Episode 8: The BRONZE
Fray opened the door to the large warehouse that doubled as the operations and training center of the Coven and the home for all of the slayers. Kennedy was inside and she flashed Fray a stony glare before going back to the punching bag with renewed force. Fray started to walk in that direction before a hand caught her shoulder and spun her around. Andrew's smiling face came into view and he shook his head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. She's been mumbling your name for the past five hours and has always followed it with about fifty curses."
"Great," Fray said. "Do you think I could stay here tonight?"
Andrew smiled and nodded. "If you're sure about it we've got some extra beds upstairs."
"Thanks," Fray said. "I might be back tonight. I'm not in a hurry to get axed in the middle of the night."
Andrew laughed. "She's a lot like Max," he said.
"Who?"
"Max, from Dark Angel! Don't you people ever watch TV? Max was a young girl that was stronger, faster, smarter then anyone around and had amazing buns of steel. Anyway, she was the anti-hero. She was sort of thrown into the situation and she took control and she won. That's Kennedy. She's here for Willow and if she wasn't here then Kennedy wouldn't be."
"So she doesn't really like the job?"
"Would you?"
Fray shook her head. "I don't think I could handle it but I might be stuck with no choice if I don't find out who I am. It's hard having the fate of the world resting on your shoulders and you don't even know what to do." Fray smiled again and walked away.
Andrew let out a sigh and shook his head. "Tell me about it," he said quietly.
Dawn was standing over in the library. She smiled and closed a big book she had been reading when she saw Fray walking over. "Hey Fray," she said, a smile crossing her face.
"Hey Dawn. What are you reading?"
Dawn turned the book towards Fray and she read the title. In big bold red letters on the leather cover it said FLESH EATERS AND THEIR DIETARY HABBITS. "You have got to be kidding me," Fray said, fighting to keep from laughing.
"Hey," Dawn said, her eyes still smiling. "It's a newer volume. They've run out of titles by now."
Fray just shook her head and took the book from Dawn. She put it down on one of the tables and turned back to her. "So, are you ready to go?"
Dawn smiled and nodded. "Kennedy, Vi, Rona, Zee, Alice, and Billie are coming to."
"Wait, Kennedy," Fray said, her eyes wide, "as in Willow's Kennedy. I mean I'm not lucky enough for there to be two Kennedy's am I? " Dawn laughed and shook her head. "Sorry but it's the one and the only Kennedy that's been glaring at you since you came in."
Fray shook her head. "Fine," she said, taking a deep breath, "but can I at least carry a broadsword or even a mace?"
Dawn laughed. "No," she said. "Don't worry about it. You two will be fine. Just get a couple of drinks in her and she'll be happy go lucky."
"Even better," Fray said, "A drunk and pissed of at me Vampire Slayer."
Dawn just smiled and hurried up stairs to get the rest of the girls. Soon they all came downstairs looking out of place without their normal jeans and t-shirts. Kennedy put down her boxing gloves and pulled off her sweat shirt to expose a sleeveless black top. She pulled her blue jean jacket over that though. She glanced again at Fray, this one slightly softer than all the others and walked out the door with the rest of the girls. "Have fun," Andrew called to Fray.
Fray smiled and waved at him before following the rest of the girls out of the warehouse and towards the Bronze 2.
The Bronze 2 was a large gray warehouse with a large sign over the front door that said The BRONZE 2 in large green letters. The doors were wide open but a pair of burly men were standing by the doorway making sure that everyone that went in had a ticket. Loud music poured out of the door and the open windows that were placed every few feet on the walls. Dawn smiled and gave Fray a ticket. "Come on," she yelled. "Relax and have a good time. Get your mind of Hunter."
Fray shook her head. "That's not going to happen any time soon but this might help."
Fray showed her ticket to the security guard and he waved her inside. The other slayers were already waiting inside and Fray smiled as she looked around. There was a raised stage on one side of the building, a band now playing on there surrounded by tall speakers. There was a bar on the wall to the left of the stage with a set of stairs at the end of it that led up to a little balcony with chairs and sofas clustered on it. There were a few water and coke machines and a few video games on another wall and in the center of the building there were tables and chairs in front of the dance floor.
