Chapter 24: Running from Carter
Anna couldn't sleep, the adrenaline that ran through her veins hadn't gone away. All she could really think was protect Elsa. As if it was an internal command that her brain kept repeating like a broken record. She didn't care that the danger was over, she still eyed the Samson's body like he would get up and try to hurt Elsa once more.
Then Anna would get paranoid and watch the door, looking for anyone to appear and walk into the room. She didn't care that they were the only two in the house now. At one point Anna had growled at the house creaking a little. That woke Elsa up a little and she had only tightened her grip on Anna telling her to shush.
Tell me the rest of that story.. I need to relax. I need a distraction. Anna felt a shifting and then a yawn.
I can tell you the rest I suppose. Voice hummed a little in thought. Do you remember where I was?
Anna frowned and thought back two days. Um I think you were talking about Protector needing help to fight Fallen One.
Voice chuckled, oh right. I remember now.. Voice made a noise like he was clearing his throat and he began the rest of the story.
Protector went to the people and convinced them he was good. That he would save them if only they would help him. They needed to stop believing in Fallen One. Stop the rituals and believe in him instead.
After a long eight years Protector had gained enough followers, had given enough warmth and light to the people that they could over power Fallen One. Protector rounded up his people, and he took them to Fallen One.
Protector found Fallen One sitting upon a grand throne, Fallen One had his own army of people, people who he granted the ability to fly much like him.
Their wings were mere shadows of the beautiful white wings on Protector and Fallen One. These people believed in Fallen One more than Protector and they wore cloaks of black, dark gray and had symbols of green.
Fallen One laughed at the sight of Protector standing with his own army of people. They wore clothing of white, light gray and symbols of blue. They were the picture of light and good and Fallen One was disgusted.
"So brother! Creator sends you to be rid of me? Does Creator not see the good I bring to the world? The order?" Fallen One stood and held his arms out, gesturing to the world around him. The world around him was bleak and gray, the sun always blocked out by the clouds.
Protector pulled out his dual twin swords, tossing the hood of his white cloak off his head. "You have done nothing but bring chaos to this world Fallen One! I will give you one last chance to repent! To fix things and admit your wrongs. Creator will forgive you, I am sure of it. It does not need to end like this."
Fallen One unclipped his black cloak to unfurl his white wings, stretching them out far. "I have done no wrong. It will always end in bloodshed. Its what we are meant to do." Fallen One pulled a massive claymore from behind him and he charged forward. The humans, clothed in black and white charged forward as well.
The clashing of steel and cries of the wounded fueled Fallen One on. Their pain gave him power, the fear they reeked. The anger itself brought him power.
Fallen One swung his heavy sword and sliced Protector's people in half. He laughed as the rest backed off slightly to stare at their dead comrades. "Weak! You believe you can defeat me?"
Two steel swords swung in from the left and Fallen One barely lifted his sword to block the attack. Protector snarled at him, swinging again. Fallen One ducked and slammed the hilt of his sword in Protectors face.
Protector fell back, blue blood falling from his mouth. He spat it out and glared at Fallen One. The humans had made a circle around them, each cheering their leaders on. Protector gained power from the hope, from Creator himself. Protector fed off the love, the joy of the people. Off their willpower to fight the evil that was Fallen One.
The angel unbuttoned his cloak, letting it fall to the ground. He flared his wings out and Fallen couldn't help but stare. The white of Protectors wings was more pure, and they carried the warmth of the sky. A feeling that Fallen One had lost when he fell. Fallen One dropped his sword, eyes trained on Protectors wings. Oh how he hated that he wanted that feeling again.
Protector smirked and he lunged forward, one sword piercing Fallen One in the gut, the other near his shoulder. Fallen One screamed and fell to his knees, blue blood falling from his wounds.
"Anything more to say before I finish you?" Protector asked, wanting to give his brother one last chance.
Fallen One let out a painful sound. A mixture between a cry and laughter. The white in Fallen One's wings drained into a terrible black. With a wheeze Fallen One locked his eyes onto his brothers.
"I will return brother. Stronger, more powerful than before. And I will rise with my champion. No one will stop us and I will watch you and Creator burn." Protector and his believers laughed outright.
