Scarlet Love
Chapter Seventeen:
Desperate Escape
By: NightChild
***
Running down the corridors was awkward at best for Wufei and Trowa, as they both had a limp, unconscious ex-pilot flung over their shoulders in a hold much like a fireman's-hold. Quatre was making good progress, though, always going up a few meters to make sure the path was clear and then coming back to them.
The air still held a sense of foreboding as they turned another corner of the labyrinthine base, all sweating by that time from the strain and physical exertion. Just as they emerged into the new hallway, gunshots rang out and echoed off of the pristine, white walls and floors. Using all of their reflexes they had, Trowa, Wufei and Quatre were barely to jump back behind the cover of the other wall, taking the unconscious Heero and Duo with them.
As Quatre leaned against the wall, he heard Wufei muttering cusses under his breath in Chinese, and Trowa whisper "shit" before he turned his thoughts toward getting out of their latest ambush. Just as he was about to voice a plan a cold, smoothly malevolent voice called out.
"I know you're there, Gundam pilots. Come out; come out…" the voice had turned taunting. "I know you've got them as well. Aw, don't want to come out and play?"
***
I think I must be dead. But you can't think when you're dead, can you? So… That means I'm alive, I guess. Ya know I kinda like it here. Though, I'd make some changes, such as light of some sort, this darkness has to get boring at some point.
Hmm… Maybe I've gone insane. That doesn't quite make sense, 'cause I remember who I am--I think--and I remember I was trying to rescue… Trying to rescue Heero, yeah, that's right. I was trying to rescue Heero from those stupid Neo Romefeller creeps. I hope he's okay. He looked like shit when we got to him. Still alive, though.
Hey, what's that light over there? Maybe I'll go check it out…
"I know you've got them as well… come out… play…?"
***
Suddenly, Duo's violet eyes snapped open. He knew that voice! "Phearsun…" he muttered out like it was a cuss, although it hurt to speak.
Hearing Duo speak, Quatre directed his attention onto him. "Duo…?"
Smiling a thin smile that was meant to hide the pain that was tearing through his shoulder like fire, Duo nodded. "Yeah. What happened? Where's Heero?"
Motioning for Trowa--whom by that time had set Heero's unconscious form on the floor by the wall--to take his position near the edge of the wall, Quatre walked over to Duo's slumped figure and knelt down in front of him, looking at his wound while explaining, "When they sent the grenade into the room you were hit by something," he said as he gently fingered Duo's wound, making the other ex-pilot wince in pain, "causing a deep wound in your shoulder and you passed out from blood loss. I'm surprised you're conscious already." Quatre finished, his eyes soft pools of aqua concern.
"I'll be fine." Duo said nonchalantly. "How's Heero?" he asked with worry pretty much written all over his frame.
"He's still unconscious, but I think he'll be okay." Truth to be told, Quatre didn't reall think that Heero was going to be okay. He looked horrible. Burns, cuts, and bruises covered what his torn jeans didn't hide, his breathing kept getting more labored and shallow by the minute. He was probably going into shock, if he wasn't in shock already.
Trowa watched the exchange out of the corner of his eye from his new vantage point. 'Quatre's so much stronger than he'll ever know or admit, so kind as well.' He thought tenderly before turning his full attention back toward where their ambusher, Phearsun as Duo had named him, lay in wait.
Wufei glanced at Winner and Maxwell; he could tell that Winner was extremely concerned for Maxwell. He, Wufei, was as well, but his cold demeanor had to stay in check, at least until the danger was over and all of them were out of this hellhole of a building. If they could get out in time for Yuy was up to debate, but if they lost Yuy, he was sure the rest of them would be lost as well.
Nodding blankly at Quatre's words, Duo glanced at Heero. 'Please be okay…'
***
Phearsun had had enough of waiting. "If you don't come out now, I'll just have to come and get you, won't I?" he called out, his voice still holding a taunting edge.
He didn't have to wait long until he heard a clank and saw a grenade roll toward him. "Shit." He quickly ducked into a small alcove just as the grenade went off with a thunderous bang and the walls shook. Yes, this was going to be a challenge and he loved challenges.
***
AN: I know you're all probably ready to kill me by now for not getting this out and leaving more cliffies than's really fair. But this chapter was a pain to write and things at home have been a bit…rocky…lately, so I haven't had time to write like I usually should. I'll be trying to get back into my near-weekly update thing again soon.
Huge thanks to Emilie Grant (Ryll-chan) for beta-ing this chapter for me, and glomps!
THANK YOU to Lord Havok's Minion; Alana Quinn; PATTY 40; Freefall; blank; blank; Kira R. Chan; Bunch-o-Nuts; Angel of Reincarnation; Galyn; and Reaper02Angel for reviewing, telling me how evil I am and brightening my day.
Until next time…
Ja`ne