I am back with chapter two!
Sorry for the long wait but I had other stories that needed
To be updated first so
Sorry again!
Thank you guys so much for the reviews and support,
Important: If you have not read the recently re-done prologue then read it now!
Anyway, Thanks for reading!
Enjoy
.
.
.
.
.
'Deep down we're all enraged-'
.
.
.
.
.
Chapter 2: Please, Enjoy the Show
~QOoOQ~
Natsu glanced wearily at his assigned partner, she had been eerily silent ever since they had gotten in the car, of course it had only be minutes since then but he was in no way used to silence when another person was around him. Lucy had been curt and polite when he first greeted her. He assumed she had just been nervous entering a new Unit. Although she had a certain air of confidence around her that dispersed his assumption. Slowly he halted to a stop when they hit a red light; Natsu guessed it was as good as any time to give a full explanation of the case.
"Gildarts briefed us on the case after you and Mystogan left to get the cars," he started slowly. He only receives a quick glance before continuing. "At approximately 11AM the Zoo received a bomb threat, the perp's voice coming over a P.A system-apparently holding the usual announcer hostage." He took a sharp turn at the intersection, silently remembering the directions to the Zoo.
"Has the identity of the perp been confirmed?"
"No. The witness that called MPD was warned not to phone us so as soon as he finished a brief explanation he hung up." He sighed. "Although there was a loud masculine voice in the background so the possibility of the perp being a male is almost certain." His eyes trained on the road as he gripped the steering wheel.
No response came after his words, the air hanging thickly above them; "did the perp give a time limit for the bomb?" He shook his head in response; the bomber had given no indication of whether or not the bomb would be set off manually or within a certain time limit, Natsu hoped it was not the latter. Whether the bomb was timed or set off whenever the perp wanted had a large influence on their plan, limited time meant they could not make a mistake-given the time being brief-although a manual bomb could be just as dangerous.
His brow scrunched together in concentration, he hated the looming silence around them, to him it was already bad enough they were going after a bomber who has taken over 500 people hostage, the tension was overpowering and the lack of conversation made his nerves heighten. "How come you wanted to become a detective Lucy?" The question was thrown out there on a whim, partially from curiosity and the rest from his desperate need for conversation.
"Ashley."
He glanced at her, "what?" Was that a friend of hers? She turned her head to look at him fully; her brown eyes held no warmth despite the welcoming color he so helplessly found familiar.
"This is work, Dragneel." Lucy reminded harshly, "surnames are to be used rather than first, and please refrain from speaking to me so familiarly." He blinked in surprise. She had been polite to him earlier as was expected from most when meeting someone from work but her tone in this moment seemed much more cool and distant. "Also, we are here to arrest a bomber-not to ask questions about each other." Silence once again followed; the air thick with tension.
Natsu just hoped everything would progress smoothly from then on.
~QOoOQ~
Immediately upon arriving at the scene Natsu and Lucy were given instructions on what they would all be doing courtesy of Erza. Brown eyes danced across the area, a muffled voice reaching her ears-she assumed it to be the man they were trying to arrest although she was unsure of their plan of action. The scarlet haired detective had explained that they would be negotiating with the bomber, while another pair would be sneaking up behind him, although she disagreed.
"I don't think that is the best plan." Erza looked over at her curiously; obviously she had not expected anyone to disagree with her-she was the second in command after Gildarts but he was speaking with the bomb specialist from another Unit. She pointed to the announcer's quarters on the map laid out on the hood of their vehicle, "I doubt that the perp has only one bomb set to detonate, despite the fact that we are unaware of whether they are set off manually or from a time limit, you still want to send us in there to negotiate."
Erza nodded, "yes, while I realize there is much risk I see no other alternative. We cannot put the citizens in any more danger than they already are and if we try to force the bomber out than he may set them off."
"Or they will blow up either way," she pointed out before stating her opinion. "I think we should distract the perp and try to search for any bombs, we need back up-we obviously cannot do this by ourselves with the hostages coming out unscathed."
"Chances are there will be some casualties either way we go," Gray cut in casually before glancing over at Lucy. "Although do you really want to continue a pointless argument when we could have only minutes to save these hostages?" She grimaced and kept her lips tightly sealed, while she knew she was wasting time she couldn't help but notice the uneasy feeling rolling in her stomach.
Erza nodded, "Good. Detective Fullbuster and I will negotiate with the bomber. " She jutted her chin towards Natsu, " Detective Dragneel, you and your partner will infiltrate the announcers building while we distract the perp, meanwhile Detective Clive and Detective Fernandez will check each floor within the building and confirm the hostages safety." With one last intense look at the three of them, the scarlet haired detective strode in through the gates confidently with Gray trailing behind her.
