And here is Chapter 3 and this story is still not done. It should be done next chapter!... but then I say that and it probably won't be. I'm sorry for the long wait on it. Rutilus is underway as well, but I really wanted to get this chapter up and running before I post that chapter.
But more on that later. Proceed with the reading!
His sharp whistling was carried off by the evening breeze as he slid easily into the white cop car and plopped his duffel bag in the dark passenger seat beside him. Flicking on the tracer, he rescanned Fanel's license plate number through the system. It loaded quickly and zeroed in on an address that was about forty minutes from the orphanage in the opposite direction of the Court House. Obviously they'd switched vehicles and ditched the truck. But no matter. He'd request the information on Fanel on the way.
The Court House was close. Dilandau's smile slipped a bit. He needed to inform his superiors about his findings. Permission to proceed. The one thing the silver-haired man hated was stopping his hunt once he began. If the agency ever cancelled his missions… but that had never happened to him before. He shouldn't worry about such a silly thing.
Pulling out his silent phone, he dialed the agency and typed a brief message explaining the target's current location. Pausing for only a half-second, he added what he'd learned about the missing pawns as well as the hidden passageway through the orphanage.
A small ding from his phone told him the agency appreciated the update and he was to continue pursuit. His red eyes crossed over the word 'pursuit' and his smile grew once more. Scrolling further down the small message, it flashed a small coded box. Dilandau casually flipped in his decoder tag and a small sentence appeared underneath the original message.
Alerted targeted Master Nicolas Jackson; Alternative Objective: protect Master 661 at Court House.
Checking the clock, Dilandau exhaled his irritation through his eternal smile. It was nearly midnight. What was that bastard Master doing at the Court House in the middle of the night?
Locking the phone, he turned on the vehicle and began backing out of the dirt road.
If this Master got in the way of his target, Dilandau found that he would still be happy to pull the trigger.
Van's mind reacted instantaneously.
He ducked under the gun and effortlessly slipped inside the stranger's arm range. With a quick hand, he grabbed the wrist that held the gun and twisted it back. The gun let off a wild shot that hit the back dumpster. He drove the handle of his pistol into the man's nose before the stranger could make another move. He felt the cartilage give a satisfying crack. Blood began splurging out the man's face. Despite the disorienting pain he must have felt, the man gave a wild punch. Van's gun whipped out of his hand as the man's bloody fingers connected on the neck of his pistol. It clattered uselessly towards a trash pile in the corner and Van cursed under his breath. Balling up his fist, Van smashed it into the man's forearm with a terrible force. The power snapped the man's wrist, breaking the bone. The weapon slipped out of his unworkable hand and clanked to the concrete floor.
"Grab his gun!" He shouted at Hitomi. She bent down to get it and the man kicked out at her. She reflexively dodged and his shoe hit the weapon sending it rattling several feet down the alleyway. Van blinked in surprise as the bleeding man swung his free arm once again to punch him. The black-haired man ducked immediately and nailed him in the diaphragm. The air escaped painfully from the stranger's lungs. Though he was winded and his bloody nose was making a mess on his pale face, he clumsily stepped forward for another swing. A bell rang in Van's head. Did this man feel no pain? How could he still try to attack? He should be on the floor in agony. Van's mahogany eyes studied the stranger, quickly analyzing. He was shorter and thinner than Van. His punches and kicks were clumsy and weak. The attacker wasn't even looking directly at his punch. He was swinging blindly. His brown eyes were in a daze.
Almost as if…
"Wait, Mr. Fanel! He has a collar! Look!" He heard Hitomi shout out from behind him as he easily raised a tanned hand to counter the attacker's awkward fist. The black-haired man's gaze traveled to the man's neck and he saw the thick leather collar that looked similar to the one the woman at the orphanage had on. Van immediately backed away from the man's reach and felt Hitomi's small hand grasp onto his arm. Her fingers were cold. The 'nap took a step closer, his broken arm swaying at his side.
"Please, don't hurt him! He's like Gadeth and Allen! He can't help what he's doing."
Van and Hitomi backed away together further down the alleyway as the young man continued to shuffle towards them. With their back against the wall, Van knew they'd be at a disadvantage whether the man was a weak fighter or not. The 'nap was weaponless, but he felt no pain and therefore could continue attacking regardless of the damage Van did to his body.
This was tricky if he didn't want to hurt the man more than he already had. Van racked his brain and saw no other solution.
"I'll have to hurt him a bit. Just to subdue him. I can't let him back us into a corner." He gently plucked her hand off his arm and lightly pushed her on the shoulder and closer to the dumpster. He didn't notice the small frown that popped on her face. "Stay out of the way, Ms. Kanzaki. I'm going to knock him unconscious."
Without listening for her approval, Van stepped once more into the man's attacking range and blocked his crooked punch with a strong forearm. The man rose up to kick and Van stopped the leg with another quick punch in the stomach. As the man doubled over trying to recover his lost breath again, Van used this opportunity to slam the man's head into his knee. Hitomi gasped and ran forward. The 'nap fell limp and she grabbed the unconscious man with shaking hands to help guide him gently on the dirty concrete. Some of the blood from the man's nose had splattered on both their clothes.
"I'm sorry." The black-haired man winced as she swallowed thickly and her green eyes studied the man's blank face. "I know that was tough to watch."
"He is a 'nap… Just like Gadeth said. They are using them as bodyguards now… how… how horrible…"
Her narrowed eyes turned slowly to his face and Van read her expression immediately. He shook his head and his dark bangs flicked into his unrelenting eyes.
"You're not coming with me inside. Go wait in the car."
"No," she stood up and stepped over the 'nap's still body to stare rebelliously up at him. Green clashed with mahogany.
"You said you would go."
"That was before we were attacked. That was before I found out there are 'naps in there. There is no way I'm leaving now."
"Ms. Kanzaki, my instincts are telling me that-"
"These are innocent people. I am not leaving."
"I can handle this alone. There might be more then just brainwashed bodyguards. We don't know what to expect."
"Good, you'll need backup then."
"Ms. Kanzaki-"
"Like you said, we don't know what to expect. You'll have someone watching your back."
"Ms. Kanzaki, I-"
"I have a gun now and I know how to fight, Mr. Fanel!" She held up the small repeater pistol the 'nap had dropped and he immediately started shaking his head again. Van rarely lost his temper, but he felt his anger quickly growing. A weird heat ignited in his belly as he tried to stare her down.
All he was doing was trying to protect her! Were all women this complicated?
"Ms. Kanzaki, this is not-"
"Do you need me to beat you up to prove it?"
"It's not that I-"
"You what? Trust me with a weapon? Trust me to take care of myself?"
"Listen! Do you even know how to shoot?"
"Of course, I do!"
"Then why were you so afraid of the gun in the car?"
"I wasn't afraid of it. I just don't like guns period. But I do know how to shoot and I'm going in there with you!"
"It won't be safe-"
"My duty is to the 'naps!"
"And surviving. You are being hunted!"
"So are you! You said it yourself that cop guy is now after you as well since you saved me. But I told you before; I don't need to be saved all the time."
"God, why don't you understand? I have training for this sort of thing!"
"So do I!"
Van snorted with annoyance and ran a hand through his black hair. He tried to calm his mind for rationality. "I can't have you distracting me during a fight!"
"That's a load of crap. I can take care of myself! I've put myself in plenty of dangerous situations before you showed up. Just because you've got some secret skills suddenly you think you are running this show? This has always been my fight, not yours." She raised her chin defiantly. "Who do you think you are? You're just some stranger that was handed a photograph in a bar!"
"If I hadn't been handed that photograph, you'd have been dead hours ago!" The black-haired man's heart picked up an unnatural tempo as he took a step closer towards her. The air around them felt hot and electric. Her breath was brushing hard against his chin. He resisted the urge to grab her shoulders and shake some gratitude into her. "I didn't have to come and save you from that house! I didn't have to follow you to the orphanage. I should have followed my instincts and-"
"And what?" Her green eyes narrowed further. "Left me to die? Let all those poor innocents in the orphanage get slaughtered like animals? But fine, whatever, no skin off your back!"
