Chapter 5: Guns vs. Blades

Amy and Serena were lying down under the watchful eye of one of the crooks. Even though he wore a black mask, Amy knew that he had plans for her, just by the way he was acting. Soon enough, he grabbed her by the shoulder and picked her up. "Come on you, we need to talk." Serena started to get up, but Amy shook her head. "I'll be fine, don't worry." Serena's started to cry as the man led her friend into a back room.

No sooner had the man reached out to unzip Amy's coat did she grab his fingers, twist them, and hear the sickening crack as they broke. The man howled in pain as he pulled his hand away and struck her with his other hand, knocking her to the floor. As Amy lay there, she heard the man crack his fingers back into place, then felt her skirt get yanked off. She panicked, desperate to defend herself, but as she felt his hands grab hold of her underwear, she lost it and broke down, sobbing. Then the man released his grip on her underwear, grabbed his gun, and stood up, pointing at the doorway. "Who are you?" he asked.

Koaru didn't answer, he just threw two knives at the man, striking him in the shoulder and crotch. The man dropped the gun, howling in pain again, then collapsed as Greg smashed a folding chair over his head. Koaru bent down and retrieved Amy's skirt, which he then handed to her as she continued to sob on the ground, still terrified. She took it, got to her feet, and with shaky hands, put it back on. Koaru had gone to the door to check if anyone was coming from the sounds of the struggle while Greg reassured Amy that she was safe. "Shit." Koaru ran back over to the pair, sweating a bit. "Two more are coming, and these guys are packing automatics." Greg started to panic again, and Amy took a deep breath and started to think. "Shit, man, what do we do?" Greg asked. Koaru shrugged his shoulders, then grabbed three knives. "Wait, I have a plan." Greg and Koaru turned to look at Amy, who was wearing a nervous look. "It's risky, but it may work." Koaru and Greg thought a moment. "Lets hear it."

The two men entered the back room, wondering why their buddy had made it sound like he had had a knife slammed into his dick (). They walked through the room, then heard the girl's crying and moaning. "No, please, (sob) stop it!" The two looked at each other, grinning. The walked to the very back where they saw the girl sitting on a box, blushing like crazy. On the ground next to her was their buddy, unconscious. "What the!" they both shouted as they leveled their guns, then screamed in pain as two knives found their way into their hands, causing them to drop the weapons.

Koaru leapt over the box he was hiding behind and tackled one of the thugs while Amy ran behind a small pile of tables. Greg had found an iron pole, and he was now wielding it like a sword, attacking the other crook, who was backing away. "Who the hell are you guys?" the one asked as Koaru snapped out two switch blades. "Your worst nightmare." He replied as he rushed, faked stabbing him, spun around, and connected a kick to the man's upper chest, sending flying into the wall, where with a loud crack, his head smashed into the wall and he collapsed.

Greg continued to swing his pole like a sword, not knowing how he knew how to fight so well, when his opponent tripped over a small box and smacked his head on the wall. "Well…I guess that works to." Greg said as he tossed the pole aside. Amy picked up the discarded weapons; two M16 machine guns, two pocket knives, and a DD47 automatic pistol. "Niiiiice." Koaru said as he reclaimed his knives and picked up an M16. Amy took the pistol, and Greg took the remaining M16. Greg looked over at Amy, smiling sheepishly. "To think this started out as a date." Amy giggled, and Koaru left the room, rolling his eyes.

"Where the hell are those three?" asked one of the remaining eight crooks as they walked through the group of hostages. "Last I saw of Lawk, he was going into the back room with a cutie." "That lucky little…" the two continued their watch as they cursed about the friend's…luck, not knowing that they were about get some of it.

