Chapter 9-

Amelia kicked through rubble. She was back in Russia and she absolutely detested the fact. But she kept her cool. Amelia wasn't one to flaunt her emotions, but Russia got to her, the cold and all it's waste. Estonia, got to her.

Leon followed close behind. The area was run down with BOWs and the BSAA fought them off along with the mercenaries hired to off the American soldiers. Caught in between this hellfire was none other than our two protagonists.

Leon wasn't worried about the two of them. He had had enough training and years out on the field. Amelia had also received training, she was more than capable, but nonetheless Leon kept a close watch on Amelia, stealing glances at her here and there. He kept his words of concern to himself. He knew Amelia didn't like to be coddled. Feeling suffocated Amelia was capable of doing just about anything to revoke this. Leon had learned this through the years so he kept quiet. However, the fact that she had broken her leg not long ago did stay at the forefront of his thoughts as he saw her jump from various heights. Upon landing, well she landed with grace, no one would have noticed she suffered, but he knew better. She was rosy with the excercise. A light sweat covered her features and her bangs hid a slight grimace that formed whenever she landed. A quick flinch and then she'd regain her composure. Leon was no fool. He could tell this was becoming quite a feat for her. They needed to reach safety, soon.

A clatter sounded before them. Amelia quickly took out her gun and Leon steadied his, aimed at the source of the noise. They found themselves in the back alleys of some forsaken town. It was almost night now. Both of them struggled to make anything out.

Footsteps and Amelia let the trigger go. Bam bam. The gunshots were dry and purposeful towards the left. A fist came towards Amelia before Leon could get in Amelia dodged and shot another bullet towards the source. "WHOA!" shouted the source.

Leon quickly changed his aim to the shadow that stood proudly in the shadows. He walked towards Amelia on the other side, on her knees. The fist had missed her but her leg gave in at that moment and she was crouched. It was now apparent that the broken leg was far from fully healed.

The tall shadow extended a hand. "I'm not your enemy." Amelia scoffed. She stood up without his help and feigned composure. The tall man eyed her curiously, but Amelia looked straight at Leon, completely ignoring the stranger.

"Let's keep moving." Amelia ordered. Leon didn't move for a second, then putting away his gun nodded his head.

"Look I'm sorry I also thought you were one of those monsters! Besides, I'm not the one that shot bullets! Those could of killed me."

Amelia turned to the man who spoke with a glare that could kill. "It doesn't matter now. Does it?" she seethed. She turned to walk.

"That's it?"

Amelia was burning with anger. "What more do I need to say to a mercenary like you? You people disgust me."

"Observant," he smirked. His eyes sparkled with interest.

Amelia turned around and waited for Leon who walked over to her side. When he reached her side she took a step forward before Leon grabbed her arm. When Amelia turned to ask him what was the hold up Leon spoke up, "It's been a while. I'm surprised you're still in these parts."

"I could say the same thing for you two." The man crossed his arms. "Your friend is still feisty as ever, but I'm surprised she's already up and running." As the clouds dispersed in the night Leon noticed the man's jacket was torn on one side. A bullet had grazed him.

Amelia sighed at the chit chat. She had sincerely hoped Leon would just walk past him and they'd be on their way, but here he went running his mouth.

"This is Jake Muller, right?"

"Yeah," said man replied.

"He helped us 2 months ago when we were here..."

Amelia eyed him and with a nonchalant gesture greeted him before turning away. She didn't hide her desire to get a move on.

"What was your name again? Did it start with a-?"

"Amelia." she cut in. "Now we really need to get a move on, so sorry but we must be on our way." She turned to Leon and said no more before walking away.

At this point she was fuming. She was exhausted. Her leg ached beyond relief and she just wanted to find a place to call it a night. Honestly, she didn't care if at this point she went solo and she was far enough to get lost when a tank was heard rolling in nearby. Very close.

Leon tched. "Amelia, damn it-" He ran after her leaving Jake behind.

"Damn it!" Amelia cursed underneath her breath. She hid behind to large trash bins. She took out her gun, but when she checked her ammunition it only had two bullets left. Just her luck, she thought.

Calls were heard and gunshots began to sound off a house or so away. Amelia peeked slightly ahead of her when a hand tugged her back harshly by a pull of her jacket. "Hey!"

"Are you crazy!? Stay still!" It was Jake.

"Don't tell me what to do!" she snapped, but didn't add anymore. She was just words now and he probably knew it. She was in a bind. She needed help. She was about to ask where Leon was when footsteps approached.

Hideous creatures with three eyes glinting in the moonlight stared at them and were about to shoot if it wasn't for Jake's quicker reflexes. "Come on!" He tugged Amelia up by her clothes. Amelia scoffed at his indiscretion but she followed close behind.

It seemed that those two monsters were the only enemies and that the rest were engaged elsewhere so they maneuvered in and out of housework, structures of what once had worked as real homes.

Amelia was breaking a sweat. She no longer felt the pain on her leg with the adrenaline seeping in her but her body was worked up trying to keep up with her. A large missile exposed the two fleeing and a tank rolled in on them when Jake pulled her arm and both ran out of a window structure. They kept up the pace until they reached a large cliff. "DAmn!" they both uttered, but the tank was reeling in. "Jump," Jake ordered staring straight at Amelia.

"No are you nuts!? We'll freeze to death!" Below the cliff stood a lake. It seemed that all the fighting had reverted it back to water at least for the time being. It'd break their fall, but the temperature that'd greet them would perhaps be enough to kill them. But there was no time to think and consider any other options the tank reeled in and when the missile flew out of it it was Jake's hand that grabbed Amelia and flung them both below.

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