Part IV – Assassin's Mistake
The weeks dragged on slowly after the library incident.
Apparently, Xigbar had been hanging upside down somewhere outside and heard the commotion. Xemnas found out some time after that, of course seeing as Xigbar has an unusually floppy mouth, and had given Larxene and Moxina a stern lecture. It must have scared the hell out of the newer member, because she refused to even get near the blonde for days on end. Larxene, of course, continued to taunt the poor girl.
As the days limped on, Moxina began to lighten up towards me, though the others still didn't seem to keen on getting to know her. We began hanging out more and more, until we were very close friends. The place we met most was the library, and it was becoming like a ritual for me and Demyx (he only tagged along to 'watch out for me') to meet there early and stay until midday. We would then meander back to do our own thing for the remaining hours.
I could see the way she side glanced at Zexion. It wasn't unnoticeable; the way she would try and get us to sit closer to him. Not that that needed doing; he was already a good buddy and reading partner, even if he preferred solitude. She offered to do things for Zex too many times. 'Here, I'll hold those books for you. Would you like me to find that one for you?' Sometimes it bugged me, and I know it pissed him off. But he owed Moxina for sticking up for him against Larxene, so he kept his mouth shut.
I had learned a lot about her in our days together. Her formal name was Shadow of the Unknown. Of course, her element was darkness-or shadows, if you like- which is why she was often called 'shady' by the local comic, Xigbar.
Today, I was meeting Moxie(as she was now called) in our usual spot. Sadly, Demyx couldn't come with me today because he had an assignment to fulfill. It was a simple task, so I didn't worry much about him.
I saw Moxina standing somewhere close to the back rows as I walked in. Zexion was sitting somewhere off to the right, holding up an extremely thick book. She jumped clear out of her skin when I silently approached. That, obviously, made me laugh.
"How come you have to be such a quiet stepper?" She hissed, clutching her chest.
"Because I'm a genius!" I grinned widely, "Now, what's up today? I'd like to get back early, since its already getting late, and so I can see if Dem's back."
"Well, I can't find this once book: The Tranquility…"
And so, we searched endlessly for the book. By the gods, it took hours. Hours upon hours upon hours to search through the entire library! There was no wonder when I heard her screech or huff quietly every now and then. So impatient.
After a while, the lilac haired man left, leaving us to ourselves.
But, I finally found it. High up on a shelf only I could reach, seeing as Lexaeus wasn't here and poor Moxina was short. I called her over, and held it up to my chest to boast.
"Thank you so much!" Moxina said happily as I handed her the novel, "Now, Zexion wanted to talk to me, so I have to go. Bye, Gipxeon!" She waved, ponytail bouncing, as she bounded out of the library. I gave her slight thumbs up, forcing a smile.
Everyone knew she fancied the Schemer. She was always practically hanging from his shoulders. I should understand why she was so happy that Zexion wanted a private meeting with her, but he had already explained every bit of it to me. So, I sighed guiltily and moved out into the hallway.
The sky outside was pitch black.
Once out of the large area, I shimmied to face the doors so I could close them. Groaning in exhaustion, I turned back around to walk to my room. I didn't feel like opening a portal; I might stop by Demyx's room and bid him goodnight.
I hadn't walked far when I heard footsteps behind me. Probably someone doing a midnight patrol. So I stopped, and sighed once again, this time in slight agitation that I was being followed.
"Who's there?" I asked boredly. The footsteps continued until the person was behind me, and I could feel them looming over me. Might be Lexaeus. But the voice doesn't come from the shy giant;
"Hello there, Number XIV..." Oh god no, not Marluxia. That stupid perverted bastard would stalk anyone down the hallway, man or woman. I whipped around to face the lightly haired man.
The look on his face was frightening. He was grinning; a smug, evil-looking grin. I knew instantly that I was about to slip into a living nightmare.
"Don't you fucking dare come near me, Marluxia! I swear I'll coat your shitty little eyes in something so fowl, you won't be able to see and you'll want to kill yourself from the pain!" I snarled, backing up. He was rounding on me and approaching in a way that I slid into the wall. The contact startled me. Oh gods, please please no! I knew what was coming.
"Hey! There's no need to get violent, I haven't done anything yet."
"Yet?" I repeated quietly "I swear I'll do it if you touch me." He was getting closer. I felt the sweat of panic already rolling down my forehead and cheeks. I didn't want to know what the consequences were for attacking another member of the Organization, but after the minor incident with Moxina, I had a hint that punishment would be worse.
"Of course you would," he chuckled sarcastically. He then reached out and gently caressed my cheek. I slapped it away with such brutality, he yelped. "But first, I'll get what I want."
"What?! Fuck no! HEL-!" I was completely cut off as Marluxia snapped, the wild look in his eyes like fire, and a splitting pain rattled violently through the back of my skull. He had pushed me back against the wall so fast that my head had whip lashed, hitting the cold metal twice. It nearly knocked me out cold, but I couldn't let the bastard do anything to me.
