Awful chapter u.u

NOBODY DIES, I SWEAR!

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan.

SEVENTY-FIVE

Like in many war games, Nathaniel is giving one of those emotional speeches before we head out, divulging the news of our enemies' hideout. I wasn't exactly moved so I didn't pay attention and just got lost in thought about Marco. He was seriously shaken up back there like he was completely certain something bad will happen once we reach the bullies' hideout. He said he felt like it was a trap and I've gotten assertive with his intuition; it's sharp, precise and accurate -well, sometimes. I didn't really believed him when he said that Harry was desperate for me. Still, most of the times, it is and right now, I had an impulse to abort this mission, to get the fuck out of this insane school and run home with Marco and snuggle and watch movies and fuck-

But I couldn't do that. I had to do this. I had to stay and I had to free this school from guys like Trevor and George for him, for Marco, so that he can study in peace without the constant fear that he can be picked on anytime. I want to do it for him.

My eyelids constantly dropped until I was called. Nathaniel arranged the teams in five; two on the front, two on the rear and one on the sidelines. We agreed to ambush them before they could even sound the alarm. While he spoke, my nerves reeled and Marco's warnings circulated in my mind. What if we are ambushed instead? What if...?

I shook my head. No, Jean, if everything goes according to plan, it will all work out just fine. You just have to stay confident and avoid mulling over fears.

Right. They won't even see us coming.

Just then, one of Nate's spies came by and announced that the enemy still lies within their hideout and were plotting something. To attack us. I was pacing around, desperate to depart already and take the battle to their doors before they step out of their safe-hold. If they get here while we marched, they'll come here and ransack the place. We have to move out.

Nate sensed my impel and rallied his men. We finally marched out, but not before I looked back and saw Marco's anxious and unsettled expression. I breathed deeply as I positioned myself in front of my team. Do it for him.

My team consisted of five men, including myself. Nathaniel's boyfriend was with me and I wonder why he didn't allocate him in his team. Doesn't matter now.

As we moved out to the school, I noticed how quiet the halls were; there was no bullying on sight, no jock mocking freshmen or interrogating about our position. Odd, very odd. My brows knitted. It's as if they knew we'd come...

When we neared the enemies' supposed hideout outside of school grounds, we halted and revised our plans. While they did, I looked around, totally unfamiliar with the place. One of my guys advised doing reckon so we can familiarize with the place. Nate denied the idea, though, crossing it as a waste of time. They bickered and I continued on my own to get acquainted with my surrounding. Axel followed me, -"Hey, you really think they're here?"- He asked, keeping a keen eye on our vicinity.

-"I don't know, I really don't know."- The more I observed the area, the more unsettled I got. Too quiet, just like the halls.

I wasn't the only one, -"This is too good to be true."

I nodded. I thought I told Marco that the first bad feeling I get, I'd abort the mission and go to him, but I couldn't run away. I had my plain, black overcoat, hood over my head, but I shuddered, cold chills running down my spine.

I was stroking my arms when Axel poked my shoulder, -"Here, take this. You're gonna need it,"- He handed me a pair of bold, brass knuckles made of steel, -"My boyfriend wasn't planning on giving them to you, but I think you're seriously gonna need it. You're their main target, Jean."

I stared at his eyes and I knew he was serious and right. I observed the brass in my palm for a few seconds, fully aware that I will use them before I wriggled them on my knuckles. They fitted perfectly. I clenched my fist and felt them constrict on my skin. I sighed, -"Thanks."- I felt better equipped now, ready to fight.

-"And don't tell Nate, he'd garrote me. Those are his favorite, the strongest pair."- I knew the whole convoy had brass knuckles and Axel just gave me the best without his boyfriend's consent. Great. This assault can't get any better.

The area was rather isolated from the school, rife with tall grass and bushes. At the far end of it, I spotted an old, abandoned shack surrounded by lofty trees and wide shrubs. I pointed at it, -"You think that's it? Nobody's home."

-"Yeah, Nate's spies confirmed it,"- We were hidden behind one of the trees and if someone spotted us by now, they either attack or hide, -"They're inside. They have to."