Dawn grabbed Fray's wrist and pulled her towards the dance floor. "Wait," Fray protested. "I don't think I know how to dance."
Dawn just laughed and pulled her farther into the crowd of dancing people. Fray recognized a few people from school and smiled politely at them. For a few minutes while she was on that dance floor she was able to forget about what she was, able to forget about the mission, able to forget that she wasn't a normal teenager. Kenney actually smiled at her and Fray felt a warmth flood through her, they would be alright. Then suddenly, the music changed and a slow song stared. The slayers made their way off the dance floor and to a nearby table.
"Having fun?" Kennedy asked.
"More fun then I ever remember having," Fray said.
Kennedy just smiled and then her face became serious again. "I'm sorry about this morning."
Fray waved her hand. "It's already forgotten."
"I guess I just want to help. I should have pushed though."
Fray smiled. "You've helped more than anyone here. I owe most of the stuff I know about myself to you."
Kennedy smiled and hugged the other girl. "Thanks," she said.
"For what?" Fray asked.
"For putting up with me."
Fray just smiled. Her smiled quickly faded though when she saw Hunter walking up behind Kennedy. Kennedy followed Fray's eyes and glanced back at the boy. "Nice," she said, a smile on her face.
Fray shook her head. "I'll let you know later."
Kennedy tilted her head but Fray just shook hers. A smile crossed Hunter's face as he walked over to her. The rest of the table was quiet as they watched the pair. "Can I have this dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.
Fray looked down at his hand and then back up at him. His blue eyes were shining even though the light was dim in the building. "Don't worry," he said, smiling. "I won't bite."
Fray couldn't help herself. She took his hand and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor, the cheers of the other slayers dying behind them. "Why me?" she asked, wrapping her arms around Hunter's neck.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his face close to hers.
"I mean that out of all the girls sitting at that table you chose to dance with me even though I was the only one glaring at you."
Hunter smiled. "I like a challenge."
"So I've heard."
"What do you mean," he said.
"You finished the mile in less than 7 minutes, and all those push ups and sit ups."
"It seems you've been doing your research," Hunter said, his blue eyes gazing into Fray's green ones.
"What does the word shielder mean to you?" Fray asked, cutting to the point.
Fray saw his smiled falter for a second and if she hadn't been looking at him she wouldn't have been sure. He plastered it back on his face though. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Fray smiled and loosened her arms. "Your father doesn't work at any construction company around here. I checked your address out too on my way home this afternoon. That house has been deserted for at least a month due to faulty gas pipes. Your phone number does reach an answering machine with your voice on it though so you do have some kind of house. Just not somewhere that you want anyone to know about."
Hunter took a step back and let his arms fall. "That's classified information," he said.
"So are my dreams," Fray snapped, "but you were there for some reason."
"I guess I'm just irresistible," he said.
Fray looked like she was about to smack him. "You damn well had better cut the act. You can give me answers and I know it so if you don't want to die really quickly then you'd better drop the dumb act."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hunter said, his blue eyes had turned panicky.
"I'm a fader," Fray shouted. "That should mean something to you."
Hunter clapped his hand over her mouth but it was too late. A shotgun went off from one corner and a dozen blasts echoed it. Everyone hit the ground except for Hunter, his hand still over Fray's mouth, and the other slayers. They were all to busy looking for the attackers. Finally they saw them. A dozen men were standing around dressed all in black with hoods over their heads. "Well," Kennedy said. "Security here sure sucks."
The men looked around and finally their eyes clapped on Fray and Hunter. "They're Timers, the opposite of Faders. Basically they want to make sure that whatever we're trying to change to save the future is changed in their favor. And now they know who you are and they won't believe that you forgot your mission," Hunter whispered in her ear.
Fray had to keep herself from going limp with relief. "So what do we do?" she asked.
