Darkness consumed him...
As the blasting ring in his ears begun to fade, and his lead weight eyelids finally managed to flutter open, he found himself being dragged by his ankles. His head throbbed painfully and confusion made its way into clouding his thoughts. What had happened to result in his being dragged was beyond him. All he knew was that it probably wasn't good.
And why were people staring at him? He only turned his head slightly side to side to see the faces of equally confused bystanders. But there was also disgust and some form of unwillingness in their eyes that told him that he couldn't rely on anyone of them to stand up against this mistreatment.
The two men suddenly dropped his ankles, and one spoke out for all to hear.
"We have found one of them! One of their own!" He announced. Then kicked him in the side, he cursed as he pulled his arm towards his side, protecting the possibly bruised skin from further abuse. "Now, he send him and his collaborator to death!"
The man drew a sword and pointed it at the other, to which the latter backed away with his hands up in defence. "You said that I would be spared if I gave you his location! Why do you turn on your word?"
"I only needed you to help drag his ass here." The other spat. "I hope you enjoy death." Then he swung the blade across his chest, the man fell with a slash that stained his white robes red and left him to bleed on the dirt street. The man pushed his sword back into his shealth then turned to him. "As for you, cripple..." He grabbed him by the robes and hauled him to his unsteady feet, glaring him right in the eye. "I hope you can swim."
And with that, the man threw him behind him, and he was forced to fall into a river, sinking deeper as his lungs begun to burn. He only continued to sink, despite trying to kick towards the surface. It was little use. Very little use.
Then a silloette broke the surface, coming closer. He wanted to light a candleand see this stranger's face, but as you can tell, a candle underwater wouldn't work so well. All he could see was bright blue eyes before he allowed himself to slip under again to escape the burn of his lungs about to give.
He found himself coughing harshly, water drippling from his lips as he tried to expel the sufficating liquid from his lungs. Because his arm clutched his chest, he wasn't turned over, merely laying on his side. Because of the position, the water slipped down from the corner of his mouth down to the ground where his cheekbone touched the ground.
A hand then gently decented on him, rubbing his shoulder blade carefully. Though his vision restricted him from see the man's face, he still looked up at it as he fought his mind for a name. He couldn't come up with one. All he knew was the eyes, what he thought were a cobalt blue were really a deep gold. Eyes that should have set his thoughts in motion, spark the closed of portion of his brain, only gave him anger which he could not explain.
The hand took hold of his shoulder now in a firm grip as the person's voice rang in his fuzzy mind. "Malik? Are you alright?"
That voice. He knew he should have known it. He couldn't place it. All he knew was that it only made his anger burn harsher. He pulled away from the hand, and rolled on his stomach, coughing still as he pushed himself to a sit. At that moment, he just wanted answers, and this person- whoever he was- probably had them. "Where am I? And who are you?"
With his vision returning, he could see the man's face shadowed by a white hood. The paler skin, and a scar that cut the side of his mouth, splitting his lips. He was kneeling beside him. To his questions, he appeared shocked to say the least. "You must be blind, brother. It's me, Altair."
That name... it was familiar... he didn't know where. He wasn't sure where. And what he had called him, "Malik". His name maybe? And "brother"? Were they related or something? Why else would he call him by such? It made little sense if they weren't. His mind was far from calm.
"I guess it would be pointless in wishing you safety and peace." This man, Altair stated. And then he asked again, "Are you alright?"
Shaking his head, he scooted away from him. "No. Now get away from me."
"Hey, the least you could be is grateful, I pulled your ass out of the water." Altair scolded, irritated. "And you know I'm not a good swimmer..." He grumbled a moment later.
"Would you like a medal?" He retorted, trying to keep his composure with a wall of cyicism and sarcasim. "And no, I don't know."
Now that was way made Altair truly alarmed. He stared at him with his jaw slightly slag before he shook it from his expression. "Wha- what do you mean? It was you and Kadar who almost drowned me to begin with!" He laughed, rather unnerved, trying to settle himself.
"I did?" Can anyone spell confusion? C-O-N-F-U... ugh! Big words hurt head! You get the point. Anyways, he just sat there staring at Altair with an unchanging curious and unknowing look.
Altair stiffened. Then finally took him by the shoulders and glared right at him. It seemed like seconds ticked away like hours until he finally asked hesitantly, "You really have no clue, do you?"
"Not one..." He answered bluntly. "Because that's not what I've been implying this entire time."
Altair sighed heavily. "Of all things, you don't loose your sharp tongue..." Then he stood up and held a hand out for him. "Well, at least I found you and not someone else. Come on, Malik, we should get back to the Bureau. Before whoever threw you in the river finds out you're alive."
He nodded and took the hand, allowing himself to be pulled to his feet. This started their long walk back.
Yup, second chapter already. I couldn't keep away... Oh well. Hope you like.
Reviews fuel my fic, leave one please! :D