For prompt 21: "Help them"

Posting this as a birthday gift to myself before I give in to the itch to do a fourth draft


"Help them," Alex said, his voice muffled against Yassen's shirt. The coarse fabric stunk of sweat and gunpowder, and he wished he had the strength to lift his head.

Yassen had slung him over his shoulder like a bony sack of potatoes after Alex stumbled for the third time in as many minutes, and Alex barely had the energy to half-heartedly protest – all of which the assassin ignored, of course. Instead, Alex got the thrilling experience of watching the small bloodstain on Yassen's left combat boot.

They rounded a corner, and Alex tensed in preparation, but this time there were no gunshots, and Yassen didn't slow his stride.

If Alex's mental map was correct, they were nearing the exit. It was now or never. Alex squirmed in protest, yet Yassen only tightened his grip in warning.

"Please, Yas –." Alex trailed off as the world spun. His head pounded from hanging upside down, and the slight rocking motion with each step made his stomach somersault.

Alex swallowed and squeezed his eyes shut. "Help." It sounded more like a gasp than a word.

Yassen stopped.

Alex barely dared breathe while waiting for the verdict. Yassen had the flash drive; the obvious choice would be to get out as fast as possible.

Fulfil the objective, retreat, shoot everyone in your way, and get paid handsomely for your troubles. Ignore any irrelevant details – like five children stuck in a building about to blow up. This seemed to be Yassen's preferred procedure. Lugging Alex along had been a stretch already.

This didn't prevent Alex from hoping Yassen would suddenly grow a consciousness.

"You're hard to keep alive, little Alex," Yassen said before turning around.

Alex sighed in relief – apparently, miracles still existed in the world – and promptly passed out.


Themes: vague references to injury and violence

This wasn't my original idea for the prompt. If I finish writing the other version, I'll post it as a part of this series - but not before I've finished the other entries in this one.