"If I get the guns you'll have to take care of them. I won't be much good after that. I'll meet you in the school parking lot when you're done here."
Fray nodded. "Fine, but if you run on me I swear I'll hunt you down and kick your ass for the next fifty years."
Hunter nodded and looked down at her. "Stay safe Fader," he said.
"In life and death," Fray said, echoing his words in the dream.
He looked at her for a second and finally let her go. He took a deep breath and suddenly a light red glow seemed to come from him. He let out a yell and suddenly became a blur of red light. He seemed to bounce off the walls as he ran to each of the masked men and grabbed their guns out of their hands with blinding speed. Soon all of them were unarmed and the red blur ran out the door. "After him," one of the men yelled.
Three of the Timers made a move towards the door but suddenly it shut and Kennedy slid the lock into place. "I don't think so," she said, a sly smile crossing her face. "Since you guys obviously aren't vampires and we don't seem to have any swords or crossbows with us, it seems that we'll have to settle for an old-fashioned ass-kicking."
The other slayers jumped up. Dawn even balled her hands into fists. Fray smiled at Kennedy and looked at the masked fighters that had grouped towards the stage. "Sounds good to me," she said.
The masked men crouched in a martial arts fighting stance and Fray could tell that they were no novices. She balled her fists and the other slayers came and stood beside her. The masked men were the first to attack. They came at the girls all together. Fray stopped a kick from one of them and countered with a punch to the kidneys. The she picked him up, his left leg over her shoulder, and tossed him towards one of the games. He slammed into the machine and disappeared in a bright puff of smoke.
She turned just in time to catch a fist across her cheek that brought tears of pain to her eyes. She caught the fist the second time it came around and broke the man's arm with a flick of her wrist. He let out a scream of pain that sounded more mechanical than human and Fray picked him up by the collar of his shirt and slammed him into a nearby wall before throwing him through a closed window.
Kennedy hit one of the fighters in the chest with a strong sidekick. She moved to make another one but was caught off guard when another of the fighters knocked her feet out from under here with a sweep kick. Kennedy fell hard onto the ground and the breath was knocked out from her lungs. She quickly rolled to one side as one of the Timers jumped and slammed a knee into the ground where she had just been. Kennedy flipped backwards and wrapped her legs around the fighter's neck and twisted. With a sudden crack he was still for a second before disappearing.
The other slayers were involved in their own battles. Rona helped grab one of the creatures off of Billie's back and slammed it into a chair. Zee cracked one in the area of its nose with the palm of her hand. Vi helped Dawn with one of them, her arm still in a sling from the arrow wound. Dawn dodged a punch and Vi helped with a sidekick to the beast's chest before Dawn rose and hit it with a strong uppercut. Alice grabbed one of the creatures and sent it flying behind the bar. Finally they were all gone. Fray looked around and pointed to each of the slayers. "How many did you get?"
They all said their numbers and Fray quickly added them up. "That's only eleven," she said.
Then suddenly Kennedy tapped heron the shoulder and pointed towards the door. It was hanging loosely on its hinges. Someone had broken it down. "Hunter," Fray yelled.
"Where is he?" Kennedy said, stopping her with a strong arm on her wrist.
"The school parking lot. I have to go now." Kennedy let her go and Fray ran out the door. Kennedy took a deep breath and waved to the other girls. "Come on guys. Let's go bail them out."
Fray could feel her legs burning and her lungs gasping for air but she ignored both as her feet continued to hit the pavement. She could feel moisture running down her face, a combination of sweat and tears. She had just found some of her answers in this boy. She wasn't about to loose him now. It was more than that though. Even though they had only met mere hours ago, she felt connected to him. And it wasn't just the dream.
Finally the school came into view and Fray felt herself going faster as she heard voices in the parking lot. "Leave me alone," Hunter yelled, his voice sounding drained.
Fray stopped when the sight came into view. One of the masked fighters was standing there with two shotguns leveled at an exhausted Hunter. The young man was lying on the pavement, his chest heaving and sweat stuck his shirt to his chest. "If you kill me more will come. We will succeed," the Timer said.
