Blinding white pain ravaged her body as something struck her again. What was happening now? She wanted to open her eyes yet she couldn't find the ability to even lift her head. Muffled words claimed her ears yet made no sense to her, everything seeming in a deep, dense fog. What happened?
Laine tried to remember what had happened before she awoke like she had. The boys raided the facility, saw it on the drone cameras the others were using, hearing Luciano and Oliver shout at her over the phone, but then nothing. She wasn't sure what had transpired from that moment but it was bad enough she knew.
Another sharp pain claimed her side as someone shouted her name. She tried to focus on the sound as her spine suddenly went ridged. Something was familiar but she wasn't sure why. Finally, she cracked an eye open, seeing the dark room she was within as a metal bed with wheels came to view, strange machines littered the room as someone walked around her.
"Oh, now you wake up."
No. There was no way it was him. It couldn't be. Gillen had nearly killed him and everyone said he was away from them all. Turning her head slightly, she found him glaring down at her in pure hatred.
"Master?"
His fist connected with her cheek, making bite back the sob that lifted to her throat, "Stupid whore."
It really was him yet he seemed worse than before. He had to have known of Mistress and what had happened within Haven. Everything he had was in smoke. Gone within the flames.
"Living a goodie good world, all cushioned up with that fuck that nearly de-manned me." he spat at her, "All because she had to have a special trophy to flaunt in the walls. Now look at her, nothing but ash."
She tried to get up, to muster her muscles and arm...her arm. Looking down, she saw her prosthetic was gone.
"Looking for this?" he held it in front of her, "Nice mechanics. Be nice if you told me where they're all hiding. Since he's part of those assholes killing everything."
She glared at him, there was no way she was speaking that bit. No. Not after everything they had done for her, the kindness and love of all forms around her. The teachings and knowledge gained from them all. Never would she say a thing.
"Guessing you aren't going to speak?"
Laine continued to stare at him, it was all she really could do after everything he had done.
"They're all dead, you know? The Mistress and the rest of the servants."
"I'm aware."
"Oh so the albino bitch can speak." he crouched down to her, his smile turning into a sickening grin, "You know she never loved you. You were just a little puppy she had to show."
She scoffed, "I don't think she loved anyone but herself."
"Well, that's a bit of truth I can take with you. Henceforth why I had my way with servants and other Ladies of the homes."
"You're sick."
"A real man."
Now she knew that was a lie, "No. You were nothing but a child that pushed his power. I learned that after living what you did to me, but I found real men. Of valor and honor. And they are triple of what you could ever imagine to be."
His hand connected with her cheek, the stinging pain ravaging her face. She bit it back once more, she wanted to cry out, to try and ease the pain but deep down she knew it would be better to make him think weak of himself. Twice more, he connected his hand to her. Words of hate and anger rolling off him and yet she waited.
"You, worthless wretch, you think you know so much. How lovely it is out there while others suffer?"
Laine held back, wondering how much longer she would endure before he gave up on her. Twice more he laid blows to her and she still held back.
"You haven't a clue what's really in front of you?" he hissed at her, "Murderers and thieves. Scoundrels that will tear apart anything in front of them. You, you were sheltered and obedient with us until you ventured outside, thinking everything was grand and exciting."
"The world with you was nothing more of a lie to cover up the true evil within. All of the homes."
He was silent, glaring down at her as she waited for him, yet she pressed on, "All of you. Every one of you. You laid money and time on special drugs and lifestyles just to be seen as better than the other. You didn't care how many it killed or damaged. All you cared for was your own pockets being lined with the blood of those dumb enough to do as you spoke. Yet you didn't think your fair wife would have done what she had."
For a moment, there was nothing but pristine silence as she stared at him. For too long she sat and wondered on the truth she had learn since her involvement with Gillen, piecing together piece after piece which made her anger and hurt all the worse, yet by the end, she knew the truth.