"We have won already. You are defeated. Sentenced to death. There is no champion." Protector started to pull on the swords, meaning to take them out so he could finish his brother off but Fallen One laughed, startling the angel.
With loud snarl Fallen One glared at the humans with dangerously beautiful green eyes. "Created from obsession, born from lost love, a creature stuck between two different worlds. The champion will change the world and it will listen only to me. You will all fall against its power. Darkness shall rise. Earth will be mine once more.."
Protector shook his head and he yanked his swords free from Fallen One's body dropping them to the ground. Protector lifted his brothers heavy sword up from the ground. With a cry he drove it through Fallen One's chest. While he watched the life from his brother drain from his eyes, Protector muttered.
"And I shall create a hero to the people. A figure of beauty and light, of purity. The hero shall be loved by all, including your precious champion. Only the hero can command the champion and the hero will save us all."
After that Protector went around trying to fix the Earth and bringing it back to its natural state. It brought light to those who believed in Fallen One, and it purged the false angels from Earth.
Eventually Protector returned to the sky with his brothers where they were happy once more. Supposedly Protector was waiting for his brother to return to Earth. But many many centuries had passed and there was still no sign of Fallen One. No sign of the Champion.
It is sometimes told that Fallen One is alive, only building power. Sometimes its told that Fallen One only cried for mercy from his brother and received none resulting in his death. Other times it's said that Fallen One surrendered and took off to hide like a coward.
So Fallen One lost and light was brought back to earth? Good defeated evil? Thats so.. boring and cliche. Does the light always win? What ever happened to darkness winning once?
It's just a story tiny creature. One that I have heard many times. I put it together with the classic good versus bad. I just added winged creatures to add interest. I thought I would share it with you. Voice let out a purr. We are darkness though. We are going to defeat Doctor Stone. So in a way, in our own story we are darkness that will win.
Yeah but Doctor Stone is darkness too. Is it weird darkness is fighting darkness?
It does seem strange. Are you relaxed now? Can you sleep now?
Yes. I can sleep now. I don't feel as anxious, more like i'm drained.
It's the adrenaline tiny creature. It's wore off. Sleep now. I will wake you if I hear anything suspicious.
Anna yawned and buried her nose in Elsa's hair, letting sleep have her, but somewhere in the back of her mind she still worried about Elsa, and what would come in the morning.
XxXxXx
Anna woke up to a door slamming down the hall and she snarled loudly. She sat up half covering Elsa with her body, feathers fluffing up. Anna felt panic rush through her. She could run now. Run to the Guardians. But then she would permanently be dubbed a murderer. The only people who ran were the ones who committed a wrong.
And then she would probably never see Elsa again. She couldn't stand for that. Maybe she could bring Elsa with her! But Elsa hated the Guardians and Anna would have to admit she had been spying all along on Elsa. That didn't seem like a good ending. Wouldn't the blame also go on Elsa for murder as well?
All the scenarios ran through her head and she felt Elsa stir and wake up. "Anna? It was probably nothing." Elsa rubbed her eyes, making sure to not look at Samson. She didn't want to think about last night.
"Samson? Miss Roe? Anyone here?" A voice called from down the hall and Anna tensed up. It was Mr. Carter!
Mr. Carter opened the door and Anna didn't expect Mr. Carter to look like an exact copy of Samson. Standing before her was an older version of Samson.
The eyes, the hair, even the scowl on his face. "What in the world?" Mr. Carter took one look at the blood on Anna, her sweater, at his son's dead body and he backed away from the room. He stuck his hand into his pocket taking off down the hall.
Anna growling at him didn't help the situation either. She couldn't help it. He looked so much like Samson she felt that same rage from before stir inside. Elsa touched Anna's cheek and the flier jerked. She stopped her low growl to smile a little at Elsa.
"I protect." Anna murmured, resting her forehead on Elsa's.
"Yes. You protect. But I need you to snap out of it. Can you get me clothes? I need to speak to Mr. Carter. I can't having him assuming the wrong thing. The faster I fix things, the better chance I have of saving you." Elsa bumped her nose on Anna's and the flier nodded.