-"I guess we'll find out soon enough,"- I muttered and gestured him to follow me, -"Come on, let's head back. You know how Nathaniel gets when he doesn't see you for even a few minutes."

Axel snorted, -"Yeah."

We retraced our steps and ended up where we first took a stop. Nathaniel was still coordinating the plan and apparently, he had no other intention than to blow open the doors. He started arguing with Axel about his disappearance until I stepped in, -"Hey, we have to move out. We're wasting time."

Nathaniel glowered at me, unsurprisingly blaming me for his boyfriend's disappearance until he nodded and signaled his men to move out with a swing of his hand. My team and his were the ones assaulting from the front and the other two teams from behind where Nate confirmed there was a back door. The third team will attack from the sidelines. I breathed deeply before Nate gave us permission to initiate the assault. I literally slammed the front door open with my foot (it didn't require much effort; the shack is old and it's wood was putrid. The door could barely hold itself) and readied my fist... only to find nothing but silence and emptiness.

-"Oi, Nathaniel, nobody's home!"- I shouted, fear sipping in. If they're not here, then where are they!?

-"What?"- Said guy rushed in, pushing my team aside, but like I said, he found the shack void. There was literally nothing in here.

-"Whatever was here has been taken long ago."- Commented Axel as he drifted around, examining the area. Nothing. There was nothing. Just... space.

-"Fuck!"- Nathaniel cursed.

-"Should we go back?"- Asked some guy.

-"No, the intel I received was revised before we headed out. They have to be around here. They couldn't have run off within that short time. Search."- Nathaniel barked, completely wrathful and confused.

Everyone had their eyes wide open as we scanned the area. Something's going on. If the enemy were somewhere near, they'd attack us by now. This mass confusion is the perfect opportunity to ambush us so what are they waiting for? Are they even around? No, -"Nathaniel, nobody's here."- Just as I thought about that, Axel spoke.

I also had a doubt that this wasn't their hideout at all. This place is too narrow for their force. Maybe the scouts rendezvous here, but scouts are a small force and they wouldn't attack our five teams.

His boyfriend still couldn't bite it, -"You can't be serious. My intelligence's always accurate."

The redhead shook his head and gestured around the shack, -"Look at this place, do you really think this is their hideout? Do you really think that the many people your spy reported would fit in there?"- Exactly.

-"We've been played,"- I stated, revving my brain like I've never done before, -"That intel you got was fake. We've been betrayed too."- It had to be fake, what other explanation could there be? Nathaniel was right when he said that the enemy couldn't have run off within the short time it took us to get here when the spy confirmed the intel. We would've encountered them along the way unless the info's fake. That spy wasn't Nathaniel's spy.

-"They wanted us away from school..."- Axel murmured, his eyes slowly widening.

I knew why. Everyone did.

-"They're gonna attack the hideout. The hideout we left unprotected."- I said, my voice horse from the lump threatening to throttle me as I stared at the wall before me. Marco. Marco's unsafe. Marco's at risk. Marco. Marco. Marco. I have to get back! Marco's their first target if they want to get to me! Again, fear was settling in cozily in the pits of my stomach as I processed the whole situation. If I don't get there in time, they'll-

-"Move out!"- Nathaniel barked and everyone in the shack got out, -"Move, move, move!"

I did and very swiftly. I ran across the tall grass like I was running a marathon. Gotta get to Marco, gotta get to Marco...! I don't know if I left the team behind, I don't know if I lost them, but I don't care by this point. The only goal in my mind was to get to the fucking hideout asap.

Marco was right. This is a trap! We got ensnared so easily like cattle! Why didn't I stick to Marco's intuition? Why didn't I see this coming? How could I be so blind...?

-"Jean, watch out!"- When the warning reached my ear, something sturdy crashed against my whole body and knocked me down. My back landed on a rock and I screamed all sorts of profanities at the soaring pain the tip of said rock pitched through me. It blinded me and stymied my breath. While I struggled to push back whatever was over me, I gasped for air, but the strong force before me was hindering it.

