Chapter Eighteen
AN: Yo, been getting a lot of bot spam reviews and will be moderating guest comments because of it. If it's a legit review, positive or negative, it will be passed. Just trying to stop the spam ;)
The wounds had finally healed and Matthew started to move again. He spotted some soldiers running into the midway and followed them.
"There are a few civilians in there hiding." One of the marksmen that was further up the hill said. "They're in the back."
Blackbird picked up his pace to get there quicker. He carefully slipped into the dark arcade. Canada picked up where most of the troops were by scent. The soldiers were already spread out and searching through the arcade. He kept low and stalked up behind one of the men and quickly snapped his neck before moving on.
"Blackbird! Ukaku, change rounds and open fire!" A soldier yelled rounding the corner and spotting him. Canada jumped behind one of the arcade machines as bullets hit the floor where he had been. He rushed around the side were the man was and hopped onto his back stabbing him with his kagune before jumping off.
Matthew landed on top of one of the machines in a crouch before standing and doing a quick sweep of the building. He spotted a few soldiers heading up the stairs.
"Are there any civilians upstairs?" Canada asked quickly also seeing some men getting closer to the back.
"There's no one up there." The other commander confirmed. Blackbird jumped across the machines until he reached the men that were getting closer to the back of the building. They saw him coming and shot at him, but Canada jumped out of the way before shooting crystals at the men. He managed to hit most of them with the first burst, but missed a couple.
Blackbird dived behind an arcade machine as the men shot at him. He grunted feeling a bullet go through his leg. He waited until they stopped shooting before rushing at them firing more shards. The last few men dropped to the ground, crystals embedded in their chests.
Matthew turned around to see men coming back down the stairs and ducked for cover. They had the high ground and he was pinned down. He heard a loud laugh and peaked around the corner to see Shayne and Zola jumping the men.
"Rinkaku!" One of the men yelled right before Zola stabbed through him with her kagune. The pair started to work on the remaining men as Canada moved towards them to help. It was a bit awkward fighting on the stairs, but the trio managed to take the rest out with no injuries to them.
"I'll check on the people." Matthew said once all the troops were dead. He was still trying to protect the other ghoul's identities as much as possible. "Thanks for the help."
"We'll move up the hill more. There is still a jeep up that way." Zola said as the pair went back up the stairs. Canada let is kagune disappear as he walked slowly towards the back of the arcade.
Blackbird pulled his mask down and his eyes changed back to normal. He saw a few scared eyes peeking out to look at him. He knew that no one else here was a ghoul; some were probably American tourists. A little girl ran out from her cover and without hesitation, gave him a hug. The nation was surprised, but knelt down and hugged her back. She smiled and giggled. Matthew smiled back.
A lady, who Canada assumed was her mother, ran out. She stopped in her tracks seeing the blond. "Jesse, get back here." She said fear in her eyes. "He's dangerous. He'll eat you!"
"No he's nice!" Jesse argued crossing her arms and stomping her foot. "He got rid of the bad guys."
The mom looked like she was going to argue, but she kept quiet. Instead she motioned for her daughter to come back. Jesse waved at Matthew and went back over to the lady. Blackbird stood up from where he was kneeling. He felt more eyes on him.
"Is everyone alright?" Matthew asked meeting a few of the eyes that were staring at him.
"Umm, yes? We're all okay." Jesse's mother said quietly.
"Good, don't move from back here." Canada said. "We'll keep tabs and make sure no more soldiers get into here. We'll try to get you out of here as soon and as safely as possible."
"Okay." The woman nodded and took Jesse's hand. Matthew pulled up his mask and turned to leave. "Thanks."
Canada smiled a little to himself as he left. He looked up and down the street. There was an empty jeep at the top and the one he attacked earlier was still burning.
"Checking in. How's everyone?" Canada asked smelling the wind trying to pick up where the others were.
"We're good." Blair replied quickly. "Up by Ripley's theater thing."
"Also okay." Amity sighed. "Just sniffing out the last few in the brewery."
"All good still." Zola and Shayne said in sync. Zola continued, "we're by the sky wheel."
"Good." Matthew sighed in relief. "Gil? What's going on?"
"Not much right now." Prussia sighed. "Jour snipers have most of them pinned down by the booths."
"Are they're more coming over?" Blackbird asked still scanning the street.
"There vill be. Looks like three or four more jeeps and a truck." Gilbert said. "It doesn't look like they have any more vehicles after that."
"They didn't bring much with them." Zyler commented.
"The trucks are moving now!" Prussia said hurriedly. "They're moving fast."
"Go for the gunner and gas tank." Matthew commanded. "Don't waste bullets on the drivers."
"Yes sir!" The marksmen chirped. Canada looked down the street anticipating a truck or two to make it past the boarder. He heard an explosion in the distance and knew his men must have hit a gas tank.
"One made it by, coming around the corner." Prussia announced. Matthew walked out into the centre of the street seeing the jeep. "The gunner is vounded, but not dead."
"See them." Blackbird said as the jeep sped right at him. The gunner started to fire at him, but he didn't move. He knew that there weren't Q rounds for that big of a gun. Matthew released his kagune and still stood still. He waited until the jeep was a meter in front of him before jumping into the air. He sent a burst of shards at the gunner, landing on the roof.
The Canadian jumped back into the air and shot another burst of crystals at the back, angled towards the gas tank. He landed gracefully on the ground and covered himself with his kagune as the jeep exploded.