"Clever girl." he smiled at her, "You say you knew so much, but its not all, for there's more. Your 'man' wasn't much of a man. He is a warrior of dreams in this case, one we wanted to have for our own people, to be better in all ways yet he came in and stuck his nose where it didn't belong."
"Because you were killing innocent people."
He chuckled at her, "How innocent do you think most of them were?"
"Besides those that went willingly with you or others, not many." she replied, "They went out of fear, not in good trust."
Yet again he struck her, "Guess you were more awake than thought."
Suddenly, he hauled her to her feet, dragging her down the hall as she gimped her way behind, "No matter. I want him and that's final. And if it takes me using live bait."
Within seconds he held her out and open hospital window, dangling her torso out it as the glass cut into her back. Laine screamed, fear roared through her as the thought of falling to her death came to be. She looked back at his hand as it gripped her with sheer force, his eyes dark and hateful.
"Then I'll use the one thing that he wants most!"
Hunt. Maim. Kill. Repeat. That's all that went through his head for her Master. He wanted his blood to run until there was nothing left. He wanted to make him suffer and to slowly die from what he would inflict on him. He took Laine and god knew what he was doing to her.
"Can you hear me?" the earpiece rang out.
"Clear, Luciano."
"Good." the Italian replied, "Don't be stupid and go all out in there. I'm bringing the others-"
"Not enough time and too many distractions."
He saw the lights in view, the sickly smell coming to him that screamed hospitals and medical. He palmed the sword once more as he made his way there.
"I swear, neither of you men listen when it comes to women."
Gillen paused, "You don't understand. The feeling from her, what I feel. I understand Oliver fully. And right now, she needs me more than anything and that bastard will pay for what he's done. I should have killed him when I had the chance."
"Yes well, with that we wouldn't have learned of Roland and-"
"And where is he now?" Gillen shot back, "Unknown, that's where."
The lobby of the place looked barren of life, no staff or patients within its entrance way. Nothing at all. Cautiously, Gillen walked in. Taking in everything around him and clearing points of people aiming something at him.
"You done bitching?"
"And if I'm not?"
"Be careful. The fact that it looks dead bothers me. Keep your eye open and for all that is holy, don't go guns-a-blazing in there. Be wise."
"When aren't I?"
Crossing the hallway, he entered the stairs just to be taken aback. On the lower floor, he could see traces of blood. Drag marks and more as he slowly looked down the stairwell.
"I found a chunk of the staff."
"Let me guess, dead?"
The amount of blood pooling around the group of bodies was all he needed to know, "Pretty obvious."
"Take caution. He probably has something-"
A petrified scream echoed the building, one ringing right into his soul and his chest. In a flash, he was bounding up the stairs, leaping up multiple steps as he heard the screams again and again. Dear god what was he doing to her? How bad was he hurting her this time? As he went to enter the next level, a small hush of voices paused him.
"Think he'll come like the guy said?"
"Hope so, if not I'll be pissed as we stood out here and he got a piece of that damn ass."
Gillen releases the sword, ready to let loose as they came to sight from the upper floor. Quietly, he grabbed the stairwell bars, gripping onto them as one of the men's legs were in reach. Quickly maneuvering the sword, he dragged the piece along his calves, dropping him down as he pulled himself up the rest of the way. The other man tried to shoot at him yet Gillen was too quick, pulling the sword up and taking out his one arm only to drive the weapon into his chest. Gunshots rang out as he pulled the piece out and slide his way to the downed man, quickly throwing the sharp edge into the man's temple, leaving both to rot in the spot. Finally, he was on the floor her Master was when they first visited him.
"You alive?"
"When aren't I?"
"Good, keep your eyes open, there may be more."
"Will do."
Quietly, he opened the metal door, checking around the corner as it slowly came open. He knew it was dangerous for him to just run out and search blindly. He had to act fast yet be wise of it. There were too many opportunities for ambushes and more. Without a sound, he entered the long corridor, checking all he could as he made his way down to the original room.