"I didn't say that! All I meant was-"
"You made a choice and now you are questioning whether you made the right one or not!"
Van was left in frustrated daze. How did she do that!? She just flipped my words around!
"There was never any question about not coming to save you! There was no choice!"
"Oh, yes, there was! You just said it!"
He gritted his teeth and leaned closer to her face. She met his eyes challengingly.
God, what the hell is this woman doing to me!?
He watched her lips form the words, but the blood pulsed so fiercely in his ears, he was having a bit of trouble hearing her. "I need you to stop treating me like some damsel in distress. I'm not weak, so stop telling me to go to the car! Don't push me aside. I can fight!"
"I don't want you to get hurt!"
"Newsflash, buddy, I'm already hurt! I've already seen the death of half the people I love!"
"You don't understand…" Van tried to stop the flicker of pain and memories coursing through him. "You don't understand anything at all…"
"So, tell me! Tell me what I do not understand here! Because it has obviously given you an overprotective complex! Oh, wait. That's a story for later!" she hollered at his face. He blanched but quickly recovered.
"It isn't the time to tell it! We should be focused on survi-"
"Do you know where Jackson's office is?"
"Will you stop interrupting me!?" Van shouted.
"Do you know where Jackson's office is? In this building? Exact location?"
Van went still. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
"Because I do. I'll get us there and – if we get into trouble – you can have us jump from the roof or whatever you spy people do. You need to get it through your thick head that I haven't been in this business just for the motorcycle thrills. Balgus and I researched the higher Masters. Where they worked. What they did in their free time. You need me just as much as I need you."
"But it isn't safe…" Van felt his resolve breaking. Will it happen again? Just like the past? The image of a small, abandoned cottage bled into his mind and a flash of pain ricocheted through his entire body. "Please…"
"I can't," she whispered with a determined face. Suddenly, her green eyes lost a bit of their fight as she searched his face. Van swallowed and tried to push the traitorous memory away. Her melting green eyes grew both curious and concerned. Her lips opened slightly as she studied him.
It was right then Van realized how close he was to her face. He backed away and she blinked, closed her mouth, and swallowed. She was breathing heavily and the air between them cooled slowly. Goose-bumps rose on his tan bare arms and he willed his body to calm down. He kept her green eyes in his and she stared at him hard.
Stubborn and uncompromising.
He exhaled and tried one last time. "Please, Hitomi…"
Her face started slightly and he saw a different spark light behind her green eyes.
"Face it. I'm coming."
The black-haired man ran a heavy hand through his hair and groaned as he rubbed the back of his tan neck. With a sigh and a twist in his stomach he finally blurted, "Fine! But you stay behind me in there."
She shook her head and her short hair tossed with the evening breeze. "I'll stay right beside you."
Van felt his eye twitch. "Fine! But you'll do what I say."
He blinked as the corner of her mouth lifted in a smirk. His stomach was beginning to burn again.
"You'll do what I say!"
The smirk grew to a full blown smile.
"Ms. Kanzaki!" She started walking casually to the open doorway to enter the Court House. "Ms. Kanzaki!"
She stopped just at the threshold and turned her head to look at him. The confident smile still spread on her lips. He found that expression both irritating and beautiful.
What had he put himself into?
"Please, call me Hitomi."
Hitomi heard Van slip in behind her and close the metal door quietly. Her heart beat rose with expectation. Here is where they'd finally get the information. With Van's lockpicking skills, she'd be able to break into the judge's office easily. Why hadn't she thought of this sooner?
A flashback of Allen came to her mind and she felt her courage rise. His long, thin body lying writhing on the soft mattress. His blond hair – shorter back then – streaked with sweat and tears.
"So, where to?" Van's low voice rumbled in her ears and echoed lightly up the stairwell. She cringed inside. Why is it men never whispered properly?
"Second floor, down the hallway. After that, I think it's another right… or maybe a left. I'll have to gather my surroundings."
She heard the man let go a really long breath. "You sure you know where you're going?" She could just see his eyebrow twitching at the back of her head.
"You don't have to come along. You can just wait in the car."
When he didn't answer, she smiled to herself in the darkness.
The stairwell was barely lit, so she felt her way along the tiled wall and found the handrail. Leading them quietly up the steps, she approached the door to the second landing. The door handle jiggled freely. Unlocked. Her stomach twisted with nerves and she tried to hide her growing anxiety. What if something waited for them on the other side? What if-
"Let me go first." Van's low voice tickled into her left ear and interrupted her panicked thoughts. She resisted the urge to rub it on her shoulder. "I just want to check if the coast is clear. There might be someone waiting on the other side for us."
"What if it's a 'nap?"
"I'll try to knock them out without causing too much attention."
"Just… don't hit them too hard…"
"Yes, ma'am."
Standing aside, she barely saw through the darkness as his tan hand checked the doorknob twice and then gently eased it open. A small patch of poor light wafted inside and she immediately focused on his face. His mahogany eyes were firmly planted on the opening crack. He looked like a tiger ready to pounce; calm and smooth. Lips pressed lightly together, Van breathing was slow, rolling in and out evenly like an ocean tide. Her own heart was pounding harshly against her chest, so rough and ragged she was sure he could hear it. Watching him fearlessly lean his dark head out of the doorway, she began to regret what she'd yelled at him before. She was extremely lucky to have him.
If they lived through this, she decided to apologize.
The hallway was clear because Van opened the door a little more and slipped his body through. Holding his pistol in both hands, he kept it tucked to his chest as his eyes rolled over every small corner for impending threats. She followed and shut the metal door quietly. Just like she'd described, they'd entered a long hallway with rows of doors on either side. Catching his mahogany eye, she nodded and proceeded down the cream carpet with slow steps. Scanning each door's white label, she felt relief as she remembered Jackson's office was to the right once the hallway branched. Then it was only a matter of looking for documents with Caesar's name. Jackson probably had them in some secret compartment no doubt.
Her heart pounded a fierce rhythm. She had a satisfying image of beating the answer out of the judge.
She wondered if Van would be up for that.
When she reached halfway down the quiet hallway, a sudden noise made her freeze. Two male voices sounded from a doorway to her right and were quickly growing stronger. Eyes wide, a ripple of fear coursed through her and she stood there with her thoughts in a panic. She gave a small gasp as a strong arm wrap around her torso from behind, gently lifted her off her feet, and hauled her inside a room on her left. Her gun – which she had tucked into her pants – slipped out of her waistline and thumped in the middle of the carpet. She tried to stifle her panting breath as Van clicked the door shut just in time. Setting her feet on the ground, they both backed away together in the black room. Van's broad back gently hit a small shelf, slightly disturbing the contents on it. Judging by the chemical smell in the room, they were in a janitor's closet. His tan arm was still wrapped protectively around her stomach and pressed her body against his warm chest. She clutched his forearm with cold hands feeling light-headed and grateful. His chin hovered over the top of her head and she could feel his steady breath stirring her short hair. His heart pulsed at an easy pace against her shoulder-blade. Her own heart was pounding ferociously and she was well aware Van could probably feel it on his arm. The voices grew nearer and she held her breath.
"…no need to bring him here."
"It's for your own good, Jackson. Especially now that his target is coming after you."
"What target? A woman? What can a woman do?"
Van arm tightened around her.
"Sir, Dilandau is reliable."
"Then why has he failed to- hang on. What is this gun doing here in the middle of the floor?"
There was a moment of silence. Hitomi felt like her entire stomach was in her throat.
"This is Anderson's gun. He sent his pawn on patrol about an hour ago."
The judge made a low snort. "Where is the fool?"
"Downstairs, I believe. He's with Thomas and William last I saw."
"Go give the gun back to Anderson. He was stupid enough to think his pawn could handle it."
"We should search for the pawn then."
"You mean you should search for the pawn. I have work to do for Caesar. I'll be in my office."
