AN: Yes I am alive, its summer and I've been busy. I had thoughts of getting rid of the story, but dont worry I wont. I've just been fighting with my creative side. This is a very short chapter, but the next one should be more eventful. Enjoy. PS I am still looking for a beta reader. If you interested, RR and say you're interested.
Disclaimer: Not the one that owns Trigun.
A strong musty smell filled the open room, waking Meryl up for her deepened sleep. The room was almost completely dark with the exception of a small stream of light beaming from under the door. The newly awakened woman groaned, lifting her head and attempting to move her arms and legs. She gasped looking down seeing both her bottom and top limbs were tightly bonded together in chains. Meryl struggled to get loose, searching for a weak spot in the chains. After a very brief struggle, she stopped at the sound of footsteps outside the door. Meryl whined staring at the door closely in curiosity and fear. The old wooden door slowly slid open as a rather large burly man walked in, carving what smelt like an onion. She winced at the smell of it, feeling her deep blue eyes water from the strong scent.
"You're finally awake I see, it's a start." The man muttered before chucking the onion away into the trash can beside him.
"Where am I?" Meryl asked slurring her words still feeling tired from the chemical. "Don't worry about it. You're fine." He replied lighting a cigarette sitting in a chair in front of her, "I like your pajamas, they really make you look daring." He noted kicking her oversized night shirt slightly. The young woman ignored his gestures trying to remember what happened. She closed her eyes tightly, flashing the events of last night through her head. She immediately looked up at the man, "You! You're the man from last night!" she yelled out leaning forward having a quick jerk back from the chains holding her arms together behind the chair.
The figure slowly clapped his hands together before removing the cigarette from his mouth blowing smoke in her face, "Aw, it's so sweet that you remembered. The name is Jack" he chuckled before placing the cigarette back in his mouth. Meryl coughed at the smoke before she shifted her shoulders in the chair looking down at the chains wrapped around her legs above her knees. "Why did you kidnap me? I don't have any money!" Meryl snapped keeping her eyes on what little she saw of him. Jack sighed after taking another inhalation on his cigarette standing up walking circles around the petite girl. "You know Vash the Stampede, do you not?" he asked making his second round around the chair.
"So? What if I do?" she huffed turning her head away from him, "I'm not going to tell you anything, even if it costs my life." Jack responded looking at her from behind. "You don't have to worry about doing anything. It's Vash who would have to work." He smirked standing up and picking up the chair and throwing it over Meryl, missing her by an inch. Jack turned his back to Meryl, "You're so clueless . . . hopefully, lover boy will show up tomorrow, or else it's your life Miss Meryl." After a last puff, he flicked the cigarette from his fingers, stepping on it. He walked to the door opening it as he walked out before slowly closing it back making a small cackling noise gradually getting stronger before it finally faded away when he finally left.
Meryl had her head bowed to the ground listening to the sound of liquid hitting the floor, filled the small room.
"Vash . . . I'm so sorry. I know I haven't been the sweetest person in the world but please . . . help me." She sobbed softly, "Because . . . I love you . . . " with that, she broke down into a soft sob before she drifted to sleep.
"No!" Vash yelped, sitting up in his bed, his face drenched in cold sweat. His eyes shifted across the room to the Kuroneko clock hanging on the wall. 4:50 a.m.. It was still early, he began to debate to himself whether to sleep in or get up and keep moving. He plopped back down, focusing on the ceiling and reminiscing the nightmare he just had. The dream had consisted of the day that he had reunited with Knives. The town of July, but something about it was different. Meryl was there. A man that Knives had hired held her at gunpoint. Her voice screaming to him desperately for help with a heavy stream of tears falling down her face. Vash saw himself stand there with his gun lifted at the deranged man. His face was scrunched, with his blood red eyes piercing though his very being. Vash pulled back the hammer of his gun, and his hand was shaking violently with his finger firmly on the trigger.
"I don't want to shoot you! Let her go now!" he sputtered out at the man.
"Vash! Please! Vash I don't want to die!" Meryl had screamed sitting on her knees.
The man laughed pulling the hammer back on the colt. The outlaw closed his tear-filled eyes, after hearing a bang and a thud to the ground.