"And if you kill me, she'll still find her way. She's stronger than you could ever imagine. Killing me won't do a damn thing except piss her off. Have you ever met a pissed off Fader?"
The Timer shook his head and Hunter made a show of inhaling even though it made his face contort in pain. "Pray that you never do."
Fray walked into view and stood behind the Timer. "If you never want to see a pissed off Fader I suggest you don't turn around."
Hunter looked over the Timer's shoulder and he convulsed in pain again. "Are you alright," Fray asked, her brow knitting with worry.
"Yeah," he gasped. "I'm fine." He coughed once and spit a clot of blood onto the sidewalk. "I'm prefect."
The Timer turned around and a smile seemed to stretch his mask across his face. "Fader," he said.
"The name's Fray," she said.
The Timer shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You look the same dead no matter what your name is."
"Then I won't ask for yours," Fray snapped.
She took a few running steps before she leapt off the ground. Her foot struck his shoulder right as both shotguns went off. Fray felt hot pieces of metal searing their way into her arms and shoulders. She even felt a few enter her chest and her legs. She ignored the pain and picked herself off the ground. She could feel liquid running down her arms and off her fingertips and she didn't need to look to see that it was blood. She grabbed the Timer. "We'll be back," he gasped as she heaved him off the ground.
Fray nodded. "Then we'll be ready for you. You tell whoever you're working for that if he doesn't leave me the hell alone he'll be dead by my own hands. None of you masked freaks can stop me."
Then she slammed him head first into the ground and he disappeared. Fray ran quickly over to Hunter's side and helped him up. "You're hurt," she said.
"It's nothing," he said, trying to push her away. "I just used my energy running out of their. A Shielder's power comes from a small cell of magic that's held in his chest. It can run out though and I sort of used it all back there."
Fray nodded before suddenly dropping to the pavement beside him. "Fray," he yelled, "what's wrong."
Fray waved him away. "It's nothing," she gasped. "I think I'm just dying."
Fray opened the door to the large warehouse that doubled as the operations and training center of the Coven and the home for all of the slayers. Kennedy was inside and she flashed Fray a stony glare before going back to the punching bag with renewed force. Fray started to walk in that direction before a hand caught her shoulder and spun her around. Andrew's smiling face came into view and he shook his head. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. She's been mumbling your name for the past five hours and has always followed it with about fifty curses."
"Great," Fray said. "Do you think I could stay here tonight?"
Andrew smiled and nodded. "If you're sure about it we've got some extra beds upstairs."
"Thanks," Fray said. "I might be back tonight. I'm not in a hurry to get axed in the middle of the night."
Andrew laughed. "She's a lot like Max," he said.
"Who?"
"Max, from Dark Angel! Don't you people ever watch TV? Max was a young girl that was stronger, faster, smarter then anyone around and had amazing buns of steel. Anyway, she was the anti-hero. She was sort of thrown into the situation and she took control and she won. That's Kennedy. She's here for Willow and if she wasn't here then Kennedy wouldn't be."
"So she doesn't really like the job?"
"Would you?"
Fray shook her head. "I don't think I could handle it but I might be stuck with no choice if I don't find out who I am. It's hard having the fate of the world resting on your shoulders and you don't even know what to do." Fray smiled again and walked away.
Andrew let out a sigh and shook his head. "Tell me about it," he said quietly.
Dawn was standing over in the library. She smiled and closed a big book she had been reading when she saw Fray walking over. "Hey Fray," she said, a smile crossing her face.
"Hey Dawn. What are you reading?"
Dawn turned the book towards Fray and she read the title. In big bold red letters on the leather cover it said FLESH EATERS AND THEIR DIETARY HABBITS. "You have got to be kidding me," Fray said, fighting to keep from laughing.
"Hey," Dawn said, her eyes still smiling. "It's a newer volume. They've run out of titles by now."
Fray just shook her head and took the book from Dawn. She put it down on one of the tables and turned back to her. "So, are you ready to go?"
