Chapter 4
"Gloria! Come quick! It's Monica!" Andrew shouted as loudly as his human lungs would allow. He knelt next to his friend and cradled her upper body in his arms. It only took mere seconds before Andrew felt hot tears find his jade-green eyes. "Monica? Monica please tell me you're all right. Say something. Anything." He begged in a choked voice as he held her bruised and bleeding body. Her forehead, one side of her face and neck were all gashed and bleeding heavily. Her arms were also covered in scratches and bruises as well as the rest of her beaten body.
But to Andrew's utter relief, Monica stirred in his arms and her honey-brown eyes slid open ever so slightly. "Andrew." She moaned in a voice so quiet it was barely above a whisper. Andrew took a deep breath as an entirely new set of tears spilled down his hansom features. "Oh, Monica. Yes, I'm here now. You're safe." He gently brushed a stray strand of her ginger hair away from her beautiful face and bent and kissed her forehead lovingly.
Just then, Gloria's young, innocent voice called through the darkness of the alleyway and moments later she appeared next to them. But when her dark eyes fell upon her fallen supervisor, she covered her mouth with one hand just to keep from screaming. She then dropped to her knees as well and stared down at her friend in disbelief. But, noting the expression on her charge's delicate features, Monica was quick to assure her of her safety. "I'm alright Gloria, really." She whispered earnestly, although her eyes betrayed her. They were glazed over with fear and pain.
Andrew choked back yet more tears as he held Monica as tightly as he dared, for fear of harming her further. "Oh Monica, we thought we'd lost you." He whispered in a dreadfully frightened tone as he stroked her amber hair tenderly. "Can you stand?" He ventured somewhat hopefully, clearly just wanting to get her as far away from this place as he possibly could…and fast. But Monica's body tensed momentarily as she attempted to work any muscles she felt she could. But after a moment, her body relaxed again and she groaned in agony. "I don't…I don't think so." She told him honestly, as she was quite sure she could barely move.
But this didn't seem to be a problem for Andrew. "Do you want me to carry you?" He offered softly, knowing that was probably what she needed, but Monica only shook her head, thinking perhaps she was wrong. "No, it's alright. I'll try." She replied, again, in a voice barely audible. With that, she forced her legs underneath her, ignoring any further pain, which began to shoot through her entire body. Andrew grasped her as tightly as he dared by the shoulders and helped her to her feet, though, as soon as he let go and allowed her to support her own weight, she cried out in pain and nearly fell again. But he was quick to catch her by the arm and hold her stable.
"You okay?" He confirmed, a little timidly as he held her up. She nodded reassuringly and he released her one more time. This time she managed to stay on her feet on her own. Andrew sighed in relief. "Okay, let's get you out of here." He suggested confidently as he draped a protective arm around her shoulders, but it was then that evil voice called out again from the smoky darkness. "I can't let you do that."