Vash's eyes shot open focusing back on the topside of the cabin, feeling warm tears run down his pale cheeks. His feeling for Meryl had gotten strong these past months. He was oblivious to them, 'til now. He remembered last night, when he had told her that he would never let anything happen to her. The clear reaction she had given him as he held her in his arms gave him doubts about her feeling toward him. Vash would never let anything happen to her, and he would gladly protect her life, even giving his own.
The clock now read 5:00am as the suns light began peaking though his bedroom window. Vash finally drugs himself out of bed scratching his limped and matted hair. He began to slowly get dressed into his red trench coat and loaded his gun. The outlaw shuffled into the bathroom, and spent a few minutes getting his hair up. After that he grabbed his bag, slipped on his sunglasses and walked out the door. The light from the early sun had lit the front room debating whether or not the girls were awake. Vash slowly tiptoed down the hallway until he heard a splat on the floor. Stopping in his tracks, he lifted his foot as his eyes widened at the site of blood trailing from Meryl's bedroom. Quickly, without hesitation, Vash swung the door open to the room.
It was a complete massacre. A huge puddle of blood had formed right in front of the door. A lamp that had once sat proudly on the table where Meryl typed her reports was on the floor in pieces. Some of the curtains by the window were torn and stained. On the floor sat a derringer soaked in blood, which had been shot off.
Vash stared in horror at the complete destruction of the room.
"Wha. What happened??!" he asked himself still scanning the totaled bedroom. He took a step in walking over the blood with his heartbeat quickened its pace watching disturbing images in his head. He checked the bathroom and the closet to see if Meryl or her body was in there. Nothing. Vash frantically continued his search 'til, a bloodstained note caught his eye. He shifted over at the dresser to the envelope reading, 'Vash the Stampede' in pure blood. His hand shook as he reached for the settled letter on the dresser. His eyes narrowed grasping the note, and tearing open the wrapper. Vash slowly unfolded the letter and began to read the writing that was written very carefully in cursive:
Hello there. My name is Jack. It's nice to finally meet you, Vash the Stampede. Well, actually through this letter I suppose. I've been watching for a long time now Mr. Stampede. About six months now I believe it has been. During those seconds, minutes, hours, and days I've been having trouble finding your weakness, until now of course. I want you to know; unless you come to the place I have specified for our long awaited meeting, I will destroy her. She's a pretty girl, I would hate for me to give her an early death because of your reckless behavior which put me though Hell. More pain than writing this letter has brought me as you can see is inscribed in my own heart fluid. I will see you in the town of, Vondreek. Great wishes, Jack
Vash gripped the letter hard; his eyes grew wide as a flashback of Monov the Gale killing everyone in sight in the town that night . . . the day he met Legato.
"No . . . " He grunted while crumpling the note in his hands and dropping it to the ground. "If this is what you wish . . . so be it." The blond man walked toward the door stepping in the puddle of blood closing the door behind him quietly. He pushed his sunglasses up and grabbed his bag heading out to the living room. He looked around the corner narrowing his eyes to see if Milly was awake. It was still a little dark because of the curtains that had been drawn back last night. Vash leaned his back against the wall, craning his neck around the wall spotting Milly, snoring on the couch with a magazine over her face. It was a clear path for him to walk out without waking her. He had no time to explain it to her nor did he know how at the moment oblivious of how much time he had before it's too late. Vash snuck his way to the door turning the knob slowly, walking out closing it softly behind him letting out a sigh of relief.
The town was very active that morning, it was early on a work day as housewives shopped for their families as the children roamed and played freely through the streets. This town was one of the few that breathed in the air of peace and tranquility. Vash adjusted the bag on his back, and walked to a merchant's stand that had been selling Thomas'.