Then suddenly, it vanished and I took a harsh intake of breath and sat up coughing and gulping. I felt two pairs of hands grip my shoulder and jolt me,-"Come on, up, we're under attack!"- That was Nathaniel. He patted my back harshly before vanishing.

I opened my eyes and stood up, wincing at the pain in my back. Just then, barely recovering from my fall, I didn't saw a blow directed right at my jaw and when it made an impact, I stumbled on a shrub. I then heard footsteps and clicks, -"Well, well, aren't I glad to see you."

I knew that voice. Ire boiled within me, -"George."- I mutter with obvious hate as I forced my body up. I ignore my back and headache and glared at the tall figure before me.

He grinned and the stomped his foot on my torso, making the shrubs sharp branches sever my clothes, -"I missed you."

-"Yeah? That's adorable."- I jibed as I struggle with his fucking big foot. Damn it! Come on, Jean, use all your strength to knock this asshole down. Fuck, I wish he were drunk.

-"Speaking of adorable,"- He bent and naturally pressed his foot tighter against my torso, extracting bleats from my lips as the bush's limbs scraped my skin, -"Your boyfriend wasn't looking so good last I saw him."

My eyes snapped open and my teeth greeted, but really, all this bravado was just the cover art. Aside from the wrath, I had a horrible lump in my stomach, -"Don't you fucking da-"

He slammed his foot against my abdomen again, with more force. I bleated louder, -"Don't speak to me like that, you fucking pleb! You deserve this! You ruined my life, humiliated me!"- He started kicking me, -"After I'm done with you, I'll get your annoying boyfriend and I'll smite his face so much you won't even see his girly freckles any-"

His words were like fuel in the blazing fire I call anger within me. I pictured his every syllable and in my mind, I saw Marco under his foot, getting beaten and smote, his freckles vanishing due to the bloat. He was outnumbered, defeated, but his foes were impious. I saw him crying, begging for mercy, but they didn't oblige. I wasn't making the situation easier for myself, but I couldn't brush the obscure images from my mind no matter how hard I try; I was sinking in anger, an emotion I struggle to free myself of. On the other hand, it shadowed my fear and forced my body awake, boosting my strength as I literally lifted George's foot and made him fall back.

My arms ached -I pushed their limit, George's no leaf- but I ignored it as I coerced my body up and straddled him. I made sure he saw the brasses on my knuckles before I smitten him with them one, two, three times. I gripped his shirt's collar and pulled him up to my face, -"If one of you lay one fucking finger on him, I swear I'll knock you all down, one by one, starting with you."- I punched him one more time before he lost consciousness. With these babies on my knuckles, I barely had put any effort.

I panted and stood, taking off my tattered coat and just then, a soaring pain in my rectum made me wince and bent. Fuck, why does it have to hurt now? I'm in the middle of an ambush! Sure enough, one of the aggressors made way towards me, fists ready, but I dodge it -a bit sloppy, not gonna lie- and did an uppercut, sticking his jaw from below. He was knocked down in less than a second. I decided to help the others if my butt allows it. It didn't matter, because, after a few minutes, I stop feeling it, guessing it was my anger's doing.

While fighting, I started to make sense of things and I realized that we hadn't even reached the school when we got ambushed, meaning they've been waiting for us, they knew our plans, and we were so focused on getting here, that we didn't have our eyes open enough to see them. Another point to my theory that we've been betrayed and that Nathaniel's spy was actually the jocks', sending us false info on purpose. This is a fucking set-up. We literally got fooled. Marco intuition strikes again. My wrath sparks up, but I'm angrier at myself, for not realizing sooner, for leaving Marco alone. I know I shouldn't blame myself like this, but I can't help it.

I knocked the last jocks on foot and quickly ran inside the school, leaving my team behind, but I don't care. I had one goal in mind: get to the hideout, get Marco, leave. George's words spun in my head and my nerves reeled.

As I ran to the hideout, I faced a few other bullies and knocked them down square in minutes. My team called me, but I ignored them and kept running until I reached our hideout's entrance. I gasped when I saw a few of our men unconscious and I then knew we were too late.