Dawn smiled and nodded. "Kennedy, Vi, Rona, Zee, Alice, and Billie are coming to."
"Wait, Kennedy," Fray said, her eyes wide, "as in Willow's Kennedy. I mean I'm not lucky enough for there to be two Kennedy's am I? " Dawn laughed and shook her head. "Sorry but it's the one and the only Kennedy that's been glaring at you since you came in."
Fray shook her head. "Fine," she said, taking a deep breath, "but can I at least carry a broadsword or even a mace?"
Dawn laughed. "No," she said. "Don't worry about it. You two will be fine. Just get a couple of drinks in her and she'll be happy go lucky."
"Even better," Fray said, "A drunk and pissed of at me Vampire Slayer."
Dawn just smiled and hurried up stairs to get the rest of the girls. Soon they all came downstairs looking out of place without their normal jeans and t-shirts. Kennedy put down her boxing gloves and pulled off her sweat shirt to expose a sleeveless black top. She pulled her blue jean jacket over that though. She glanced again at Fray, this one slightly softer than all the others and walked out the door with the rest of the girls. "Have fun," Andrew called to Fray.
Fray smiled and waved at him before following the rest of the girls out of the warehouse and towards the Bronze 2.
The Bronze 2 was a large gray warehouse with a large sign over the front door that said The BRONZE 2 in large green letters. The doors were wide open but a pair of burly men were standing by the doorway making sure that everyone that went in had a ticket. Loud music poured out of the door and the open windows that were placed every few feet on the walls. Dawn smiled and gave Fray a ticket. "Come on," she yelled. "Relax and have a good time. Get your mind of Hunter."
Fray shook her head. "That's not going to happen any time soon but this might help."
Fray showed her ticket to the security guard and he waved her inside. The other slayers were already waiting inside and Fray smiled as she looked around. There was a raised stage on one side of the building, a band now playing on there surrounded by tall speakers. There was a bar on the wall to the left of the stage with a set of stairs at the end of it that led up to a little balcony with chairs and sofas clustered on it. There were a few water and coke machines and a few video games on another wall and in the center of the building there were tables and chairs in front of the dance floor.
Dawn grabbed Fray's wrist and pulled her towards the dance floor. "Wait," Fray protested. "I don't think I know how to dance."
Dawn just laughed and pulled her farther into the crowd of dancing people. Fray recognized a few people from school and smiled politely at them. For a few minutes while she was on that dance floor she was able to forget about what she was, able to forget about the mission, able to forget that she wasn't a normal teenager. Kenney actually smiled at her and Fray felt a warmth flood through her, they would be alright. Then suddenly, the music changed and a slow song stared. The slayers made their way off the dance floor and to a nearby table.
"Having fun?" Kennedy asked.
"More fun then I ever remember having," Fray said.
Kennedy just smiled and then her face became serious again. "I'm sorry about this morning."
Fray waved her hand. "It's already forgotten."
"I guess I just want to help. I should have pushed though."
Fray smiled. "You've helped more than anyone here. I owe most of the stuff I know about myself to you."
Kennedy smiled and hugged the other girl. "Thanks," she said.
"For what?" Fray asked.
"For putting up with me."
Fray just smiled. Her smiled quickly faded though when she saw Hunter walking up behind Kennedy. Kennedy followed Fray's eyes and glanced back at the boy. "Nice," she said, a smile on her face.
Fray shook her head. "I'll let you know later."
Kennedy tilted her head but Fray just shook hers. A smile crossed Hunter's face as he walked over to her. The rest of the table was quiet as they watched the pair. "Can I have this dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.
Fray looked down at his hand and then back up at him. His blue eyes were shining even though the light was dim in the building. "Don't worry," he said, smiling. "I won't bite."
Fray couldn't help herself. She took his hand and allowed herself to be led to the dance floor, the cheers of the other slayers dying behind them. "Why me?" she asked, wrapping her arms around Hunter's neck.
"What do you mean?" he asked, his face close to hers.
"I mean that out of all the girls sitting at that table you chose to dance with me even though I was the only one glaring at you."
