Chapter 6: Unexpected Fight
Two alleys down three teenagers: two boys, one of whom is tagged "Antonio, C/03," and a girl are cornered by a man in his 20s and a boy around 10. The man is wearing black jeans and a brown, carrying a scythe. The boy is wearing baggy khaki pants and a dark brown jacket; he has an explosive device attached to his right hand and carries a surujin with another. They're both covered in blood and smiling eye to eye. Three other people have fallen victim to the hand of the smiling duo.
"Stay away!" the girl recoils in terror, throwing a rock at the man.
The tagged boy takes out a small pocketknife and rushes toward the man, "DIE!" he screams. The man dodges his first attack, "Don't," he warns the tagged boy. He strikes a second time, and the man dodges again, slightly slashing the boy's arm and making him scream in pain.
"Pathetic. You're a shame," the man says, holding his scythe at Antonio's face, but he only spits in his face. Resulting in the man closing his eyes for a mere second. Antonio takes this chance to stab his chest, but he dodges, and Antonio's blade barely grazes his arm. "Disgrace."
"What the fuck is happening here?" Levi snarls under his breath, looking back and forth between them and Biserka, who's standing next to him. They're standing behind a wall at the alley's turning point.
The man slashes Antonio's chest and kicks him into the corner. The girl screams, tears running down her cheeks. The other teenage boy is simply frozen in his place.
"You fucking cunt," the boy throws his surijin, capturing her with its sharp chain. The edged chains start cutting through the girl's clothes. "Stop screaming," the boy demanded.
"FUCK. We can't just jump in. They'll kill the last two," Biserka says, calculating how they can ambush in close combat with two weapons alone.
Bang!
The boy groans in pain, dropping the chain and pressing his hand. The bullet has slashed his palm and passed it. They both look at their way as Levi shoots the second bullet. The man pushes the boy to the side, "Dax, watch out!" Biserka takes the chance to attack the man, going for his shoulder. He dodges, swooshing his scythe toward her. She leans back down, holding on to the tip of his scythe, and tackles him. He loses his balance for a moment. Biserka takes advantage of this moment, turning the dagger in her hand, facing backward, and stabs his leg.
"Run!" she yells at the two horrified teenagers, taking her dagger out of his leg. He falls to his knees, and she raises her hand to grab the scythe staff, but he swooshes his scythe at her. His blade cuts the back of her wrist. She pulls her hand away and ducks the blade approaching by bridging back on her hands, stretching her legs, wrapping them around his neck, and pulling him down. She snatches the scythe away from him and jumps on top of him. The teenagers run to the next block.
Meanwhile, running in zigzags, Levi starts to shoot toward Dax as he keeps throwing his chain at Levi. "Who the fuck are you two?" Dax says, annoyed. He throws an explosive at Levi, making him jump forward. He throws the chain again; Levi catches it, pulling him closer, the chain cutting his palm, "people who are fucking you up," Levi says, breaking the chain in half by shooting at its centre. Dax falls to the ground. He looks back at Biserka, who's holding the scythe at the man's throat.
"I only ask once, who hired you?" she says, pressing the scythe's edge into the man's shoulder.
"Fuck you," the man tries to push her away, but she only pushes the scythe further into his flesh.
"It's okay. We'll ask your little friend," she says as she raises her dagger to finish the job.
Dax looks back at Levi, pointing the gun at him, "Goddamn it, Raz," he throws a mildly explosive gas bomb between them. The bomb explodes, throwing them away and covering everywhere with smoke. Hearing the footsteps fade away, Levi shoots his last bullet, hoping to hit the target.
They stand up and exchange a look, agreeing not to pursue the boy further. Levi starts whipping the dust off his clothes, looking disgusted. She walks to Raz and rips off a piece of his sleeve, wrapping it around her bleeding wrist. "What a cheap fabric!" she then tears another piece and throw it at Levi for his palm.
"I don't need that," he says, catching the fabric as his eyes twitch and his nose crinkles in disgust. She shrugs.
"Hunters? Are they back again?" she asks, looking down at the corpses.
"Why the hell would hunters kills this many Normals?"
"Wait a second…" she leans closer, picking up one of the corpses by hand and pulling up her sleeve.
"What?"
She points at a tattoo of a broken dagger on her wrist, "This is an anti-twilight sign." She starts checking every other body except Antonio. They all have tattoos. "Why would they kill anti-twilight factions?"
"That tagged kid was trying to protect them. He didn't seem to be simply abiding by the three laws."
