Heya People, once again I was hit by writer's block, but I've finally got another chapter up for you to enjoy! Especially sine I ended on a cliffhanger, hope this was worth the wait!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Caught in the Crossfire
Hugh was stunned as he looked at the Raven and Doberman before him!
Rex was growling and baring his sharp teeth and Diablo held up his talons, and in the flashlight, Hugh could see the blood dripping off the sharp talons.
"Fuck me..." he muttered, breathing heavily and trying hard to remain calm, there he was face to face with two mutants and he knew how strong they could be, if they were anything like the Mutopians, he had to be careful.
"Don't move!" he said in a firm voice as he kept his flashlight up as well as a finger on the trigger of his gun.
Diablo glowered.
"How did you find us Hugh?" he asked "Why do you hound us?"
"Diablo." Hugh said "Why are you doing this? This is madness!"
"Madness?" Diablo hissed "How is it madness?"
"You're committing a crime!" Hugh answered.
Diablo scoffed.
"Oh really?" he asked "Committing a crime? By punishing those who deserve it? By making those who made others suffer pay for their unforgivable sins?"
Rex growled in agreement.
"Where were you when I was let down by the system?" he demanded "I served my country! I sacrificed a lot! My right arm! Almost my life! And I was made homeless! Is that the thanks I get for what I did for your precious country?"
Hugh swallowed hard.
"Marcus..." he said
"It's Rex! Cop!" Rex snarled "I'm Rex!"
Hugh nodded.
"Alright, Alright!" he said "Rex! I nevered voted for those insane politicians! I understand that what happened to you was unfair! But it's not my fault!"
Diablo stepped towards Hugh.
"Get lost Hugh!" he said "This is nothing to do with you!"
"Wrong Raven!" Hugh snapped "This is my busniness! I have to do my job! Belive me! I didn't want to protect that arsehole! But I have to do my job!"
"Your job huh?" Diablo laughed scornfully "Following orders? Yet you cover for that dumb Dragon? And his stupid friends? Let them play superheroes then you clean up the mess? You support their cause? Yet not mine?"
"It's not like that Diablo!" Hugh said "Listen! I understand why you want to do this, but don't you see you're putting yourself at risk? And you're putting Mutopia in danger? Not to mention risking the humans seeing you?"
"Oh here we go!" Diablo hissed "You and your preaching! Along with my sister and brother! I choose my path! And if they can't stop me, neither can you!"
"So do yourself a favour cop!" Rex added "Get out of here, now!"
Hugh glared and didn't lower his gun.
"No..." he said.
Rex raised an eyebrow.
"No?" he asked.
Hugh shook his head.
"I promised Tyroth!" he said "I will not let you get away! You betrayed Mutopia, Diablo! And I won't let you get away! You will answer for your crimes! Not just to those I care about! But also how you let your brother and sister down!"
Diablo glared.
"I knew it!" he hissed "Then know this! I have no intention of going quietly!"
He cawed and Rex leapt towards Hugh before he could move and grabbed his arm before disarming him and tackling him to the ground!
Hugh cried out in alarm and felt the wind get knocked out of him as Rex threw him down then pinned him to the ground before growling at him.
"You might have had training at a police academy!" the Doberman hissed "But I've taken down worse! Being a war veteran!"
Diablo smirked and knelt down to Hugh before producing a sharp talon that still had Dale's blood on it.
"Thank you Rex." he said "Now cop, you gonna listen to me? Or are we gonna have trouble?"
Hugh glared at Diablo, yet he felt slightly scared.
"Tyroth, where are you?" he asked under his breath.
Meanwhile, Tyroth as soon as he got Hugh's message, he had left Mutopia and had flown to where Hugh requested him to meet.
As he flew over the city, Tyroth looked at his Shell Cell, showing he was only a few feet away from where Hugh's position was.
He also felt a slight shiver run through him, especially when Hugh mentioned that Diablo was there.
