Shadows
Chapter 5: Winter's Bite
Lucy looked out at the cold winter night, letting the breeze flow through her hair. Warmth glowed behind her as Natsu moved up towards her. "Winter's such a beautiful season." Lucy spoke softly.
"Are you hoping for snow?" Natsu asked, leaning over the ledge, sticking his face out in the breeze next to Lucy's.
"Yeah." Lucy sighed with a calm smile. "I really hope it snows." Natsu turned to her with a gentle expression and smiled the big goofy grin she adored. She giggled, looking back out to the vacant night streets. "Thanks Natsu."
"For what?" Natsu asked distantly.
"Protecting me." Lucy sighed with a gentle breath of cold air. Natsu turned to her sharply in surprise. It settled into a thin line as he smiled, draping a heavy arm over her shoulder.
"Anytime, Luce!" Natsu gave her a thumbs up. "We're nakama after all." Lucy nodded giving him a small high-five.
"Let's get some sleep." Lucy said, closing the window. Natsu leapt across to her bed, almost reaching its soft cozy sheets. "Couch!" Lucy snapped, freezing Natsu stiff. A pout set hard on his face as he turned and sulked back over to the couch.
Lucy tossed and turned, but sleep wouldn't come. Rolling onto her side, she sighed in frustration. Across the room, she saw pink hair glittering under the light pouring through her window. Soft, gentle snoring whistled across the room. For some reason, Lucy felt at peace watching the dragon slayer sleep. Seeing him calm kind of reflected inside of her. A blush crept up on her cheeks and her heart skipped a little beat. What am I doing?, Lucy gasped in thought. "It's just because I'm tired." Lucy deduced, rising from her bed to get a glass of water.
As she walked back to bed with a half-full glass of water in hand, she stopped by the couch. Brown eyes slid across the couch and landed on the sleeping boy. Natsu's face and expression looked adorable as he mumbled some kind of insult to Gray. "You're so cute when you sleep." Lucy whispered, setting the glass on the table. For a while, Lucy crouched beside him, watching the boy's strange sleeping face.
Subconsciously, she had reached out to touch his soft pink hair. When she realized, she retracted her hand quickly and stood up. "What am I doing?" Lucy whispered. She shook her head softly at herself. Her hand rustled Happy's blue fur and he rumbled and little purr. Lucy chuckled, turned and moved to go back to bed.
Something clasped around her wrist, jerking her back. Lucy tumbled backwards into a warm chest and arms that wrapped around her waist. Lucy gasped as a voice mumbled behind her. "Luce is mine~!" Lucy's heart went wild in her chest, pumping a hot sensation across her body. Lucy didn't need to see to know she was blushing.
Instinctively, Lucy fought Natsu's strong embrace and escaped, scrambling backwards. "What was that?" Lucy huffed, trying to catch her breath. Natsu slept soundless, with Happy snoring at his feet. Lucy shakily stood up, watching Natsu with a gentle disbelief. "That shocked me."
"It should." A voice whispered behind her, like gentle silk. Lucy gasped as a hand snapped over her mouth. She was dragged backwards into strong arms that easily fought her attempt at escape. A scream tried to escape her mouth but it was smothered into a silent murmur. Lucy's arm reached down to her belt. It wasn't there. Lucy's hand patted her waist desperately. A glint across the room caught her eye. Her belt! It was sat on the dresser on the far end of the room. She...She'd taken it off. Legs kicked, arms wriggled and her head shook, but Lucy couldn't break free. She was losing the fight and getting dragged back on her heels. Natsu and Happy slept peacefully on the couch, unaware of the situation.
Her only chance was to get their attention. She was nearing the door, inches from the couch, grazing distance from the table beside it. The table! That was it! Still sat close to the edge of the small table, was the glass of water, one knock from falling. Getting as close as she could, Lucy swung her leg. It hooked around the table leg and she pulled. The glass jerked sideways, rocked and tipped, falling hard towards the floor. A flutter of hope burst in Lucy's heart.