Hunter smiled. "I like a challenge."
"So I've heard."
"What do you mean," he said.
"You finished the mile in less than 7 minutes, and all those push ups and sit ups."
"It seems you've been doing your research," Hunter said, his blue eyes gazing into Fray's green ones.
"What does the word shielder mean to you?" Fray asked, cutting to the point.
Fray saw his smiled falter for a second and if she hadn't been looking at him she wouldn't have been sure. He plastered it back on his face though. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Fray smiled and loosened her arms. "Your father doesn't work at any construction company around here. I checked your address out too on my way home this afternoon. That house has been deserted for at least a month due to faulty gas pipes. Your phone number does reach an answering machine with your voice on it though so you do have some kind of house. Just not somewhere that you want anyone to know about."
Hunter took a step back and let his arms fall. "That's classified information," he said.
"So are my dreams," Fray snapped, "but you were there for some reason."
"I guess I'm just irresistible," he said.
Fray looked like she was about to smack him. "You damn well had better cut the act. You can give me answers and I know it so if you don't want to die really quickly then you'd better drop the dumb act."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hunter said, his blue eyes had turned panicky.
"I'm a fader," Fray shouted. "That should mean something to you."
Hunter clapped his hand over her mouth but it was too late. A shotgun went off from one corner and a dozen blasts echoed it. Everyone hit the ground except for Hunter, his hand still over Fray's mouth, and the other slayers. They were all to busy looking for the attackers. Finally they saw them. A dozen men were standing around dressed all in black with hoods over their heads. "Well," Kennedy said. "Security here sure sucks."
The men looked around and finally their eyes clapped on Fray and Hunter. "They're Timers, the opposite of Faders. Basically they want to make sure that whatever we're trying to change to save the future is changed in their favor. And now they know who you are and they won't believe that you forgot your mission," Hunter whispered in her ear.
Fray had to keep herself from going limp with relief. "So what do we do?" she asked.
"If I get the guns you'll have to take care of them. I won't be much good after that. I'll meet you in the school parking lot when you're done here."
Fray nodded. "Fine, but if you run on me I swear I'll hunt you down and kick your ass for the next fifty years."
Hunter nodded and looked down at her. "Stay safe Fader," he said.
"In life and death," Fray said, echoing his words in the dream.
He looked at her for a second and finally let her go. He took a deep breath and suddenly a light red glow seemed to come from him. He let out a yell and suddenly became a blur of red light. He seemed to bounce off the walls as he ran to each of the masked men and grabbed their guns out of their hands with blinding speed. Soon all of them were unarmed and the red blur ran out the door. "After him," one of the men yelled.
Three of the Timers made a move towards the door but suddenly it shut and Kennedy slid the lock into place. "I don't think so," she said, a sly smile crossing her face. "Since you guys obviously aren't vampires and we don't seem to have any swords or crossbows with us, it seems that we'll have to settle for an old-fashioned ass-kicking."
The other slayers jumped up. Dawn even balled her hands into fists. Fray smiled at Kennedy and looked at the masked fighters that had grouped towards the stage. "Sounds good to me," she said.
The masked men crouched in a martial arts fighting stance and Fray could tell that they were no novices. She balled her fists and the other slayers came and stood beside her. The masked men were the first to attack. They came at the girls all together. Fray stopped a kick from one of them and countered with a punch to the kidneys. The she picked him up, his left leg over her shoulder, and tossed him towards one of the games. He slammed into the machine and disappeared in a bright puff of smoke.
She turned just in time to catch a fist across her cheek that brought tears of pain to her eyes. She caught the fist the second time it came around and broke the man's arm with a flick of her wrist. He let out a scream of pain that sounded more mechanical than human and Fray picked him up by the collar of his shirt and slammed him into a nearby wall before throwing him through a closed window.
