Mission 8
Blood moistened his clothes and the snow covered cobblestone, each cough made it unbearable to breath as each wound leaked different matters. Attempting to reach for a health potion had many failures; no thanks to the limited mobility from the arrows that punctured his tissue. Finally grasping the long flask he held it up the half full flask to eye level to inspect it. "only, one..." Akira struggled, having only one lung to wheeze from; the other was too busy being full of blood to bother to take in any air. With a wall to help hold his weight he snapped the shafts of the arrows behind him with his good arm, sometimes dislocating at will just to reach the other ones, with one final snap and running on borrowed time, Akira went to stand on his own. Letting the earth take him as he fell on his back.
Colliding with the freezing cobblestone the arrows shot through his body all at once, the sharp agonizing pain force him to clench his jaw as hard as humanly possible; Daring not to make a sound just in case the remaining enforcers where searching for him. The helmet of his disguise rattled in his head not making any attempt to stop. Ripping the arrows from the most life threatening spots he notice the corners of his vision began to blacken, slowly the circle grew smaller as he sloppily splashed the health potion on them. The wounds in direct contact sizzled and groaned as they closed Some of the other gashes took little of what Akira spared or limited from the arrow shafts "I guess I'll have to improvise those ones" he mumbled to himself as the lacerations sizzled and breathing became easier, his vision was a little better by the time he stumbled up and went in the direction of home.
The taffer made his way to South Quarter to fence what he took so far to Heartless Perry even though Garrett still hasn't forgiven him for blurting his name out to lady Elizabeth after "taking such a beating" he was closest and the thief wanted to head to his new apartment ASAP definitely the worst I have ever rented recently; lest the framed murder has quiet down. Muffled steps approached behind him, Garrett stopped dead in his tracks and demanded "what do you want?" "Garrett, I am here on behalf of the Keepers, to warn and ask for your services" the foreign keeper begged with desperation in his tone, slumping over his stomach as he grasped his shoulder that was soaked with blood, the thief exhaled with inpatients how do they even function without me? "what is it..." he routinely spoken, not bothering to resist since Keepers love to tell him everything despite not being part of them "the Shadow Runner, he has refused to hand over the Serpents Gift, we fear he will plan to destroy us all if he continues to walk around with it, we need you to retrieve this hand held doomsday so he may not carry out this calamity" the Keeper tried to explain as fast as they could "get it yourself. I have better things to do then be a lapdog" Garrett protested, he understood the consequences but so does the assassin, they are just using me so they don't have to do it... "you are the only one who can get close to him, we tried but we we're left with nothing but dead enforcers.." he paused looking at the wound "that sounds reasonable, have me go after a guy capable of murdering enforcers. Thanks but I rather take my chances." as Garrett went to blend into the shadows, the Keeper delayed his retreat "we were able to weaken him, But this is all we could accomplish, that should leave you enough breathing space to do a quick and low risk job. Also we are willing to speak in your language" he held up a rather heavy bag. Over his shoulder Garrett zoomed his bionic eye on the bag they are this desperate? That is; a mighty heavy bag... with eyes greedily on the bulging bag Garrett mumbled "fine" and disappeared before the keeper's eyes.
It wasn't easy to relocate the assassin's safe house, with the dead walking around and haunts chains rattling, sometimes made Garrett go in circles to avoid them I feel a raise coming on...the moon was beginning to lower as the navy blue sky started to lighten. Time was running out, as mist and frost flowed down the streets. Maybe I should try again tomorrow, I doubt he would have many health potions given how expensive they are now an' days... walking in the direction to what he would think he started from. He spotted a dark splatter, that extended to a trail blood; A lot of it too... I guess it would be my good friend the pyromaniac.