-"Marco!"- I shouted, entering the wide space. I gasped again. More people unconscious and not only our men. No Marco though. Maybe he escaped? The hideout was completely ransacked, every paper turned to shreds and every tabled toppled.

-"Just stay down already!"- Someone yelled nearby.

I glanced at the location and spotted a bully struggling to straddle someone.

-"To hell with you!"- I recognize that accent anywhere.

I rushed in quickly and threw myself at the bully, closing my arms around his neck and pulling him back. I peeked sideways and saw Diego all beat up before his boyfriend, defending him until the end of the day. Zaeed also had a few bruises and his glasses were shattered. He squinted his eyes, trying to make sense of what was happening, but he couldn't see without his glasses so he shrank back against the wall.

I punched the guy in my arms on his back a few times before kneeing him straight on his spine. He gasped for air and slumped onto the floor beneath me, unable to react quickly enough to stop me, -"For the love of God, Jean, you must be a superhero or a holy savior. How many times have you saved my skin already?"- Diego exclaimed, trying to jest and dissipate the depressing atmosphere, but I saw his eyes water, -"And great timing, at that..."

His boyfriend tread forward slowly as if he was walking on a rope, -"Jean...?"- He fumbled the area near Diego and when his hand made contact with his arm, he wrapped his around it, -"D-Diego...? What happened?"- He asked, his voice shaky. He was scared.

-"It's me, love, and Jean's here. You're safe thanks to him,"- He caressed his bruised cheek and closed his eyes, a few tears escaping it's lid, -"He saved us again..."

I really wasn't that emotional because I was extremely worried about Marco. I haven't seen him all this time in this mess and I wanted to know if he escaped, I wanted to know if he's safe and if he's unharmed. I need to know, otherwise, this fear and anger and shaking won't go away, -"Have you seen Marco?"- I asked, gruffly.

Both of them noticed my restlessness, -"Sadly, I haven't seen him since the attack, but I'm sure he's-"

-"Jean!"- A sharp cry echoed from upstairs, from the ceiling, full of terror and panic.

It was Marco.

-"Help me!"

I sprinted upstairs faster than before, his cries and pleas ringing in my ears, but this time, it didn't bring me joy, it brings me dread. I stumbled and hit my knee on a stair in the process. I groaned and hissed at the pain, rubbing the area before continuing up. That's another bruise for my collection, -"I'm coming, Marco!"- I shouted back and I then decided it wasn't such a good idea as I faced three fucking guys grappling Marco too near the ceiling's edge. Then again, there's no "stealthy" way out of this. The ceiling was shallow, no protuberances whatsoever so I couldn't really hide anywhere and sneak my way towards Marco's aggressors.

By the way, I recognize these guys from Frank's circle of 'cool' friends I used to be a part of -or wanted to be. I don't remember their names, though. What I do remember is that the three of them are in Frank's soccer team -or what's left of it- so they're all stoic and tall, one more than the other, not much of difference, though.

-"Stop, please! Cut it out!"- Marco begged as the assholes gripped his arms, legs, and hair and steadily pushed him closer to the edge.

-"Come on, scream his fucking name one more time, little guy. I wanna see you cry like a baby."- One of the bullies requested and was teasing Marco into it by jolting his body even closer to the edge.

They... they can't be serious. Come on, it's inhuman. They can't be thinking of pushing from up here, can they? They'll... they'll kill him.

Marco bit his lip and closed his eyes, releasing a cascade of tears, but his mouth betrayed him as his lips shook. He was terrified, -"Jean, please!"

-"Let him go!"- I yelled as I stormed my way towards them with bravado, but I was scared and angry.

-"Shit, he's here."- One of them said, stepping farther from Marco. This one must've seen my videos when I fought Frank, George, and Trevor.

One of his buddies rallied him from his cowardice, -"He can fall, just like Frank did, and I'll make sure of it."- While speaking, he flicked his fingers and neck.