Kennedy hit one of the fighters in the chest with a strong sidekick. She moved to make another one but was caught off guard when another of the fighters knocked her feet out from under here with a sweep kick. Kennedy fell hard onto the ground and the breath was knocked out from her lungs. She quickly rolled to one side as one of the Timers jumped and slammed a knee into the ground where she had just been. Kennedy flipped backwards and wrapped her legs around the fighter's neck and twisted. With a sudden crack he was still for a second before disappearing.
The other slayers were involved in their own battles. Rona helped grab one of the creatures off of Billie's back and slammed it into a chair. Zee cracked one in the area of its nose with the palm of her hand. Vi helped Dawn with one of them, her arm still in a sling from the arrow wound. Dawn dodged a punch and Vi helped with a sidekick to the beast's chest before Dawn rose and hit it with a strong uppercut. Alice grabbed one of the creatures and sent it flying behind the bar. Finally they were all gone. Fray looked around and pointed to each of the slayers. "How many did you get?"
They all said their numbers and Fray quickly added them up. "That's only eleven," she said.
Then suddenly Kennedy tapped heron the shoulder and pointed towards the door. It was hanging loosely on its hinges. Someone had broken it down. "Hunter," Fray yelled.
"Where is he?" Kennedy said, stopping her with a strong arm on her wrist.
"The school parking lot. I have to go now." Kennedy let her go and Fray ran out the door. Kennedy took a deep breath and waved to the other girls. "Come on guys. Let's go bail them out."
Fray could feel her legs burning and her lungs gasping for air but she ignored both as her feet continued to hit the pavement. She could feel moisture running down her face, a combination of sweat and tears. She had just found some of her answers in this boy. She wasn't about to loose him now. It was more than that though. Even though they had only met mere hours ago, she felt connected to him. And it wasn't just the dream.
Finally the school came into view and Fray felt herself going faster as she heard voices in the parking lot. "Leave me alone," Hunter yelled, his voice sounding drained.
Fray stopped when the sight came into view. One of the masked fighters was standing there with two shotguns leveled at an exhausted Hunter. The young man was lying on the pavement, his chest heaving and sweat stuck his shirt to his chest. "If you kill me more will come. We will succeed," the Timer said.
"And if you kill me, she'll still find her way. She's stronger than you could ever imagine. Killing me won't do a damn thing except piss her off. Have you ever met a pissed off Fader?"
The Timer shook his head and Hunter made a show of inhaling even though it made his face contort in pain. "Pray that you never do."
Fray walked into view and stood behind the Timer. "If you never want to see a pissed off Fader I suggest you don't turn around."
Hunter looked over the Timer's shoulder and he convulsed in pain again. "Are you alright," Fray asked, her brow knitting with worry.
"Yeah," he gasped. "I'm fine." He coughed once and spit a clot of blood onto the sidewalk. "I'm prefect."
The Timer turned around and a smile seemed to stretch his mask across his face. "Fader," he said.
"The name's Fray," she said.
The Timer shook his head. "It doesn't matter. You look the same dead no matter what your name is."
"Then I won't ask for yours," Fray snapped.
She took a few running steps before she leapt off the ground. Her foot struck his shoulder right as both shotguns went off. Fray felt hot pieces of metal searing their way into her arms and shoulders. She even felt a few enter her chest and her legs. She ignored the pain and picked herself off the ground. She could feel liquid running down her arms and off her fingertips and she didn't need to look to see that it was blood. She grabbed the Timer. "We'll be back," he gasped as she heaved him off the ground.
Fray nodded. "Then we'll be ready for you. You tell whoever you're working for that if he doesn't leave me the hell alone he'll be dead by my own hands. None of you masked freaks can stop me."
Then she slammed him head first into the ground and he disappeared. Fray ran quickly over to Hunter's side and helped him up. "You're hurt," she said.
"It's nothing," he said, trying to push her away. "I just used my energy running out of their. A Shielder's power comes from a small cell of magic that's held in his chest. It can run out though and I sort of used it all back there."
Fray nodded before suddenly dropping to the pavement beside him. "Fray," he yelled, "what's wrong."
Fray waved him away. "It's nothing," she gasped. "I think I'm just dying."