Natsu scratched his cheek, "Still don't understand why she uses our last name…" Lucy rolled her eyes as she checked the ammunition in her gun before shifting her attention to the announcers' position in which they assumed the bomber was still within. "Ready?" She nodded in response and led the way to the back entrance that provided them a blind spot from the bombers suspicious eye.
Lucy caught a glimpse at her new partner shuffling up beside her silently, his back pressed against the wall beside the door. He was being cautious she realized, initially she had taken the salmon haired detective as rebellious, short-tempered, and extremely combative. Although, now she was able to see a little more of his professional side, cautious, determined eyes and tensed muscles ready for any sudden attacks.
She was slightly taken aback.
Natsu sighed, "No one's there."
"How can you possibly know this?"
He tapped his ear, "trained hearing- I could probably hear a squirrel fart in that tree over there if I really wanted too."
She grimaced, "Disgusting and unnecessary information."
Natsu shrugged, "You're the one who asked." She glared at his back but remained silent as she followed him up the stairs, gun at the ready for anyone who posed a threat to theirs, or the hostage's life. Lucy suddenly thought how she wouldn't mind pulling the trigger; she could hear a child crying faintly in the background looking for her mother, any person-man or woman- who could take the life of an innocent child more than deserved death.
She worried her lower lip slightly, how long did they have exactly? The voice of the bomber was resounding around the building, could this man really have done it all alone? Or did he have an accomplice?
"Oh? Why should I listen to a bunch of cops?" He sounded young. Perhaps around the age of twenty-five. Too young to already be starting a life of crime. Her mind race, what would the motive be for a twenty-four year old man-who could still possibly be in university or college- to take over three hundred people hostage. Had he been through Trauma? That was a possibility, most criminals tended to have a dark upbringing.
Her brown eyes turned over toward Natsu, he appeared to be calm and collected-concentration in his eyes but the bead of sweat rolling down his forehead exploited his nervousness. Although, who wouldn't be when both your life and three hundred civilians lives were at the risk of being taken. One slip up and it could be the end.
Natsu seemed to know this.
"That is tempting," she heard the perps voice over the announcement system. "Although you do realize, if I find you are lying then you have put many, many innocent lives at stake, right?" That bastard was trying to provoke them. Mavis she hoped Erza and Gray wouldn't fall for the bait. Too many officers had fallen under pressure in these situations and had gotten others hurt because of it.
"Confident are we?" Lucy could hear fearful sobs in the background; of course they would be scared. Who wouldn't be terrified in a situation like this? Although, she had been in worst and experienced worse-whether Natsu was afraid or not he never gave any sign of it. Another scream. She watched as his face turned into a grimace. His teeth grinding together. Not something anyone wanted to hear when in a situation like this.
Then why did he look so impatient.
Her brown eyes shifted briefly to look at him once again. Why was she even bothering with thoughts of him? She didn't need to worry about anyone around her. She had other priorities and getting close to her new colleagues was not one of them. She only needed herself. She was better off alone anyway. Natsu's pace quickened up the stairs. Hurried, almost frantic pace. What was he doing? The screaming continued.
She readied her gun. Lucy knew what he was planning now-he wanted to see if the girl was alright. The girl sounded young, crying her heart out as she called out for her mother. Over and over again her frantic screams echoed around them, she was closer now. "Mommy!"
Mama.
She grits her teeth. Her face contorted in concentration. Beads of sweat rolling down her face. Natsu's steps stilled. Lucy looked around him and at the door he was staring at, back tense and threatening. What was wrong? Was there a bomb? Was the girl hidden behind it? Her eyes widened, breath hitched, hands clenched. Blood.
Oh Mavis the blood.
Mama.
No! Not now.
"Little girl spinning 'round and 'round~"
A thick coated layer of blood stained the carpeted floor. The crimson substances dripped down the door, a clear hole through it. Shot and killed. Mavis. Her hard eyes turned to the screeching child on the floor. A little girl no more than ten hunched over her dead mother. Her body trembled, her pale hands covered in her mother's blood. Blue hair coated in red. Lucy swallowed thickly. Block the pain. Block the unwanted memories. Mama-stop!
"Oh! Did you hear that?" The little girls sobbing increased. "The agonized scream of a little girl finding her mother dead on the floor. Such a delightful kill too." Lucy grit her teeth. That fucking psycho. She stepped closer to the traumatized girl, she couldn't have been more than ten years old. She knelt down beside her and examined the murdered mother. A gruesome sight indeed but she had seen worse. Lucy looked at the blue haired girl sadly. Be glad you had her for so long kid.
"Luce?" She sighed and placed two fingers on the woman's neck. No pulse. She nodded her head, not looking at Natsu. Turning to the girl she patted her head and brushed the hair out of her moist eyes. Honey brown eyes turned to meet hers, unshed tears clearly shown in them. The little girl's body shook more.