"Sir, you should really think about your safety. The woman is-"
"The woman will be dead before she enters the front doors." The judge said with an air of ease. Hitomi involuntarily twitched against Van's body and he lowered his chin on top of her head. His body language was clear as if he'd spoken the words out loud.
Over my dead body…
"I asked the boys to send their pawns to guard the exits. Thomas was reluctant to let his new girl out of his sight. She is a beauty."
"Doesn't matter if she is beautiful or not. As long as her collar is strapped on, she'll be in the races. He shouldn't get too attached. He'll probably lose her faster."
Van relaxed slightly and he gently removed his arm. Her eyes still hadn't adjusted to the darkness, so as he began to slowly pass her and get closer to the door, she lifted her hands to try to feel for the walls. Her fingers brushed a spray can and it rattled loudly on a plastic shelf. Grabbing the can with shaking fingers, she froze. Van had become completely silent as well. Not a breath passed between them.
"Some pawns are so useless. My last one was somewhat competent. Makes me almost miss him." The judge's voice continued and Hitomi had to stop herself from staggering with relief. She bent silently and placed the offending can on the dark floor.
"About the races? Did he give you a replacement?"
She snuck closer to the door and could barely make out Van's tall figure beside her.
"I may handle his legal affairs, but I have to follow the rules just like everyone else. I've just submitted an order to get a new one. He reassured me my pawn will be here in time for the next race."
She reached blindly for Van and her fingertips brushed the thin fabric of his shirt. He jumped slightly and turned towards her. She guided her hand down his arm till she found his palm, felt for the door handle, and put his fingers to it. She hoped he'd understand the nonverbal communication.
Let's catch them by surprise. Right here. Right now.
He squeezed her hand and let her go. She felt his arm knock her gently behind him and she sighed with forced resignation.
Let him play hero one last time.
"…and the system won't stop us. Once these papers are completed, I will finally shut out the GIA from legal investigation into the races and Caesar can rest easy that the entire situation will now be under his personal thumb."
Hitomi started slightly and frowned as an epiphany rolled over her thoughts. Caesar would obviously be pulling strings to keep out the GIA's involvement. That much was clear. But… there was someone else who had publically denounced the government's influence. He'd been passive aggressively arguing it for years. His reasons were always concentrated on not relying on 'big brother' to help, but trusting in the APD to get to the bottom of the investigation. She'd always assumed he was ignorant of the corruption of the police force. He'd given brave speeches to the people about unifying under the Austurian banner. That the government was to one to blame for the atrocities. That the police force would protect the Austurian citizens. An image of the smiling, genteel grandfather figure popped in her head and she almost smacked her forehead with her palm. She felt stupid for not realizing it before. He was hiding in plain sight.
What if Caesar was…
Dornkirk, the Mayor of Austura…?
There was only one way to find out…
Hitomi blinked. Their voices were growing fainter. They were leaving down the hallway to the staircases. The other man laughed. "I never understood why Caesar made you play the games in the first place. You are already his right hand."
"This is why sending someone like Dilandau is a waste. I think I can handle one rebellious little girl. Maybe Caesar will put a collar on her and she'll be one of the new pawns. Caesar told me Zaibach's come up with some new collars that are only for personal use. I've seen the picture and she's quite the looker."
Van's opened the door so forcefully it bounced off the back wall. She gave a surprised squeak as he rushed out and immediately aimed his pistol down the hallway. Four shots instantly followed and she heard the sound of two bodies crashing to the floor, both voices screaming in agony. Van tore down the hallway and stomped his foot painfully on a suited man's hand. She saw the repeater she'd dropped earlier fly out of the man's fingers and hit the wall near her. With a swift kick, Van's toe connected with the man's face and he fell back flat on his back, unconscious.
Hitomi slowly walked behind Van, her green eyes focusing on the small man shivering on the ground. Tears ran down his beady dark eyes as he gasped for breath. His bald head shinned with sweat. Two large dark stains were spreading on the upper part of his thighs. Both his hands were red with blood.
Van had shot him in the legs.
"W-wh-who…"
Van raised his fist to punch him, but Hitomi called out, "Wait." He didn't look at her, but straightened up and glared at the man. She walked closer, picked up the gun, and kept it in her hand. The blood pounded in her ears like a sporadic drum. Her green eyes pierced the cowering man.
Caesar's right hand man.
Dornkirk…
"Please take off his suit jacket, Van. Make sure he doesn't have weapons." Hitomi could hardly believe her voice sounded so calm. The gun didn't shake though her fingers felt like blocks of ice. She forced herself to walk closer and a wave of disgust washed over her. A vision of Gadeth's broken tear-stained face swam over her eyes and she clinched the gun tighter. Van ripped the suit coat off the man's shoulders with such violent force, Jackson let out a whimper of pain. As Van patted down his clothes and body, his ugly eyes swiveled over to his unconscious partner lying next to him.
"He's unarmed." Van announced. His tenor voice sounded composed, but his mahogany eyes glared daggers.
The bald man's fright was still clear though he tried to hide it. He swallowed thickly and gave her a mocking smile filled with pain. "I'm guessing you'd be the bitch who is after me. I was never informed you had an attack dog."
"He is the least of your worries," she whispered and a swell of anger washed through her. She raised the gun with a steady hand and took several steps closer. Pointing it at the man's thin face, he paled slightly. "Van, if you don't mind, keep an eye out on the back hallway. Please make sure no one disturbs us. I'd like to have a private chat with Mr. Jackson."
"You heard her, dog," the wounded man spat bravely at Van and his dark eyebrow twitched. "She wants private time. Guess I'll get lucky regardless if I put her in a collar or not."
She watched Van's tan fists clench and he gave a huge exhaling breath. Turning to her, he said, "They probably heard the gun shots down below. We don't have much time."
"I'll make it quick."
His footfalls softly fell away as she walked closer to the judge; tilting her head and studying his pasty face.
Jackson bottom lip was trembling. "What, bitch? Going to shoot me or are we going to start with the private time like you promised?"
She remained silent. Her face unreadable. She took another step closer. Her shoes were about a foot away from his trembling legs. Several beads of sweat rolled off the man's face and dripped onto his white shirt.
"I won't tell you anything. Not a damn thing."
"That's perfectly fine with me." She said simply cocking one hip to the side. She blinked her eyes in boredom.
The man shifted on the floor in surprise. "What? But you-"
"You thought I came here to get answers out of you, but you got it all wrong. I already know everything I need to know. I'm here for a different reason altogether."
"Know everything? That is a load of shi-"
"How did I know you'd be here, Nicolas Jackson? How did I know you'd be at the Court House this very second?"
"This is where I work, isn't it?"
"Then how would I know you are currently putting documents together to permanently keep out the GIA's assistance? And if I kill you that would put Caesar in a tight position?"
Another drop of sweat rolled off his face. "You don't know anything. Even if you kill me, Caesar will-"
"Right hand man, huh? That sounds pretty important."
"You wouldn't…"
She clicked her tongue. "I've been planning for this moment for a long time. I've studied you for years. I would like to make this moment last longer, but unfortunately I don't have that luxury. But rest assured you'll die tonight."
"I've done nothing to you." The man was visibly trembling.
Hitomi was surprised at the cold laugh that escaped her. "You have done more to me then you'll ever realize. Did you know Balgus? You might know him better as Rodger Mackmore."
"I don't-"
"He was annoying and rude and one of the best people I've ever known. He's dead because of you. There's also my grandma. You don't know her personally. She's dead though. Just like Balgus. Died right in front of me."
"I don't give a rat's ass about you or-"
"Oh, trust me," her voice was peaceful, almost pleasant. "I don't care if you do. Another is someone very dear to me. He was one of the first we freed from your collars. His name is Allen. He's been mentally disfigured because of it. Despite all those problems, despite all the horror he is still going through, he is loving and kind."
"Why are you telling me thi-"
"The last you need to know about is another pawn we freed. We got him just last night." At those words, the judge's sweaty face dropped the strained sneering expression. His pale skin looked swarthy in the shadowed hallway. Her grasp on the gun strengthened as she took another step closer. The repeater's barrel inched closer to his pasty forehead. "He has been the only one that got out of his collar and remained completely sane. He remembered every single detail of his enslavement."