Anna rolled off the bed and went through the dresser. She pulled out the first things she could find. A pair of jeans and a button up shirt. She blindly grabbed Elsa a pair of underwear and a bra walked over to hand her the clothes.
Elsa sat up and winced, her cheek wasn't as red before. It looked a little swollen, but her wrists and part of her arms looked worse. It was a mixture of rope burn and bruises. Anna sighed, "I wish I got here sooner. I could have stopped this. Maybe then I wouldn't have.. killed Samson."
Elsa pulled the jeans up, buttoning them quickly. "Don't blame yourself. I should have seen it coming. He had been acting strange for the past two days, making me uncomfortable."
Anna blinked. For the past two days I have been listening to Voice.. This is your fault Voice! I wasn't there to watch over her!
Voice growled at her, she could feel how offended he was. Do not blame me! You willingly came to me and we were getting things done. I suppose I shouldn't have stolen your time away. How can we predict such things? No one is to blame but Samson. He did a wrong. And we corrected it.
Anna sighed once more, running a hand through her hair. "You couldn't have seen it coming. No one is to blame for this. Only Samson."
Elsa pulled the shirt over her head, "Okay here is the story. I will tell the truth. About what Samson did to me. You were just an animal protecting its master. I've seen this defense work on dogs and a few other animals. And you haven't shown any aggression to anyone. The only recent wrong you have done is supposedly working with the Guardians. And you are not. This could work Anna."
Anna tilted her head, "And if doesn't work? What happens to me then?"
"Then you get put down."
XxXxXxX
Elsa left Anna in a different room and she went looking for Mr. Carter. While she walked down the hall she called her mother first. "Mother I need a flight home."
Mrs. Roe yawned loudly into the phone. "What is it now? Don't you know that its eight in the morning?"
"Mother please... Anna killed Samson-" Elsa was cut off by a shriek and she held the phone away from her ear. God she didn't need this. All she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and sleep for a few years.
"What!?"
"Anna killed Samson because he.. Because Samson raped me. And I couldn't get the deal for the company to go through. I know thats what you asked for. But Anna and I can't stay here. Mr. Carter came back today, of course.. And I think he assumes that Anna just killed Samson without reason. What do I do mother?"
Mrs. Roe didn't answer a moment, and then she huffed. "Failing again.. Alright fine. I will have police there. Hopefully before Mr. Carter gets someone down there with the wrong idea. I don't want you showering or anything. Your body is evidence right now."
"Evidence?" Elsa went through the kitchen keeping an eye out for where Mr. Carter could have run off to.
"Proof. You need proof. You can't just say someone raped you. And with your flier killing the supposed rapist then it looks real sketchy. It could be a coverup for all the world would know." Her mother sounded upset but Elsa knew she was upset with her. She'd probably get yelled at for not trying hard enough. She wasn't looking forward to that.
"In what world would I ever lie about being raped?" Elsa had to hold herself back from shouting her question into the phone.
"My company has been trying to merge with Mr. Carter's for a long time. This could be some trick up my sleeve for all Mr. Carter knows. Not to mention if your dumb creature decided to kill someone, it's her word against a dead mans. I can make this work." Another sigh and a slight pause. "For now I need you to take pictures of any marks and anything that would help prove what happened did. Then I want you to wait somewhere safe. I will make a call to Mr. Carter and a few others. Wait for the police."
Elsa turned around and headed back towards Anna. She trusted her mother on this. She was always good at bending the law.
"Thank you-"
"Don't thank me yet. This is going to cost me and I want something in return Elsa. Nothing is free. Getting your flier cleared of murder isn't going to be easy." Mrs. Roe yawned and Elsa frowned.
"Of course. I will.. I will do anything. Just help Anna."
"I will help her then. Just remember you said you would do anything Elsa."
XxXxXxX
After Elsa left her alone Anna waited a moment and then she went down the hall as well. She needed those files. Samson's office was empty as it was before and she opened the drawer hastily. After a moment she found the folder, called Project Order.
"Got it." She did a little cheer and she snapped as many clear pictures she could on Project Order. Even if the deal didn't go down with Mrs. Roe this was still important. Guns? Armor? Was Doctor Stone or Mrs. Roe planning a takeover?