He had me completely pinned to the wall, one hand cutting off the circulation from my left elbow and preventing movement. The other hand had shoved my head to one side while he had completely plastered his lips to the dip of sensitive skin of my shoulder. His hand against my lips muffled the startled and panicked cry into a pathetic moan. The pain was forming from my head across my arm and susceptible neck tendons.
With my free arm, I was clawing at the man's stomach, digging my long nails into his shirt. To no avail through the cloth. I tried to scream. To call out desperately for help, but he had my mouth covered. He was beginning to nip viciously, and was moving his ferocious lips up my searing neck and to my jaw.
I would have severe bruises for sure from all of this.
He was growing closer to my lips. I was struggling frantically with all that I had. My legs kicking against the body pressed against me. My hand still swung violently against his hips.
I felt tears of pain rolling down my cheeks now; panic had swept over me long ago.
I felt like giving up. He was too strong for me. I couldn't concentrate enough to poison him. Marluxia had me now for sure.
But then, two things happened at once. Everything went entirely fuzzy and two high pitched screeches deafened me momentarily. Dear god, I'll never forget the screams. Horrific, yet amazing at how someone could produce such a sound in their throats.
One must have come from me, because when I snapped back to life, I felt hoarse.
Things are becoming clearer now, and I realize that I'm not pressed against the freezing wall anymore. And Marluxia isn't near to raping me. In fact, his lying crumpled on the ground.
It took me a moment to take in what was going on around me. I noticed that the Assassin was taking in only small, wheezing breaths with seemingly great difficulty. He was also clutching his sides and by the small whimpering noises he made, I could tell he was sobbing from pain. His pink locks sprawled across his features, so I couldn't tell much else.
Everything came crashing back then. I noticed that blood was beginning to soak into his clothing from where he clutched his right side. I pulled my hands to my face, and saw the tips.
Along the place where the claw-like markings where engraved, was a red liquid.
My eyes widened. In my moment of blackout, I, or something, had nearly killed Marluxia. But how?
I began to open my mouth to call out for help, but snapped it back closed as the severing heat of pain ripped across my face from the corner of my lips. I doubled over onto the floor, hands and knees propping me up weakly. My face fell, and I noticed deep black blood dipping onto the floor from my mouth. Pip, pip, pip.
Oh god, oh god oh god!
Marluxia had bitten down hard when I, or whatever it was, had attacked him. Panic clutched at my chest, my stomach retched and emptied itself, and I tried to scramble out and away.
I was bawling out of fear and panic. It was an engulfing feeling. I could sense it everywhere and with everything. I could hear it, see it, touch it, taste it, and even smell it all around me. But I didn't make a sound as I tried helplessly to crawl away. Crawl away and find help.
I inched away forever. All eternity it took.
"Gipxeon?" the heavens spilled everything onto me at that voice. That sweet voice like music "Gipxeon?!"
I pulled up my spinning head. Pulled it up so I could see the angel that had been sent to save me from this living nightmare. Oh my gods. Oh good god and goddess! I was mentally speechless. Demyx!!
I managed to yank myself up as he ran towards me from the corner he had turned from. I was able to suck the rest of the strength from my body and fling myself into his arms.
Now I was whimpering violently. Crying so hard, it might have drowned me. Demyx was caressing my back hard, ramming his hands through my hair in his own fear and I sobbed into his shirt. I was shaking, but he was shivering too.
"Gipxeon! Holy shit, Gipxeon, what the hell happened?! Blood's gushing from your lip!!!" He pushed me to arms length, keeping his comforting arms wrapped around my shoulders. I could see his fear and concern. His eyes searched me intensely. But I didn't have enough power anymore and I let my legs bend beneath me as I toppled to the ground. I just wanted to lay there and sleep. Sleep forever. Never again wake up.
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Demyx didn't know what to do. There she was, her face paling, and lying crumpled on the ground. A small pool of black blood was forming on the ground from her ripped open lip. He noticed that she also had a large cut on her arm and numerous hickies and bruises on her neck, shoulders, and collar bone.
He started to lift her onto her feet. Started to take her away with his arm under her almost lifeless body. He needed to find help for her. But she trembled violently, eyes snapping open and staring into nothing. Her lips shivered; tried to part, but the pain kept her back. Gipxeon began to frantically mumble and hum from the deep of her throat. Demyx knew instantly that she was trying desperately to say something.
"What? Its ok, I've got you..." he whispered softly at her.
"M...Ma-" she winced, "Marl..."
"Go on. Marl. Marl who?"
"Mar-lux..." Gipxeon gave an odd shudder and fell even limper, but she was still trying to push out the word. Her hand gave feeble waves behind her that he didn't understand.
"Marlux...ia," she said no more. The dead weight in Demyx's hands grew intensely. She had fainted right then and there.