Chapter 1

The ending

Ascot supported me with his arm while we made a struggling jog away from the fighting, as Nyoko gripped my hand tenderly with her own. Blood was still pumping out of my guts drenching my shirt and trousers in red dye, (Which Id only cleaned yesterday, how annoying) even Ascot was covered in my own blood, and I knew he wouldn't take that lightly.

I was starting to panic like before, my head felt light and my body just went limp which made it hard to stay on my feet as we ran.

I completely forgot about Nicholas and Conor at that time. My mind was far away, flashing back through all my memories, all the chaos and distraction that had befallen over us in the last three years, It was just all too unbearable. "So it's true...Your life does flash before your eyes, just before you die." I grinned, then coughed up which must have been a jugs worth of blood that drooled all down my front and down my legs. The blood was drying quickly to my skin because of the cold air and winds.

Ascot didn't seem to notice, he was to busy trying to get me to safety and avoiding confronting any more Yobs that might be lurking around the next corner. Nyoko's eyes where locked on to me, and a meaningful look passed over her face as I threw up so much (It must be her first time seeing anyone in a near death state like this before.) She produced a handkerchief from her pocket, it was one that I had seen her use many times It was pattered with yellow lemons and red strawberries I could tell it was precious to her by the way she would often fiddle with it before she went to sleep at night, an old family treasure perhaps?. Raising the handkerchief to my face she started to wipe away the blood stains that covered my face, it was drying up so quickly causing yet another irritation due to the rough winds. I tilted my head to try and force a smile but just then we came to a bend and sunlight beamed into my eyes rendering me blind, so I kept my head down till Ascot found a place to rest. "Jesus Christ how much do you weigh Sean?" Ascot said with humor trying to brighten the mood (He was just asking for a punch in the face) but I hardly had the energy to walk let alone jog, reply to his criticism and punch him in the face!.

We came to a halt in the shadow of a tall complex. From the looks of it, it must have been some kind of works office. As usual the building was completely wrecked, inside and out, windows smashed, doors knocked down and floors caved in. the building would have looked like a good place to rest if only there wasn't so much glass everywhere. We stood still for a couple of minutes so that Ascot could catch his breath and look for another spot to lie low, but the whole area had been completely vandalized and didn't look safe at all. Most of the houses had cars and trucks just rammed aimlessly into the backs and fronts of them, We even noticed a few bodies scattered over the forsaken grounds. This was by far one of the worst places I had seen after the disaster had taken place all those years ago, no order had been established at all, would it ever?.

Keeping a sharp eye out for a decent rest stop Ascot was completely lost, there were two streets leading in different direction we saw sign posts but they had been abused and sprayed over, maybe just around the next corner we would find a rest stop?. Maybe, but I felt time slipping me by and so did he and especially Nyoko. She collapse to the ground regaining as much energy as she could before be made another dash but all of a sudden she leaped to her feet pointing her finger at a back entrance that Ascot must have overlooked "Asoko!" She screamed. "Good eye Nyo!" Ascot praised, with the sound of hope in his voice "Come on hurry, grab him under his other arm!" He ordered directly with a shuddering bawl. Ascot was never the kind of guy to let people know when he was panicked or worried, always putting on a brave face and keeping a smile was his way to go, but this time I could tell he was getting very uneasy and looked as if he was going to make himself sick of worry! Which just made me worry even more!. I couldn't feel any pain at that moment I don't know why maybe because of the adrenaline? or shock perhaps? but at that time I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer.

I didn't feel as if I was going to die? But the thought of never opening them again gave me a quick rush of will power to open them up again.

It seemed ever brighter than before, we made our way towards the back entrance that Nyoko pointed out but as we entered we noticed a foul smell. The stench was overwelming and didnt help much with my vomiting problem. Throwing up what felt like all my guts, blood and vomit flew violently down my chest just managing to keep my head in a straight downwards direction so not to cover Ascot and Nyoko. She started to cry and again wiped the blood from my lips, neck and chest. "Hold on Sean we're here OK, don't go dying on me you hear or I'll kick your ass" Ascot transferred my weight onto Oki so he could take of his jacket and jumper to make a soft spot over the rubble in one of the corners of the room, he managed to do all this without letting go of his sword may I add. I tilted my head so I could look Nyoko in the eyes. "This could be the last time I look at you like this again" I said to her in a clear but quiet tone. She hushed me and put her finger to my lips and getting on to tip toes she kissed me softly on the lips as a single tear trickled from her eye and down her check.

The office room didn't look to bad considering the state of the rest of the town, there was no broken glass around but no windows either. The room was dank and dim and desks had been smashed to pieces and the chairs had been ripped apart. Ascot took me from Nyoko and helped me sit up straight against the wall over his jacket. I slouched down trying to get into a conformable position to lye down. "Oh no you don't! I'm not letting you fall asleep, try and stay a wake will ya" Ascot looked me over with a grim look and opened up his backpack. "Its bad Isn't It..." I asked him "Well all I'll say is, you've had better days. Now shut up a second."

"Where is it? I know its in here somewhere, where the fuck Is it?" I had never seen the happy rouge this stressed before, he was shaking more then Nyoko was now. "Found it!" He pulled a long thin piece of cloth out from within his bag then stood to tie it around my chest. I still didn't have any energy or will power to talk only groan as he tighten the cloth around one of my vital wounds. "That should keep the blood from flowing all over me for a while huh Sean?" and gave me a weak smile. He turned to Nyoko who was kneeling not far from my side. "Nyoko come here!"

From what we could establish Oki's surname was Nyoko as we often addressed her as. She was an Asian girl no older than 12 and could only speak very little English and found it very hard to understand our words. She approached me slowly wiping the tears from her eyes and pulling back the dark hair from over her bright blue eyes. Ascot held her wrist as he was kneeling beside me and placed her hands upon my chest wound (I wasn't looking forward to this!) "Be...gentle...with me...Ascot" I said, as I struggled for air with a fake smile.

Within a split second my eyes widened with blood shock and I yelled a silent scream of pain as Nyoko applied strong pressure to my bleeding. A tear rolled down my face but couldn't wipe it away, I was just far to weak to even to that, but she cleared it away for me with her finger tip and and place her other hand on my face which helped me calm myself. He hand was so smooth.

Ascot held the end of this hilt"I wonder if Conor and Nicholas got away safely?" He directed his eyes towards me as he knelt in a corner. "I'm sure there fine I know they can be a bit hasty but they aren't fools, right Sean?" he paused to wait for me to make some sort of a sign. "Shroud you hear me?" but I couldn't move nor could I speak?. "Sean!" Nyoko yelled and let go of me and backed into a corner terrified, I had no idea what was going on or what was wrong with her but I couldn't feel any pain anymore. "Shit!" Ascot darted forward and put this fingers to my neck to test my pulse. A silence overcame the room it must only have been a few seconds but seemed like a life time. "He's dead..."