"And I'm supposed to give a damn about who that-"
"You should because he was with you the entire time." Hitomi tilted her head and pierced her green eyes into the man's small beady ones. She watched him swallow and take a shuddering breath. "He knows everything you know. He was watching. Every lie you said, every bribe, and every torture you inflicted on him. Still don't believe me when I tell you I know everything?" She cocked the gun without fluttering an eyelid. He let out a strangled grunt. "Maybe it's time you learned why I'm here. Does the name Gadeth Justinas mean anything to you?"
Jackson's mouth bobbed up and down for a moment.
"He doesn't know everything. Caesar's identity was never reve-"
"After I'm done with you, Dornkirk will be next."
The flabbergasted silence he gave almost made her grin with satisfaction. A proud relief pulsed through her mind as Jackson's face turned several shades of purple. Then the blood drained from his face; the sharp cheekbones becoming shallow and concave. He had just given it away.
Caesar was Dornkirk.
"Do you think that because I'm just a rebellious little girl that I wouldn't figure it out?"Hitomi lowered her voice. "But now you've just confirmed what I've been suspecting. Thank you, Mr. Jackson."
He was visibly trembling now. The combination of loss of blood and mind-numbing fear were beginning to put his body into shock. "You kill me and nothing will change. He will rise to-"
Hitomi danced her finger on the trigger. "It's a bit cliché, but you know what they say about the higher they rise…"
A gunshot from down the hallway made Hitomi and the judge start in surprise. Glancing back behind her, she saw Van using the wall as cover and bullet ping down the right side.
"Hitomi! It's time to go!" He yelled turning to run to her. "Our cop friend is down the hall!" Before Van could reach her, she lowered the gun slightly and pulled the trigger. The bullet thundered out of the gun and drilled into the front of the judge's pants. Blood squirted out of the hole and the man gave a writhing screech before grabbing his crotch. She felt a sick pleasure.
New pawn or not, he won't be forcing himself on anyone for a long time.
Turning, she grabbed Van's outstretched hand, they thundered together down the hallway towards the back staircase.
Bursting through the metal doors, Hitomi gasped. There were voices coming up the stairs from the first floor. They were trapped unless…
"Let's go!" Van hissed pulling her to the left and up another flight of stairs.
Dilandau's smile strained as he jogged swiftly around the corner of the carpeted hallway. The back door slammed shut, but his red eyes focused on two bodies lying in the middle of the floor. One of them was rolling back and forth with a weeping groan. He recognized Master 661. Nicolas Jackson.
Dilandau grinned.
Pleasant warm shivers ran through him at the sight of blood soaked carpet. Swallowing down a laugh, he approached the familiar judge who he'd met only a handful of times for various missions.
"Dilandau..." the man gasped, his fingers pressing his crotch and blood leaking down his arms. "Dilandau, you have… to help me… she shot me. She-"
With a lazy finger, the silver-haired man raised his gun and pulled the trigger. Watching the thrashing man flop once then lay still, Dilandau stepped over the man and continued jogging to the back staircase.
Loud clapping echoes of thick rubber soles stomping up the steps beat a distorted rhythm in the dark stairwell. Van could sense them only a few flights down. His rational mind reeled with possible ways to solve their current predicament. He could try taking them down now that Hitomi got her repeater back. He had two more full magazines for Millnera's pistol tucked in his pocket. They could wait the few seconds it'd take for their pursuers to catch up to them and then simply aim down and fire. That would put Hitomi at risk. They knew the Court House had three men waiting downstairs, but there could be more now that the assassin showed up.
Was the chance of standing them down worth it?
Fight or flight? Fight or flight?
Hitomi's small hand held tight around his own. Her footfalls fell in step with his. She trusted him to make the right decision.
And Van always followed his instincts.
The stairwell ended with a door that glowed red from a bright EXIT sign. Glancing at her illuminated face, she nodded and panted out, "The roof!"
Checking the door handle, he wasn't surprised that it was locked. With a grunt, Van smashed his foot against the door with all the strength he possessed and it popped open with a ferocious bang. Without a moment's pause, Van pushed Hitomi through the door and turned to the stairway. Putting both hands on the pistol, he aimed and waited. The men's voices and steps echoed louder.
Any second now…
"Go to the other building like I told you before! Get to the car from the roof!" he said swiftly. "I'll take them out from here."
He couldn't see her face, but he could hear the shock in her voice. "Are you crazy? I'm not leaving you!"
"Go, Hitomi!" They were approaching the top of the second to last flight. He could see their flashlights zipping off the walls.
"NO!" She hollered. He took his eyes off the stairs for a second to see her small body move to stand right beside him. She aimed her gun and mimicked his stance. A shadow of a man's body passed and Van targeted his barrel and fired. A cry issued out and Van fought the gun's recoil. Male voices jumbled in an echoing mix of confusion; his mahogany eyes narrowed and he pulled the trigger two more times.
"Shit, my leg! They got my leg!"
"Go back! Go back! Go back!"
"Help me! Oh, God, I can't move!"
"Anderson's dead!"
"I'll kill you, bastards!"
Another shadow fell over the steps and Van heard Hitomi's repeater go off before he could begin to aim. The man fell back with a crumbling step and collapsed at the foot of the stairs.
"Let's go, Van." She murmured her green eyes full of the man she'd just killed. She flicked those eyes into his and he felt a strange shiver hit him. The feeling intensified as she grabbed his hand and tugged him out the door.
For once, her hands were warm.
Racing together on the rooftop, the wind blew against their bodies, slowing their steps. Van's mahogany eyes narrowed with tension. The roof was further than he originally planned. The conjoining building he'd thought to be strategically close was actually quite a ways to jump. Van knew he could make the gap, but Hitomi…
Glancing at the panting woman beside him, he squeezed her hand and pulled her towards a corner of the building for cover. The rest of the Masters were probably clearing the last step on top of the stairs. It was try her chances at jumping, take a stand on the roof, or find another way down. A sour taste filled his mouth. Had he killed them both coming up here? Maybe that's what his warning instinct had been telling him before. Not to go in this damn Court House in the first place.
"What are you doing?" She shouted once they ducked behind the brick wall. He took his hand out of hers and checked the ammo in the pistol. Three more bullets. Ejecting the clip, he fished into his back pocket for fresh magazine.
"We need to keep running, Van! They're right behind us!"
Van shook his head and slipped the fresh clip into the gun. "The jump is too big, Hitomi. You'll never make it. We have to make a stand here." Turning his mahogany eyes to her, he felt his calm demeanor breaking. His heart thumped harder than normal as he watched the wind toss her short hair wildly. She was going to die because of him. He should have forced her to stay at the car. He should have never let her come with him. His vision of the abandoned shack, the heat of the explosion, his brother's burning corpse…
It was always his fault…
What was he going to do?
Her green eyes shifted over to the edge of the building and he watched her swallow. "I will make it. I have to. We don't know how many people are after us now. There may be more Masters. The assassin probably alerted his entire freaking agency. We can't stay up here. I bet they are getting a helicopter ready to pick us off."
Van heard the rubber soles of shoes crunching on the gravely roof. Faint male voices called to one another. He couldn't concentrate on their words. He could hardly concentrate on anything at all. His brain felt like it was frozen. Caught in a self-made trap.
"They're here… we've waited too long behind this wall." Her expression was angry, but her voice sounded distracted like she was thinking quickly.
"There should be an outside emergency stairwell or something…" Van reached down and took the repeater out of her hand. She opened her mouth, but he stepped closer and forced her to look into his eyes. "Please, don't jump. With your gun, I can hold them off. I'll try to occupy them long enough for you to find another way down."
She glared at him and that warm shiver ran down his spine once more. "You self-sacrificing idiot. Why do you always-" She cut off her own words and he gasped as he felt the unexpected pressure of her head on his chest. Her small arms flung tightly around his neck and squeezed. Her warm face nuzzled the front of his shirt for a brief moment. Before Van could get his brain in gear, she'd stepped back and smiled sadly up at him.
