Chapter Nineteen- Bleeding Out

"I will never let the darkness reach your heart my love, therefore I will sacrifice myself to take it all" -Enali Raku's Final Words to David Hargreaves in a video memo.

Jiangsu China

Enali knelt to the ground, running her fingers through the mud. It had only been a few months since she had left everyone.

"This is where they were last sighted" she whispered as she took out a small data pad.

Images of several Exos flashed across the screen. She sighed as she stopped on one that seemed familiar.

"Elise... Why..."

A twig snapped. Enali swung around, a sidearm drawn ready to fire. A small creature hopped past her.

"Come on Enali.. Get a grip..." She said to herself as she stood to her feet.

A light rain began to fall as she continued her trek through what remained of the once bustling city.

She had no radar, nothing. She left all her armor back on the ship with her aunt and took only what was needed. She hoped that she could talk some sense into the Exos.

A wire tugged against her foot. She looked down as she noticed the trip mines that had been set.

"Tch.."

A whistle echoed through the air as the mines exploded around her in a fiery display. Shrapnel pelted the wall behind her as smoke and fire swirled.

"Well if she isn't already dead.." An Exo said rather loudly.

A throwing knife penetrated the smoke, lodging itself into the Exo's arm.

"It's not easy to kill her, I worked with her a long time" a female Exo exclaimed.

The smoke drifted away, revealing a small shimmering orb.

Enali spit blood onto the ground as she ripped what was left of her jacket from her body.

"I was hoping I could avoid the confrontation.." She said as she pulled another knife from a pocket on her pants.

"You should have known that wouldn't be possible..."

"I need your help Elise..."

The remaining Exo appeared before Enali, fist raised prepared to strike.

Enali smirked, raising her fists ready to fight. She knew it was a losing battle, taking on Three Exo.

"There is nothing that you need here, Enali, I ask that you leave before we do away with you" Elise replied.

The Exo before her raised his arms higher, arc energy coursing across his body. He gazed down at Enali who was still poised for a fight.

"Erase And Rewrite..." She whispered, "Protocol November Seven Seven Two"

The Exo Titan brought his fist down in a flash of arc energy, causing a giant explosion.

Elise shielded her eyes as the intensity grew.

The striker roared as he saw that Enali still stood in defiance, her knife holding back his fist.

"Not possible..." Elise said as she lowered her hand.

Enali screamed as she felt the flesh on her arms burn from the intense heat of the arc energy. Ever so slightly she pushed upward with her knife, causing the Titan to stagger.

"Kailen, that's enough!"

"NO! I WILL WIPE HER FROM THE FACE OF THE PLANET!"

Enali pushed the Titan away from her, dropping to her knees as her body smoked. She had exhausted all of her energy trying to combat the Exo.

"Kailen, back to base, NOW!" Elise said as she stepped over to Enali.

Enali slumped over onto the ground, her body sinking into the mud. Smoke and the smell of burnt flesh wavered into the air, causing Elise's filters to go wild, causing a gag like emotion.

"Your ghost.. Why are you without it? Do you want to die?" She asked, kneeling beside her.

"If... It keeps me from causing David harm then yes..." Enali muttered, almost inaudibly.

"Ah, the warlock... I assumed it was something to do with him, but look at you, you are in no condition to do anything, even beg.."

Enali turned her head slightly, the skin on the side of her face burned. She couldn't see anything.

"Defiant to the end..." Elise said, "you know that's why I always liked you..."

Elise gently scooped Enali into her arms as she made her way back to the base.

"We help you, you help us..." She said as she pushed the door open, "that's how this is going to work"

Elise set Enali down gently into a chair.

"Kailen, prepare the chamber.."

Kailen looked at Elise, obviously dumbfounded as to why they were helping Enali.

"We need to access the archives, getting her in will be our way in"

"But this could potentially break her entirely. We would ultimately be sending her to her death even though the machine will heal her"

Elise carefully removed the remaining articles of clothing from Enali's body. She sighed as she remembered being Human once.

"Do as I say, Kailen, or would you want a second encounter with the legendary Hunter"

Kailen shook his head as he picked Enali up, carefully placing her in a small chamber. He attached various machines to her, as well as an oxygen tube.

"I hope you know what your doing"

"Kailen, this girl is OUR only hope. I would not have asked otherwise. What would Saint say if he was here.."

"Do not try and tell me what he would say, this isn't about him, this is about the girl killing us if she comes out of all this alive..."

Elise sighed and typed in several commands. She glanced at Kailen, hoping he would understand everything in time.

"Enali is strong, Kailen, and I do not look to us being alive if she returns. The others will come for her, we can only hope to hold off for long enough... But the Enali that will return will be very different"

The casing around Enali sealed off as a light liquid filled in around her.

"Endure my friend.. We all need you to survive.. Even him"

Elise set a small picture of David beside the container before she wandered off through the halls.

Eternal Light, Unknown Coordinates

Evie ran her fingers through her hair, trying to figure out where her niece went. She shoved all the papers from her desk.

"I've never seen you this upset.." Tenshi said as he sat across from her, propping his boots on the table.

"For fucks sake Tenshi, that's..."

"Your niece, I know. But I have a solution that might work"

"Oh? What's that?"

Two hunters appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame respectively.

"Aracela... Eren.."

Evie closed her eyes, "I am not here for fucking games Tenshi, I need trackers that can..."

A knife landed blade down between her fingers. She looked at the shortest Hunter, a scowl on her face.

"Pardon the knife, but we aren't here for you, we are here for her. I ask that you allow me and my husband to handle the recovery"

"With all due respect ma'am, we are the best ones to go after her" Eren said as he crossed his arms, "however, we require the use of one other.."

Evie growled, clenching her fist.

"Calm down you old hag, it's a simple track and recovery mission" Aisu said as she stepped into the room, her Ace of Spades handing by her side.

"You will not tell..."

"Tell you to calm down? Need I remind you who's ship your on?" Aisu said as she motioned for Aracela and Eren to move to the hangar.

"Listen, we will return with her in one piece, anything less would be a mission failure"

"Fine.. Last trace of her tracker was somewhere in China.."

Aisu bowed sarcastically, "thank you your royal assholeness" she snickered as she walked out.

"Listen, Evie, they're the best hope of finding her, without alerting the Shadows or even potentially House Rouge. They'll be fine" Tenshi said as he looked over his knife.

"I hope your right..." She said glancing at the door, "let's hope for all our sakes, she is alive and that they succeed."