Chapter 8. Assassin's Bible; When One Fails to Remain Inconspicuous, It Is Often the Case that One has Less fun than First Anticipated.
The ride was gruelling. There was simply no other way to explain it in Mireille's opinion. The APC was cramped, the thick metal walls constricting in movement. The metal benches were rough and bit her rear was starting to lose all feeling. There were no sounds, everyone apparently lost in their own thoughts. The forced inactivity was killing her.
She tried to occupy herself by fidgeting with her fingers, randomly entertaining herself. She wanted to talk more with Kirika, but with the silence any conversation would soon become the main interest to everyone. And she was certainly not willing to have everyone listening in on their private conversation. The silence was oppressive.
She busied herself by planning the shopping trip she and Kirika would have to go on soon. They needed supplies, and frankly she was sure everyone else would agree. Well, actually she was sure Seras would agree. Kirika was too untutored to understand and men were frankly insensitive to women's needs. Not that their opinion mattered anyway, with or without approval, they were going shopping.
She was going to teach Kirika how to judge fashions and finally that long awaited talk on what to wear and when was going to be had. Kirika had absolutely no fashion sense, often grabbing the first things that came to hand. And those pink shoes…! It would be fun, Mireille had to admit, to be able to dress Kirika up like one of her old dolls, to watch her stand there with a suffering expression on her face. She just looked so cute.
They would have to- A Loud bang, Mireille's head smashed into the side of the metal wall. The world went crazy around her. The ceiling span as she sagged to the floor, her senses screamed at her to run. There were cries she thought. Screams and shouts of fear. A weight fell over her, bearing her to the floor and pinning her between the black coffin and the bench. There was a titanic crash and a lurch as the APC tipped precariously before finally falling over onto it's side. Everyone fell as the floor suddenly became the wall.
Mireille felt something cushion her fall, a soft "Oof!" suggesting that the cushion was less than pleased. Mireille looked up after a few seconds. Everything seemed wrong. She couldn't orientate herself, everything looked different. At the front end of the vehicle the four men were pulling themselves to their feet, nursing bruises and cradling limbs.
"Kirika-" Mireille croaked out, her voice hoarse. There was an answering grunt from below her and Mireille realised who her protector had been. "Kirika! Are you alright. I'm so sorry." The girl shook her head and climbed to her feet, helping Mireille up behind her.
A Loud Pa-twang! Echoed across the roof of the vehicle, Kirika and Mireille instinctively dropped to their knees to make less of a target for themselves.
"Ze Hull's Reinforced!" Pip cried out, struggling to get past the fallen and open crates to reach the door at the back.
"Is that wise?" Mireille called out as he began to force the mangled door open, grunting as he strained to pull it away. There was a tearing, grating sound as the steel door was ripped down, the crash making it weak.
"Nothing else to do. We can't stay here until zey bring up some heavy fire." He jumped out and waited for a bullet but none came. Seemingly satisfied he motioned for them to exit, the men pressed their backs to the vehicle as they searched for their enemies. Mireille hopped out and was soon followed by Kirika, if the sniper couldn't get them here, that must mean he was on a building ahead of them, on the other side of the APC.
"Keep your heads down! Ricardo, kill 'im." Pip instructed the tall willowy man who nodded and loaded his long rifle. An M40, an old sniper rifle, but one that had not lost it's usefulness. Carefully the man tried to edge around the corner of the vehicle.
CRACK! A Bullet struck the pavement nearby, sending up sparks, missing him by an inch as he threw himself back behind their cover.
"No can do sir. He's got us pinned." The man cried out. Mireille looked around wildly, they were in the middle of an empty road. Where were the people, the traffic? If no one was here that meant the Polizei had already cordoned off the area, or were in the process of doing so.
"We need to get out of 'ere!" Pip cried out angrily, poking his head from cover, he pulled it back just as a shot struck the metal next to his nose. "Zis is a covert mission, we cannot be questioned by ze cops!"
Oh great, better and better. Mireille thought to herself mournfully as she sagged to the floor. Her back resting against the metal wall of the APC and her gun sagging between her legs. All her energy had deserted her, she felt weak and useless. She tilted her head back, bringing it to a rest against the metal as she tried to clear her thoughts.
Now that she doubted herself though the will to continue was rapidly leaving her, it was hopeless. Why were they trying, they were pinned down at the mercy of their enemies. Unable to move, unable to run. Just waiting for the grenade or RPG that was sure to come sooner or later. Or for the Polizei to pick them up and arrest them for having illegal arms. It was over. Another shot struck the edge of the metal above them, making them all duck even as the smell of sulphur wafted over them.