"Excuse me sir, can you spare a minute?" He asked cheerfully looking around at the row of Thomas' in an old wooden like stable pecking at the hay. The rather skinny, droopy man turned to Vash with an annoyed look, he had a really ragged mustache and a patch over his right eye. The grungy man spat to the side looking back over to the Thomas' continuing to throw hay at their claws "Yea, what do you want? This best be about a sale"
"I was wondering if you could tell me what's the quickest way to Vondreek, it's an emergency and I need to get there right away." The gunman asked looking over the man's shoulder in an attempt to get his attention. The grungy man turned around spitting into the rusty pot once again. "Grrr, I may be a money loving man but I don't lie, the quickest way is by sandsteemer but it won't be here in three days. I recommend the bus, over there." The man pointed toward the blue bus that was ready to pull off. Vash looked over to the bus hearing the bus driver yell out the last call for passengers
"Thank you sir, and I really appreciate it!" He turned from the elder man, running toward the bus waving his hands in the air, "Hey wait mister! I need to get on the bus! Heeeeyyy!"
The bus driver looked out the door at Vash running at the bus. "Hurry up! We have to get to Little Jersey and I'm not going to be late!"
The outlaw stopped in front of the bus catching his breath looking back up, "Hey do you think you could drop me off at Vondreek?" The man looked at him with a confusing looked, "Look there's nothing there but waste land. It was destroyed by Vash the Stampede months ago. What's the point of me stopping and wasting my time at a place where there's nothing but corpses?" Vash suddenly got a serious face remembering his first encounter with Monev the Gale and the mass count of lives that he had taken. He looked up at the man once again handing him $$600. "Sorry but I really need to get there and this is the fastest way. I'll give you 600 more when you get me there, deal?"
The baffled driver removed his cap smoothing his hand over his baled head, "Ahh, ok, but only because I need the money. Hop on." Vash laughed shaking the man's hand quickly, "Thank you sir! I promise I won't cause too much trouble." As Vash took his seat, the bus took off toward the desert. It was rarely populated due to money problems and very little interest in travel.
About two hours passed, as the suns began to slowly set at the dry, dusty horizon. Vash had been asleep before waking up to a big bump in the road. It was amazing how he could, after worrying about Meryl constantly. He knew that one of these days this would happen but he didn't think it would be this easy. He began questioning himself and how the man had found out his location and about Meryl. The outlaw sighed slouching in his seat staring out the window. "Don't worry Meryl . . . I'm coming." He whispered before drifting off back to sleep.
RR please. I know it was boring but I needed to set the stage.
Disclaimer: Not the one that owns Trigun.
A strong musty smell filled the open room, waking Meryl up for her deepened sleep. The room was almost completely dark with the exception of a small stream of light beaming from under the door. The newly awakened woman groaned, lifting her head and attempting to move her arms and legs. She gasped looking down seeing both her bottom and top limbs were tightly bonded together in chains. Meryl struggled to get loose, searching for a weak spot in the chains. After a very brief struggle, she stopped at the sound of footsteps outside the door. Meryl whined staring at the door closely in curiosity and fear. The old wooden door slowly slid open as a rather large burly man walked in, carving what smelt like an onion. She winced at the smell of it, feeling her deep blue eyes water from the strong scent.
"You're finally awake I see, it's a start." The man muttered before chucking the onion away into the trash can beside him.
"Where am I?" Meryl asked slurring her words still feeling tired from the chemical. "Don't worry about it. You're fine." He replied lighting a cigarette sitting in a chair in front of her, "I like your pajamas, they really make you look daring." He noted kicking her oversized night shirt slightly. The young woman ignored his gestures trying to remember what happened. She closed her eyes tightly, flashing the events of last night through her head. She immediately looked up at the man, "You! You're the man from last night!" she yelled out leaning forward having a quick jerk back from the chains holding her arms together behind the chair.
The figure slowly clapped his hands together before removing the cigarette from his mouth blowing smoke in her face, "Aw, it's so sweet that you remembered. The name is Jack" he chuckled before placing the cigarette back in his mouth. Meryl coughed at the smoke before she shifted her shoulders in the chair looking down at the chains wrapped around her legs above her knees. "Why did you kidnap me? I don't have any money!" Meryl snapped keeping her eyes on what little she saw of him. Jack sighed after taking another inhalation on his cigarette standing up walking circles around the petite girl. "You know Vash the Stampede, do you not?" he asked making his second round around the chair.
