Shadows Of A Lonely Man: Chapter 8 - Rules Broken

"DAMN IT!" Hojo screamed "Ive tried asking AND ordering you at the same time and still I have no impact!!"

Vincent and Lucrecia stepped away from each other, they blinked at the little man as he threw his tantrum but didn't seem to care. Hojo composed himself and spoke.

"I'm warning you mr. Valentine do NOT cross me, you eaither stay away from her or I can make things very difficult for you. I know you've just joined the Turks oh yes.."

Hojo smirked at Vincent and then glared at Lucrecia his eyes narrowing.

"And you! I thought you'd have more sense!"

He pushed by the two and grabbed Lucrecia by the arm to which he shouted at him to let go. It was when Vincent intervened that things went wrong, grabbing the little man he flung the two apart from each other. Hojo flew back and slammed against the passage he had just come from and dissapeared down it once more, Lucercia flew out of the door and hit the banister overturned and fell from to the bottom floor. Vincent face drained of what little colour it had left, he ran to the side to catch her but it was all too late even before he got there. He looked over to see her laid on the floor her head on the bottom step of the stairs. He ran down and gently turned her a small cut over her precious left eye letting blood flow down her beautiful face. He pressed his index and middle finger to her neck, a weak pulse!! He jumped up and ran back up the stairs and looked around. No sign of Hojo. The enterence! Vincent ran his hand over the brick chimney Hojo had taken him down and found one loose brick. With a sharp nudge he pressed it and the door creaked open. In a hurry he almost jumped down all of the stairs and when he landed at the bottom bolted for the door were he had just been minutes before all of this had happened. Kicking the door in he looked around, then he heard a sinister laugh coming from the other side of the room. He turned and walked to the small corridor of books to see Hojo sat once again behind his desk laughing.

"Professor.." Said Vincent softly "Lu.Lucrecia needs your help..she's dying

The professor stopped laughing and looked at him coldly.

"I have no need for an assistant anymore Mr. Valentine"he said coldly

Vincent looked dumbstuck how can ANYONE be so cold!? So evil? He ran over and grabbed Hojo by the collar and shook him hard

"ARE YOU LISTENING? IF YOU DON'T HELP HER SHE'LL DIE!" he shouted in his face

"To hell with her.." Hojo sneered " and you.."

Had he lost his mind!? Vincents eyes narrowed and he brought his fist back and slammed it into Hojo's cocky face sending the small man back against the shelves of books. A trickle of blood ran down from Hojo's nose as he stood back up, Vincent was stood waiting calmly for the little man to try something when he put his hand in his pocket.

"Yes..you'll do nicely" he muttered.

Watching Vincent looked horrified as Hojo took his hand from his pocket, he held in his hand a small revolver. Aiming at Vincent he smiled once more as he cocked the hammer back and advanced around the table towards him.

"Oh I warned you Mr. Valentine.." he said.

All Vincent could do was step back from the little man with a gun pointed at him and watch. He wasn't sure what to do anymore, even the most qualified turk couldn't survive or dodge bullets. It was then that Hojo smiled.

"Yes..yes..youll do perfectly"

"For what?" Vincent asked

"you'll see.." replied Hojo

At that moment a shot rang out through the air, a jaggered knife of pain split Vincents chest as his breath was knocked from him. He stepped back his hand drawn to his chest covered in blood when he looked down at it. His eyes widened as he looked upon Hojo's cruel face as he felt his legs slowly start to give, he dropped to his knees as his body started to cease up pain wracking his mind still. Then he watched as Hojo turned from him and started back towards the table, his body stopped and he fell to the floor on his side watching the little man then everything went black..

"He shot you?" Ceilia asked

"That's right.." Vincent replied.

Ceilia had been watching him, he hadn't moved much when he was talking but she was sure that when he did she could see the smallest tear run down his face. So it was true, even the most hardened men could cry. It was then that the tape clicked once more and she knew that it needed to be changed. Vincent turned and watched as she brought another from her bag and took the old one out then inserted a new one. She pressed the record button once again and watched vincent waiting for the rest of his story.