Mireille lowered her head, letting her gaze fall between her legs at the floor in font of her. She knew that she had begun to shiver slightly. The fear beginning to show itself. She had started to sweat too. She wanted to run. To jump to her feet and race across the open ground leading to the shelter of the buildings only fifty metres away from them. Fifty metres, her mind told her that was ample killing ground for an experienced sniper. But her body only said run.
They were being attacked by some unknown menace, Mireille was sure she would be fine if only she could see who it was. But this ghost who ha them at his mercy, pinned behind a mangled lump of reinforced steel. With no where to run, no where to hide, and no time to wait. NO... She whispered to herself, feeling her heartbeat increase.
"Mireille?" A small worried voice whispered. Mireille felt her blood freeze. Her heart stopped. No, no, no. She didn't want Kirika to see her like this, so afraid, so cowardly. Frustrated tears stung her eyes even as she refused to look up and meet Kirika's gaze.
Soft, cool fingers cupped her chin and lifted her face up so that the small Asian girl could see it. Kirika's face was smeared with soot and she had a blue bruise above her left eye. Her eyes widened as she took in Mireille's state, her mouth opening slightly. Mireille knew that the tears were running down her cheeks, her silent sobs racking her body.
There was no contempt on Kirika's face, there never was, only a look of concern and fear that Mireille might be breaking.
"It's okay." Kirika whispered softly in Japanese, surprising the blonde by pulling her into a firm embrace and smothering Mireille's head to her breast. Mireille made no sound, not wanting anyone else to know. Instead she simply gripped Kirika's collar and buried her face into the soft fabric of her parka, using it to wipe away the tears and offer sanctuary.
"I am here Mireille, and I'll look after you," The words took some time to reach Mireille's ears, and yet when they did the effect was immediate. Her tears stopped and she nodded against Kirika's chest, the small girl's hands were stroking her hair softly, not unlike how her mother had used to.
"Kirika?" Mireille whispered, pulling her head reluctantly out of the girl's comforting hold. "I'm okay now, Kirika. Thank you." Kirika let her go, though also reluctantly. Her face was still concerned, though it also seemed pleased and determined too.
Mireille thought about saying it. The words were on her tongue, and she wanted Kirika to know how much she thought of her. Reaching out she took the girl's cheek in her hand, feeling the warmth building there.
"Kirika... I..-" Kirika's eye's widened and her face seemed to still against her hand.
"As much as I hate to break ze moment." A sardonic voice interrupted her, "But I think I've found a way out of 'ere." Mireille's hand dropped, her face turning a fiery red from embarrassment, everyone was looking at them she realised. Pip with an amused expression and the others equally interested.
"Shove off asswipe!" A Voice suggested icily, Mireille almost choked when she realised who it was. Kirika! Swearing! She was sure she was gaping at the small Asian girl. But Kirika paid her no attention, seemingly glaring daggers at the French mercenary. Who in turn seemed pleased to have elicited a response from her. Kirika. Swearing. Her mind repeated again, just to make sure the rest of her had understood. Not just talking to people, but swearing at them! And where had she learnt such words? I have to stop swearing. She thought to herself quietly, I'm teaching her bad habits.
"Anyway, Mark's found us a sewer we can escape thru'." Pip added turning and pointing to a manhole cover not three paces from them. How did it take us so long to find that! Mireille had to ask herself, it wasn't a very reassuring thought.
"What about the vampires?" Mireille asked in a businesslike tone as the sniper and the mechanic forced the metal out. Mireille didn't meet Kirika's eyes but focused on the captain instead.
"We'll have to leave zem, zey can't be woken, and zey won't fit down ze sewer. I'm sure zey'll be fine. In fact, if ze police find zem, zey will be declared dead." There were a lot of if's in that Mireille felt like pointing out but restrained herself. If the police found them first. What if their enemies found them first? But he was right, there was nothing they could do for them.
The grate was opened and the cover pulled aside, the men climbed down first and Mireille and Kirika entered last. As Mireille clambered over the rim and placed her feet on the ladder Kirika caught her attention.
"Mireille..."
"What!" Mireille snapped back, louder than she intended to, but she was embarrassed and a little afraid.
"Nothing.. I.. no, nothing." Mireille descended the ladder quickly, missing the hurt look in the Asian girl's eyes.
I'm not overly pleased with this chapter, it seems to me like it's a bit silly and not much happens in it. However it had to be in there for reasons which might or might not be obvious in the future. Please don't just think I'm getting bored and writing rubbish on purpose, because I'm not, I enjoy writing, and I enjoy reading reviews even more-so review! If anyone knows any way to improve it or wants to suggest specific changes feel free to e-mail me. I hope I get the next chapter uploaded with this bunch, else last impressions will probably be rubbish. Forgive me.