"No. he wanted to do it."
"And he called a disgrace. We need to find those two who ran away.
"I just wanted to buy groceries and get my stuff from Shadys," she brushes her hair back in frustration.
"We need witnesses."
"I know. Let's find the girl and take her to the PD. Then I'll call Worick from there."
"What does he have to do anything with this?"
"I'm not going to get rid of these bodies." She picks up the scythe. "This is mine," she says, walking past Raz. "Let's go find those kids."
They leave the block and search the corners and possible hideouts to find the teenagers. A low whimpering sound can be heard from not far away. They follow the sound, reaching a bridge with a staircase down to the alley beneath it. Walking down quietly, they can hear the whimpering intensifies like the sound of an abandoned puppy. Carrying the scythe on her back, its shadow grows ominously as she reaches the flat surface.
"Stay away!" a voice similar to the teenage girl comes from under the stairs. "I-I-I can see you! Stay away!"
Levi and Biserka look at each other, dumbfounded by how she can see them. Biserka looks up at scythe and lets out a silent "Oh…"
"Put that shit down. You scared the shit out of her," Levi glares at her, trying to keep his voice down. She puts the scythe back down on the stairs,
"Hey, hey, calm down. It's just us. You know, the cool woman and the midget who saved you," she says softly, taking a little peak under the stairs. Levi raises his hand to smack her in the head but restrains himself. "May we?" she asks, looking at the girl who's hugging her legs, hiding her bruised and dirty face behind them. The other boy is lying on the ground next to her. Biserka wonders if the boy is still alive. The teenage girl nods slightly. She looks at Levi and points him to take the initiative.
"Why?" he whispers, looking at her.
"I'm injured, you see," she mocks, pushing Levi forward.
"Tch," he lets out an annoyed sound and walks under the staircase with her, standing a step behind her, keeping an eye out. "What's your name?" Levi asks.
"Lyra," she responds, barely audible.
"Well, Lyra, you and your friend can come with us. We work for the police. We'll take you somewhere safe."
"He's gone," Lyra says, swallowing down.
"Huh?" Levi and Biserka say in unison, looking at the motionless body next to Lyra, which only felt unconscious.
"He's not breathing…he…he just fell…and-and-" her voice cracks as she clenches her fingers around her bruised arms, breathing louder and louder. Her black eyes grow double the size as she stares into the void.
"Hey, keep it together," Levi says in a low voice. He looks down at the devastated kid, trying to figure out the best action as if he's penetrating uranium.
"And you call me a brat?" Biserka rolls her eyes and pushes Levi to the side. She can see his aura beginning to perplexing. He's probably not good with emotions. Not that it is a surprise. She carefully moves next to her and sits in front of her. She can feel the girl reliving everything that has happened in the past hour. Her aura is getting its first stains. Hatred. Sorrow. Wrath. Today will be the day her life will change forever. Just like Biserka's once did. And probably even Levi's. She gently puts one of her hands on Lyra's right hand, which is clawing on the chain traces on her skin like a lawnmower, while sliding the other beneath her stiffened fingers, pulling it up. Her nails scratch against Biserka's skin like a raw copper stone. "It's okay. You'll be okay." She holds her fingers in her hand momentarily before doing the same to her left hand. She holds both of Lyra's hands in her hands while looking at her bruised arms that have started to bleed again.
"We should get going," Levi reminds her while keeping a lookout. "Just pick her up," he suggests.
"I need her to calm down."
"….anywhere without Alex," an inaudible sound comes out of Lyra's mouth, her lips barely moving.
"Huh?" Biserka asks, moving her head a bit closer to her.
"I'm…not going…without him," she points her shaky fingers to the lifeless boy next to him.
Levi doubtfully looks at the boy, "we can't-" "Okay." Biserka cuts him, raising her hand to shush him. She looks back at him; he's displeased by the idea of carrying a corpse all the way to the PD.
"His family need to know," Lyra says, holding back her tears,
"Can you walk?" Levi asks and receives a silent nod. "I will help you walk. And she will bring your friends, right Biserka?" he exchanges a sharp look.
"Right."
Lending a hand for Lyra to get up, Levi calmly adds, "If you can't walk, I can carry you." Biserka looks at his expression softening as he helps the girl up. Maybe he's more than just a shrimp. She picks up the boy, putting him over her shoulder. Walking up the stairs, Biserka looks at the scythe but decides to leave it behind.
