Chapter 16: Dead Men Rising
Last time, on Breath:
Laxus couldn't do anything as the attackers opened his door and unbuckled his seatbelt. They dragged him out of the car and-
Laxus was interrupted by chatter on the radio.
"Lucy! Natsu! Are you guys alright?" A panicked voice shouted. Natsu grabbed the radio from his sister's hand and answered.
"Yeah, we are.. Why? What's going on?"
"Hostiles. They're asking for you."
"Wait a sec. Who is speaking?"
"Baka! It's Gray!"
"Oh hey Ice Dick. Wuzzup?"
Lucy was about to whack Natsu on the head but Laxus beat her to it.
"Focus."
"Okay, okayyyy. What is this shit about hostiles?"
"As I was saying," Gray growled. "When Juvia and I were getting the second explosion ready, Gajeel shouted. We rushed over as fast as possible, but they had a gun to his head. They told us to bring Lucy to them and then they left."
Natsu noticed Lucy's knuckles turn white as she clenched the steering wheel.
"Is anyone hurt?"
"Just Gajeel's pride."
"Okay then. We're heading over there to drop off Lucy."
"Are you friggin' crazy?" Gray shouted.
"What d'you mean?"
"Why bring her here? They already know where we are! You're just putting her in more danger."
"It's safer than going anywhere else. If they know where you are, they know where the rest are. So far, no one has radioed in, so we can only assume they're heading there next."
Gray couldn't poke a hole in his reasoning.
"Fine. But you better be right or I won't be the only one trying to kill you." Gray grumbled.
Natsu smiled. "What are you talking about? I'm always right!"
Gray just hung up in response. Yeah… best friends.
"Hmph.. Rude much? … So Lucy… What haven't you told us?" Natsu asked, narrowing his eyes.
Lucy jerked the wheel in surprise, sending Wendy flying across the backseat. Luckily, Laxus caught her before she slammed into the window.
"A lot. I mean, I guess you know I was engaged and stuff, but I haven't told you my birthday yet…"
Lucy didn't get to reply because Gajeel was calling in the radio.
"Don't come. There's people here. You need to leave." He hung up immediately.
Lucy and Natsu looked at each other and made the decision to head to their original spot. Someone was looking for Lucy and they didn't know who.
"Where are we going to go now?" Wendy whipsered.
"Knight and Lightning."
"They're sure to be there too." Laxus argued.
"Well do you have a better idea?" Lucy shouted.
"I know of a place in Sector 3. We can drive there in maybe an hour?" He suggested. It was decided.
"I'm being serious Luce."
"So am I. Although, I'm interested in what happened after the crash, so please continue Laxus." Lucy looked in the rearview mirror and sent her own puppy eyes to Laxus who regretted meeting Lucy's gaze.
"Fine. Now where was I?"
"You were abducted…"
"Ah, yes…"
Laxus groggily opened his eyes. An unfamiliar hue of blue filled his gaze. Where was he? Why was it so dark?
He tried to recall what had happened. He was going on a mission and Evergreen and Bixlow were bickering. And then the car crashed.
"Bixlow! Freed! Ever!" He suddenly called, straightening up. He couldn't move. His hands and legs were bound.
"The hell? What is going on?"
A figure approached Laxus.
"Looks like you've finally woken up. It's about time."
Laxus growled.
"Where are they? What did you do to them?"
"Who?" The figure appeared to be genuinely confused.
"I had company."
"Oh… Those three. We left them there."
"WHAT!?"
"Relax, they're safe. We've provided them with a new car and supplies. They'll make it back. We just needed you."
"Why me?"
"Well, you were the only one we could use as bait."
"For who?"
"Can't tell you that."
"Who are you?"
"Some call me Loke."
"Loki? Like the Marvel guy?"
"NO," The figure sounded annoyed. No girl had ever suggested that. "LokE. With an E. I was trying to sound all mysterious, ya know. Now you killed the mood."
"Tsk."
"Fine then. I need to tell you a few things. "You've been out for about 3 days, but you've been fed and given water."
Three days? Then this was the 6th day of their mission.
"We're gonna drop you off somewhere where we know your friends will look."
"No. You'll just kidnap the one you're looking for."
"My sources say that there's about 12-14 people looking for you right now. The chance that the one we are looking for will find you is thin."
"Oh yeah? Well you can't make me." Laxus said, smirking. Loke sighed as he knocked the dude out.
"Just did."
"So then you woke up at the house?" Wendy asked.
Laxus nodded.
"Then who are they looking for?"
"Luce, right? So I ask again… What haven't you told us?" Natsu said, his voice low.
Wendy realized that Lucy hadn't said a word during the whole story. Lucy was shifting in her seat, her face pale. She was muttering the word impossible over and over again.
"Is something wrong?" Natsu was suddenly worried by Lucy's reaction. He had expected her to maybe sweat a lot or turn red as she usually did, not go all psycho on him.
"That's impossible. Are you sure it was spelled with an E?" She asked Laxus, ignoring Natsu.
"Yeah. He was pretty insistent on it."
"Did you see his hair?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Was it orange?"
"How'd you know?"
Lucy abruptly slammed the brake and curled into a ball. She took deep breaths to calm her racing heart. It couldn't be, could it?
"Luce? Is everything alright?" Natsu asked, immediately unbuckling his seatbelt.
"Give her some space, Natsu." Wendy ordered. "She needs space."
Natsu sat down again, but he didn't stop worrying. What could have possibly shaken Lucy so much?
"This can't be possible." She said softly, tears crawling down her face.
"What can't be possible?" Wendy asked soothingly.
"Laxus meeting Loke."
"Why not?"
"I saw Loke die with my own eyes."
(985)
Sorry this is so short, but finals are hella mean and I thought it'd be a good cliffhanger. Ha
Responses:
Ushindeshi: Well, know you know! Hope you enjoyed it!
KJacket: Sorry this is short too, but the next chapter should be worth it!
Also, on my last response, I made a mistake. I believe I'll be able to start posting for my Pirate AU on June 18th. The only thing is I need a your opinion of a title, so I'll wait until my next chapter post to finalize it.
1- Legend
2- Revolution
3- Fly Away
4- Unstoppable
5- Who I Am
6- Rising up
Can't wait to see your opinions!