"I'm sorry about being a brat earlier. I'm very grateful you have saved me so many times. You are a wonderful man. Please look after Allen if I don't make the jump. Take out the Mayor. He's Caesar."
Panic washed through him like a tidal wave and her words tossed haphazardly inside his head. "Mayor Dornkirk? Wait. What-"
All sounds in the world stopped as she turned away from him and began to run. Van stared transfixed as if in slow motion. Her short legs reached for speed. The strands of her light brown hair bounced with her strides. The wind whipped and clawed at her shirt. A faint voice woke him from his increasing horror and Van gritted his teeth. A rush of determination and anger pulsed through his body and made his stomach burn. Lifting his gun, he left the protective corner of the building and instantly zeroed in on a taller suited man aiming at Hitomi's running form. Van shot without a second thought and the man collapsed. His mind clicked into an old mode he used many years ago. A flash of six familiar faces zipped through his head and he instantly relaxed his breathing.
Using both the repeater and Millerna's pistol, he began to run after Hitomi, shooting as he went. A volley of screams and yells burst with each pull of his triggers. Likewise, Van felt the bullets zipping past his body with increasing accuracy.
Click, click, click…The repeater was empty. Van threw it and shot another man in the face at the same time. Glancing in front of him, he saw her nearing the edge. His stomach turned sharply as her feet lifted her off the roof and she sailed over the six-foot gap. She gave a small scream. Her feet brushed a few inches short of the next building and she began to fall.
Her hands caught the edge. She was hanging like a swinging target.
A strange sharp pain bloomed into his left forearm. Van turned and gave three more shots. Three more yells resounded in his pulsing ears.
Racing like his heart, he tucked the gun into his belt, ran to the edge, and his stomach gave a flip-flop as he flew across the dark alleyway below. His feet thundered solidly on the slightly slanted, shingled roof and he ran to her. A bullet whistled into the brick near her head.
"Pull me up! Pull me up!" She shrieked.
Grabbing her hands, he practically tossed her into his arms.
"Run!" He shouted uselessly and they sprinted over the skewed rooftop, feet slipping on the slick shingles. The pings of bullets clacked into various concrete and brick around them. Crossing to the other side of the pointed roof, Van yelp as his feet slipped out from under him. Both he and Hitomi landed hard on their backsides and began sliding dangerously off the steep roof. She screamed in terror. Together, they clawed at the smooth shingles, trying to find a grip. Reflex took over his mind as they plummeted closer to the edge. Van grabbed her hand and – as they both slid off to meet the ground below – he latched his left hand firmly on the drainage pipe. A shot of agony burst through his muscles and all the way down his back. He held her tight as both of their bodies hung off the edge of the building. His strong fingers clamped on the metal piping. Gritting his teeth, he tried to calm his erratic heart.
Calm down. Think of something. There's always something.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God." She panted. He let out an involuntary hiss of pain and he closed his eyes against the throb in his left forearm.
"Hitomi…" He could barely get his voice to work properly. His fingers felt like they were coming off.
"Van…" he heard her voice catch with a sob. "What do we do?"
"Uhhh…" He grunted. The wind pressed against his body and he trembled with both the heaviness and fear. The pain in his forearm was becoming excruciating. He could see blood trailing down his arm, bleeding down into his shirt, and trailing on his neck. "I'm… still thinking…"
An unwanted creak from the drainage pipe almost stopped Van's heart. It bent forward with their combined weight.
"Oh, my God. Oh, my God…"
"Look… around…" He groaned. "Is there… anything around us?"
She gasped. "I don't see anything. Wait…"
The black-haired man felt her cold hand squeeze his in surprise.
"Van! Drop me!"
"WHAT?"
"There's a balcony right below me!"
"There… is? How far below…?"
"About ten feet. Not enough of a fall to hurt too badly."
"Are you… sure?"
He felt her other hand reach up and to pry his fingers off. "Just do it!"
Hating himself, he exhaled, let her go, and heard feet hitting concrete. A crash of something breaking followed and she let out a small grunt. "Ouch! Try to avoid the potted plants."
Freed from her weight, he glanced down and saw her straightening herself on a stained, marble balcony right below him. A startling amount of potted plants encompassed the small landing. In less than a minute, she shoved enough of the plants out of his way and he released his cramping fingers off the drain pipe, landed beside her, and clutched his left arm painfully to his chest. The blood had made a mess of the entire left side of his body. Gasping for breath, they faced each other, shock evident on both their faces.
"You're bleeding! You were shot!" She gasped. Van's eyes widened in alarm and he shushed her with a quick glance at the dark balcony door. Her hand reached for his arm, but he pulled it away and shook his head.
"We need… to keep… going… Let's take care of this… later…" Van panted quietly. He stretched his aching back muscles and tried to peak through at the curtained door. The room looked completely dark. He checked the lock and nodded to himself. Cylinder lock. Easy enough.
"Okay," she agreed in a whisper. "This looks like an apartment."
"Let's hope they aren't home," he said as the screwdriver from his lock picking bag rotated the support screw from the door. "We'll have to get through this building to get down."
"You need to take care of that arm before we go anywhere else. It's bleeding badly."
Van glanced at his arm and saw a small puddle of blood growing on the balcony. "I'll be fine. We should keep moving."
"We're alive so far. It wouldn't hurt to see if there is at least a Band-Aid."
He rolled his eyes at the mention of something as simple as a Band-Aid and at the same time removed the lock from the door. Turning the latched handle silently, his mahogany eyes widened at faint sounds of men's yells echoing through the street and down the alleyway.
"Get in, get in!" Hitomi hissed as he slid the glass door open. Her small hands shoved him through and he tripped on the curtains. With a noisy "Whoa!" his foot twisted in the fabric and he collided loudly with a small bookshelf sitting along the wall. He landed on all fours on the floor covered in small paperbacks. He heard her slide the balcony doors closed and rush to him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm thankful there were no hardbacks."
Her hands wrapped around his chest and she helped guide him up. Once he was standing on shaking legs, they waited together and listened while their eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. The tiny room was completely empty and silent. "Despite the loud entrance, looks like our luck hasn't run out after all," she whispered beside him. He glanced down at her just as she was looking up at him. She gasped lightly and let him go.
His skin felt cold where her hands had been. Even in the darkness, he could see a small blush had appeared on her cheeks.
"We need to search the apartment to make sure no one is here."
Van shook his head. "We shouldn't stay."
"You're not going to get very far with your arm like it is."
"They'll expect us to be here. We disappeared over the roof and now there's a convenient balcony. This will be the first place they'll look. Besides, I am kind of leaving a trail of red."
"Then don't you think we should warn whoever is in here that killers are coming and fix up that arm before you bleed out?"
Van exhaled and hated to admit she had a point. Shooting him a small, dimpled smile, she walked quietly past him and closer to the doorway. "You wait here. I'll search."
"Ms. Kanza- Hitomi-"
"If you need something to do fix the bookshelf. Let me be the hero for once."
Frowning in confusion at her statement, he watched her slip out of sight. Turning around, he grabbed a handful of books and stacked them on the small shelves. Bending down to pick up more, his vision gave a wavering twirl and he almost lost his balance. He closed his eyes and leaned his tan forehead on the edge of a shelf. Maybe she was right. He was losing too much blood to ignore the wound.
Giving a once over on the living room they'd landed in, he wondered if he should chance sitting on the small lavender couch without getting blood on it. Looking down at the cheap floor paneling, he grimaced at accumulating blood drops.
Probably not.
Lifting his shirt over his head, he hissed in pain. Gently wrapping the blood soaked fabric over the wound on his arm, he scuffed his shoe into the floor in attempt to blend the stains into the fake wooden floor. Van's mahogany eyes narrowed as the tip of his shoe hit a small stick that was stuck on the floor. Bending down with a groan, he touched a metal hinge that was painted to look like the floor. If he hadn't been trying to camouflage his blood, he wouldn't have noticed at all. He felt the floor. A thin line of a trap door.
