21

Lilly cautiously opened the door after hearing a familiar voice. Her heart racing… horrified, to see what was about to unfold.

"Come on young crow... let me pluck your wings" Hunter taunted, trying to get Jacob to attack "Or I could pluck your pretty crow bitch first?"

It didn't work. Jacob knew the longer he could keep his opponent distracted the better the chance of the others getting to a safe distance. He could sense them moving through the brush and away from the house

That's when it suddenly went wrong.

Jack could see Jacob through the trees and immediately ran towards him shouting his name.

"Jack, NO!" Jacob shouted.

Hunter noted Jacob's distress and turned quickly, launching himself at Jack at full speed. Jacob shot his pistol grazing Hunter's leg and knocked him down slightly.

Lilly was closer to Jack than Jacob so she suddenly threw open the door and ran with all haste towards the vulnerable child. She grabbed Jack quickly and pulled him out of harm's way just as Hunter passed who turned again and began to lift his own pistol to shoot at them both. Jacob saw his opponent's intentions and aimed at Hunter's hand whilst running, pulling the trigger on his pistol.

The bullet hit the offending pistol which knocked it wildly away and as Hunter turned Jacob leapt and pistol whipped him full force in the face.

"Get out of here!" Jacob shouted at Lilly.

Jacob then turned to go in for another strike but this time Hunter anticipated it and blocked, quickly delivering a powerful blow to the assassin's stomach who was tensed at the ready but damn, it still hurt and winded him slightly giving Hunter the opportunity to rip Jacob's pistol from his hand and throw it wildly behind.

Jacob brought his defence up quickly as Hunter started to rain blows down on top of him who was oblivious to the pain of smacking the gauntlet with bare fists. Jacob dropped and swept a leg out, taking Hunter off his feet. The assassin then jumped on top of Hunter and quickly drew his hidden blade and drove it towards Hunter's throat.

Hunter retaliated, grabbing Jacob's arms and throwing him over onto his back. Hunter quickly got above him and suddenly had the advantage again, pinning Jacob's gauntleted hand fast to the ground and closing his left hand around the assassin's throat. His grip strong.

Jacob threw a punch with his free hand but Hunter moved his head quickly to avoid it.

Jacob knew he had to get out of this predicament and quickly. Hunter leaned in applying more strength to his hold laughing maniacally at his victim's difficulty to breathe.

Jacob grabbed at a stone and aimed for Hunter's temple now he was closer. He swung and it made glorious contact that caused Hunter to clutch at his head and back off in a crouch slightly dazed.

Coughing, Jacob tried to scramble to his feet but was kicked hard in the ribs knocking him back onto his side. Hunter then began viciously raining in kicks on the assassin. Jacob curled up, keeping his head protected with his arms and gauntlet.

Come on, Get on your feet goddamn it Jacob thought to himself

"Had enough young crow?" Hunter shouted and he violently grabbed Jacob by the collar hoisting him up.

Jacob pulled his kukri from its sheath as he was roughly lifted and slashed Hunter right across the chest.

Hunter pulled back quickly bringing a hand up to the torn shirt and blood and glared at the assassin.

Jacob took a minute to lean against the wall behind him, spitting blood from his mouth. He pushed off the wall kukri up and ready.

"Come on!" Hunter growled, slipping on brass knuckles around his fist.

Lilly slowly guided Jack away from the violent scene trying not to catch Hunters eye now he was fixated on Jacob. This poor child had already seen far too much aggression and hate in his young life.

But yet... Jack kept stopping to watch almost as if he was fascinated.

Lilly decided she'd put enough space between them and the violence and suddenly pulled Jack away. She ran through the trees meeting with the initiate who originally tried to stop the boy and the trio caught up to the small fleeing group.

"Get away from here!" she cried "all of you get to safety!"

"Aren't you coming?" Louise screeched

"No" Lilly said turning back to the house "I won't lose someone I love to these people ever again!"

Jacob and Hunter stared at each other, both exhausted and bloody.

"Had enough yet?" Jacob taunted breathing heavily

"I haven't even started" Hunter seethed panting, dodging the kukri suddenly thrust towards him and quickly taking the opportunity to slam his brass knuckles into Jacob's right shoulder blade, causing the assassin to drop the kukri.

The powerful blow awakened the pain from Hunter's bullet but Jacob still managed to quickly dodge away as Hunter went in for another strike.

Hunter backed up a little "you truly have been a worthy opponent young crow... I might even turn your finger bones into a necklace" He grinned coldly

"Come and claim them you sick bastard!" Jacob spat

They launched at each other again both trying to get the upper hand every time the other made an error in judgement. Hunter suddenly decided to greatly exaggerate his tiredness, aware now that Jacob's resilience was in fact causing a problem so Hunter "stumbled" hoping to pull the assassin into a false sense of security.

Jacob took the bait, quickly darting ahead to gain an advantage at which Hunter pulled his trump card.

Moving faster than Jacob could anticipate Hunter grabbed the assassin in a headlock and quickly positioned himself behind. Applying huge amounts of pressure to Jacob's neck and throat. Choking him once again.

"I've got you now!" Hunter growled and he started to lift Jacob off the ground with the hold. Hunter's height difference giving him the advantage. Jacob desperately tried to obtain purchase with the ground whilst gripping onto Hunter's arms. Trying with all his might to pull them away so he could breathe.

Jacob turned his head slightly to the right. He knew what he was going to have to do now….He had done it once before when desperation had called for it. It's a dangerous move but his consciousness was slipping and there was no longer time to worry about accidently slicing his own throat. He'll be dead soon if he doesn't act now…

He flicked his left hand and the hidden blade sliced right through Hunter's arm and across Jacob's jaw. The tension in Hunter's arms dropped slightly and he roared in pain so Jacob flicked the blade into his arm again, and again until the weight was off his neck.

Jacob pushed forward out of Hunter's arms and crashed onto his side to the floor taking in air. Hunter stared at Jacob half passed out on the floor with hatred as his left arm bled furiously. Hunter crouched and picked up a nearby rock then kicked Jacob onto his back and straddled the assassin's hips. He suddenly started smashing the rock into the gauntlet in pure rage with pieces of metal flying off from the force of the blows.

Jacob tried to fight Hunter off but he was exhausted. Unsure of how much longer he could go on. His left hand throbbed under the constant assault on the gauntlet. Hunter threw the rock behind him in a rage and pulled his knife, going straight for the assassin's throat.

Jacob managed to instinctively throw his arms up, grabbing onto Hunter's wrists to stop the fatal blow at which Hunter then used all the strength he could muster to try and get the blade into Jacob's throat.

Jacob could feel his muscles shaking and left arm failing. He cried out hoarsely when he felt the tip of the blade pierce the hollow of his neck.

Hunter let out a primal scream now, sensing his victory was finally nearing when there was a loud bang and a spray of red.

Hunter suddenly stilled. Eyes focused on nothing.

Blood poured slowly out the sides of his head and Hunter's now lifeless body fell to the floor.

Lilly lowered her arms

Hands holding the pistol trembled.

She casts it aside and ran to Jacob crashing onto the floor by his side. Fear running through her heart.

She pulled him over onto his back.

"Please…..please…..Not again" she cried.

He opened his eyes to look up at her

"I'm… alright" he hoarsely whispered "it's…. alright Lilly. It's starting to become increasingly convenient….. Having you around to save my arse….I might just have to keep you" he painfully smirked.

Lilly managed a smile through the tears.