"So? What if I do?" she huffed turning her head away from him, "I'm not going to tell you anything, even if it costs my life." Jack responded looking at her from behind. "You don't have to worry about doing anything. It's Vash who would have to work." He smirked standing up and picking up the chair and throwing it over Meryl, missing her by an inch. Jack turned his back to Meryl, "You're so clueless . . . hopefully, lover boy will show up tomorrow, or else it's your life Miss Meryl." After a last puff, he flicked the cigarette from his fingers, stepping on it. He walked to the door opening it as he walked out before slowly closing it back making a small cackling noise gradually getting stronger before it finally faded away when he finally left.
Meryl had her head bowed to the ground listening to the sound of liquid hitting the floor, filled the small room.
"Vash . . . I'm so sorry. I know I haven't been the sweetest person in the world but please . . . help me." She sobbed softly, "Because . . . I love you . . . " with that, she broke down into a soft sob before she drifted to sleep.
"No!" Vash yelped, sitting up in his bed, his face drenched in cold sweat. His eyes shifted across the room to the Kuroneko clock hanging on the wall. 4:50 a.m.. It was still early, he began to debate to himself whether to sleep in or get up and keep moving. He plopped back down, focusing on the ceiling and reminiscing the nightmare he just had. The dream had consisted of the day that he had reunited with Knives. The town of July, but something about it was different. Meryl was there. A man that Knives had hired held her at gunpoint. Her voice screaming to him desperately for help with a heavy stream of tears falling down her face. Vash saw himself stand there with his gun lifted at the deranged man. His face was scrunched, with his blood red eyes piercing though his very being. Vash pulled back the hammer of his gun, and his hand was shaking violently with his finger firmly on the trigger.
"I don't want to shoot you! Let her go now!" he sputtered out at the man.
"Vash! Please! Vash I don't want to die!" Meryl had screamed sitting on her knees.
The man laughed pulling the hammer back on the colt. The outlaw closed his tear-filled eyes, after hearing a bang and a thud to the ground.
Vash's eyes shot open focusing back on the topside of the cabin, feeling warm tears run down his pale cheeks. His feeling for Meryl had gotten strong these past months. He was oblivious to them, 'til now. He remembered last night, when he had told her that he would never let anything happen to her. The clear reaction she had given him as he held her in his arms gave him doubts about her feeling toward him. Vash would never let anything happen to her, and he would gladly protect her life, even giving his own.
The clock now read 5:00am as the suns light began peaking though his bedroom window. Vash finally drugs himself out of bed scratching his limped and matted hair. He began to slowly get dressed into his red trench coat and loaded his gun. The outlaw shuffled into the bathroom, and spent a few minutes getting his hair up. After that he grabbed his bag, slipped on his sunglasses and walked out the door. The light from the early sun had lit the front room debating whether or not the girls were awake. Vash slowly tiptoed down the hallway until he heard a splat on the floor. Stopping in his tracks, he lifted his foot as his eyes widened at the site of blood trailing from Meryl's bedroom. Quickly, without hesitation, Vash swung the door open to the room.
It was a complete massacre. A huge puddle of blood had formed right in front of the door. A lamp that had once sat proudly on the table where Meryl typed her reports was on the floor in pieces. Some of the curtains by the window were torn and stained. On the floor sat a derringer soaked in blood, which had been shot off.
Vash stared in horror at the complete destruction of the room.
"Wha. What happened??!" he asked himself still scanning the totaled bedroom. He took a step in walking over the blood with his heartbeat quickened its pace watching disturbing images in his head. He checked the bathroom and the closet to see if Meryl or her body was in there. Nothing. Vash frantically continued his search 'til, a bloodstained note caught his eye. He shifted over at the dresser to the envelope reading, 'Vash the Stampede' in pure blood. His hand shook as he reached for the settled letter on the dresser. His eyes narrowed grasping the note, and tearing open the wrapper. Vash slowly unfolded the letter and began to read the writing that was written very carefully in cursive:
Hello there. My name is Jack. It's nice to finally meet you, Vash the Stampede. Well, actually through this letter I suppose. I've been watching for a long time now Mr. Stampede. About six months now I believe it has been. During those seconds, minutes, hours, and days I've been having trouble finding your weakness, until now of course. I want you to know; unless you come to the place I have specified for our long awaited meeting, I will destroy her. She's a pretty girl, I would hate for me to give her an early death because of your reckless behavior which put me though Hell. More pain than writing this letter has brought me as you can see is inscribed in my own heart fluid. I will see you in the town of, Vondreek. Great wishes, Jack
Vash gripped the letter hard; his eyes grew wide as a flashback of Monov the Gale killing everyone in sight in the town that night . . . the day he met Legato.