They arrive by the PD; the building is tranquil, and the lights are off. Levi and Biserka look at each other in question. She tries to open the door, but it is locked.
"What the hell?"
"Do they always close down on Sundays?" he asks, raising his eyebrow.
"You're the cop."
"I just started."
"Didn't you go through some training or info session or something?"
"In this circus? In your dreams. Aren't you supposed to be their acquittance?"
"I don't work on their schedule."
"Doesn't change–" "Are you really professionals?" Lyra interrupts their quarrel, making them realize they aren't alone. Leaning on Levi's shoulder, the worn-out girl still has enough energy to stay a snarky teen.
"I don't know about her, but I am professional in what I do," he looks at Lyra from the corner of his eyes. She gulps down, avoiding his glance.
"Theo. Theo's clinic is open, and she's injured. Let's go there…as much as I don't want to," Biserka says, almost mumbling the last sentence.
"That crazy doctor who helps the tags?" she asks.
"Yes."
"He won't like me," she says, concerned.
"He'll figure it out. We're only seven blocks away."
Finally, after a 15-minute walk, they get to Theo's clinic. Biserka looks at the door doubtfully, not eager to knock on it. She brushes her hair off and grits her teeth.
"Ah, why don't you go ahead and knock on his door?" she suggests.
"Why?" he asks, not pleased.
"You have the breathing person with you."
"Do you owe him money or something?"
"I wish it was money," she says as they stare at the door. She puts the boy down and steps forward to knock. The door opens, and little Nina appears on the door.
"Eep!" Nina yelps in surprise. She looks at Biserka, Levi, and then Lyra, trying to speculate on a possible scenario. "Err, Doctor…" she says, while still staring at the trio.
"Hmm?" Theo's voice comes from inside the clinic.
"We have a bit of a situation here," she says, raising her eyebrow.
"With who?"
"With Biserka."
"If she wants to be late, she better come in the mornings," he growls.
"But she's not alone," Nina informs him awkwardly. Biserka can see that Levi is questioning this whole interaction in his mind.
"Fuck. Tell her I don't care," he hesitates, then corrects himself, "I know you can hear, I'm not cleaning your mess."
"Who asked," Biserka shrugs and points at Levi with her head to step in.
"This kid needs help," Levi says, looking down at Nina, expecting her to take action as the assistant nurse.
"Oh…su-sure. Come in," Nina moves from the door and leads them inside. Levi follows her in, and Biserka picks up the boy and walks in, closing the door behind her.
Theo is sitting behind his desk, his chair turned toward the window. His paperwork is spread all around the table, and his Stethoscope is on top of it all. "You never cease to disappoint me."
"Sure sure. We can talk about that later. But this is serious," Biserka says with frustration, putting the boy's body down next to a wall.
"You're injured too," Nina adds, leading Lyra to a bed.
"I'm fine," Biserka makes a quick note.
"You can rest here. I'll get back to you soon," Nina smiles at the exhausted teenager.
Theo turns on his chair and looks at the situation before him. "Fucking hell. I heard you two were working together, and you didn't even last a week before this?"
"Huh?" Levi looks at him with confusion.
"We weren't fighting each other," Biserka corrects him, slumping down on the table in the middle of the room.
"Then who was it?"
"We don't know. They fought like hunters but they're not hunters," Levi responds, leaning on the wall.
"How come?"
"These kids are Normals and from the anti-twilight faction," Biserka says and sees a flash of psychotic curiosity pass through Theo's glasses. That's never a good sign. Even without his nasty aura that wants to take advantage of everything, anyone could feel the sketchiness in that wrinkled face. "I need to use your phone to make some calls."
"Go ahead," Theo points at the phone on his desk and walks to the bed where Lyra is lying. Biserka walks up, grabs the phone, and starts dialling. "Friends of yours?" he asks Lyra, pointing at the body.
"He was," Lyra mumbles.
"You brought a corpse to my clinic?" Theo's voice cracks cynically while his hands focus on checking the wounds.
"She wouldn't leave without him," Levi rolls his eyes.
"That's a lifeless body. It's going to smell-" he swallows his words, looking at the mourning girl on the verge of breakdown. He begins examining her vital signs as Nina prepares the first aid kit for him.
"Tell your lazy cops to come here and take him," Biserka voice comes from the other side, talking on the phone. "I don't care that you're home. Tell Benriya if you must. Figure it out." She smacks the phone down. She huffs and walks back to sit at the table. Now she owes a favour to Theo and possibly Worick or Chad. Owing a favour in this city never ends well. Ever.