-"Try it, bastard."- Damn, these guys are vindictive as fuck. They all wanted to see me fall just like I knocked Frank. Incidentally, I'm as vindictive as them and they'll pay for what they've done to Marco.

I readied my fists and lunged at them, but the ringleader grabbed both of Marco's arms with force and propelled him towards the edge again. I halted. Marco's feet tip's were literally away from the surface. Another push and...

Marco yelped and wailed. He wanted to do something, kick the guy and ran towards me, but one foul move could conclude his life..., -"Jean..."

I felt a wave of fear sail through my body, making me quiver and step back. Marco's at risk. I hovered my arms before me, gesturing them to take it slow, -"Come on guys, cut it out. It's not funny."- Even my voice was shaky.

-"Another step, Jean, and he's done. I'm not joking."- Like he said, he wasn't making any jokes. His expression was plain serious as he glared at me intensely, watching every move I made.

But I wasn't about to step away. I'm not leaving until I get Marco, -"I'm not joking either, just... let him go and I'll leave."

He snorted, finding my request amusing, -"What makes you say that, huh? You're not leaving. I wanna see you both down there."- He nodded towards the edge.

Doesn't he know that someone died down there!? Does he seriously want us dead?! This has to be some kind of nightmare, this can't be real, -"You... you want to kill us?"

He shrugged, like it didn't matter to him if we survive the fall or not. His plan might even be that we don't survive..., -"Let him go, please..."- I begged, surprising myself, but I was desperate and too anxious. I just want to go home and get Marco to safety.

His grin was huge. He liked it that I begged and I knew he wanted me to say it again, -"Kneel and keep beggin' and I'll think about it."

I nodded vigorously before I kneeled, resting my palm on the cold asphalt and breathing deeply. I looked up, my eyes welled, -"Please..."- This is horrible, I never begged to anyone, much less to these guys, but for Marco, I'd do anything.

Marco sobbed and cried, not particularly liking my position either, but I saw awe there, awe at the lengths I'd go for him and he hasn't seen them all.

-"Wait, hold that position,"- He gestured one of his buddies to hold Marco while he snatched his phone from his pocket, -"Lemme take pics. This is an unforgettable achievement, man."

A tear escaped my eye, but I have to hold this position... for Marco.

The guys laughed while they took countless of pictures me in this position. They even recorded videos, bringing the phone close to my face so the tears could show as they clutched their chests and bent in a guffaw. Another handful of tears trailed down my cheeks and onto the ceiling's surface. I looked pathetic. I remember when I used to be teased and bullied. I never cried until they got aggressive and punched me. They'd laugh for long minutes as I cried from the pain, but I don't care now and it doesn't matter as long they let Marco go.

-"Oh man, these pictures are good!"- The ringleader exclaimed as he tapped his phone, -"I gotta post em' on the web and hey, maybe Frank'll see them. He has to."

That made me cringe, but I kept holding my position, my arms now shaking, but it wasn't from exhaustion. Fuck, just let Marco go already. Heck, I'd stay all day here if I have to, but I have to see Marco away from that border.

After another while, the guy breathed deeply, utterly satisfied, while resuming his grip on Marco, -"That felt good, dude. You're finally on your knees and all I have to do... is this."- He jolted Marco and educed sharp cries from the latter one.

-"No, stop!"- By impulse, I stood and stepped forward.

-"Oh uh, what did I say a few minutes ago?"- The guy warned.

My eyes widened. In slow motion, I saw his finger part from Marco's arms, one by one, and each one sent pulses of fear and anger through my body, -"No!"- I screamed as I sprinted forward, fist ready as imminent rage possessed me.

-"Jean!"- Marco screamed as he slipped down, but before he could fall to his death, he rose his arms and held on the ceiling's fringes.

