"I-I-I'm…F-freezing…"

"I am t-to…Just-just keep walking."

"I cant any…longer."

"Th-there's a cave he-here somewhere."

"We past it, Bla-Blade. A-almost 10 minu-minutes ago."

"Shit…"

"I-I cant feel anything…"

"Here."

"What? No-no put it back on. You'll freeze without a jacket."

"We're going to die anyways. Might as-as well get it over with."

"Ugh…Come here darling."

"G-get off me…"

"…Blade, is this going to be it for us?"

"I-I think so. I think so."

"Dammit…I don't want to die…Not yet…"

"It don't…mind…I have tasted life and its not all its said to be…"

"…I…I guess…death lik-like this isn't…that bad…"

"…"

"I-I m-mean…At-atleast we will di-die together…right?"

"…"

"B-Blade?"

"…Yeah?"

"I…"

Lock, chain, and rat short, Blade glared bitterly at Rif.

"What darling?" The man asked, confused.

Wrinkling up the corner of her nose, Blade shook her head. "You were afraid of a rat." she hissed.

"It was looking at me funny!" Rif said, eyes wide. Blade shook her head. "Darling! It was!"

"Why didn't you shoot it yourself!"

"Cause you got the gun baby!"

The weapon was suddenly pushed into Rif's stomach. With an "ouph" the man stumbled back, tossing the gun from one hand to another, in till he finally caught it. Blade shook her head.

"Damn wimp." She muttered, pulling open the door. She took a step in, and Rif ran to follow her.

The buildings interior was black. No lights were flowing in, but the very dim light from the doorway. Rif and Blade both blocked most of the green though.

"Walk in front." Blade said, reaching behind her to take Rif's arm. The man shook his head.

"Why love?"

"You have mako eyes. You can see better in the dark."

Rif cursed himself and went in front of the woman. "If I die darling, you better mourn for me."

Blade shook her head from behind the man and placed her hand on her blade. "I brought Glory kid, I wont let the big bad boogie monsters hurt you." 'To much…'

"To much…I know what's goin through that head of yours." Rif said. He walked slowly inside, eyes straining to see more then a foot in front of him. Nothing.

"I hate this silence. Talk love." Rif said. Blade shook her head again, gripping his arm. Rif stiffened.

"Its only me. Keep walking."

Silence again settled over the two. Rif kept his gun at ready, and Blades hands never left her sword. Only about 10 feet inside the door, the silence was broken by a screech. The same noise the door had made when being opened repeated as it slammed shut.

Rif jumped, turning about. The sound of Glory being un-sheathed came to Rif's ears.

"Okay, turn on the damn lights. We are not here for a surprise party." Blade said, voice calm and cold. Rif slipped out of his frightened personality and into business man. Who knew what was waiting in this darkness.

Laughter filled the building, echoing slightly through the room and Rif's head. "Well well…Isn't this great…honey and darling have come to climb the ladder."

"We were told to meet someone here, jerk. So turn on the lights and give us our money." Blade snapped, clearly un-amused by this situation.

"Oh really?" more laughter filled the room. "I don't think so darling. You'll have to find the switch first…And to do that…"

Doors could be heard scrapping the floors. Growls and hisses filled the room. It suddenly dawned on Rif where all the monsters that got into the city went.

"What the hell is thi-" Suddenly there was a yelp, and Rif stumbled backwards as Blade slammed back into him. The man grabbed Blades shoulder, just as something brushed his leg.

"This is a test." The voice from the dark called. Rif's eyes followed the sound of his feet walking across the floor. "This is only a test…Of

course, we cannot be blamed if you fail it."

"Agh!" Blade let out a cry. Rif could feel her body slashing blindly about. Something from above them hovered. He saw it before Blade did, thanks to his mako eyes. Taking aim, he tightened his grip on the trigger-

Suddenly he was being yanked back, thrown against the ground. "None of that…Cant have anyone helping anyone else…can we? Cheating…Your penalty?"

Another screeching of doors and the dropping of chains reached Rif's ears, as he struggled against his captors.

"Separation and 5 more "questions"."

"What the fuck is this?!" Blade cried, eyes scanning the dark. It wasn't fear, but annoyance. "We are meant to be here! We shouldn't nee-" Her sentence was cut short, as claws collided with her flesh.

She gasped and stumbled back, bringing Glory up sharply. She felt the blade slice through flesh, felt warm blood drench her jeans. Red droplets rolled down her cheek to pile on the corner of her mouth. She licked her lips and spit the crimson liquid out onto the floor.

"One down…Hm…Your not as good as I had planned. Maybe we should go easy on you…"

"We?!"

"Yeah…She never was a tough one. Even in the caves she needed "Riffter" to help her out…"

'Caves?! What ca-'

She felt warm breath roll down her neck to swim under her jacket. Quickly she turned, Glory's tip running along the floor. Brining the weapon up quickly once she felt it collide, the monster ready to make her lunch screamed. In rage it screamed louder and slashed violently about. Blade dodged, jumping back. The claws narrowly missed her nose.

'Getting slow…Dammit!'

The beast growled, and she heard its feet running across the floor. With barely enough time to react, she flung out Glory. The weapons tip collided with the animals face. It slammed itself a little farther onto the steel, before it let out a loud cry and tried to wriggle its way back off from its new captor.

Blade lifted her foot to push the monster off, cringing as it continued to shriek.

"Hm…Well, she certainly has potential I think. Could have been one of the best swordswomen of her time I believe… She let herself go."

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Blade yelled, slamming her foot down as something slithered past her leg. Her swords tip soon followed. "Who are you?!"

Laughter again filled the room. "Old friends…"

'Old…friends…?'

His fist collided with someone's jaw, and pain flooded his hand. Though the glove he wore had some padding to it, not to mention four very sharp claws, the pain was still noticeable. He heard the man curse him, knew he was holding the spot and lapping up blood, thinking of his next move.

"Damn bastard." the man hissed. Rif could hear him shuffling about on the floor, standing up in front of him. He took two large steps, and was in Rif's view.

Not a smart move for him. Now Rif could see him, and by the looks of it, the man couldn't see Rif.

Silently, with much practice, Rif stepped back and to his left in pure silence. He reached into his pocket, looking for the other glove. He wouldn't bother finding the gun. It had been dropped onto the floor when he had pulled out his usual weapon.

"Where are you?! Come here so I can beat the shit out of you!"

"Funny…" Rif hissed, pushing his sunglasses up further onto his face. "That's my line."

He was behind the large man now, and took no time in grabbing his hair and yanking his head back. His bladed glove went to the mans throat, his mouth peeled up into a cruel grin.

"Say night, my friend… I'll send your mother home your head in a crate, if you'd like. Something special to remember her piggish son by."

Authors Note: My now chapterly preaching: Go read anything and everything by Riene Strife. Hes a wonderful writer and author of a few fan fictions that take place before this one. Why are you still reading this for?! Go read his works. Jeez.