Yet again, the hall was silent. No monitors or staff, no call buttons or pages, not even a patient within the rooms as he saw. It made no sense. How did this man get this place to be barren?
"Albino." came over the intercom.
Gillen spun around, looking over at the nurses station yet no soul was there.
"You bastard. You took everything from me." her Masters voice rang out again, "What made me a man even."
"Not much of one of you have to rape women to get what you want." Gillen shouted at him.
"What little you know."
He replied to him, that meant he was close or using cameras to fuck with him. With caution, he moved down the hall, remembering where his room was. Cat and mouse was the game he was playing and it was royally missing him off.
"You know, things were great. We had the perfect person in our midst, we as a people were getting stronger and better by the minute with what the city took and showed what worked, and that even included our own staff. Hell, I even had a garage of women at my hand. Then you poked your nose where it didn't belong."
A single shot rang out, making Gillen dart behind a door. He waited for the man, to slither out of his hole and show his face to him. But it was too easy. He pondered on how he got in with ease, how he made it up without much hassle, and now, it seemed like things would fall in his lap. So what was her Master planning?
"Mio Dio! Have you heard me at all?"
"Sorry Luciano, got preoccupied."
"So I am aware, now hear me out." the Italian stated, "Its too quiet for my liking, which means there's something else at play with him. I've seen little movement from this place, no real guards and more."
"Your point?"
"I think they want it to be like this."
"Was?! The hell do you mean?"
"Just think for a little, see if you can get him out."
Gillen crouched farther in the entry to the small room, what did he mean? They want it like this? He wracked his brain over and over again, thinking of what else it could be until it came to him. Slowly, he let the sword out into the hall, looking to see if he could see the man. Sure enough, at the far end, the small curtain moved.
"Guessing you want to get even with me then?" he coaxed the man out of hiding.
"Even? No, I want you dead. As dead as I can get you. To take you back to Haven with a spike through you, to parade you around and show that you won't be a pest anymore."
"Well, that's funny." He jumped from his spot, moving behind each entry to the rooms as he made his way down to him. He was almost there, barely two doors left as another shot rang out.
"Oh really, care to explain."
"Since you are for AlphaCom, where's the help they should have delivered to you?"
Her Master chuckled, "Already here, ready to kill you with me along with this little bitch."
Rage filled him, he faintly heard Luciano tell him to keep calm as he moved down the hall, finally on top of the room. Drawing the sword, he saw him there, eyes wide as the piece was aim at his throat.
"If that's all that's here, then you're a deadman through and through."
"And why do you think that?"
Gillen smiled, "They want you dead."
The man's face changed, puzzlement crossing him, "How do you mean?"
"Did you not speak about getting protection from the outsider and explaining what happened to you?" Gillen watched as the truth started to settle in him, "And because of that, you spoke of what was done inside and what's happening out here, so you put the bullet to your head. But instead of AlphaCom doing the dirty work, it's me."
"You lie."
"Now why would I do that?"
"It's what people like you do, it's all you're good for."
"Pity." Gillen smiled, "But all that's here is gone and I haven't lied to you. You lost your chances with them when you spoke out about wht happened with me. So, now, the tables have turned. Me and you,one on one. And by the looks of it, a gun against a sword. Easy winnings right?"
"You think this is a game? Something that you easily can take and win?" the man spat at him, "I have all the cards, and I will win."
"Go ahead and think that, I'm growing bored of you."
Her Master smiled again, "Yes, all work and no play makes for a dull boy, yes?"
The gun was aimed at his head, it trembled under the man's grip, proof he had no idea what he was doing. Gillen watched as the man backed up to a small adjacent door, waiting for him to fire the piece and flee from him. They all did that, the flight or fight coming forth and many like him from pampered worlds took flight. It proved what kind of men they really were. Cowards.
