Yeesh! When I first thought of this story I didn't think it would be this many chapters or even get this good. I thought it started off pretty weak but now look at it. Also I might not be able to update till another week maybe two, hopefully not but in case I posted this chapter up even though I was originally gonna wait so I could post up two chaps. I wanna leave U guys with something to read, however I know this cliffies gonna make some ppl scream (Like GMB Lol) so if that's the case, maybe you should wait till I update again so the cliffie won't be so bad with two chaps. If you can't wait then read on but don't say I didn't warn you. Also the name Guts is a name I got from an anime called Berserk that I thought went well. I hate that anime cause of the ending so I don't recommend watching it.

Ok ok I'll shut up, ya wanna see the action!

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Chapter 14

Torn felt the frigid air of the night sending goose bumps along his firm and bare arms. He purposely didn't wear his uniform or his jacket so that he wouldn't look threatening. His beige racing tank top blew against his chest as the large warehouse came into view. It was strangely quiet outside of the rusted abandoned building. The walls were covered in graffiti and lights peeked through the few windows laid around it. It was a two-story building and the light shining up dimly indicated a few sunroofs.

His palms were sweaty and he felt the continuing burn through his body from the Dark Eco running through his veins. The air he breathed contracted in and out of his lungs painfully. The juices in his stomach churned violently and he tasted the bitter acid in the back of his dry mouth. His heartbeat throbbed quicker by the minute and every now and then, a sharp stab went across his ribs. His eyes burned with tempting tears and to think that the dosage he had taken wasn't nearly one-fourth the amount that Jak was already used to. He shook his head at the thought of what Jak must've went through down in the Baron's dungeons. It was getting even more painful as time wore on but the pain was something he knew he had to deal with. Right now his priority was saving the governor of Haven City, the woman he'd gladly give his life for and the woman he had already given his heart to.

He walked upon the entrance and the two goons standing by each side cocked their weapons and pointed at his head. He raised his hands up to show he was unarmed and meant no harm. Their bodies relaxed a bit but they still held their weapons to him, snarling and wondering what he wanted.

"I've come to see Cutter. I am unarmed"

One of the goons raised a suspicious brow at him before knocking at the door. It cracked open slightly and a stream of light fell upon Torn's foot. Torn kept his gaze on the entrance. He saw the familiar brown-headed man poke his head out and the goon whispered to him. He turned to Torn and his eyes widened. He stepped out with a long black leather whip in his hand. He closed the door behind him before standing in front of Torn with his arms folded in front of him.

"Whaddaya want? How'd you find this place?"

The spatter of crimson upon Edje's green vest caught Torn's eye. He tried to contain the sudden urge to grab Edje's whip and strangle him with it. His nails dug into his palms as the worry tugged at him. God Ashelin, I hope that's not your blood or I'll…

"I have my sources but never mind that. I came to talk to Cutter. I'd like to make a deal with him"

Edje twirled the end of his whip playfully in his fist as his other hand rubbed his chin in thought. He observed Torn up and down, noticing he was unarmed and not in uniform. He looked around to notice that he was alone. Maybe he had come to join them in exchange for the governor or he's simply giving up. He finally nodded and walked back in without a word.

As the rusted and molded steel door closed, Torn heard Edje calling out to someone. He guessed it must've been Cutter. After a few moments the door cracked open again. This time the guards moved aside and relaxed their weapons. Edje welcomed Torn through the door.

Torn stepped in and right away scanned his surroundings. Open second floor, just like he had guessed, sunroofs, another guess correct. Most warehouses shared the same layout so he was glad he depended on that knowledge to form his plan. It was an Auto Part warehouse alright, the scattered metal pieces and auto shells showed it. It would be easy to find something to use as a weapon if he needed it. He looked up briefly at one of the sunroofs but tried not to dwell his gaze there and make it too obvious.

He tried to maintain his solemn gaze as he received the deadly glares from the eyes of what must've been about 200 men. Double the amount that he had brought with him although Jak counted as more than just one man along with himself and Jinx. Hopefully that would be enough to carry everything out if things took a turn for the worse. They all clenched on their weapons and coldly stared at him, some even smiled sadistically as he walked through the path they laid out for him.

As he headed toward the back of the long warehouse, his eyes met his target. The man leaned on a table calmly with his arms folded and for some reason although his face was covered with that wretched wooden mask, Torn knew he was smiling. He tried not to cringe at the thought of it. As he approached closer he couldn't help but draw his eyes to something else that caused his head to spin unintentionally. His eyes widened unwillingly as he looked upon something that brought his blood to a boil.