Glancing around the quiet room, he stuck his fingernails into the door and pried it open.
Hitomi's green eyes searched the various rooms. She knew Van had a point and that the killers probably knew exactly where they were. Van's bleeding arm flashed through her mind and she winced. He needed at least a bit of first aid. The tiny one bedroom, one kitchen, one living room, and one bathroom apartment was completely empty. The short-haired girl sighed in relief and traveled back to the kitchen. Happy yellow wallpaper backed by yellow countertops and yellow chair covers sitting around a light brown table greeted her. She smiled at the horrible décor and started opening the equally yellow cabinets. It took her only three minutes to find the small first aid.
A loud banging noise from the front door made her jump in fright and knock over several wine glasses on the shelf. Closing the cabinets quickly, her panic made her hands shake. The door thundered again. She could hear the muffled voices outside it.
Hurrying to the living room, she gasped. Van's mahogany eyes leapt into hers and he pointed at the open trap door in the floor.
"How did you- what happened to your shirt?" she squeaked. The lean muscles on his arms and shoulders flexed as the door gave another ferocious bang.
"Ask questions later! Get in here!" he demanded in a tense whisper. Hurrying over, she grimaced at the small hole in the floor. It had several small cardboard boxes stuffed inside. Hardly enough room for two people. She folded herself inside and put the first aid under her legs. Her back pressed against a cardboard box and she realized if she shifted several over, she could lay flat. As she did so, Van jumped in behind her and crouched low to close the hatch. It snapped shut leaving them in complete darkness once more.
Trying to hold her catch her breath, she lay completely still as Van bent his back and grabbed a small handle on the hatch door to make sure it was securely in place. They heard the door burst open and several feet clamor inside. She jerked as his right hand grazed her side and his foot brushed against her ankle. She could feel the radiating warmth of his exposed chest on her body like a heater. The footfalls pounded into the living room and she felt Van lean further down on top of her. The tips of his shaggy black hair brushed against her collar-bone. She tried to keep her breathing quiet and steady, but the stress, adrenaline, and uncomfortable closeness of Van was beginning to take a toll on her mental state. Inhaling was coming in short gasps. Her leg twitched involuntarily against his. The strands of Van's hair tickled her chin as his head turn towards her. She jumped again as she felt his right hand reach up and touch her shoulder. He glided up to the side of her neck.
"Relax…" he breathed at her. "Relax…"
His fingers gently pressed and massaged the back and side of her neck. Her body tingling slightly, she gradually felt a warm, calmness wash over her. Her breathing began to level out and she closed her eyes against the wonderful pressure of his hands. Several footsteps boomed above them. Van shifted and massaged with his left hand on her other side. His fingers smelled like blood, but they felt wonderful.
She almost forgot exactly where she was at…
Almost.
It was at least thirty minutes; the thundering feet pounded back and forth on the floorboards overhead. The couch was tipped back, every cabinet opened, shouts of frustrations echoed back and forth. Van's fingers stopped caressing her neck as a calm set of footsteps clacked into the room and stopped right above their heads. She heard him swallow quietly.
"The lock was broken on the balcony door, so that means they were here. I found some blood drops on the balcony, but nothing else so far. There isn't a sign of them in here besides that."
"Your astute detective skills are always astounding to perceive, Miguel." A man answered. His tone was pleasant like he'd just shared a good joke.
"What do you suggest we do, Dilandau?"
There was a pause. "They are in this apartment, somewhere in the building, or in the surrounding buildings. I suggest you find them before I chop you up and bury you in the floorboards." The man laughed, but there was no humor in it. Van's fingers jerked against her skin. She slid her hand up silently to place it over his. Her heart skipped a beat as he interlocked his fingers through hers.
"I'll go with the men to search the next building over. This apartment is empty. If they are anywhere, they are probably hiding in the bakery next door. I'll post a man outside the front door just incase."
"See that they are found."
"Who is this man with her?" Miguel's voice was cautious as if he was afraid of asking questions.
Someone tapped their heels gently on the floor. "Mr. Van Slanzar de Fanel: No recorded living family. No wife or girlfriend. Got a job at Esca Construction three years ago."
"And before that?"
"The agency is on it. That's all they could give me so far."
"No living relatives?"
"Well," Dilandau let out a small chuckle. "There is a couple he is known to be in association with. Dryden and Millerna Fassa. I've been thinking about paying them a little visit."
Van's shoulders trembled and his fingers shook with hers.
Allen…
"No one can get a person talking faster than you, Dilandau."
"Your flattery won't stop me from killing you if you cannot find them, Miguel."
"Y-Yes, sir."
"Let the agency know I'm waiting for the files before I visit the Fassa's. Tell them to send me the files within the next five hours or I will act on my own."
"But, sir, shouldn't you-"
There was a quiet slicing noise and Hitomi's gasp was thankfully covered by Miguel's loud yelp of pain. Footsteps stumbled back towards into balcony windows and something heavy thudded against the glass.
"Do you like your appearance? Do you like the way your mouth compliments your nose and the way your eyes are framed by nicely shaped eyebrows? You have such soft stylish hair and smooth skin. I can make you even more handsome if you want. I can make you so handsome not only will you scream with delight, but you'll die with happiness." Dilandau let out a bark of laughter. "That was kinda cheesy, but I hopefully got the point across. What are you giving me that look for? You obviously came here to ask questions like you're at the damn mall with your girlfriends. Why don't we go ahead and get started on the make-over, okay?"
"I need to… get going…" Another thud bounced off the floor.
"No, no, no, Miguel. You wanted to ask me something while I skin your eyebrows off and make you eat them. You wanted to let my prey escape further from me while I make you paint your clothes a beautiful red with your own fingerless hand. "
Miguel let out a whimper.
"No? You don't want to?"
"…No…" Miguel voice came out in a shaky whisper.
"Then get the hell out of my sight or I swear you will be holding those pretty little eyeballs in the palm of your hand."
The sound of their footsteps clicked away – Miguel's at a much quicker pace - and she heard a low muttering from the entryway. The front door shut and the entire apartment fell silent. They lay frozen together. Waiting. Hardly breathing. After about two minutes, she heard Van's foot shift into a cardboard box and his chest fell slightly on her. His forehead hit the floor near her ear and more of his body fell on top of her.
She swallowed and her heart skipped a beat as his breath disturbed the small hairs near the nape of her neck and shivers ran up and down her limbs.
"Sorry…" his voice was sluggish. He wiggled slightly trying to brace himself up once more, but his elbow collapsed and he fell once more. The breath left her lungs as his entire body pinned her to the floor with a dead weight. The hard floor hurt her back and the first aid box under her legs poked painfully.
"Van," she whispered strained by both the heaviness on her chest and the current situation. "I think we are safe for now. Maybe we should get out of this hole in the floor."
"I… I'm not sure it's a good idea to… to …" He trailed off muttering.
"You need first aid on your arm, we both can't move in here, and you are kind of heavy." She grunted. "The coast is clear now. We should at least try to get you to the bathroom to help clean you up."
"O-okay…"
She frowned in concern as he continued to lay on her. She unlaced her hand from his fingers and felt for the wound on his arm. A soggy piece of fabric met her fingertips and she exhaled shortly.
"You bled through this shirt! Get off of me! I need to help you!"
"Naria? I thought you went with the others…you're not supposed to be here…" his voice sounded faint as if he was in some sort of dream. She felt a stupid rush of jealousy washed through her.
Naria was a girl's name. Who the hell was Naria?
"Van, snap out of it and pull yourself together. We need to patch you up before you lose anymore blood!"
"Or is it Eriya? Folken will know which one you are. He is better at telling you guys apart than me…"
"Oh, God, this is bad." Hitomi breathed. Grasping his shoulders with her hands, she groaned as she tried to push him upward. He shifted only slightly off her. She wiggled, trying to free her legs. "Come on, super spy. You're supposed to be the strong one, remember? You can shoot guns and drive all fast and cool. So…" She thought fast, "… as President of the Super Spies and your commanding officer, I order you to roll over so I can get up."
