So Far Away…
Chapter Two - Dodging bullets
The bitter autumn wind dissipated into nothing, cries of pain and overwhelming anguish biting through the cruel satirical aftertaste in nature's mouth. The golden sun that fell down upon the earth marred into the sceptres of wilting black roses as shadows engulfed the daylight; layers upon layers of heavy ebony crowded together in a pitch mass of nonentity. Hard, ragged bricks of the alleyway screamed out in old blood; rustic red dancing through the shadows, glinting off the animosity of aged dusk black.
Desperate footsteps scratched across the ground, the metal buckling of panting breaths as darkness welcomed with an immortal hug, "Bikky!" Ryo cried out, turning the corner down into the small side street. He froze in position as he saw the blonde haired youth.
They all gathered around him, large, brutal weapons in their grungy fists: crowbar, baseball bat, knife. Most quite the unconventional sheaths yet the type that would make the proprietor feel powerful; in control. A few successions of good hits and smacks here and there and the battle was as good as over…in some cases, before it even really began. Their shadows drew along the thick concrete, congregating together in a large puddle of death ran cold. Each set of cold, expectant eyes grinning like baby demons at Christmas as they leered over their latest `victim`.
Ryo reached for his gun, hands shaking as he dared not to take his gaze away from the scene before him, God knows what they might do…
"Wouldn't do that if I were you, officer" a gruff voice spun out of beady little lips. Dirty blonde hair hung limply from an unshaven face, bruises padded the eyes like cotton wool wrapped in barbed wire, battered blue slits staring out vengefully as darkness collected around the ragged clothing barely encasing him.
The semi-Japanese man's breath caught in his throat, a strangled whisper of a coughing sound spluttering soundlessly only in his own mind. Fists clenched at his sides, the gun laying only a few movements away as he narrowed his eyes at what looked to be the gang leader. Not saying anything, his fingers flexed around the molten black steel of the weapon, just about to pull it out on them when a deep, almost threatening yell cut through him harshly.
"I said I wouldn't do that if I were you" the voice snapped, followed up with the decisive clicking as a gun was placed forcefully against Bikky`s head, "Unless of course, you want the kid to get his brains blown out" a deliriously evil grin worked over cracked lips, taunting.
Ryo gulped, slowly moving his fingers away from his own gun. It was a tough thing to have to do yet it was the only way he saw safe at the moment, "Why are you doing this?" he asked as confidently as he could, nerves of the whole situation haunting him more so than the lingering feeling that something wasn't right. That it wasn't all going to end on a good note…
A small chuckle, growing in volume as every second passed. Manic laughter spooling out from the depths of the alleyway as the young victim tried to struggled in the man's grip, only egging him on more with the gun, of course. "Isn't that obvious yet?" blue eyes snickered before turning as cold as the death that hung in the air, "We do it because we like it…the smell of blood, the taste of wasting another pathetic little life. It's such a great feeling, surely you agree officer? I betcha you've killed someone, shot at someone sometime. Or at least wanted to hmm? Go on…you can tell`us"
Calming lids fell over obsidian eyes, a few deep breaths emanating from the officer as he tried to retain his cool composure. Cases like these were the ones that really got to him, bringing back memories of the days when he was one his own; alone and defenceless like many of these children, he gulped, opening his eyes once again to the blanketing darkness that engulfed him, "Why kids?"
"Surely you can figure that one out"
A sickness washed over the blonde-haired officer as it hit him. Why else? Because they were defenceless. They wouldn't be able to escape. Willing victims…He didn't know whether to feel angry at such a thing or upset, pitiful. It was all just confusing him, a murmuring of another gun clicking into firing-position caught his attention and he averted his gaze to the right. Eyes staring aimlessly at the double-ended barrel of a gun pointed straight at him, "You sick bastards" he shot back, eyes widening as he watched the leader begin to pull the trigger on the gun to Bikky`s head, who, surprisingly, was silent. He didn't want to even contemplate as to why…
"Two birds with one stone" echoed through the shadows as the sound of the gun pointed to Ryo also clicked the safety-latch off, trigger being pulled back slightly before a sharp, piercing bang cut through the air. Silver bullet spiralling towards the semi-Japanese man as he stood there, partially in shock. Partially not knowing what was going on; eyes still set on the gun to Bikky`s head, turning just as he heard the shot but it was too late…
Blood splattered his face, red liquid sticking against his cool flesh, trickling down into his eyes. He was pretty sure his clothes were covered too, along with every part of his body yet he didn't care right then. Wondering why it was he didn't feel any pain, none at all. Turning a hard stare onto the leader it was only then he noticed the absence of Bikky tight in the man's grip, with a light whimper the gang took on their heels and ran. The look in the officer's eyes was not one of mercy.
"Ryo!" the dark eyed officer stood in a daze, placing a hand against his chest and staring aimlessly at the blood that marred the delicate handprint, each line trickling through the flesh filled with crimson as it traced messily over his skin, "Ryo!" the yell came again. He was sure he recognised the voice…a strangled, wispy breath followed, along with a couple of grunts and struggling cries.
"Ryo!!" it came louder and finally caught the man's attention, forcefully pulling him out of his state of shock and somewhat apprehension and towards the direction of the voice, "Ryo, help…" it was Bikky, he recognised it now. But why did he sound so…strangled? Worried? The bullet hadn't hit him had it? No…impossible, he would have been dead if it had, considering the range…So why…?
Ryo turned and his heart froze in his chest at the sight before him, rushing over as if even running the fastest wasn't quick enough. And to him, it wasn't. There, lying on top of Bikky was the blood-soaked body of none other than…
"Dee…"
So that's whose blood it was…Ryo thought, irrationally, He must have dived in front of me, grabbing Bikky too…Oh God…
Without another word he bent down and lifted Dee from the suffocating young boy, pulling the dark-haired officer's body tight against his own and holding him with all the strength he had. Gripping desperately at the material that covered Dee`s back as if it would hurt him physically to let go…a single tear trickled down his cheek as he held onto his partner. It was very very cold.