Chapter 9
Through the Fire
Ayane and Christie trudged through the thick darkness; with all that could be heard being their faint footsteps and the scuttle of mice and things unseen on the floor. The path seemed to stretch on for miles, until Christie finally pulled out a lighter. Illuminated in orange light, the path seemed much less daunting than before. They arrived at a small intersection and began to ponder their course.
"Which way is the right way?" Ayane asked.
"Well, if I knew we would've been going in that direction don't you think?"
"No, I find it hard to believe your I.Q. is above anything crawling on this floor," she stepped on something furry.
"Look….what you say truly stings me…it really does…but we need to split up."
Ayane looked down the morose looking path, skeptical of what was down its treacherous ways. She gulped a little, "Alright, I'll take the left side you take the right." Christie agreed with a curt nod. The white haired assassin sprinted down the hall with a pilfered pistol in hand. Ayane crept, remaining quiet. She strained her eyes to see ahead but could only see blackness. The hall remained silent, as in one of those horror movies where a creature leaps forth from the leery darkness. Footsteps echoed down its narrow passageways and she immediately clung to the wall. The dynamics grew and even voices bounced back and forth from the walls. Ayane's body tensed. She dug her hands into her sash, searching for her kunai. Closing her eyes, she searched for the guards. From their footsteps, she could tell there were at least five. Quickly, she drew two kunai in hand and tossed them. A satisfying whistle ensued and before the guards could scream, the blades lodged themselves in lethal points she didn't dare think of... Bodies collapsed and she hurried to reach the next three. Ayane played to the hallway's narrow passage. All three guards had already begun their pandemonium, shouting for backup and reinforcements. She had to muffle them quickly. Just then she could hear five pistol shots ring true down further.
Dammit Christie! So much for the silence. Ayane rushed through, a small dagger in hand. The first guard didn't put up any sort of fight. With one slash he was down, in a pathetic heap he fell. The second guard at least tried a little harder, punching and kicking like a maniac. It was nearly impossible to tell where he was coming from, but from the scuffling sounds of his feet she could tell instantly. At one point, he kicked down low. That would be a costly mistake.
She instantly jammed her sole down on his toes. He screamed like a banshee. To end his suffering, she delivered an awesome blow to his head with her toes, sending him into his friend. The third guard, who had just been the victim of his unconscious buddy, retaliated quickly. Delivering a swift and clean blow to her jaw with his fist, he made bright lights shoot like streamers in her mind. Ayane jumped backward, very much dazed, dodging his onslaught. Unfortunately for Ayane in the excursion between her and the guard, she had lost her dagger in the darkness. The guard jumped on top of her, pushing her elbows into her side. Pain shot up her abdomen. Ayane writhed in pain beneath his weight, until her fingertips felt something cold.
My dagger!
The assailant was in vain trying to punch her. They were so close that his heartbeat felt as if it were hers. Ayane struggled to grip the blade, turning this way and that just to get a good handle. When she did, she clenched it tight and kneed the man in his crouch. Thrusting upward, the blade connected with his flesh and the man moaned. Feeling his weight give way, she pushed him off to the side.
Ugh…the bastard could've at least had the decency to wash!
Ayane washed the man's less than appealing scent from her mind, and stood. Although the metal door was doing a fine job of keeping the flames at bay, Ayane could hear the wicked cackle of the embers coming closer. Ayane sped through the halls. Finally, the darkness faded. Dim, but very pleasing, green light washed a large room filled with pipes and machinery in its rays. The room was embellished in candles and Japanese lanterns dangling from the ceiling. She laughed. Ayane was no fool. She, herself had used this ploy several times. While her prey's senses dulled and became less acute, she would lunge in for the kill.
I'm not going to be Chris'bitch tonight.
With that said, Ayane made preparations for the final encounter.