"...Yes, sir…" Van murmured. To her surprise, he leaned to the right, his teeth clenching in pain.
"That's it, soldier." She coaxed, using her hands to help guide him as much as possible. "You need to lie on your back."
It took an awkward five minutes, but finally a panting and sweating, but triumphant Hitomi was Van-free, holding the first aid kit, and straddling his waist. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell from his hard breathing that he was slowly losing the battle with consciousness.
"Stay awake, soldier. We need you for the frontline." She knew she was saying nonsense, but he seemed to respond. A quiet, "yes, sir" answered her and she sighed in relief.
"Where is this handle?" Hitomi whispered to herself, reaching up for the trap door latch. She wrenched it open and looked down at Van's still body. There was no way she was going to move him by herself out of this floor. She'd have to patch him up right there with the cardboard boxes. She leaned close and tried to see his face, but the light was horrible. She needed a flashlight.
She set the healing kit on a nearby box and tried to calm down her rising panic. Shimming out of the hole, her heart pounded and her stomach twisted as her green eyes took in the living room. The lavender couch had been torn apart; the cushions shredded, the small entertainment center with the television was turned over and smashed. Even the coffee table was broken into splinters. She hoped the apartment's owner had insurance.
Pulling herself out of the trap door, she stepped quickly and quietly to the kitchen and pulled up all the yellow towels she could find from the bottom sink. She knew from treating 'nap wounds that tight direct pressure would be the best thing for him. Opening yellow drawer after yellow drawer with towels cradled in her arms, she prayed for a flashlight.
None.
She moved on to the cabinets she hadn't been able to check earlier. Bingo! A small blue flashlight was tucked away in the shelf above the refrigerator. Grabbing it, she flicked it on and relief hit her as a bright beam responded. Reaching into the bottom cabinets, she fetched a yellow bowl she'd seen earlier and turned on warm water. Running to the pantry, she scanned the shelves and her luck prevailed once again. A small bottle of cheap whiskey. Perfect.
"Shock, shock, he'll be in shock…" she said to herself, going through the steps of first aid. Stumbling trying to balance everything in her arms, she headed to the ransacked bedroom. Hitomi gathered up a butterfly printed comforter that lay sprawled on the floor, dumped the towels, flashlight, and whiskey on top and dragged it to the living room near the trap door. Heading back to the kitchen, she stopped the water and slowly walked with the heavy bowl spilling slightly. Setting the bowl down near the edge with the rest of her supplies, she picked out the flashlight and shined it on him. She held back a gasp. His entire left arm was matted with blood. It was a wonder why he hadn't fainted already. His tan skin had turned dangerously pale and she feared the worst.
"Van? Are you awake?"
"…where am I…?" His voice trembled with his body. His mahogany eyes squinted weakly up at her against the light.
"You're in the empty apartment in the floorboards." She answered as she lowered herself down into the hole and straddled him once more. She tried not to think about how awkward the position was. "Try to stay awake, okay? I'm going to take care of this arm. Do you know your name? Age? My name?"
He moaned weakly as he scooted his arm closer to her for inspection. The shirt left a blood trail on the floor. Picking up a towel, she wrapped it around the t-shirt and pressed against the wound. Van let out a small hiss of pain.
"Van Fanel. Twenty-seven. Kanzaki…" He answered through gritted teeth.
"What's my first name?"
"…Hitomi…"
"That's right. Good." Rising up slightly, she picked up the whiskey and towels and yanked the fluffy comforter into the hole. Several minutes of cumbersome shifting, she managed to tuck the comforter around the lower part of his body. Picking one of the smaller cardboard boxes, she raised his feet. Settling in a spot next to his side, she pulled his bloody arm across her lap. Letting the flashlight shine upright on a cardboard box, it created enough light to properly see the damage.
He looked horrible. The t-shirt wrapped around his arm was a bloody rag. She increased the pressure on the towel and saw the blood seeping through.
"Try to relax, Van. Stay completely still. You need to keep talking to me."
"What should I say?"
The green-eyed girl swallowed, reached up to pick up another towel, and asked casually, "Who is Naria and Eriya?"
Van's mahogany eyes sharpened and he blinked in surprise. "How do you know those names?"
"Relax, Van, I want you to stay calm. You called me Naria a few minutes ago. Who's Naria?"
"She is… someone from my past. From a lifetime ago…"
Hitomi sighed. "I believe you promised to tell me about that lifetime. Can't think of a better time or place."
"Is it really safe? Wasn't the assassin in here?"
"I guess you didn't hear them say they were going to check in other buildings. They said they'd post a man outside the building's door, so I figured it was safe to move around a little bit. I'll shut us back in here once I'm done fixing up your arm. For now, I want you to lie still and stay awake. I'm not opposed to slapping you in the face if you fall asleep on me."
"You seem to know what you're doing despite the harsh bedside manners." Van's lips curled into a small smile and his head rolled on the floor to look at her.
"Do you need a pillow?"
"That would be nice actually."
"Too bad."
His smile was replaced by a small frown. A quiet giggle escaped her before she could stop herself. "I'm kidding. I'll go get you one."
As she shifted to stand up, he made a small noise of protest. Glancing back down at him, she watched him swallow and murmur, "I'm fine. I don't need a pillow." His eyes were bright and piercing in the yellow light. Her heart picked up an unusual pace.
"If you insist," she said stiffly, trying to cover up her growing nervousness at his intense gaze. "But that doesn't mean you get out of tell me your story."
"My story…" Van's voice was quiet and he looked away. "My story…"
"You also said the name Folken."
His arm jerked in her hands and he gave a small yelp in pain. "Folken… God, what else did I say?"
"That I'm the most beautiful woman in the world," she joked trying to keep the mood light.
"Oh," his throat made a strange noise and he glanced away from her immediately. "I… s-see…"
Hitomi realized he missed the joke. She debated on correcting him, but decided she liked that he'd believed her. More than liked it, really. She fought both a smile and her blush.
That meant he thought it was true... right?
"So," She cleared her throat and asked, "who is Folken?"
She watched Van bite his lip before answering. "My… my brother…"
"The one you got the lock picks from?"
Van focused on the floor paneling above his head. "Yeah, he always was good at picking locks and getting into trouble. The army put it to good use as a code breaker. There wasn't a lock alive that could keep Folken out." A flash of pride brushed across his features. It was quickly replaced with a strange longing and sad expression.
"You said that you inherited his lock-picks…" Hitomi trailed off, unable to keep her question going.
"He's dead." Van said quickly. "Been dead for four years."
"I'm so sorry."
Though his voice was calm, his arm in her hands trembled. "Well, since I'm telling you this much might as well start at the beginning. My mother passed away when I was three; leaving just my father, my brother and myself. My father died the year before I joined the army, so it was basically like I had no where else to go. The only family I had left was my brother. Folken had already been in the army for two years before I decided to follow in his footsteps. As it turns out, I fit really well with the army. I wasn't considered anything special at my high school for sports and studies, but with the army everything was different. I hit the number one mark for stealth drills, worked through various situational strategies without breaking a sweat, and was elected leader of my training platoon. Eventually, my Drill Sargent began pulling me aside and giving me complex infiltration plans. It wasn't until later that I was told they actually used most of my plans for real missions. Then the GIA got involved." His head slowly swiveled back to look at her. "Within only a few short months, I was elevated from the standard training to special divisions training. In less than a year, I was given permission to pick my own small squad to use on stealth missions. I picked six people: Folken was in the last quarter of the code breaking special divisions program so naturally I picked my brother as soon as he graduated. He recommended Naria and Eriya – who were identical twins and knew more about modern machinery than most of the techs. They used spend hours arguing over various wrench heads to wires to proper spyware. They had also studied countless methods of mind verses body control. It was through them that I learned about pressure points. That massage I did to your neck? That was a technique Naria taught me."
Understanding dawned on her. "That's what you did to Gadeth, too. You calmed him by pressing on his wrist."