A hand sprang out of nowhere, catching the glass and water in one fluid motion. Another man in black had appeared. That was her last chance. Hope vanished and she was slipping out of the door. The other man sighed silently in relief as a small drip of sweat trickled down his face. It dripped from his chin, falling to the floor. Before he could react, it landed with a splash on the floor. Lucy felt the man holding her's head snap to the side at the man. The other man looked petrified. Lucy could only seem him in the doorway before she was jerked back down the stairs.
Glass smashing echoed through the foyer, making the man hasten his pace. The man threw open the building door, swinging Lucy's struggling body threw it.
Suddenly, something cashed in front of her from above, spitting torn up concrete and dust.
"And I was hopin' for this to be simple." Her capturer's voice groaned softly. As the dust cleared, Lucy could make out a pink blur standing in their way.
"Natsu!" Lucy yelped under the cover of the man's hand.
"You!" his voice rippled as he stepped out the smoke. "GIVE LUCY BACK TO ME!" he yelled, throwing a flaming punch straight towards his face. A hiss snapped from the man's lips into her ear. The man whirled backwards, recoiling back into the house and dragging Lucy along.
Suddenly, figures in black began to pour out the shadows. They began filing in the door, blocking Natsu's path.
Lucy was dragged and dragged through the floors of the corridor. They passed through a small kitchen. A little red stove, microwave and blue counters were scattered over the white tiled floor. Brown orbs jumped around, taking in everything like she was on an adrenalin rush. Lucy caught something in the corner of her eyes. There was an open doorway with a crack giving way to a streak of view into the next room. Still, wide red high heel shoes filled with thick, short legs peaked through. The landlady! A whimper of fright escaped out of her smothered lips. Was she dead? No. She won't be. They probably just knocked her out. Still, she couldn't let them get away with it.
Noise and voiceless rattles echoed through the corridor. Lucy wriggled more and more, kicking and throwing herself back and forth. Lucy managed to get a good kick in his knee and his leg buckled. As the man fell, he collapsed against the door they came through, slamming it closed. Before he got up, Lucy quickly ransacked the draws until she found something useful. Holding a silver stained butchers knife in one hand and a fine pointed knife in the other, Lucy wielded them at him.
Dressed in black, leather attire, he wore a mask and a hat that dipped and the top half of his face. Long, jet hair spilled down half his back, tied in a low hanging pony tail. Dark eyes looked up under the narrow cut of the rim of his hat, watching her intensely. The hat dropped back down.
Lucy's hands shook as the blades felt heavy in her hand. Those eyes were so...familiar. An image flashed across her eyes. A tall man with dark eyes. They were masked by the shadows, coating the hallway. The barred gate swung open with a horrifying creak. Shiny, glossed shoes took an echoing footstep into the light. Shadows reeled up his dark suit, as moon light washed over his open white shirt and loose silk tie. A sharp chin pierced the shadows into the light. Then his eyes protruded into view, but were still pods of dark abyss. That cold loneliness they radiated felt like it was choking her without sound.
Lucy came crashing back into reality, thrown back into the little kitchen that turned bland and cold. "Y...You...I...I know you!" Lucy stuttered, the blades slipping from her fingers. They landed with an echoing clatter against the floor. It was like a train had crashed straight into her, crushing her chest. All the strength in her legs bled out and she dropped weakly to her knees. Cold tiles numbed against her body that radiated heat and burned, but was slowly freezing on the inside.
"Good," his silky voice whispered. "It would hurt my feeling if ya didn't." Slowly, his body rose up, using the door to stand.
"...I do...But...I don't know. I know but-" Lucy mumbled. A force pounded against her skull. It was like she had been trapped in a bubble for so long and she couldn't escape. Slowly tearing herself apart, wanting- needing to escape. "I know but...who are you?" Lucy whimpered her hands pushing against her temples.
"Damn." The guy growled, dropping to his knees next to her. Lucy mumbled frantically, pushing harder and harder against her head. The man sighed, slipping a hand into his jacket pocket. What he drew out, was a slim, sharp needle. Blue-red liquid glittered in the dim-kitchen lighting. Lucy ignored him, trying to settle her exploding thoughts, expanding and bursting like fireworks in her brain.