"Well then, no more waiting."
He moved suddenly, taking full aim as he leaned to the side. Gillen moved forward, sword angled to get his arm as the shot echoed in the room. He moved with precision as he drew the piece up and finally...he felt his heart stop as he watched Laine be yanked from the curtain and his sword hit her. Landing between the juncture of her shoulder and neck. The low chuckle of her Master filled the room as Laine's pained gasp filled him. Oh dear god, no. Not this.
"Now, suffer as I have."
Gillen couldn't move. He was frozen as the horror laid before him. The blow was fatal, no doubt in his mind. He saw too much and delivered it so many times in his years that he knew instantly. Another shot rang out, this time, it made its mark in his shoulder, yet he didn't care. Laine. His Laine. He killed her, dear god he killed her. And her Master made sure she would die by him and he walked right into that trap. Hook, line, and sinker. As her body went to the ground, he felt ever ounce of rage within him, from wars lost and won, violence upon the innocent and taking out the evil, he was ready to fight till the very end. Even if it killed him.
Before he realized it, Gillen was flying at the man. Swinging the weapon each way he could to kill the bastard. Left, right. Up, down. He wanted him dead.
"Too much to handle, albino?" the man shot at him again as he ran from the blade.
"I'll show you too much!"
Gillen ran at him, driving his shoulder into the man, making them tumble over one another as both weapons fell out of reach. A fist made it to his face, yet Gillen was unfazed as he pummeled his own into him. Blow after blow, he saw the servants of his home, what Laine endured there and more, what sick things he tried and done to them all. And now for the death of his love. Something heavy hit his head, suddenly knocking him off her Master. The man wielded a metal bar, hitting him again against his back.
"Why won't you fucking die already?" her Master screamed him.
Twisting around, Gillen grabbed the bar as he glared up at him, "Cause I'm just like the one you all were trying to recreate."
Fear filled his eyes, the truth fully before him, and Gillen took advantage of it. Wrapping his arms around his waist, Gillen pushed him against the large bay windows behind them, only for the glass to shatter. Doing all he could to stop from falling, he grabbed the broken pane, broken pieces cutting through his hand as he held onto her Master. He tried to hoist them back into the hallway, but the man's flailing and screaming made things worse for him.
"Just shut up-"
"Fuck you, you albino freak. I knew something was wrong with you and I'm not going back with you."
"You're not going this way, Willingham."
Silence followed, only the wind made any noise until the man chuckled, "So you say."
Before Gillen could register what was spoken, the man drove a small knife into his hand, making Gillen drop him. The man's screamed faded as he fell from the high building, only going quiet when he hit the pavement below.
"Sheiße." was all he could say.
Finally pulling himself up and into the hallway, he let out an exhausted sigh. It was done, the man was gone and it left Laine...Laine. Gillen jumped up and ran for the room where Laine laid on the floor. Her chest still and body slowly growing cold.
"Nein, nein Laine. Nicht das. Bitte, mich nicht so zurücklassen. Ich liebe dich, me in Schatz. Please Laine, don't leave me like this. I love you. I love you sweetheart, please."
He knew it was too late, that she wouldn't come back. Not with what he did. He held onto her, A broken sob leaving him as tears fell onto his
love. He was so stupid for not thinking ahead, to think that the bastard wouldn't do that, but here he was.
A sudden gasp came from her, her body ridged and warm again. She coughed and took heavy breaths against him, making Gillen nearly lose his mind and lightly hold her away as more gulps of air filled her. He looked at her wound and sure enough, it was slowly healing. Her wondrous aqua eyes found him, he could have died right then and there before her. She was back. She was alive and back in his arms.
"Gillen, why are you crying?" her voice laced in his accent.
Dear lord, she truly was like Heather. And if he was right, just like Heather she became a capital. His nonetheless. And he was perfectly happy with that.
"I have you, my Königsburg, my Laine."