"I got you Raven!" he growled "If you're still there, you won't get away this time!"
Part of him was tempted to bring in the rest of the Knights, yet he decided to keep it quiet until he knew he had Diablo securely in his possession, especially since he didn't want to get everyone's hopes up, or either cause a riot if he was unsuccessful.
"Hang in there Hugh." the Dragon muttered as he flew closer to the apartments "I'll be there soon!"
Back in the apartment, Hugh looked up at the Raven and Doberman as they towered over him, Rex held him down and Hugh could feel just how strong he was.
"Know this cop!" Diablo growled placing his taloned finger close to his face "I want you to keep your nose out of my business! And tell your Dragon friend to do the same!"
Hugh shook his face defiant.
"No Raven!" he said "What you're doing is wrong!"
"Wrong?" Diablo asked, that hoarse caw erupting from his mouth "How is it wrong!?"
"You claim to be a police officer? A Man of Justice, and you say this is wrong?" Rex asked as he pressed his weight more on Hugh.
"Wait! Wait!" Hugh choked in pain, "Look I understand why! I wish I didn't have to follow the rules! I'm a man of justice! Just like the Mutopians!"
"And what makes us so different?" Diablo growled "I am a man, or rather a mutant of justice!"
Rex nodded in agreement.
"I promsed to serve my country in the army! And I will continue now, as a mutant! I might have been let down, but no-one else will suffer the cruelty of the world!"
"Couldn't have spoken it better Soldier!" Diablo smirked at Rex who looked rather pleased with himself.
Hugh struggled under Rex's weight and he hoped Tyroth was close, and he soon saw what looked like a large shadow fly past the window.
"Tyroth!" he thought relieved.
Yet Diablo saw the glint in the Police Officer's eye and he looked at Rex.
"He's called for back-up!" he said.
Rex looked worried.
"How do you...?" yet he didn't finish his sentence as the kitchen window was smashed and Tyroth flew through!
"Tyroth!" Diablo cried in fright, and as Rex was distracted, Hugh shoved him off and quickly crawled away.
"Diablo!" Tyroth roared.
Rex barked in dear and leapt to the side close to Diablo to protect him, at the same time, the Raven grabbed Hugh's collar and grabbed the officer's gun before holding it to his head and pulling back the flintlock!
"Freeze Dragon!" Diablo shouted.
Tyroth turned to the Raven yet he froze as he saw that Diablo was holding Hugh hostage!
"Make one more move, and I'll blast this officer's brains out!" Diablo screamed.
Tyroth's eyes widened, not just with fear but disgust too, especially as Diablo was pulling what one would call a cowardly act, by threatening a friend of his with death.
He was desperate to use his fire powers or any magic he possessed on the Raven, yet he knew that was risky as he could hit Hugh and he wasn't prepared to put his friend's life on the line.
"Let him go Diablo!" he snarled, his red eyes glowing demonically "This has nothing to do with him!"
"He's your little scout Dragon!" Diablo hissed "Poking his nose into my business! Stopping me from fullfilling my purpose! And my Disciples Purpose!"
"Purpose?" Tyroth demanded "This is madness! You're going to cause more harm than good! You've already put our home at risk because of your selfish and cowardly reasons!"
Rex growled and bared his teeth at Tyroth's words.
"Selfish?" he asked "Look whose talking! You hide under the city and play superhero! Do what the police should be doing!"
Tyroth glared.
"Oh you have no idea Doberman!" he said "I don't know what that traitor has told you, but we are no cowards!"
Raven glared harder and pressed the barrel of the gun against Hugh's head and the officer winced both in pain and fear.
Tyroth saw Hugh's face and he swallowed hard, he really didn't want to plead or beg for the police officer's life, but there was no other option.
"Diablo." the Dragon said softly yet through gritted teeth "Please, let Hugh go! Let him go, and I'll leave! I won't follow you!"