Levi takes a look at Biserka's exasperated face and back at Theo. "Where is his family?" he asks, getting straight to the point. Biserka watches, deciding to remain silent during this conversation to see how far Levi will go.
"He lives with his father, grandmother and a younger sister. They're all from the faction," Lyra answers, gritting her teeth as Theo cleans her wounds with alcohol.
"Who was that tag with you?"
"Antonio. He was our friend."
"Your friend?" Levi asks with skepticism.
"We don't really share our parents' ideology," she sighs.
"So, he wasn't just abiding by the Three Laws?"
"No. He did it because he is a good person."
"What about your family. Can we call them?" he asks with a softer tone but doesn't seem to plan on ending this any time soon. She remains silent. Not a word comes out of her. Even her breathing feels inaudible as she looks down on her feet. Her head is dropping so low it is about to disappear into her collar any moment. A heavy silence befalls the room. Biserka watches as Levi chews his next question before asking it, but he doesn't seem to be happy with just this.
"What-" "My patient needs to rest. This is not the PD. I don't like this atmosphere in my clinic," Theo interrupts as he finishes wrapping the bandages around her arms.
"This case falls under police jurisdiction. We need to gather as much information as possible," Levi argues, stepping forward—suddenly acting professional.
"Are you on duty right now?" Theo asks hoarsely.
"No," Levi responds calmly, taking another step forward. Biserka watches with amusement as Nina stresses out, standing next to the bed.
"Is she under arrest?" Theo looks down on Levi like he's talking to a peasant.
"No."
"Then scram off and come with a warrant." They stare into each other eyes. Neither side seems to plan on backing off. Everyone knows how much Theo cares about his clinic. He may see his patients as Guinee pigs every once in a while, but most of the time, he's just another doctor. Biserka sees Nina looking at her, asking for interference, but she shrugs it off. Nina sighs in disappointment and walks toward the two roosters having a staring contest.
"I…I think we should also check on Biserka. She seems injured. I'm sure Mr. Levi is also tired," she says, awkwardly smiling at Levi. He huffs and backs off. "Are you injured, by any chance?" she asks.
"I'm good."
"Great. So, I just need to wrap her wrist and won't need to see your faces for a moment longer."
"I'm fine. Thanks for the help," Biserka says as she gets up to leave.
"I think you needone," he tilts his head, sending his message across. He wants to talk, something she was trying to run away from. She can see his colour, but she's been too distracted by other things to remember why she's been avoiding Theo.
"Ah right, now that I think about it Worick doesn't have anything in his apartment," she nods as Theo leads her to another bed, carrying his kit. She leans on the edge of the bed, unwrapping the ripped fabric that she wrapped around her wrist.
"You're late," he glares at her.
"I know," she replies nonchalantly.
"You were supposed to be here two weeks ago."
"I was going to come today but this happened."
"Bullshit."
"I'm here, am I not?"
"How did you get hurt?" he asks with an accusatorial voice, picking her wrist up and examining it.
"I was in a fight. Did you even listen?" she counter-argues his accusation.
"Wrong. Try again." He cleans the dry blood off her wound and starts to disinfect it.
"He had a scythe, and I had a dagger."
"Try again," he presses the cotton soaked with hydrogen peroxide on her fresh wound.
"Ouch. You fucker," she blinks and gives him a hysterical smile.
"You were saying?'
"It just happened."
"Let me rephrase. Why are you injured?" he emphasizes.
"I don't know what you're saying."
"Are you that sadistic?"
"It's not sadism. It's an average precautionary method," she corrects him, taking offence to his remark. Her eyes go wide for a moment. "Ah, fuck…" she mumbles, realizing she's fallen into his wordplay.
Seeing his next move, she raised her arm right toward the scythe's blade and watched him swing it at her. She then grazed the back of her wrist at the blade, enough to open up a wound that bled and didn't cut through the vein.
"That happened," she says, pointing her wrist at Theo as he wraps the clean bandage around it.
"You need a psychiatrist," Theo shakes his head, talking with low tone.
"You're the one to talk," she takes her wrist away. "Can you keep the body, just for tonight?"
"What's in there for me?"
"I don't know. Just a favour between friends? Chad will send somebody to take him and her tomorrow. We need her testimony."
"Fine," he nods, still not pleased.
Biserka walks to Levi who's siting there silently minding his business; or that's what he wants to look like he's doing. "Come on shorty. We're leaving." Levi simply nod.