Once that was done she put the folder back and while she headed back down the hall she started to send the photos to Kristoff. Anna nearly ran into Elsa and she dropped the phone to the ground in her surprise.
"Anna there you are. I was worried you had run.. Where did you get a phone?" Elsa bent over and picked up the phone, and Anna snatched it back.
"No where important. I like to play games on it and stuff." The flier had to hold the phone away from the blonde who reached for it.
"Let me see it Anna." Elsa grunted and tried to grab the phone again and Anna growled at her resisting the urge to just hand it to her.
"No. It's just a stolen phone from those four guys who took me away for your party. Don't we have more important things to worry about?" Anna shoved the phone down her pants, scowling at Elsa.
"You are right. We need to take pictures of my arms, and then we have to wait until the police that mother is calling gets here. She's going to report it and fix things."
Elsa unbuttoned the little button on the cuff of her sleeve. She pulled the sleeves up and she made Anna take pictures of the marks. Twenty-five minutes later Anna was sitting with Elsa in the room across from the room where Samson still lay.
Anna leaned against the wooden headboard, Elsa was leaning against Anna, wrapped up in arms and wings. Elsa was playing with Anna's fingers to distract herself and to not dwell on the night before.
"Anna I have a question. And I want you to be honest with me." Elsa tipped her head back to rest on Anna's shoulder biting her lip in worry.
"Ask away then."
Elsa gripped Anna's hand and she decided to ask the question on her mind. "Why did you kill him? Why didn't you just knock him out or something?"
Anna pulled her hands free, "Because I was told to. It was the right thing. He said so."
"Who said so? Anna what are you talking about?" Elsa lifted her head and leaned away so she could look at Anna.
Anna looked away, damn she had let it slip a little. Would Elsa believe her about Voice? "There is-"
Anna was cut off by the blaring sound of the song 'Pink Panther'. Elsa jerked and scooted away from Anna reaching into her pocket to pull out her ringing phone. It was Mrs. Roe.
"Elsa you need to leave with Anna now. Mr. Carter already called some of his men in. His OWN men. He is far from happy and I can't send police or do anything because you are in Mr. Carter's state. I have no power where you are. My reach doesn't stretch that far."
"His own men for what?" Elsa didn't like the sound of that. Mr. Carter owned a military company, that sold guns and other items to the army.. Supposedly Mr. Carter had a side bit full of mercenaries.
"He's going to have Anna put down like Old Yeller out in the woods. Leave right now! Get back in our state as fast as you can. I tried to reason with that man but he refuses to believe anything other than what he sees. Which is his dead son and your flier as the culprit."
"Okay. I'll call you when we get back." Elsa hung up and pushed Anna's arms off her. She hopped off the bed, running her hands through her hair. "Anna come."
Anna looked confused by Elsa sudden change but she still followed. "Did something go wrong?"
"Yes. We need to get back home. Or at least back in our own state." Elsa opened the door and a man in wearing digital camo stopped by the door. He immediately grabbed Elsa's arm trying to pull her away from Anna.
His grip was much too rough for her arms and she cried out. "Ow. Let go."
"Stand back miss. It's a wild one." He used his free hand to speak into a radio near his shoulder. "Sir this is Ryan. I found the girl and the flier. Down the left main hall.. Do I shoot it?" Anna growled at him getting ready to pounce on him. The green bled into her eyes and she waited for him to move first.
There was static and a shout. It sounded like Mr. Carter. "Fucking kill it! Do what you must."
Anna pounced with a snarl and Ryan reached for his gun, throwing Elsa away and she hit the wall with a squeal. Anna landed on Ryan and she wrapped her legs around him doing her best to keep his hands off the pistol at his hip. The man fell back against the wall after being unbalanced by Anna's extra weight.
He shouted and turned to slam Anna against the wall. Anna could hear the heavy thuds of footsteps and she panicked. She bit down on the mans shoulder and her fangs pierced through the fabric will little resistance.
Elsa got up off the floor and pulled at Ryans short hair and the three of them tumbled to the ground. Anna stopped biting and sat back on the guys stomach and she punched him on the nose. She heard a crack and his cry made her feel stronger. She smiled.
