Okay so I'm glad I could get this one up so fast because I had to end the last chapter in such a strange place. So hopefully this makes up for it. From this point on the chapters may get a little more *ahem* graphic. So let's just have fun with this!
Chapter 5: Heist gone wrong
Garret moved swiftly through the hallway. He was crouched low, sweeping his arms around him to keep his weight balanced and quiet. He rounded the corner ducked into a room and waited for the guard to walk by. While he waited he helped himself to some shiny trinkets that were laying around. He returned on his path to the office where the documents were that he was sent for. He picked the lock and shut the door quietly behind him.
He stood with his forehead against the cool wood and listened. He didn't hear any commotions. Only the soft murmur of guards having late night conversations about their favorite whores. This was a good thing. Alia was at the other end of the mansion on the other side of the courtyard. She was tasked with taking anything of value that she could get her hands on. And as long as all was quiet, then all was well.
The first thing he did was get rid of the lights. He worked better in the dark. He poked through the desks and drawers. He found some other nice things and slipped them into his pouch, but he still had a goal. His eyes fell to a painting on the wall. He smirked as he slipped his fingers under the frame and delicately felt for a switch.
With a soft click the frame detached from the wall where he could swing it open. There, built into the wall was the safe he was looking for. This lock was much harder than the door, but he made quick work of it. Inside he found the documents a few rings with fine cut gems that he also helped himself to. He then shut the safe, put the painting back and fastened it. He looked around. It was like he was never here.
He tucked the papers away in a secret pocket in his harness and peeked out the window. He saw Alia creeping in the darkness. She was behind a statue; two guards were only feet away. She would poke her head out and then go back into hiding a few times. He wondered what she was thinking about. Then, as if she made her decision, she back tracked a few feet and kept tight to the building. She began to scale the outer wall, using window sills and pipes to move quickly. Her body was flexible and made easy work of the climb. She must have cleaned out one wing and seeing that he wasn't done yet, went on to the other.
He smiled. She was doing well. And she wasn't being reckless.
He left the room and went back down the hallway, all he had to do was go down two flights of stairs, climb back up the old chimney, rendezvous with Alia on the roof and get the hell out of here. Just as he was about to round the corner he saw some guards coming his way. He quickly bolted across the crossway and down another passage. He would just have to take a different route and get around them.
As he wound around the hallways he saw that to get to the stairs he would have to pass a couple of bird cages. He hated birds. And cats. Actually he didn't really like animals at all. They spooked too easy and made way too much noise. He grit his teeth and moved, every muscle in his body was tense and poised. He had to keep his movements even, quiet but most of all slow. Sudden movements sent birds into a frenzy.
He passed the first one without incident. He was crouched so low that his shoulders were lower than his knees, and he made sure to roll his feet and use his hands so the wood floors beneath him wouldn't creak and give him away. He stopped. The next cage had a lantern hung on the wall across the hallway. He couldn't avoid the light and stay close to the cage or he could bump it and alert the guards. But he also couldn't put the light out and be found out either way. He took a deep, silent breath. He would risk the stupid bird if it kept him concealed.
As he passed the second bird and his tensions started to lessen, a door behind him suddenly opened and he couldn't hide himself fast enough.
"Thief!" A servant shrieked. The noise freaked the birds out and in a matter of seconds the whole third floor was in an uproar. He cursed under his breath and jumped over the banister, cutting the actual stairs out of the equation as he raced down through an open room and down another hall. He slid to a stop as three guards rounded a corner and headed his way. Garrett had to do something and he had to do it fast.
"Stop thief!" One of them yelled as they all drew their swords. He lifted off on a dead run. He had a plan. He could see the whites of the guards' eyes as he drew close enough to strike him, but he was able to dodge the first one and get behind the next. With a swift kick to the back of the knee the second one was down, and the third followed with a solid blow to the head from his Blackjack. The first one spun around for the chase but he was already sprinting toward the window.
With the whole place becoming aware of his presence he had to escape as fast as he could. He covered his face with his forearms and braced himself for impact as he drove his shoulder through the glass and wood. He broke through and rolled down the roof. He straightened himself as best as he could and hit the round with a combat roll to break his fall without breaking his legs.
The men in the courtyard scrambled around, having seen and heard him come out flying through a window. He got on his feet and made a run for a nearby covered walkway. If he could get up there he could get to the roof. And if he got to the roof he was as good as gone.
He turned to look over his shoulder just in time to see a man release a bolas (tripping tool) that flew through the air and wrapped around his leg. He couldn't keep his balance and fell into the grass. He kicked the heavy chords off his calf and backed himself against a stone wall.
"Time to die, blackhand!" The guard said, his fat face was in a sneer as he raised his sword over his head. Garrett locked his muscles up, ready to dodge and run. If he wasn't mortally injured that is.
Just then he felt something warm spray onto his face. His eyes winced when he saw the arrow head sticking out of the guards' throat, just under his chins. His blood splattered onto his uniform as he gurgled and fell to his knees. Garrett's eyes snapped up to see Alia on the rooftops across the courtyard. Her bow was still raised and her arm was still in the release position. She seemed frozen for just a moment until she snapped back into action.
She used her fingers and whistled shrilly.
"The thief is on the roof!" The guards all changed their attentions and started heading her way, some shooting arrows at her as she ran across the shingles and distracted them long enough for Garrett to get his feet back under him and get himself to higher ground. He turned to look when he heard her cry out and saw her stumble before she disappeared into the darkness. He climbed frantically. His leg was probably going to bruise but he hissed through the pain and kept going.