The man ripped off the cap and smoothly slid it into her air. Pressure pounded in her arm, pushing into her veins like a solid. Lucy gasped, scrambling backwards. She scuttled back desperately until she collided with the little blue-painted wall. Thoughts slipped from her grasp and her mind went blank. Someone approached, moving slowly like a stalking black cat.
"Lucy." The man called. It was like a soothing lullaby washing over her mind. But a sour taste was dry on her tongue. Lucy stumbled up to her feet, catching another door to her right. It was hidden in the corner, so she hadn't seen it before. Lucy swung it open and a freezing, blundering breeze burst into the room.
"Lucy wait!" His soft voice called behind her as he cautiously approached. She didn't wait. Lucy threw herself out the door and darted into a dark, damp alley. She didn't like him. 'Bad, Bad, Bad' the thought resounded, the feeling echoing in her body, bouncing of her bones.
An icy chill skated up her feet, numbing her skin with frost. Impulse made her sprint left, following the corners. Navy blue skies, clotted with heavy grey clouds, loomed above her. Footsteps pounded behind her, overtaking her pace.
She found herself searching, searching for someone. Not just anyone, but a specific someone. Lucy darted out of the alley, falling into a barren street. Water rushed down a canal beside her, whistling the biting wind. A black carriage lined with silver brass and hooked to two jet shire stallions was waiting a few buildings down. A crater threw up the concrete street into rubble and dust.
For some strange reason, she felt drawn to it. Well, not really it, being the crater, but more for the reason it was there. Why was it there? What did it? Who? Something told her she knew, but the thoughts just wouldn't come. Nevertheless, her bare feet urged her forwards to where her safety waited.
A group of men dressed in black flew backwards onto the pavement ahead of her. Lucy came to a slow stop, scanning them without the slightest edge of sympathy. Footsteps behind her grew louder, coming closer and closer. Lucy flinched as her body jolted forwards into a sprint.
As she darted past the open door of the building, she heard a voice screaming inside. Her body kept moving ignored the sound.
Lucy's feet involuntarily stopped as she heard a voice called out crystal clear. "Lucy!" It called behind her. Her heart began to race, pumping a tingling sensation throughout her body. Unlike before, when the man called her name, it felt warm and welcoming, beckoning the protection and strength she desired.
Suddenly, the urge inside of her made her body whirl, her voice unconsciously calling out a name that burned a longing and warmth for him. "NATSU!" The familiarity rolled off her tongue, with a smile glistening on her lips.
Scraggly pink hair sprung out in random spikes. A strong built body was covered in bruises and cuts. Dark, onyx eyes washed over her with concern. The white scaly scarf floated around his neck. Red hot flames dissipated from his clenched fists, squeezing with intensity. His strained face settled into a relieved smile. "Lu-" his voice whispered softly before his face suddenly contorted with shock. "LUCY!" Natsu cried, his body jumping into a run.
Lucy didn't even notice the shadow of the man loom up behind her. The pale, strong fingers silently pushed into her throat. The slow steady pulse of his body pounded gently on her skin. Soft, gentle breath steamed and melted against her numb skin. Though gentle and soft, his hands were pounding magic energy down her throat. Lucy gasped a startled cough of shock. It was practically pouring out of him. The tingle of magic felt familiar and welcomed by her body as if it was hers to begin with. It rushed and absorbed into her skin, filling a small empty space inside of her.
"I'll be seein' you again," His voice whispered in her ear, colder than the winter air. "I'll be waitin'." like a cloud of smoke, he disappeared, his hand slipping from her neck.
Breaking out into a sprint, Lucy ran and ran as fast as she could until the warmth of his chest pressed warmly against her cheek. Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her in tight. Cold tears slid down her cheeks as she sobbed in fright as her body shivered in fear. "Sh, calm down, Luce. It's okay; he's gone." Natsu whispered frantically, scared of Lucy's fright, unable to do anything but hold her.
"I was so, so scared." Lucy cried, her hands tightening around Natsu's back, holding on as hard as she could. Natsu held her tightly as she cried on the cold chilling nights of the on coming winter.
:O. GASP*!
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-A-ccentric