The blood trail lead to the abandoned home only it was a bit more collapsed then usual when Garrett entered, the still standing door greeted him with a sadden sigh as he retraced the steps he had to do in order to get across to where the trap door laid. Blood dripped from the otherwise invisible lines which made things easier to remember. The thief descended the ladder making no sound as he climbed down. The room was nearly pitch black with the exception for the candle that was lit on the short table, nearly out of wax to continue burning the flame suffocating. The floor was still a mess with the paper and books but this time around, blood, arrows, and clothing was scattered about as well. Some of the paper being soaked through beyond repair. Garrett went and examined the clothing, padding was stitched into it making itseem as if it was still being occupiedMine worker clothing; Whats he doing with these?... As he examined, Garrett came across many holes that soaked through the cloth one in the left shoulder and one where the right side lung would be located, the rest seem to hit the lower torso. Did they ever get him Garrett thought as he searched for the gem to no avail.
Scanning the room the master thief noticed beside the desk a human sized lump was stationed on the floor, barley moving with slow, shallow breaths, Garrett approached it with caution the gem should be on him somewhere. Moving gently Garrett notice something very odd about the figure before him, long hair scattered from its head, the body was more figurative then any male would be. A woman? Reaching to touch her face. The body shifted around grabbing his wrist with a sloppy speed "don't" the familiar deep feminine voice ordered it's that bar maid... "what do you want, Garrett?" she uncharacteristically snapped slowly getting up. As she emerged to the light, her torso seemed to only wear bandages, that had bled through a little bit around the right shoulder and lower abdomen, the wench also wore black baggy trousers that covered the rest of her body. With a very practice swish she held up a dagger at him, placing it right in his juggler with enough force to only keep it steady "let me guess... Keepers" she spoke with venom in her fading voice her red eyes glancing just over where he stood expecting to see someone else.
With over whelming evidence Garrett stated in a cocky tone "who knew; the Shadow Runner turns out to be a woman" "shut it" Evelynn barked pushing him away. The force knocking both of them unbalanced, a red line emerged on the thief's neck. The wound was shallow as Garrett ducked into the shadows, his dusty dagger at the ready. Evelynn was on the floor, breathing heavily as her wounds teared. Blood soaked through the bandages, dripping on the floor. "I get it, it's all about the money" she whispered looking at her right hand, where a disfigured mark rested, eventually looking right at him she asked "did they tell you how i will destroy the world?" a smirk escaped as she slowly stood back up, knees shaking as she went to the bookcase and tilted one of the many books, a bare wall slid open to reveal a variety of clothing and equipment. Garrett only nodded to her question reluctant to speak. With a flash she tore down a long, emroded robe with long sleeves and wraped it around her muscular frame "there, now will you be able to speak?" Akira smiled lightly as she tied a rope around herself covering her scares and deathly pale skin. "I can see where your hidden no matter what technique you use, just come out" she demanded giving him a harsh gaze.
Emerging from the thick of the shadows Garrett sheathed the dagger and spoke "they said you'll be the destruction of us all" he put bluntly, slowly making to the desk and leaned on the wall "and you don't believe them?"
"no.."
"you should after all i had a flashback and just attacked one my breathern"
"so that keeper who talked to me was.."
"his name is Takura, one of our last medic's, has a talent for it, he taught me a little bit before recent events. But that's all history." an awkward silence filled the room her brown eyes fixed on a corner of the room, as if reminiscing a certain part of her life, getting a little aggitated it was Garrett who broke it "are you going to give it to me or not?" He snorted leaning on the desk, looking at the small flame as it went out, leaving them in a pitch black room with no source of light from the outside, he only heard cloth moving from the opposite end where he stood, eventually her voice escaped the darkness "In short yes, but only to you. The Keepers have no recollection on what to do with it and besides give it to that leader of theirs is well... i rather die then give it to him" I know that feeling... with a grinding sound a spark and flame brought to life of another long, slender, candle the room laminated slightly but not to the standards of other homes "what makes you think I'm not going to just give it to them anyways, even why would i even consider to keep it." "well" she gestured him to the low table and took a seat "shall we discuss the terms then? Or would you like to stay here til the end of your days" with a sigh he sat on the opposite side of the table on one of the pillows and listened.