"W-Who ar-re you!?" She placed herself over her mother's bleeding body. Her eyes turned to the gun securely held in Lucy's and Natsu's hands. "W-Why do you have guns!?"
"We're the police." Natsu told her gently, kneeling beside Lucy. "Can you tell us your name?" She glanced at each of their faces, her hands tightly clenched around her mother's hand.
"Wendy."
"Well Wendy I'm Natsu and this is my partner Lucy. We're here to help everyone get out safely." Lucy nodded. Good. She seemed more comfortable around them. Although they couldn't just leave the poor girl here, she needed to be taken away from her mother. "Would you mind coming with us?" The blondes head snapped his way. How could he ask that!? Brining an innocent bystander into a battle zone between cops and criminals. Besides the kid had just lost her mother dammit!
"Dragneel, I don't think-"
"No!" Lucy looked at Wendy. Her short refusal sounded harsh and offended. "I can't just leave her here! My Mommy's hurt! Can't you see that!?" Natsu glanced down at the bleeding mother, his thoughts the same as his partners. She was dead. Wendy looked desperate, eyes unclear and denying the truth they were shown. "You're police right!? Can't you save her!?"
"Wendy, she's already... It's too late-we can't help her." Her head shook rapidly. Her body flinching away from the salmon haired males gentle touch. "It's alright; she's in a nice place now." Natsu told her softly, trying once again to pull the girl into a hug. She shrieked.
"No! She's not dead!" Tears poured down her face. Her back hitting the wall, a safe distance between her and Natsu. "She's alive! Can't you see!? She's suffering!" Her eyes were glued to her mother's deceased form, worry evident in her gaze. The poor child she was refusing to see what was in front of her. "She's not dead! Not dead! Not dead! Not dead! Not! Dead!" Wendy walked back and forth, her words coming out in quick and uneven beats.
They didn't have time for this!
Lucy groaned and smacked her hand against the wall-efficiently grabbing the girls attention. Her rocking didn't stop. "Listen here kid 'cuz I'm only going to say this once! You're mother is dead! She is no longer breathing and you cannot go through life thinking she is alive when she is in fact five feet in the ground!" Harsh, bitter truth. That is what Wendy needed to hear, she didn't need to be gentle told her mother is gone. Seeing it with your eyes made no difference to her and it was making no difference to the girl in front of them.
"Luce, I don't think-"
"Shut it Dragneel, I'm not done." Lucy's eyes turned back to the angered Wendy's. "Now you can either sit here on your ass and pretend everything is alright and your mom is just on an extended vacation in the spirit world or you can take the truth as it is and mourn." Wendy glared at her, not backing away as Lucy got close.
"What do you know!?" She accused angrily. "You've never seen something like this! Your Mommy bleeding in front of you!?" She glared. "How dare you tell me to get over it."
"I have experienced this." Lucy replied calmly. "I have seen and experienced many things that are disgusting but you know what? I had to accept the truth and move on." A sigh escaped her lips, pulling the shaking girl closer. "You can stop denying it now. It won't do you any good." All at once the loud sobs racked through Wendy's body. Her small hands gripping the edge of Lucy's shirt. That's right little girl, accept it and mourn. Move on but never forget. Never forget how happy you were with her.
"Mommy!"
Natsu stiffened behind the blonde. "What is it Dragneel?" He sniffed the air briefly. She quirked a brow, what? Did he have a super sense of smell too? The ground shook and his eyes widened before he pushed them both down to the ground. His body covered both of theirs as an immense amount of heat enveloped them.
"Get down!"
"…You're offer does not interest me." Black dots clouded her vision, the overwhelming heat was clawing at her flesh. The weight of Natsu's body felt shockingly heavy. Was he dead? Surely eh could withstand the heat. She wasn't. It was too hot. "Do you think I can be persuaded by money? Pitiful. My Bombs are just as beautiful as fireworks. Although they are much more fatal." The darkness was approaching so fast. Her eyes drooped. Was that an explosion? Her body went limp. "So sit back and enjoy the display everyone."
"Now she's falling down, down, down~"
.
.
.
.
.
'-don't wake the beast inside its cage.'
.
.
.
.
.
Shattered-Nightmares712: How was it? Sorry it took so long for me to update this again, I've been a bit busy, schools starting up so I have to do things for that! Anyway, were now starting to get into some of the more interesting stuff in this story other than the NaLu of course! I will be updating Tainted next after this but it will take me a bit, I have school and I have to sculpt my dad something before his birthday next week and the clay takes a week to dry. I will stop rambling now! Thanks for reading!
Love it? Hate it? Review!
