Chapter 29
I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. I didn't dare move, terrified that I would do something that might endanger me. I sat huddled in the dark, tiny space and tried to keep from screaming. I moved, and through my panic I heard something hit the floor, something metallic against the cold, hard concrete. I began to hunt around, trying to concentrate on that, rather than the inky darkness. It had a hollow and metallic, like a bullet, but I knew that was ridiculous. It had to be something else.
My hands curled around the slender metallic cylinder, and for a moment I had no idea what it could be. I could feel a bubble of hysteria at the back of my throat. I then knew what it was.
Such a bright light, flooding the cramped space, all from a little flashlight. I felt the clawing panic begin to recede, slowly, and I leaned back against the hard wall, trying to control my breathing. The light was strong and bright, but the battery wouldn't last forever. I had no idea whether any stray light would filter through the solid covering to the crawl space, but I didn't want to risk it.
I moved the tiny cylinder down her hand and pushed the button at the tip. The thick, suffocating darkness closed around me like a smothering blanket, and I took a deep shaky breath. I huddled there, silent, alone, and waited.
I almost thought I might have slept, though such a thing seemed impossible. I jerked suddenly, as the unmistakable sound of footsteps on the stairway brought a surged of crazed hope. I started to call his name, then bit my lips before anything more than a soft intake of breath could be heard. It wasn't Toshiro. Whoever was moving around the basement was very quiet. I could barely hear the softest sound of footsteps. With Toshiro, there would've been no sound at all.
Either my eyes had grown accustomed to it, or the darkness of the tiny crawl space had lightened slightly. I could see my hands in front of me, but I couldn't see the flashlight. I moved, just the tiniest amount, careful not to make a sound, when I felt something roll across my stomach. A moment later, it hit the concrete with a clang.
I held my breath, praying, Please God, don't let them hear. Let it be Toshiro, let it be anyone but that crazy man who wants to kill me for reasons I don't know.
I had no warning. The door to the crawl space was pulled open, and someone stood there, silhouetted by the dim light coming from the cellar door. The person was tall, muscular, and had slicked back hair. Maybe Toshiro had brought help?
"So there you are, sugar." Blake's voice came from the cadaverous figure, sounding eerily cheerful. "I knew I'd find you sooner or later. Come on out and play." He put a thick, painfully strong hand on my wrists and dragged me out into the basement, letting myself collapse at his feet.
Blake knelt down by me, and I could see her more clearly now. His jaw line was covered with a skull, and ran up along the side of his face to the right side of his forehead. A streak of violet crossed the bridge of his nose. His eyes were an electrifying blue. There was also a deep cut underneath his left eye, and down his chest. That's when I noticed the hole in his abdomen. The blood still seeped from the cuts.
"Pretty aren't I?" Blake cooed.
"What happened to you?" I asked in a shaky voice.
"Your stupid carrot-headed friend took got a couple good hits on me."
"No, your face. The bones sticking out."
"Oh, that? Just a little experience I had. Quite a long story, but in the end I decided to become an Arrancar." He watched me as I gave him a look of confusion. He laughed, then stood up.
"Guessing you don't know what an Arrancar is?"
I nodded.
He sighed. "Arrancar are a group of Hollows that gained similar powers to that of a Soul Reaper by removing their masks." He looked over at me, and scowled. "Now I'm here to tie up a loose end.
"Toshiro will-"
"Toshiro will..." he mocked, "Toshiro's dead. Along with your other friends that got in the way."
A cold, sick dread filled my throat. "No!" I said, hating the sound of fear in my own voice.
"But yes! Did you think they were some kind of superheroes? Theey bleed red blood, just like everyone else. I will admit, they were harder to kill than most people, but in the end they're only mortal. Or was."
"I don't believe you."
"Of course you do. I hear it in your voice. You didn't expect you could hide from me forever did you?" He looked into my eyes. "You want to see his body for yourself? Come with me then, I'll show you." He held out his hand, waiting for a reply.
I didn't want to go, but I needed to. I took his hand, and stood up. I needed to know if he was telling the truth or not. I then followed him to where Toshiro's body supposedly lay.
