Reliving the Nightmare
By Kuro Kin'youbi
Chapter 13
Torn went back into Tess' room after getting her some water. She was sitting there, obviously worried.
"What's the matter?" Torn asked, rushing to her side immediately.
"Harmony hasn't made any contact in an hour and a half." Tess said, fighting tears of worry. "And Errol hasn't contacted us since he left as well. He always has his communicator on him and he hasn't called."
Torn sat down and handed her the water. "They're gonna be fine. I guess they got… uh, caught up in the moment. We'll see them when you're let out."
Tess nodded. "But when am I being let out?"
Torn thought about what the doctor said. "It should be tomorrow morning."
Tess leaned back and closed her eyes. Torn took out his guns and checked the bullets in them. For no apparent reason, of course, and also sharpened his knife.
"Are you going to sleep?" Torn asked.
Tess looked at him, and seemed a little startled by the knife. "No, I was just thinking."
Torn nodded. "Want to rot your liver sharing a drink?"
Tess grinned; the old Torn was back. "Sure!"
The night passed quickly – mainly because of the liver rotting. They were giggling and having fun well into the night, even if Tess wasn't supposed to be drinking alcohol after being hospitalized.
Torn woke up the first out of the two. Somehow he had ended up curled up by Tess that night. He rolled over in attempt to get off the bed, but fell right off, forgetting they weren't in the Underground beds but a hospital one, which were usually raised higher than a normal one. Tess sat up at the sound, and looked over the edge. Torn was lying on the floor, holding his head and mumbling quietly.
"You ok?" She asked, giggling.
"That wasn't funny!" He said. "It hurt, a little, so I guess…"
"… You're not dying, so it is funny!" Tess said, giggling more.
Torn smirked and got to his feet. "How are you feeling?"
Tess grabbed one of the many pillows she was propped up against and put her face in it. "Hung over." She replied.
Torn snorted, trying to hide a laugh. "Never in my years of a KG or not, I have never heard of a patient getting more intoxicated than the friend."
Tess laughed. "Can I go now?" She moaned.
And, almost on cue, a doctor came in and discharged her. "You can go now."
She smirked at Torn. "Talk about the right timing."
Torn nodded, and helped her out of the bed. "Did you bring anything? – Wait, stupid question. So, are you ready to go?"
"Yep!" Tess laughed. "I need water. Is my water still here or was the only thing we drank last night wine?"
Torn looked around the room, and at the several bottles of wine and champagne that were strewn around. "Nah, just alcohol. We'll get you something on the way."
Tess smirked, and walked with Torn out of the Hospital. They walked along by the water, Tess telling Torn about what it felt like to be shot.
"I've never actually been shot." Torn said. "It sounds painful."
Tess smirked and crossed the bridge. "You better believe it!"
As soon as they entered the slums, Torn felt his spine stiffen. There was a whole angry, deserted feel in the air around them.
"D-do you feel that?" Tess muttered, coming up behind Torn and grabbing onto his arm.
"Yeah." Torn said. "What happened here? If feels deserted…"
"… And is deserted." Tess moaned.
Torn looked around. She was right. The only people there – if you could call them people – were the KG, looking more brutal than ever.
"What's going on?" Torn wondered aloud. "Did the Baron evacuate the Slums?"
"We would have found out." Tess said. "Let's get to the Underground."
Torn nodded, and he stepped forward. Tess followed him as he slowly began to walk at his normal speed. They got to the Underground within 5 minutes of getting to the Slums. Torn went to open the door, but it was locked. He banged on it.
"What's the matter?" Tess said, walking up behind Torn, to see him barreling his fists against the door.
"Damn door's locked." Torn growled.
"Who's there?"
Torn turned back to the door. That voice sounded so much like Jinx's voice, he was almost sure it was.
"Is that you, Jinx?" Torn asked.
"… Yeah, it's me. Whaddya want?"
"Am I allowed in? Are Errol and Harmony in there?"
Torn waited for the silence to end. Tess was leaning against a wall, filing her nails. She had never been a person for waiting. He figured Jinx was checking, so he waited longer. Finally, he could hear Jinx's voice again.
"… … They're here."
Tess walked over to the door and said: "Now, can we come in?"