Van nodded slowly. "It's called Spirit Gate. It relieves nervousness and anxiety. Anyways, the next I recruited was Mole. I never learned his real name. Mole was his hacker alias. He worked a lot with my brother in code breaking. After him was Millerna, who you've met. I found her when I was touring the new recruits. She is the best sharp shooter I've ever encountered. I never forgot the day I came to visit her platoon, she spoke up and rudely corrected the Drill Sargent's elbow angle. She got latrine duty for a week after that for speaking out of turn, but she told me later it was worth every hour spent scrubbing those toilets. The last one I chose was my best friend. I met him the very first day I entered the army. He wasn't anything special as far as the army goes, but he kept me sane. Kept me focused. Kept me going even after I lost it. His name is Dryden, Millerna's husband."
Noticing the blood had stopped welling on the towel; Hitomi slowly set down his arm on her lap and reached for the bowl of water. "Lost it?" She repeated softly, keeping her eyes on his face as she grabbed a fresh towel and dipped it into the water.
"That's… well... I should keep going. My team was sent on several missions outside the country. Most of the time, we were used as a stake out squad. Gather information and relay it back to the GIA for analysis. With an expert locksmith, a professional hacker, two infiltrator mechanics, and a sharp shooter the missions were simple." Van's voice was tight and she saw the veins in his neck pop up a bit. "They were good at what they did. Maybe a bit too good. Folken was… difficult at times. Argumentative. He would question my authority on several occasions. I was so much younger than him and the twins and Mole. It was hard to get them to cooperate sometimes. But he was rash. Impulsive. They liked him better for it. His impulses were dangerous. He never thought through the plan."
"Kind of like me." Hitomi injected quietly.
Van was silent for a moment. "You had a reason to be upset with me before. Like you said, this is your fight. I shouldn't have tried to take over the situation."
"You have saved my life so many times I'm beginning to lose count." A sour guilt swirled sickly in her stomach. "If I hadn't run for the edge on that roof, you wouldn't have been shot. If I'd just listened to you and stayed in the car, you'd be-"
"You found out the Mayor was Caesar. If you hadn't come in there with me, we'd still be grasping at straws. If we hadn't gone to the orphanage, we wouldn't have met Gadeth and been able to warn the sisters. You have good instincts, Hitomi."
Hitomi swallowed and her stomach settled somewhat. "So… what else happened then? With your past?"
Van sighed. "I had was almost twenty-three when we finally got a mission for a search and terminate. The GIA discovered a spy within their lower ranks who was selling information to the Clans near the Wayward Sea. Before they could catch him, he snuck out of the country. Once we were on the mission, Mole tracked his movements through the network and he and Folken hacked the frequency wire he was communicating on. The twins bugged the wire and we were on our way. We zeroed in on his location within only a few short weeks: a small shanty house bordering the Arzaz Riverlands."
"He was hiding there?" Hitomi asked, continuing to wipe away the blood. The water was already a deep red. She was slowly working her way up to the makeshift pressure bandage she had made.
"I… I sensed it the moment I saw the shack. It was wrong. Everything about that place was wrong." He was whispering the words and no longer looking at her, but looking beyond her. His mahogany eyes were unfocused.
"What do you mean?"
Van hesitated. "I told the team that we should scan the wire again. Folken argued with me. Told me we'd been scanning the wire for weeks. Mole was on his side. Naria and Eriya agreed. Against my orders, they approached the shack, Folken in the lead. It was insubordination and in severe violation of a superior officer's direct orders. That's just who Folken was… who he had become. Millerna and Dryden stayed with me. Believed me." The black-haired man took a shuddering breath. She barely heard his next words.
"The explosion was immense."
Hitomi's mouth dropped open. "Explosion? You don't mean…"
Van closed his eyes and turned his face away from her. "The shack was a empty except for explosives that were set to go off as soon as a disturbance hit a ten foot perimeter. The wire tap – everything - had been bugged. They had been watching for us. Waiting for us to come after him. We'd fallen right in the trap."
"You mean your brother did," she whispered. "You tried to tell them. He fell in the trap, not you."
"I shouldn't have even let it happen. I should have seen through it. I was too confident in our skills. I was weak as a leader and it ended with his death."
A burn of shame mixed with pity shot through her. She remembered her 'overprotective complex' comment during their shouting match outside the Court House and wanted to slap herself. What a horribly insensitive thing to say to someone who lost his only living relative in such a traumatic way. Dropping the red stained towel, she carefully placed his arm on the ground, bent her head forward, and leaned her cheek against his chest. She both heard and felt his quick gasp. His heart beat a little faster as she lifted her arms and placed them around his shoulders in an awkward hug. His warm skin made her shiver.
"Hitomi…" She smiled as she felt his right hand touch the back of her head and stroke her hair softly. "Don't pity me. I didn't tell you this to have you pity me. You have endured much more than I have just these past few hours alone. This was years ago."
"I wanted to hug you. Get over it." She murmured. Van snorted quietly and continued to play with her hair. She turned her face so that she could glance up at his face. His jawline had tensed and she could see his heart beating strongly in his neck.
"So, what happened after that? To Millerna? Dryden?"
"We were dismissed from duty soon after the funeral. Despite Folken's disobedience, the GIA made it out that I wasn't suited for leadership. Millerna, Dryden, and I were released from our contract with the government. Dryden and Millerna got married soon after and moved to Austuria. I… traveled as much as possible for several months, but as money got tight and my depression grew, I tracked down Dryden and found him running a small bar downtown. Dryden pulled some strings and got me the job with Esca Construction. It's been three years since then."
"And this afternoon you were approached by a man in the bar with my picture and a sack full of money." Hitomi released him, straightened up, and moved his arm back into her lap. Her cheek felt hot from his skin. She wondered if he had a fever. Shifting a bit, she pulled the comforter higher on his waist.
"Was that really only this afternoon?"
"I know. It feels like it's been days."
"Weeks."
"Haven't I known you for about a month now?" Hitomi joked as she carefully unwrapped his arm and reached for the whiskey. She shook the alcohol in another clean towel. "Try not to move and keep yourself calm. This will hurt a bit. If you know those mind-body calming techniques, use them on yourself."
"I'm not sure it works that way, but it's worth a shot. Speaking of shot, you got that judge pretty badly back theeee- ahhhh..." Van let out a small moan as she pressed the towel against his wound. His eyes watered and his breath quickened. Feeling the wound on his arm, she was relieved to see the bullet had passed through muscle and meat.
The short-haired girl tossed her bangs on her forehead and smiled. "Told you I can shoot a gun. And now that I know Dornkirk is Caesar, it's only a matter of time before he gets the same treatment."
"You need to keep running. I'll can report Dornkirk to the GIA. They'll take him out."
She quirked an eyebrow. "The same people who dismissed you for a mistake you didn't make? Are you sure they'll believe us? He's been a beloved public figure for years. He's considered the 'Austurian Grandpa'. We have no proof except for my word."
Van turned his eyes to the wooden ceiling and his eyebrows creased with thought. "I just remembered something."
"Remembered what?" She asked, adding more alcohol to the bloody towel. The wound was deep, but it was a clear shot. Tight bandages and maybe drinking the rest of this whiskey would set him on the path to recovery.
"I was watching the news earlier this afternoon in the bar. They were reporting about the motorcycle accident. Probably one that you caused. But there was something else. The reporter… she said something about the Mayor giving a speech tomorrow."
Hitomi's hands froze.
Van didn't notice. His mahogany eyes narrowed as he searched through his memory. "It was to be in front of Austuria's National Museum… he was going to plead with the senate to give the ADP more tax funds."
She swallowed and tried to keep her voice steady. "Did they say what time his speech would be?"
"Two, I think? I'm not sure." He smiled gently at her. "Like you said, it was a long time ago that I saw it. It just popped into my head randomly."
"R-Right," her heart beating furiously in her chest, she ducked her head to concentrate on his arm.
And to hide her inner thoughts from him.
Thanks for reading! Hope you tune in for the next chapter!
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