Disclaimer: I do not own Soul Eater!

Chapter 38

The front doors of the building burst open as Blackstar appeared from the smoke, trying his best not to choke. He reached back inside and pulled out a girl covered with ash and soot. She wiped her eyes, shivering from the impact of the cold.

The assassin dragged her away from the burning building, hurrying over to the nearest officer which just happened to be Mr. Harper. The one and only.

Blackstar cleared his throat, gaining the officer's attention. Harper's eyes widened in surprise and shock, his mouth opening like a gaping fish's.

"B-Blackstar?" He stumbled with his words. He couldn't wrap his mind around his sudden appearance. "Did you come out from the building?" He asked, looking from the boy then to the door; and back again.

"We sure did." Blackstar grinned, showing off his teeth. He shook his head to rid of the ash between his blue spikes, watching as they floated in front of his face.

Harper frowned. "We?" It wasn't until then that he noticed the little girl slung over the boy's broad shoulders, as well as a taller looking girl standing behind him. "Are these-"

"Two of the missing girls. Fallon," he glanced back at the shivering girl, "and Starr." He released Fallon's wrist, reaching his free arm up to Starr. He gently pulled her down, handing her off to the officer. "She needs a medic, fast." His eyes hardened along with his tone, holding a sense urgency to it.

Harper adjusted Starr's weight in his arms, nodding his head at the vehicle a few metres from them. "The ambulance just showed up, they'll take her to the hospital to get her looked at." He said, turning his back on the boy as he made his way to the ambulance. But before he reached the vehicle, he stopped, turning back around. "Incase you're wondering, Kid is over at the bunker in the centre of the police cars." Harper told him before going back to his mission.

Blackstar hurried off, leaving Fallon to stand awkwardly around on her own, not knowing what to do. She titled her head, staring at the retreating officer as he carried Starr to the back of the ambulance, handing her off to the workers inside. Should she go with her? Or should she wait for Maka?

"Fallon!" A happy cry made her jump as she was tackled into a hug, her vision clouded with yellow hair. The figure gave her a tight squeeze before stepping back, a large smile framing her face. "I'm so glad you're alright! I was starting to get worried, I didn't think you were gonna get out in time." She cried, her eyes growing blurred due to the pools of tears threatening to fall.

Fallon shook her head, trying to console her friend. "Well, I'm fine Patty. Thanks for worrying," she held her hand, pulling her towards the ambulance. "Starr also got out but she's unconscious due to the fumes, they're going to send her to the hospital." She explained, noticing the burns on the blonde's legs. "You'd better come along as well," she grimaced.

"Hm, I guess you're right. I don't think I can hold on much longer, the pain in my legs is immense. I can't feel them anymore." Patty winced, flexing her leg out to rid of the tingling sensations.

"I'll let Kid know where you've gone," Harper appeared from around the vehicle, giving them both a pat on the back. "Go get yourselves treated."

Fallon smirked and pulled Patty into the vehicle before settling down beside Starr, hoping she would wake up soon.

バトルゾーン

Maka hurried out of the room she had entered, not having any luck. She had been looking for the exit for hours now, but with the smoke clouding her senses she had given up, deciding to change course and look for some sort of emergency exit. To her dismay, there were no bright green signs or any glowing stickers, leaving her escape futile.

Her eyes tried to adjust to the growing dimness of the corridor. The smoke was making her eyes water, not helping with her vision at all. She heaved a sigh, deciding to wander down the corridor. The smoke was thicker down here. It was much harder to breathe. Maka swallowed her fears in hopes of quenching her dry mouth, trying to focus on her breathing.

A shallow bark came from her right, alerting her senses. She spun around, finding a large figure crouched on the ground. The creature let out a bark before pouncing at her form, not giving her enough time to react. She fell back and hit the ground with a thump, gaining a slight dizziness.

Something wet and sandpapery ran across her cheek, bringing out the goosebumps on her arms. She shook her head, shoving the ball of fur away from herself. Until she heard the sound of ringing chains.

Maka looked back at the creature, wafting her hand around to clear the smoke. It created a small pocket of air for a short second, but was clear enough for her to figure out the appearance of the creature. Or, dog.

She laughed at the dog, watching as her tongue rolled out of her mouth before pouncing on the girl once again. Maka could only stumbled this time, but was ready for the dog. "Holly! It's so good to see you," she gasped, ruffling her fur. She hugged the dog to her chest, struggling to pick her up. "Ugh, you've gotten heavier! I need to tell Mama to stop feeding you so many treats," she groaned, putting Holly down. "Hm, but how did you get here?" She asked, not expecting the dog to answer.

