When All Was Lost...
Chapter Thirteen
13
Kalin, Crow and Akarii were the first to arrive on the scene. Both of them were steaming which made it hard to keep her composure.
"So this is their hide out, huh?" Kalin gruffed.
"Yep, this is the place." said Akarii, "This is the hideout of Team Dirty Works..." she explained, " I tracked them here and Crow and I managed to damage a few of them just outside so they should be hurtin' pretty good... meaning there might be traps inside." she said.
"Let them spring all the traps they want, they won't get away with messin with our nest!" Crow huffed.
"Damn straight." said Kalin,"Even if they're hiding inside, you make sure to drag them out kicking and screaming, got it!?" he clenched his fist,"Man now I'm all fired up...I'm gonna go on ahead!" he said,"Jack and Yusei will arrive here soon enough, so fill them in."
"No way Kalin, I'm goin' in with you!" said Crow.
Hell hath no fury like a black bird scorned.
"Fine, then Akarii... stay and wait...see you on the other side!" Kalin grinned giving her a thumbs up before running ahead, with a hot headed Crow on heel.
"Seriously...did they not hear what I said about traps?" she huffed and crossed her arms tapping her boot with impatience.
"Everything all right, Akarii?"
She could hear Yusei call to her in the distance as he walked up to greet her with Jack at his side.
"What's up, Girlie?" asked Jack,"Where are Kalin and Crow?"
"Rushing ahead like a bull and a bird brain.." Akarii huffed.
"I see." said Yusei,"They must still be pretty mad about this morning."
"Well I'm mad too!" she grumped,"But isn't that all the more reason to tread carefully!?"
"Can't disagree with that." said Jack,"Well guess we better go fish them out...before they hog all the glory for themselves."
"Or get themselves caught in a trap." Yusei sighed,"Being hot headed like that can grant the inability to think clearly...almost guaranteeing their capture like what happened to Kalin before."
Akarii sighed and glanced inside with concern.
Sure Crow is a bird brain...but he wouldn't be foolish enough to get himself caught in an enemy's trap...would he?
She slowly rubbed her hands up her arms in an insecre hugging of Herself. She just couldn't shake this heavy feeling hanging over her...
"Come on Akarii, let's get going..." said Yusei, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze,"Can't leave Crow to let you worry like this...after all it's your nest too...and he might really need you." He smiled warmly, as though he could read the girl's concern for Crow's safety clear on her face.
In return, she gave him a weak smile and nodded, treading close behind as they entered the abandoned bowling alley.
Completly unaware of the impending doom that awaited me within...
XXXXX
They split up into teams once they got inside. Kalin being the hot headed leader that he was went at it alone, while Jack and Yusei took to one part of the area and Crow and Akarii went to the other.
They had no luck finding anyone...but somehow they also knew that they weren't there alone.
"They're pretty well hidden aren't they?" Crow mumbled,"Stupid cowards...watching us...waiting for us to screw up."
"We'll find them Crow." Akarii said softly, "There's no way a bowling alley is that big...they will have to crawl out of the wood work eventually."
"Even so, I don't wanna take any chances..." said Crow, as he quickly scooped her hand into his and locked their fingers tightly together, "Stay close to me, okay?"
She gasped softly as the action occured, but even more so feeling his trembling hand in her own.
Is he angry? Nervous? Afraid?
Whatever it was...Akarii could sense his uneasiness and did her best to stay strong for him.
She didn't want him to worry anymore.
Whatever it was that was making Crow so uneasy...
It was her job now to be his stability as he had always been hers since the day her brother got taken away...
Kai...
Her memory of him burned within her heart...
And seemed to burn away in black flames...
The further they pressed in...the more uneasy Akarii began to feel.
Something just doesn't seem right...at all.
She could feel eyes on them from the shadows...watching...waiting...
Sudden sounds triggered her senses and raised her alertness as she quickly annalyzed the area.
Left...Right...Down...
The surroundings seemed normal enough...
So what were these creeps waiting for...?
Akarii tightened her hold on Crow's hand, stopping him in his tracks when she noticed a slight glint that caught her attention.
"Akarii? What is it?" he asked her softly.
"Stay still." she said calmly, "Something doesn't feel right."
"Why?" he asked,"Do you see anything?"
"I'm not sure..." she whispered,"But I do know that we are surrounded..."she said, "What I don't know...is why? " she hissed, "Just what are these guys waiting for?"
"Good question...Why don't we ask them?" Crow smirked.
"No, Crow, wait-"
Too Late. He had already released her hand and cupped both of his over his mouth taking in a deep breath before shouting.
"HEY PUNKS YOU ENJOYING THE SHOW!? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR!?" he shouted,"THINK YOU'RE TOUGH!? COME ON THEN!"
As though in response to Crow's call out, a sudden snap rung around them, followed by a loud rumble, startling them both. They huddled together looking around franticly for the source of the noise that surrounded them.
Not far behind, Akarii could also hear the many steps of the rest of their gang, Jack, Yusei and Kalin coming in to meet.
"What's going on!?" asked Yusei.
"What is that noise!?" asked Kalin cupping his hands over his ears, "It's getting louder!?"
"Where is it coming from!?" cried Jack.
"I don't know but whatever it is with these guys it's obviously not good!" Crow huffed.
Neither of them could find the source of the rumbling that surrounded them.
Right!? Left!? Down!? Around!?
Everything seemed clear of anything suspicious... except-
"Above...!" Akarii gasped sharply. Her eyes widening in panic once she realized what awaited them.
"What was that, Akarii!?" asked Yusei.
"Crow!" She cried out trying to get his attention,"Look Out!"
There wasn't any time to think. She instantly went into action when she realized that the glint that had caught her eye during her earlier scan was a trip wire- meant to trigger a trap that waited for Crow to release...
Not while I'm here...!
She shoved both hands into Crows back at full force, launching him forward as he lost his footing and took flight.
"Akarii, what gives!?" Jack snapped,"Are you out of your mind, what are you doing!?"
Yusei and Kalin were both just as confused and all ran toward the girl and the shoved aside Crow.
"Stay back!" the girl huffed, startling them all with her sharp tone as they all caught on to what had occured...too little too late.
Crow skidded across the floor shaking off the shock wave of suddenly being shoved looking back at the girl to try and stabilize his vision. eyes widening at the source of her action.
I'm so glad you're safe...Crow...
She thought this with a tender smile as her body was falling forward, after having using her force to push him out of the line of danger, unable to escape in time.
"No...!" Crow panicked as he stood to his feet. He tried to reach his hand out to grab her and pull her toward him but it didn't quite reach far enough, everyone tried, but no one had enough time to react and quickly had to take cover as the rubble, rocks, and heavy debris that was set above them came tumbling down on her...sealing her fate.
No one could save her now...
"AKARII...!" was the last thing she heard.
A blood curdling cry from her friends in fear. It echoed against the broken walls of the building that seemed to be falling apart from all directions...before everything faded to black behind her amber eyes.
To Be Continued