"No . . . " He grunted while crumpling the note in his hands and dropping it to the ground. "If this is what you wish . . . so be it." The blond man walked toward the door stepping in the puddle of blood closing the door behind him quietly. He pushed his sunglasses up and grabbed his bag heading out to the living room. He looked around the corner narrowing his eyes to see if Milly was awake. It was still a little dark because of the curtains that had been drawn back last night. Vash leaned his back against the wall, craning his neck around the wall spotting Milly, snoring on the couch with a magazine over her face. It was a clear path for him to walk out without waking her. He had no time to explain it to her nor did he know how at the moment oblivious of how much time he had before it's too late. Vash snuck his way to the door turning the knob slowly, walking out closing it softly behind him letting out a sigh of relief.
The town was very active that morning, it was early on a work day as housewives shopped for their families as the children roamed and played freely through the streets. This town was one of the few that breathed in the air of peace and tranquility. Vash adjusted the bag on his back, and walked to a merchant's stand that had been selling Thomas'.
"Excuse me sir, can you spare a minute?" He asked cheerfully looking around at the row of Thomas' in an old wooden like stable pecking at the hay. The rather skinny, droopy man turned to Vash with an annoyed look, he had a really ragged mustache and a patch over his right eye. The grungy man spat to the side looking back over to the Thomas' continuing to throw hay at their claws "Yea, what do you want? This best be about a sale"
"I was wondering if you could tell me what's the quickest way to Vondreek, it's an emergency and I need to get there right away." The gunman asked looking over the man's shoulder in an attempt to get his attention. The grungy man turned around spitting into the rusty pot once again. "Grrr, I may be a money loving man but I don't lie, the quickest way is by sandsteemer but it won't be here in three days. I recommend the bus, over there." The man pointed toward the blue bus that was ready to pull off. Vash looked over to the bus hearing the bus driver yell out the last call for passengers
"Thank you sir, and I really appreciate it!" He turned from the elder man, running toward the bus waving his hands in the air, "Hey wait mister! I need to get on the bus! Heeeeyyy!"
The bus driver looked out the door at Vash running at the bus. "Hurry up! We have to get to Little Jersey and I'm not going to be late!"
The outlaw stopped in front of the bus catching his breath looking back up, "Hey do you think you could drop me off at Vondreek?" The man looked at him with a confusing looked, "Look there's nothing there but waste land. It was destroyed by Vash the Stampede months ago. What's the point of me stopping and wasting my time at a place where there's nothing but corpses?" Vash suddenly got a serious face remembering his first encounter with Monev the Gale and the mass count of lives that he had taken. He looked up at the man once again handing him $$600. "Sorry but I really need to get there and this is the fastest way. I'll give you 600 more when you get me there, deal?"
The baffled driver removed his cap smoothing his hand over his baled head, "Ahh, ok, but only because I need the money. Hop on." Vash laughed shaking the man's hand quickly, "Thank you sir! I promise I won't cause too much trouble." As Vash took his seat, the bus took off toward the desert. It was rarely populated due to money problems and very little interest in travel.
About two hours passed, as the suns began to slowly set at the dry, dusty horizon. Vash had been asleep before waking up to a big bump in the road. It was amazing how he could, after worrying about Meryl constantly. He knew that one of these days this would happen but he didn't think it would be this easy. He began questioning himself and how the man had found out his location and about Meryl. The outlaw sighed slouching in his seat staring out the window. "Don't worry Meryl . . . I'm coming." He whispered before drifting off back to sleep.
RR please. I know it was boring but I needed to set the stage.