Holly rolled her eyes, doing a small spin. She jumped on her feet, leaning back on her hind paws. She shook her thick fur, whining at the meister.

"What?" Maka said, crouching to her level. She reached for the dog but stopped when a piece of fabric protruding from her collar hit her hand. Holly was wearing a lead. But where was her walker?

Maka stood back up, not forgetting to grab the end of the lead; slipping her bony wrist through the hole. She aimed her question for the dog, hoping she would understand. "Who brought you here Holly? Was it the bad people?" She frowned, not getting a sound in return.

She shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. Who was she kidding? She knew she wouldn't get an answer, not from a dog. Now she was just going crazy.

"I brought her here," a familiar boy said, his voice cracking from the pressure. Maka spun around in surprise, dropping the lead from her nimble fingers.

"S-S...So-" His name never left her mouth for the next thing she knew, strong arms were wrapped around her waist, pulling her to a hard chest. She gripped his shirt and sobbed into the fabric, letting her cries and screams become soaked within his shirt.

"Maka," Soul breathed her name, nudging his nose in her hair. He breathed in her scent, remembering the sweet forest smell she had always had; hugging her tighter. "I missed you so much," his voice broke.

Maka sniffled, wiping away her tears. "I missed you to, I was so scared Soul." She whimpered, keeping ahold of his warm hand. "I thought you weren't gonna come," she whined, edging closer to him.

Holly pawed at her leg, letting out a moan. Maka glanced down at the dog; realising what she was trying to say. The fire. It had spread to the entrance and exit of the corridor, rendering their escape options useless.

Maka was surprised when Soul tugged her roughly behind himself, Holly throwing herself in front of the couple. A growl escaped the canines lips as a figure appeared from the smoke, pulling a gun from their pocket.

Maka gripped Soul's hand tighter, refusing to let go. Soul watched her from the corner of his crimson eyes, a smirk plastering his face. He had missed this. Their closeness.

The figure cleared his throat as he brought out a gun, aiming straight for Soul's heart. "Little boy, give me back my Elvira." He growled.

Maka flinched at the sound of her stage name, her eyes settling on the figure. "C-Cyrus..?" She gasped, recognising the silver hair.

Cyrus smiled darkly, his eyes raking her form from head to toes. "Why, hello my little fighter." He chuckled, taking a step towards them.

"Get back!" Soul warned him, reaching from the handgun wedged between his belt and trouser pocket. Cyrus snickered at the boys action. "You're not the only one with a gun."

"So it seems," Cyrus muttered. "But I have quicker reflexes." He rushed his words, flicking off the safety on his gun. Maka released a gasp and watched him intently, aiming the gun for Soul's heart.

"Give me back the Mistress of the Deep, and I might think about letting you go." He sneered.

Maka shook her head, pleading with her eyes at her partner. She didn't want to go back to that cruel man, not when she had just escaped. Her grip on Soul's arm didn't falter.

"Never!" Soul yelled, getting ready to fire.

Holly shrunk back, edging behind Maka's leg as she moved positions from being a shield to a coward. She nudged her nose into Maka's heel, sending her shivers through the girl's own body. Cyrus smirked as he pulled the trigger.

Time slowed down at that moment.

Maka didn't think about it. She just moved. One minute she was standing beside Soul, the next she found herself blocking him from view, shielding his body as Cyrus pulled the trigger. And so she waited.

She waited for the bullet to penetrate her skin...but it never came. Maka opened her eyes and gasped, finding another figure in front of her own. She gazed into Cyrus' shocked eyes; realising who had protected them from the bullet. She reached out towards the man, hoping to catch him as he fell lifelessly to the ground. "No! ORIN-KUN!" She fell on top of his bloodied chest, struggling to see. "ORIN! WAKE UP!"

Her tears flowed freely from her eyes as she felt a strong hand wrap around her arm, pulling her roughly away from the deceased man. "No!" She cried, struggling to break free of the hold. "I-I need to see him! I need to thank him!" Maka screeched, trying to grab his clothes.

But Soul yanked her back, keeping her in a locking hold against his chest. Cyrus growled and shook his head, raising his gun once again. But Soul beat him to it. He fired his gun as a warning, hitting the man's shoulder in the process.

Cyrus bit back his pain, stepping back towards the fire.

Soul shoved his gun back into his belt and pulled Maka away from Orin, her cries drowning out in the fire.

"O-Orin," she whimpered, not being able to feel her legs any longer. Her whole body felt numb from the pain. She couldn't help but allow Soul to drag her along since the feeling in her feet had gone entirely. She was tired - tired of all the pain and suffering she had gone through.