Koaru managed to neutralize the two thugs without a shot being fired, and he was dragging their unconscious figures into the back room as Amy and Greg walked out. "Been busy?" Greg asked as Koaru passed them. Koaru just glared at him and continued into the room. Greg counted on his hand, "So, in all we have taken out five, which leaves six." Amy noted that the emergency exit was not being guarded. "We should started getting people out of here." She said, slowly starting her way toward some people laying on the ground. Greg remained where he was, watching Amy work her way over to the people with anxiety. Koaru came up beside him, watching as well. "We actually only have three more to worry about." Greg's eyes widened as he thought Koaru meant that he had taken out more. Koaru sighed, "Why do you think they came here? To scare people and try out the virtual reality simulators? This place has made over $12, 364, 049 since it opened this morning." Greg's jaw dropped. "How? I know that the food costs money, but everything else is free." Koaru looked at him, feeling irritated. "The government pays this place $50 for each person to enter for the first week, that way they can have people promote it through word of mouth." Greg thought a moment, "So, three guys are grabbing the cash, and only three are left guarding these people?" Koaru nodded, "Now, lets get these people out of here."

Amy and Greg were herding the hostages to the back door, but no one had left yet, since Koaru had pointed out that opening the door would set off a fire alarm. They therefore waited till Koaru had taken out the last three crooks.

Koaru was trying to drag the body behind a large TV screen in front of an exhibit, but he was too slow. Another crook rounded the corner, remained shocked for a moment, then leveled his gun. Koaru threw two knives, striking the man's hands, and he dropped the gun, yelling in agony. Koaru rushed the man as fast as he could, leapt up, kicking him in the head, and knocking him off the balcony. "Shit." Koaru said as he ran to the railing, looking down at the man's body on the ground. Fatalities were not supposed to happen, and Koaru hoped that the thug had survived the fall. The thunder of automatic fire snapped Koaru back into action, ducking down and locating the source of the bullets. The last man was on the other side of the second floor, peppering the walls around Koaru with bullets. He waited till he heard the clip drop, then he raised his own rifle, took aim, and shot three well aimed rounds, nailing the thug in both shoulders and ripping a hole in his rifle, rendering him unarmed.

Greg and Amy both waited in the silence following the weapons fire, then felt their hearts jump as more weapons fire thundered in the center of the building. "That is more then one rifle…" Greg slowly stated. Then they heard Koaru. "RUN! EVERYONE, GET OUT! NOW!" The people charged the back exit, bursting out, the fire alarm ringing shrilly and the buildings sprinkler system activating. Greg grabbed Amy's hand and started to pull her towards the exit. "Amy, lets go! Come on!" Amy pulled free of his grip, taking several steps back. She shook her head slowly, "No, we can't leave him…I won't leave him." She then ran to the source of the rifles fire. Greg stood there, people around him running out in a panic.

"Damn!" Koaru shouted as the two men on the third floor continued to pin him down with synchronized shooting, never letting the rain of hot lead end. Koaru waited, then heard an off beat shot, and one of the men shout, then yell as he fell off the third floor balcony. Koaru risked a look; Amy had shot one of the men, and now she was running as a trail of bullets chased her. Koaru leveled his M16 and shot three rounds, like the last guy, and took down the last crook. "Amy! I owe you one!" he shouted as he got to his feet. Amy came around the corner, smiling. Then her face was etched in fear. Koaru whipped around, raising his rifle just a little to slow. Three shots rang out, and he was knocked off the balcony. "Aw SHIIIIIIIIIIT!" he yelled as he fell to the ground, managing to turn in mid air and roughly land on his hands and knees. "Koaru!" Amy shouted as she ran to him, and Koaru looked up at the second floor, the last crook aiming at her as she ran. Koaru got to his feet, ran at Amy, leapt forwards, and landed on her as the shots rang out through the building. But Koaru didn't feel the bullets hit him. He lay on Amy for a moment longer, then slowly he and Amy looked over at the exit. Greg's M16 barrel was smoking, and he continued to aim at the second floor, where they heard the man collapse. Koaru sighed, then got off Amy, sat up, then passed out.