I rushed to him, but the guys grabbed me and pulled me away, -"Fuck, let me go, you dicks!"- I propelled my body forward, but their grip was firm and I knew I had to defeat them one by one first before I save Marco, -"Marco, just hold on!"- He tried to get up, but he lacks the physical strength. I heard his foot scrape against the building. He groaned and gasped each time he failed, his grip slipping, -"I'll get you up, I pro-"

Just then, one of the guys punched me on my nose and I staggered, hands on my aching nose. They didn't let me recover and punched my abdomen next. I leaned forward at the pain and again, they punched me and finally brought me down. The ringleader straddled me and with my legs around his back, I pushed him sideways and sat over him. Before I could strike him, though, two pairs of arms surrounded my neck and pulled me back. I coughed and with my nails, I rasped said arms and the owner shrieked in pain. I didn't hold back. I clenched my hands and fumbled my fists above me from both sides, successfully hitting something -his face, I hope. The arms released me and I breathed deeply before I stood up.

The three of them circled me, but one of them was drowsy, the one I punched while he choked me so I could easily take him out with one punch. The other two, though... they'll give me a harder time, especially the ringleader. I had his name at the tip of my tongue. Kuan? Yeah. The other one was Riu. Still don't remember the third one's name. They're all Frank close friends, specially Kuan; the guy never left his side and they had the same hairstyle and all -and persona, I must add. I've rarely spoken to him during my time with twelve two, but now, I know what kind of person he really is and he's so much like Frank. My body cringed at the memories.

We started to wrestle and I took the moment to knock the third guy out, who was already dizzy. I only had to punch him once on the jaw and he was out. I kissed the brass knuckles on my fingers before fighting the other two. While I fought, I kept an eye on Marco and I noted he was making progress, with a lot of effort. His face was visible now and he was struggling to raise the rest of his body.

I dodged a strike by a few inches. Focus, Jean, focus. I had to divide my attention on all targets, including Marco, so it resulted daunting to dodge all attacks and I got a few on my face already. Fucking focus. I breathed deeply and decided not to allow my fear and anger control my actions. I waited for an opening, an opportunity to attack, for them to lower their guard. They kept throwing punches and I dodged them, extremely focused. My mind was reeling as I observed each of their moves and acted. Kuan got my strategy after a few minutes and decided to leave the battle to Riu and save his energy. Fuck.

Rui was losing his cool. I tend to make my enemy lose their cool, I dunno why. It doesn't matter. Rui was getting sloppy, but he still knew where to punch. He threw several punches at the same time, one after the other, and I blocked each one with both my arms shielding my face. They throbbed and ached, but they never faltered and when Rui's energy degenerated, I attacked quickly with an uppercut right below his chin, almost sending him flying onto the floor unconscious.

I panted heavily and gestured Kuan to attack already, -"Come on, big guy."- Just one more, Marco.

He stretched and massaged his shoulder for a few minutes in a very fucking, irritating slow manner.

He's fucking stalling, the fucking bastard is stalling. He really wants to see Marco lose his grip and fall to his death.

Over my dead, fucking body.

I charged, losing my latter neutral temper while I fought with Rui, a thing Kuan was hoping to crumble and he succeeded. I attacked continuously, too furious and desperate to knock him down and save Marco. When my stamina downgraded, he counterattacked and smashed my body against the wall, gripping my shirt's collar with force and slamming my body again and again. I groaned and then, all of a sudden, it started raining and thundering.

Marco was crying and wailing again, -"J... Jean! I'm... falling...!"- He was slipping, losing his grip on the borders. The water made the ceiling's fringes slippery. All this time, he held off any clamors, aware I had to stay focused, but he was dreadful now, the words barely requiring any effort to come out of his lips. He was crying, begging for help in his near death situation. Marco tried to claw his way up in desperation, but his grip slipped and he cried louder, -"Help, please!"

His cried rattled and resonated within my ear and traveled all over my body into different emotions: ire, fear, anguish, desperation, but most of all... wrath. I wanted Kuan to pay, I wanted him to cry like Marco was crying now because he pushed him, got his life in risk, -"Give up, Jean, it's over. You're both done."- He slammed my body against the wall again and I groaned, feeling the air leave my lungs. Then, he kneed my abdomen several times with fervor and I felt as if my guts gob from the other end of my torso.

Marco's cries ringed in my ears again.

M... Marco... I promised I'd get you up...

