Chapter 7
Tessa reached under her shirt and pulled out a small map she kept pinned to her undergarments at all times. She unfolded it and scanned over the coordinates with a long finger. Her voice, normally calm, cracked as she spoke.
"B125 is the coordinate of a large grove about a quarter of a mile to our right. It is in the middle of a section marked as being heavily deployed with enemy troops. It is inked with our 'code red' and is marked as highly hostile."
"We are in the middle of a hot zone." Kaname chirruped in her gung-ho go get 'em way. Tessa nodded. Her hand shook slightly as she put away the map.
"What are we gonna do?" She murmured, asking it of a particularly stately tree in front of her.
"You're gonna freeze." A man's voice cut her off.
--
Sousuke and Xiera, 'Phoenix', stealthily crept along. While they were creeping, Xiera explained to Sousuke in a hushed whisper about her employment at Mithril. She was as he was: a pilot specializing in uber-dangerous missions.
They had come upon several enemy soldiers, dead, and two were stripped of their fatigues, a while ago. All tracks and clues told them that they were about ten minutes behind the other two.
"We're close," Xiera spoke, "Real close." Sousuke nodded and they started off again, quicker.
--
Tessa shook of the paralysis that the sudden interruption induced in her. She glanced at Kaname whose eyes were wide, still shocked and unwavering. A tall man with dirt colored hair and grassy green eyes held a pistol at Tessa. Kaname winced. The terrorists always went for Tessa. She mentally slapped herself.
That was good! She would teach them a lesson for forgetting her. Kaname lowered her head and flung herself at the man. He was taken off-guard, as she expected but managed to get a shot off. The bullet penetrated Kaname's left calf.
She let out a strangled cry and tackled the man. He went downa nd Tessa grabbed the pistol shooting the man twice in the head.
--
Sousuke heard the shots of a gun and a female cry. He quickened his pace. It sounded like Kaname!
--
Kaname hit the ground and a small pool of blood spread from the wound.
"Oh!" She cried, obviously in pain. Tessa screeched and ran toward her.
"Kaname!" Her voice caught. Kaname managed a grin. Even the militaristic captain of the Tuatha de Danaan lost her military calmness when a friend was in danger. Kaname gripped Tessa's arm. She was happy to have her as a friend.
Tessa ripped strips from her shirt and quickly bound the wound applying pressure as necessary. Tessa scrunched up her nose.
Voices! She called in her mind. I know you're there! There was an internal rush then screams sounded in her head. She used her friendship and the Whispered connection between her and Kaname to somehow help her. Once she felt that she had helped Kaname, Tessa tried to bring herself out of it. But she couldn't and the voices screamed louder than ever.
--
Xiera glanced at Sousuke when they heard the cry and the screech. They found the girls soon after. Kaname was lying on the ground and Tessa was nearby, surrounded by long arms and small hands grasping at her hair, her flesh. Sousuke took a step forward and as he did, Tessa screamed. Light poured from her and a screaming voice cried, "They are ours now!"
Kaname heard the screaming and she felt the pull and the hands began to grab her too. Then, she felt the presence of a strong Whispered power and the hand retreated. Soon the disappeared.
Tessa opened her eyes. Tears coursed down her cheeks as she clutched at Kaname.
"Kana, they almost took me." She cried. Tessa looked up, tears shining, unfallen in her eyes.
"I can't use my Whispered powers anymore," She sniffled, "Ever."
AFTERWARD: HAHAHA twixy twixy ending eh? Its not the end tho! You will see!!