There she was, her ruby hair frizzed and loose strands hanging from her head. Her jade eyes had lost life and dark bags hung under them. Her body was covered with drops of sweat and her wrists and ankles were red from the struggle to pull from the steel clasps against the brick wall. Her red lips bit down on a gag placed in between them. What stunned him the most was the thin crimson markings dried and outlined in violet and blue along her once perfect abs and legs. They looked like the work of Edje's whip. Her eyes seemed to be gleaming in tears she wouldn't allow herself to release.

Cutter, you better pray to Mar that I'm not the one who kills you tonight because I'm gonna rip you to shreds! Matter in fact, you'd better pray to me because Mar will be sure to give you an even more gruesome death than I could ever grant!

She was helplessly yanking the clasps and using all her energy to muffle something. She seemed like she was trying to yell something out to him but her sealed lips preventing her words from getting through. He looked at Cutter who had now moved in front of him.

"She's beautiful isn't she, with all the marks on her that match her hair and her fiery personality?"

Torn couldn't help but give Cutter a deadly glare. He fought the ferocious urges in him and he bit on his tongue to ensure it. He refused to comment on Cutter's sarcastic comment because he knew if he did, everything he had planned up till now would be wasted. He had to remain calm, at least for now.

Cutter realized he wasn't planning on responding, "So what is it that you've come here for? If you came here thinking we'd release your governor than you're sadly mistaken"

"I have an offer to make you, yes I have come here in hopes of freeing our governor peacefully but not without offering something that would benefit you"

Cutter seemed interested and motioned for Torn to go on.

"If you release her to me here and now I can reduce your sentence to charges on just assault instead of attempted murder, you can also do your time by completing missions in Haven City. Men like you are well needed. You can escape the punishment that Rayn is well planning upon you if you submit yourself to us instead. If it's money you want, that is something that can also be granted"

Cutter released a loud arrogant laugh. It set off a chain reaction of laughter from the rest of the men in the warehouse. Their laughter echoed off the walls and mocked him.

"You think that it's that easy? You think that it's money we're after? Why settle for being confined by you when I can be done with you and her and not be confined at all?" He pointed at Ashelin still struggling against the wall.

Torn's eyes furrowed as he locked gazes with Cutter. He had a feeling he'd refuse. He wished it was that easy but now it wasn't.

"Then what is it that you want? What can I give that would convince you to release her?"

He scowled at him, "Nothing, there's nothing you could give me. However there is something that you can do instead…"

His words seemed to trail off as he slowly began to pull off his wooden mask. His sly smile was revealed along with the malice in his golden eyes. Torn's jaw dropped and his eyes widened.

Oh shit! Is that…?

Cutter had expected to catch him off guard with his real appearance and as Torn's eyes were distracted to his face, he failed to notice the glowing red dot on his forehead. He gasped and spun his head to follow the long laser flowing from the window. Just as his wide eyes locked with the stranger's through the back window of the upper level, a gunshot echoed outside and was followed by a painful grunt.

It seemed that Jinx had noticed the sniper hanging from outside the second level on the stairs. Jinx shot the sniper in his shoulder but not in time to stop the his finger from pulling the trigger. The gunshot crashed through the glass, cutting through the air toward Torn. Torn threw himself to the floor just in time. The bullet grazed his cheek as he dropped and rolled onto the dusty floor.

"Arggh!" Cutter yelled angrily as he reached for a pistol hidden in the back of his pants. As Torn dropped and rolled to avoid the sniper's shot, Cutter unlocked the safety to his pistol and pulled the trigger. Just as Torn was about to get up he felt it, he felt a stabbing pain shoot through his ribs and out his back. He knew it wasn't the Eco.

He knelt on one knee, his hands clenching the mass amount of warm moisture gushing from his chest. His stunned eyes looked down upon the throbbing pain at his palms that he was now opening. He stood staring, speechless at the blood spilled upon his hands, his blood. He felt his head spinning and his heart beat slowly coming to a halt. He looked up at Cutter's face to see his smile and finally at Ashelin who had now allowed the tears to freely streak down her cheeks. Everything was blurring and getting darker.

Oh Ash, I'm sorry. I wanted- to protect you. I lo- love you so-

He heard a loud roar echo around him but it seemed distant. It sounded like Jak. The last thing he saw before his eyes shut was the ground rushing up to his face and his cheek crashing against it. His fingertips clenched the dust filled concrete as he felt his cold body warm up in the pool of his own blood.

No! I can't die! I can't-

He gasped painfully before his eyelids unwillingly fell and his world had faded black. The life had seemed to finally drain out of him.

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:runs from crowd of angry fans: Wait don't kill me yet! I'll update as soon as I can and I swear, I'll make it all worthwhile and it'll have a good ending!