Hit him again. Feels good doesn't it? His pain.
Anna started to grin and punched him once more. She would have continued but Elsa pulled on her arm. "Anna stop! We have to go."
Voice practically hissed inside Anna's head and she winced. The green in her eyes dulled and she nodded. "Yes. We… go. Of course." Anna got up and she started down the hall, making sure Elsa was in front.
She heard shouts behind her and there were more similarly dressed men and women stomping down the hall. "Faster Elsa.. Run!" Elsa picked up the pace and she turned the corner. Anna was nearly at the corner when the first bullet whizzed past her.
"Why does everyone have to be crazy?" She muttered, hoping nothing hit her. Another four rounds went off and she felt a pinch, and she grabbed the wall to whirl around the corner.
She nearly ran into Elsa who was stopped in the middle of the hall. A dead end. "Anna lets go in this room. We can go out the window." Elsa ran into the nearest room and once Anna was inside she slammed the door shut. Elsa went to the window to open it while Anna pushed the dresser in front of the door.
"Elsa.. How do we actually get out of here? We don't have a driver. The limo guy left the day we got here." Anna climbed out first and she kept an eye out while Elsa went through the window next.
"I guess we could steal their car? No.. We're in enough trouble." Anna heard someone slamming on the door and she picked Elsa up bridal style. "Hey.. you aren't thinking of flying with me are you?"
"Yes." Anna smiled and she unfurled her wings. She could do this. They would be fine. Totally fine. Anna started the slow process of taking off from the ground. It was annoying enough taking off just by herself. With Elsa's added weight it was like she was just learning how again.
"Fly faster." Elsa grumbled, looking at the tiny space of air between her and the ground.
"Well geez if I didn't have an extra weight on me I would." They were only just above the house and Anna could feel sweat on her forehead.
Elsa gasped lightly smack Anna on the shoulder. "Are you saying that I am heavy?"
"Right this minute you weigh a ton. I have special bones Elsa. Like a birds! My bones are light and airy. Yours weigh as much as an elephant to me right now." A clap and a bullet flew past them, barely nicking Anna on the wing. She grit her teeth and resisted the urge to curl the wing in. "Why did they have to shoot at us. Isn't there a less dramatic way of doing things?"
She held Elsa tighter to her and now that they were high enough, she could use the wind and gravity to bring them forward. Elsa screamed a little, not expecting the sudden dip forward. "Why are we falling?"
"We are flying. This is how it has to go since I am carrying you." Anna used the help of the strong wind to fly up once more, and powerful down strokes to keep them high up. "Which way is home?"
Elsa chuckled nervously, glancing down and seeing everything so small made her want to puke. "Not sure."
"You don't know?" Anna's jaw dropped and she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "So i'm flying blind now? What's next?" The Guardian phone buzzed its tell tale buzz in her pants and she rolled her eyes. Of course Kristoff called her now.
Maybe if she just ignored him he would go away. Elsa crossed her arms, wiggling to get more comfortable. "I don't know, I guess I could gps it?"
Kristoff was calling again. Damn it. "You should. I just need a direction Elsa. Once we get in our state then we should be fine.. right?"
Elsa reached into her pocket, and some turbulence had them dropping a little. Elsa cried out and she dropped her phone. Sky blue eyes watched her white Galaxy S5 phone fall towards the ground. "Oops."
"Oops? What oops?" Anna stopped watching the sky to look at Elsa. The woman looked like she was trying to hide in her hunched shoulders.
"I may have dropped my phone." Elsa hid her face in Anna's neck when teal eyes glared at her.
"You have to be.. Why did you you drop it?" Anna shouted, already having enough of today. It wasn't even in the afternoon yet either.
Elsa gently bit Anna on the neck to let her know how she felt about being yelled at. "It's not my fault Anna! You had to drop from the sky! Warn me next time!"
Anna growled, "Oh yeah I'll warn you when the next air patch wants to hit us. I'll just ask the air to be nicer next time. Now we don't have a phone. Or a way home."
"Well if you hadn't killed Samson we wouldn't be running like fugitives out of state to get home!" Anna inhaled sharply and she closed her eyes praying for patience.