"Hey, Tessy baby! Long time no see! How've ya been?"
"Don't call me that!" Tess moaned. "I was shot by Ashelin."
"You were, huh? She's been shooting down a lotta people."
"She has? I thought so." Tess said. "Now, let us in!"
"Yeah, yeah."
Torn heard the sound of the door being opened, and also a muffled sound that he couldn't identify. The door had begun to open and then stopped. But Torn could open it the rest of the way. The first thing they were greeted with was Jinx's body on the floor, crumpled by the door. Faint remains of smoke rising from a bullet wound in the back of his neck, just between the shoulder blades. Tess yelped and jumped back, bumping into Torn.
"Whoever is down there…" She whispered. "…Killed Jinx."
Torn looked down at the body and wrinkled his face up. "Ashelin must be here." He whispered, pulling out a gun.
"So where is Harmony and Errol?" Tess said, tears prickling in her eyes.
"I don't know." Torn admitted, and headed down the stairs.
He peered around the corner and saw Ashelin, glaring in the direction of the steps. She hadn't seen him yet, but she had a massive gun aimed there. He stepped back and turned around.
"Ashelin has the biggest gun I've ever seen aimed at us for when we step out there." He said.
"But what about…"
"… No sign of Errol or Harmony. But the Underground is in a shambles."
Tess frowned. "Jinx said they were here."
"I know." Torn said. "I'll go and talk to Ashelin."
Torn looked around the corner. Ashelin hadn't moved, but he stepped out a little too far and her eyes focused on his. A smile crept up onto her face.
"Come on out, Torn. This gun is only for shows."
"You killed Jinx." Torn said angrily, stepping out.
Ashelin put the gun down and moved away from the desk. Torn walked up to her and opened his mouth to talk.
"They're not the only ones." She whispered.
Ashelin pulled on his top, dragging Torn right up against her.
"What the-?"
"Look." Ashelin said. "Over my shoulder."
Torn could see from the corner of his eyes the smirk on her face as he peered over her shoulder, and saw 2 bodies. Harmony and Errol lay there, shot in places all over their body. Harmony with a head wound.
"Why, you…"
Ashelin brought her hand back, curled it into a fist and punched Torn square in the stomach. He fell back in surprise.
"What is your problem?" Torn yelled. "Why did you kill them, they didn't do anything to you!"
"I can't tell you why I killed them." Ashelin hissed. "I don't have a good enough excuse for blowing their brains out!"
"As I see." Torn groaned, getting to his feet.
Ashelin glared at him, and Torn moved back until he was against the wall. He pulled out his knife and looked at it, then at Ashelin.
"Oh, I was just wondering how good this would look sticking out of your head." Torn replied when Ashelin asked him what he was planning on doing with it.
"You wouldn't dare." Ashelin said. "Not while I have this gun to blow a hole right through you."
"You did a good enough job on Jinx, I would imagine." Torn growled.
"Torn!"
The two turned towards the stairs. Tess came out of her hiding spot, with Torns spare gun.
'I was wondering where that got to…' He thought as Tess aimed it at Ashelin and fired.
Ashelin ducked. "Tess, really. I shot you once already, do you want me to kill you?"
"You killed Harmony and Errol!" Tess yelled. "And Jinx and probably many others! You don't deserve to live!"
Ashelin growled and reached for her gun.
"Ashelin, don't!" Torn yelled as she fired it at Tess.
"Ashelin, your aim is a little off." Tess said, moving out of the way and aiming her gun. "Don't shoot me because the minute you do, I fire back."
Torn looked at Ashelin, who was loading her gun, then at Tess, who was standing in the middle of the room, vulnerable to any shots or anything. Ashelin cocked the gun and looked at the two.
"Now, which one of you two should I finish off first?" She wondered aloud.
Torn stood forward. Ashelin moved the gun to him. "How about… you don't shoot us." He said. "You've killed way too many innocent people already!"
Ashelin growled. "I'll kill you first, Torn. I suppose you deserve to die when you broke my heart."
Torn narrowed his eyes. Ashelin fired the gun at him.
Well, what do you think? Personally, I think it's OTT. Please tell me! I know what I'm doing next on it anyway!