Diablo narrowed his eyes.
"Begging are we?" he asked "I like it!"
Tyroth swallowed again and bit back an insult, just hearing Diablo speak was like a knife in his chest yet he tried to keep his cool.
"Just let him go okay?" he said "Let him go and we'll leave you in peace!"
"He's lying!" Rex hissed "Once you let go of Hugh, he'll burn us to cinders!"
"NO!" Tyroth shouted yet he took a deep breath trying to stay in control "No...I won't...I promised your sister I wouldn't hurt you!"
Diablo scoffed.
"Typical sweet Monalisa." he said "She still cares hmm?"
"She does!" Tyroth growled, his blood boiling "She still loves you, despite all you've done! So does Jake!"
"Oh fucking spare me!" Diablo spat.
"Just let him go Goddammit!" Tyroth roared, flames erupting from his mouth as his patience was wearing thin.
"Never!" Diablo shouted, then lifting the gun he fired it at Tyroth making the Dragon duck in shock then the Raven turned to the shattered window.
"Now!" he shouted and they raced to the window, dragging Hugh with them!
Tyroth recovered yet as he looked up he saw Diablo leapt out of the window with Hugh in tow and Rex following close behind!
"NO!" Tyroth shouted as he raced to the window to see Diablo flying with Hugh above the city and Rex leaping across the buildings.
The Dragon gritted his teeth and also leapt out of the window to chase Diablo.
Diablo looked behind him as he saw Tyroth start to chase him.
"Damn!" he growled as he flapped his wings harder to reach a higher altitude.
Meanwhile Hugh tried to struggle out of Diablo's grip yet each time he did he felt Diablo's talons dig into his shoulders.
"Let me down!" he shouted "Let me down Raven!"
He squirmed and swung about, hoping that if he made it awkward for Diablo to carry him, he might force the Raven to let go.
Yet Diablo kept a tight hold of him and Hugh winced as he felt the talons pierce his skin then he felt something warm, wet and sticky run down his shoulder.
"Ahhh fuck!" Hugh gasped as he saw that he was bleeding due to Diablo's talons.
Trying to ignore the pain, he felt around in his belt to find something to make Diablo let go, he couldn't use his gun as Diablo had stolen it, but there had to be something else!
It was then the police officer found what he could use!
He soon felt his taser and he quickly switched it on to full power before jabbing it into Diablo's leg!
As the Taser hit him, the Raven gave a loud caw of pain and he was forced to let go of Hugh!
Yet as he let go, he lost his concentration and he began to drop!
As Rex and Tyroth saw what happened, both were shocked!
"Diablo!" Rex cried in horror as he ran across the buildings to get to the Raven, meanwhile Tyroth swooped down towards the falling Police Officer and Raven!
Seeing them both fall, he wondered if he could grab both! Save Hugh and capture Diablo, but he soon realised, as they were plummeting to the ground, he could only save one before they hit the ground!
Not even stopping to think twice, Tyroth dived towards Hugh and caught him in his arms!
"Got you!" he cried and the police officer yelped before wrapping his arms around the Dragon!
"Thanks mate!" he cried breathlessly to which Tyroth replied "Don't mention it!" before looking towards Diablo who flipped a few times in the air as he plummeted to the ground!
Tyroth quickly placed Hugh on a fire escape and flew towards Diablo hoping to grab him before he recovered! Yet as he got closer, a lorry appeared on the road below and before Diablo could recover, he landed on the bonnet!
"Oh shit!" Tyroth cried in dismay and Rex screamed in shock.
"Oh no!" he cried as he tried to get closer to help the Raven and he soon saw a small car appear around the corner and was heading straight for the lorry!
At the same time, the driver of the lorry almost had a heart attack as the dazed Raven landed on the bonnet and covered his view!
In fact the driver was so horrified that he began to serve violently and he was unaware that the white car was heading in his direction!
To Be Continued...