It was breaking Jessie apart, each heart-wrenching sob tearing at her chest, every attempt the girl made to push the man way, every protest she uttered, were like blades cutting into her flesh, ripping at her heart and throat.
I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry….
-#-
The car shook violently, everything bolting upwards, James' head slamming hard against the roof. He swore loudly, hand moving from the wheel to rub his head.
"Maybe you shou-"
"Maybe you should shut up." James snapped before Meowth could finish. The cat Pokémon was situated in the backseat, his claws digging into the leather, his body held down by the seatbelt.
James had rushed to the Pokémon Centre after finding him, the nurse there nearly falling backwards when he barged inside the door, shouting hysterically for help, carrying the weak, blood-drenched Meowth in his arms.
He had given no one any time to question him and had made sure that he never left the cat's side. The moment he had been treated, James had picked him up and left. He knew that had been the worst idea he could have had. Meowth was still weak, his body still wrapped up in bandages, blood still drying on his wounds. But at least he wasn't on death's door anymore.
Normally James would have left Meowth there in the Pokémon Centre, where he should be, but he couldn't bear to. He knew Meowth wanted to save Jessie and be there for them all. Meowth had constantly been at his hospital bed when James was in his coma and he couldn't just abandon him.
Idiot, idiot, idiot. If this kills Meowth off, there's only myself to blame.
But the time was desperate. He couldn't wait, he couldn't stall for a moment longer, he couldn't hesitate. He needed to get to Jessie.
The car jerked, everything flying upwards again, the seatbelts on James and Meowth the only things restraining them from going straight through the windscreen.
"James, for blo-"
"I told you to shut up." James shouted, his foot easing even further down on the accelerator.
Thankfully the Pokémon fell silent, turning his concentration fully on keeping himself in the backseat. James knew that with every sharp movement that pain hit the small cat like a speeding truck but he couldn't stop. God knows what Alphonse will do to them when he finds them. What if he's found them already?
The thought made his heart race faster, the car roaring forwards over the disappearing road, the tyres miraculously missing fallen logs, deep potholes and swooping roots.
The car suddenly hit a steep hill, the speed and momentum lifting the wheels from the ground, the vehicle soaring through the air, only to hit with a painful clatter of metal and a bang of weight against the forest floor. James steered the car through the undergrowth, baring his teeth in a silent snarl as he hoped he didn't drive straight into a tree.
As they roared through the forest, the rising sunlight glittered bright through the canopy above, blinding against the glass. James narrowed his eyes, both grateful and cursing the light that pushed the darkness away.
We're coming, Jessie. Just hang on. Just hang on for a bit longer.
-#-
The world was swirling grey, stained glowing crimson. Her chest shuddered with every breath, pain striking her sides, grating against her ribs, crawling up her throat, her head thudding and banging with every sound.
Her eyes blinked.
She turned her head slowly, her body protesting, the ground shifting violently, the walls spinning. Reaching out, grabbing onto the wall, she just about kept on her feet.
Something fluttered white. A shirt? Blinking furiously, her sight cleared and paled, flashing patches of crimson still blurring. Her jaw clenched as her sight focused.
Lisa was shaking. Her shoulders were stiff, her arms straight at her sides, her head tilted up to the side, her eyes glistening with the tears that streamed down her cheeks.
Her stomach was flat, the muscles tensing, a bra strap falling from the line of her collarbone. A finger trailed after it, pressing hard against the girl's skin.
Lips against her throat, moving down, another hand at her waist, fingers tucking further down the slender girl's torso.
Wait…
Lisa whimpered, leaning away from the touch that assaulted her, but the fingers curled around her upper arm, bruising her naked skin. This time her voice reflected pain.
Wait…
Her chest flared vivid, rage burning at her insides, hands closing and opening slowly.
You can't touch her. You can't.
She jerked her body forwards, leaving the support of the wall behind as she approached the two figures.
Nearing, she saw the gun that the second hand held, the barrel touching the girl's hip, her body shrinking back from the chill.
Her eyes flashed.
I won't let you.
She reached down, her hands closing around a stone, the muscles in her arm tightening, taunt and shaking with the weight against her weak strength.
Raising, lifting, she let her anger fill her, powering her, throwing all she had left forwards and down.
The stone crashed downwards, skull cracking, blood dashing, stone falling heavily to the floor, spinning towards the crater at the centre of the room.
Swearing, hands grabbing her throat, her legs buckling, her eyes rolling in their sockets.
The gun was at her feet.
The blood glared red on the face that spat in her own.
Lisa was behind her, her mouth open, her eyes wide, her arms pulled tight against her chest, shaking, trembling, shivering.
How dare you.
With the very last ounce of strength remaining, she swung her leg, digging her heel of her foot into the legs before her, kicking hard at vulnerable shins.
Groaning, the hands slackened their grip.
Diving downwards, her hand clasped around the gun, the barrel moving upwards so slowly, her finger finding the trigger – and pulling it.
The world shook as the shot left her hand, the gun falling from her grasp, clattering at her feet and disappearing to the side.
Please, please, please…
Her eyes blinked, gaze searching the grey world, crimson forever surrounding her.
He's falling.
Alphonse was falling back, his shirt stained wet red, his heart ruptured, his body collapsing, the world spinning around, sliding down the hole that swallowed him.
He's gone.
Gentle hands at her shoulders, catching her as her legs gave in.
Gentle eyes meeting hers.
She's safe.
He's gone. Everything's fine now.
Her lips were dry and hurt as she forced out a mutter, her voice hoarse and quiet. The gentle face came close to hers, sorrowful rain dripping onto her face, trickling down her cheek. She forced the words into her throat once more.
"It's…okay…n…now."
The grey darkened, spiralling out of the control, crimson too blinding to fight against. A gentle yet strong hand took her own.
It's okay now.
A/N
Hello! Here's an update that was finished and appeared much sooner than expected - as a gift for Kate. Happy Birthday :) I wish that you have a great day! And am very happy that you think of a new chapter as a present!
Anyways, this is probably one of the longest chapters yet but I think it's quite important with what occurs within. That doesn't make sense but yeah.
Thank you everyone for your continued support! And once again, happy birthday, Kate!
All thoughts and comments appreciated.