Pushing my body's limit, I threw my legs over his shoulder and locked them together against Kuan's neck. He choked and coughed, trying to wriggle out of my grip, -"F-fuck you!"- He cursed, clearly not expecting me to counterattack out of the blue, -"Th-the fuck are you still... fighting?!"- He released one of his arms from my collar and started striking my legs hard with his fist.

I kicked his face and fell over him, but I wasn't done. I kept kicking his body; his legs, arms, abdomen, face and even his balls with so much hatred, -"Fuck you! Fuck you! Fuck you!"- I was on a rampage until Marco's cry snapped me from it. I glanced at him and when I saw just three fingers on the border, my heart skipped many beats as I literally lashed forward and reached for his hand. My torso landed with a loud thud against the floor and when I gripped his slippery arm, I hooked my other hand on the border.

-"Marco, don't let go."- Looking down, I realized the actual altitude of this godforsaken place and as I stare, my stomach got queasy. If Marco falls... he's surely dead -not leg broken or anything. Dead. I now know that the story about that kid who committed suicided by jumping from here was genuine. I gulped and glanced away. Shit, here comes that fear again. Fuck, I'm shaking like mad and it made my grip on Marco's arm slip.

-"Jean...,"- Marco wailed, more tears dripping from his eyes, -"I'm scared."- He was shaking too.

Those words rattled my body too. Come on man, get him up! You can do it! I rallied myself. If someone has to fall today, it'll be me, not Marco, -"I'm scared too, Marco, but I'll get you up. I promise,"- I gulped again, gripping the notches of the ceiling firmly. I shifted my body and hoisted up from the surface a bit, -"Just hold on, okay? I'm gonna pull you up, I swear, even if it's the last thing I'm gonna do in this fucking place."

Marco nodded briskly, his tears blending with the water drops.

Thunder roared in the sky and we both quavered, scared and cold, -"Fuck,"- I cursed, shaking my head to brush out the water drips on my face to see Marco better, -"Grab my arm with both hands and just hold on."- I said and repeated the last part like five times.

Marco did as told and my body dropped abruptly at his weight on my sole arm. He yelped but held on.

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, come on, pull him up, you fucking fuck! I yelled internally and laid all my strength on my arms as I pulled Marco up. I heard my fast heart beats. I heard a few crack sounds somewhere, but I didn't pay it much attention. I heard my body quiver, but I'll get Marco up, I swear, for fuck's sake!

I was screaming my soul out when Marco's torso was visible, my arms crying in pain and the rain drops leaking into my mouth. Marco clambered his legs over the edge and pulled himself up. When his body was up and save, he slumped over me and I quickly embraced him tightly, squeezing and pulling him close to me. I began to waft our bodies together while murmuring his name countless times. We cried. We were both crying, -"Fuck, you're safe, Marco, you're okay. It's over, it's... fuck."- He's alive, he's alright, I did it, I... I though as I clenched his soaked clothes.

Marco cried too and clutched my wet shirt, -"Jean... you saved me... again..."- He sobbed and whimpered. I felt his body shake above mines as I cried out.

I gripped his hair and just laid his head on my chest. Slowly, my body's pains surfaced and now I paid them attention. My head got lithe as my tired arms dropped from Marco's back. Every inch of me throbbed and I felt wide contusions form on my skin; my legs, my abdomen, my back, my face, my..., shit, everything hurts. I moved and groaned at the shot of pain. My eyes began to close and I started to see blurry. I tried sitting up, but I couldn't, I couldn't even raise my head, it just drops back down quickly. I was losing consciousness, but it's okay, Marco's safe...

I fell unconscious in peace, aware that Marco was still over me, crying and massively worried about me, but safe. He was safe and alive and that's what matters the most to me...

He's okay... and this nightmare is finally over...

Like I said, horrible chapter, and it's not going to be the last one. I'm so sorrie ;-; I still remember that promise I made that things with them will get better and I plan on keeping it!

I thought I was close to finishing this story, but I seriously think I'll need more than twenty chapters for what I have in mind.