Once he was out of the reach of the guards he looked for Alia. Something told him she was hit. He saw her fall. He knew she would be trying to put as much space between her and the mansion. He stayed on the highest buildings to give him a better vantage point.
He thought he saw movement down in an alley close by. He jumped down and as he reached the narrow darkness he saw her crawling on her elbows, a trail of blood left behind her.
"Alia." He said as he crouched down near her. He saw the arrow that was still stuck in her leg. That's why she stumbled. She turned to look at him, wincing in pain, her eyes were red and her dirty cheeks had clean streaks running down them from crying.
"Garrett… That man is dead… I killed him." She shuddered the words out between sobs.
"Don't worry about that now." He said softly. "Worry about yourself. You're injured." He looked around. They were too exposed. He needed to get under cover. Basso would be his best and safest bet. "Come on now, get up. We can't stay here." He threw her arm over his shoulder to support her weight. She whimpered in pain but got up with him. He held her waist and led her down the alley, though it would take longer the back way was the only way.
It seemed to take forever but he finally turned into the familiar alley behind The Crippled Burrick. He opened a small window that was close to the ground and drug Alia in after he slipped in. She tried to put weight on her impaled leg and it gave out, sending her toppling on top of him. He helped her back up and brought her to the desk. With a swipe of his arm he cleared all the papers and books off by throwing them to the floor. He turned to Alia who was glassy eyed and sweating. Her breathing was getting quicker and more shallow. He picked her up and laid her on the desk on her side so he could see her leg.
The arrow didn't go all the way through, the head of it was still lodged in the meat of her thigh. He grimaced. "I can't pull it back out. The arrowhead would tear you open and you'd bleed to death."
She groaned and shut her eyes.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Basso yelled as he came down the stairs. He shut the door behind him then rushed over, taking care not to step on his books strewn all over the floor. He looked around at all the blood and the color drained from his face. "Oh no. Garrett is she going to be okay?"
"Help me hold her down." He said as he removed his belt. He put the tough leather in her mouth and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. "There's patrons upstairs. We can't let them hear you scream. Bite down on this, okay?" She looked absolutely pitiful, but she nodded her head and closed her teeth on the belt.
Basso held her shoulders while he held her leg with one hand and started to push the arrow through with the other. She grit her teeth and dug her nails into Basso's arms, the tears streamed down her cheeks and she arched her back.
The head of the arrow sliced through her skin and poked through the other side. Garret quickly snapped the head off and pulled the shaft out the way it came in. Once the arrow was out of her she spat the belt out and sobbed, holding her injured thigh.
Basso let her go. "I'm going to get some banages. There's some opiates in the drawer, give her some she deserves it. Get her cleaned up." He ran for the door and bound up the stairs. Garret poked his fingers in the hole in her trousers and ripped it open so he could see the wound. Luckily it was clean, and though it was bleeding pretty bad it seemed to have missed her major artery.
"You're going to be fine." He said glancing at her face which was twisted in pain. He quickly opened the drawer and got one of the little white pills. "Here take this it will numb the pain so you can rest."
She turned her head away. "I don't want that. Get it away from me." She said, breathing heavy. The sweat was beading on her forehead.
"Don't be stubborn now just take the damn meds."
"No." She said and glared at him.
Garrett popped the pill into his mouth and crushed it between his molars. He then grabbed her on either side of her head, her eyes looked at him confused for a split second before he crashed his lips onto hers. She was still for just a moment, probably from shock, before she started to struggle against him. He pinched her jaw between his long fingers and forced her mouth open so he could slip his medicine-coated tongue into her mouth. She pounded her fist against his shoulder with one hand and tried to push on his chest with the other. He released her jaw and held the hand that was striking him down on the desk. He had to stifle a small moan that threated to escape from his throat as he continued to kiss her passionately.
Her hand stopped pushing him away and gripped his harness desperately. He couldn't help but smile against her mouth as she gave in and kissed him back. Even though he knew she had swallowed the pill dust by now he continued to kiss her just a moment longer. He finally pulled his face away and looked her in the eyes. They were both breathing a little hard. Her silver eyes were locked on his questioningly before they seemed to look past him as a glaze of euphoria crept across them. He watched as her body became lethargic as she stared off into nothingness.
Just then Basso cleared his throat behind him. He jumped a little as he turned to see him standing there, a knowing grin plastered on his face.
"So…" He said, bringing over the bandages. "She's doing better?"
Garrett didn't think he was capable of blushing. But his face did feel a little warm. "She's high as a kite but doing fine now."
Basso laughed. "Oh I'm sure she is."
"Shut up." Garrett snapped. He pulled the papers from his harness and extended his arm to him. "Here's your mark."
Basso began to wrap Alia's leg, talking softly to her as he did. Garrett observed from a chair in the corner. It seemed that his fence had a soft spot for his little student. When he finished he cast a glance his way. "Do you want me to get a cart to bring her home? She won't be any good on this leg for a couple of days."
Garrett stood and thought for a moment. "No. The South Quarter is too far. The Watch would catch us for sure. I'll take care of it." He said as he helped Alia into a sitting position. He then slung her limp body across his shoulders and began to leave the tavern.
"Hey Garrett." Basso called after him. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"
Garrett ignored him but left with a sly smile on his face.
PHEW. Okay so this is getting excited! The story will start to pick up soon, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to start working Erin and the events of the game into everything. I'm not making any promises though. Review if you can, it helps me out a whole bunch.