"If you want to low ball and use bull shit like that then fine. But say that again and I will drop you Elsa. I rescued you! Yeah I shouldn't have killed him but whatever. What do I know right? I'm the dog that protected master."
They were quiet for the rest of the two hours they remained in the sky.
XxXxXxXx
"Are you okay?" Elsa asked when Anna started to dip a little further down. Anna blinked and saw spots. She squinted and shook her head.
"I.. I'm fine. I just got a little sleepy." Elsa looked at Anna like she was crazy.
"It's only one in the afternoon Anna. Maybe we should-" Elsa screamed when Anna's eyes rolled back eyes shutting and they began to drop light a dead weight. "Wake up Anna.. Wake up!"
She slapped Anna on the face and said flier opened her eyes, snapping her wings out to slow their descent and to guide them safely to the ground. Anna didn't land as gracefully as she should have. She hit the ground running and after a few shaky steps she dropped Elsa and fell to the dirt.
Elsa brushed dirt off herself and Anna clutched at the back of her leg. Her hand came back a dark red. So that explained the pinch she felt earlier. She was shot. "Ow.. Why didn't I notice this earlier?"
Elsa actually looked at Anna's leg and noticed the large red patch on the back Anna's thigh, there was blood on her calf. She must have been bleeding this entire time. She gasped and she crawled over. "Anna I need you to stay awake for me now." Elsa glanced around. They were in a forest, there wasn't a building or the sound of civilization in sight. What was she to do now?
"Can I die from being shot in the leg?" Anna asked, laying on her belly, the spots coming back to her.
"With all the blood you have lost so far. Yes. I need wrap it so the blood will stop." Elsa glanced around. She could feel panic creeping in. If Anna actually died she probably would die as well.
"Ah.. buzz buzz! Ring ring." Anna laughed and pulled her Guardian phone out. Elsa perked up. Thats right! Anna had a phone.
Quickly she snatched the phone from Anna who weakly attempted to grab it back. Elsa answered it and she didn't know what to expect.
"Anna! That is some great information you found! We will have to move in quickly. I need you-"
"Excuse me. This isn't Anna. Who is this?"
The man on the other line was quiet for a long moment.
"Who is this? Where did you get this phone?" The man sounded suspicious and the enthusiasm was gone in his voice.
"This is Elsa Roe. Who ever you are some help would be appreciated. Anna got shot and now we are stuck here. People are trying to kill her. Please help us. I don't know what to do. She's falling asleep." Elsa would ask questions later. Right now Anna needed help. If this man could give it, she would take it for now.
"Stay on the line. I will track the call and I will get someone to you as fast as I can. What I need you to do is stop her from bleeding. Do you have some fabric or anything?"
"I have a long sleeve shirt on."
"Perfect. Tear some of your sleeve off or some from the bottom. Once you do that.."
Elsa listened to the mans instructions doing her best to get Anna's leg wrapped up and she dragged her to lay next to a tree. Looked like rain clouds in the distance. Elsa remained on the phone with the man and now that she and Anna were leaning on the tree she decided to ask him a question.
"Who are you?"
Another stretch of silence. "I'm Kristoff and I am a friend of Anna's. That's all you need to know right now. I have someone in that state. They are coming to get you. They will bring you to us."
"Who is us?"
"More friends. Don't worry we aren't bad. Just old friends of Anna."
Elsa felt suspicious. Was this the one who told Anna to kill Samson? Anna had mentioned 'He said so.' "Alright. Tell them to hurry. Anna is out cold now. I don't know how much longer she will last."
AN: And I feel like I should cut it off here. It's 2:05 am here.. Im sleepy but I needed to get this chapter out.
BECAUSE I am going to a Chargers football game. My baby sister got invited which got me invited and I feel like I should experience something fun such as Football. I guess. Its my first NFL game. I have been to a college game before though.
Anyway to the Guardians we go! Yay? Elsa and Anna were going to go to the police but they are in Mr. Carters state. His town. His people. So they are sort of screwed right now. Dramatics next chapter? Maybe..
Welp, I will SEE you in the NEXT CHAPTER. Bye.