Soul glanced back in worry at Maka; wanting nothing more than to stop and comfort her. To tell her it was going to be alright. But now wasn't the time. He had to get her out of the building and back home. Back to see her mother.

He kicked open a nearby room in frustration, hurrying inside. Maka collapsed to her knees, sobbing into her hands. She wanted to go back and take Orin with them. To at least give him a proper burial.

She felt herself be lifted, cradled in a soothing embrace. She wiped her eyes, gazing up at her holder. "S-Soul," she whimpered, her knees falling from beneath her. Soul caught her with his hands, holding her up for support.

Holly scraped her paws against the wooden flaw, making shrieking drags with her nails. Soul noticed her panic and left Maka to sit against the wall, rushing over to the dog. He picked her up, looking for an alternative. His eyes landed on another door, as well as a tight air vent.

Hoping his luck with still with him, he carried the labrador towards the vent, prying away the cover with his bare hands before shoving the dog inside. "Go Holly! Get help!" He yelled, closing up the hatch as she looked back in worry, her black eyes glazing with tears.

Soul looked away from the heart-wrenching eyes, walking back over to Maka. The fire flickered beneath the door frame, setting the wooden door on fire. It burnt to crisp in a matter of seconds, causing Soul to change his options.

He helped Maka up and pulled her towards the other door. The only escape they had left. "Come on Maka, just a little further," he wrapped an arm around her waist for support, keeping the other around her neck.

He pushed open the door in a hurry, not seeing the boxes of dynamite or gun powder stacked throughout the room. Soul locked the door; looking back in surprise at the explosive equipment behind him. A gasp left his lips. "Maka," he called her name sternly, gaining her confused eyes almost immediately.

"Yes?" Her voice broke, her mind still not over what had just happened.

"You need to concentrate for me," he bent down to her level, pulling her chin up to face him. "Maka," he growled, gripping her hand when she refused to look. "We need to stay alive."

Maka nodded her frail head, her eyes settling on the explosives. "S-Soul-" She tried to tell him about the risk but he pushed her face into his chest, cutting off her sight.

She whimpered against his frame, squeezing her eyes shut.

The flickering heat travelled its way through the locked door, reaching the room. Soul pulled Maka as far as he could from the explosives, keeping her hidden in the nook of his arm in front of a boarded up window. He slid down the wall, taking Maka with him.

"Soul," Maka gasped. "What's gonna happen?"

Soul hesitated before answering, closing his eyes as the heat increased with the fire. "I don't know." He replied, just before the loud explosion of the faraway explosives went off, throwing them through the wreckage of the wall.

Maka's head whipped back from the powerful blast, gaining a sudden headache as she and Soul flew through the air. Their bodies twisted through the air before colliding with the ground, still sliding across the granite. Maka gripped onto Soul's shirt, struggling to keep ahold.

Soul's arms loosened from around her as she felt herself slip, her body flying back. She grabbed onto his trouser leg, refusing to part as the skin on her knees split. She watched as Soul's eyelids fluttered, struggling to hold onto reality. He felt his mind slip before tumbling into the darkness, loosing his consciousness.

Maka was thrown back from the lack of support, her head coming into contact with the rocky ground. She blinked back her tears; her headache growing more ferocious. Black spots shrouded her vision, making the image blurred and unfocused.

She struggled to stay conscious, trying her best to stand. All she saw was red. Her body was covered with it. But she wasn't in pain...so did that mean she was dying..?

The meister refused to think of death, wanting to crawl to Soul's side. She stumbled along, focusing on her steps as her vision grew more and more unfocused by the second. Maka felt her knees buckle as she collapsed beside Soul. He looked so serene. Almost..dead.

No, she didn't want that to be true. She didn't want to lose two important friends in one day. She refused. Her body began to tilt until she lost her sight, feeling her body flop on top of Soul's.

"Maka!" A distant voice called, but she was too out of it to hear.

Posting Date: 7th October 2013

Symm: I can't wait till Halloween! I'm so excited! *o* My friend is having a Halloween party, except it's the day after which will be the 1st of November, lol. I'm away near the end of October since I'm finally going on holiday! Yay! We're going to Belgium for a change ;) But it's gonna be freeeezing! So I need to stock up on my winter clothes (I literally only have short-sleeved tops and jeans) I need some coats. We come back on Halloween which is a shame, but at least I have the party the day after :)

Thanks for the reviews and addings:

JerichoCross, hallicat203, Gwenni-ni-chan,

Morgengalleon02, Little Did You Know, shadowwolf1687,

Hatter Quicktype, Jay1997, Maka12Albarn20Souleater!

You better come back- Or I'll take your Soul!