My wrists were locked and chained to the floor in the empty metal room, I sat on my knees, covered in slime and blood. I had been stripped of my vest, and my boots. I looked around wildly, I had no clue where Riptide had taken me, my left shoulder throbbed from an attempt to break free of him and I was pretty sure it was dislocated as the pain was too unbearable to move it. I had little doubt my friends would ever be able to find me, life could not get any worse.
The metallic sound of the door unlocking startled me. My heart jumped and proceed to race, it was discomforting to see Riptide come in. The tray table he pushed squeaked in protest, and his sinister grin didn't help the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Whatever he had planned was going to excruciatingly painful.
"Evening." He chuckled. "I bet you're wondering what's in the table."
"Nope, don't think I want to know."
"Well, fortunately for you, I forgot I had these little trinkets." He pulled a long two prong rod out from drawer.
"Have you figured it out?" Sasha huffed as they paused so Preacher could get his bearings. They had ran in a circle returning to the room Julianne was last seen but there had been nothing left but ruble. Since then they had descended four floors, ascending two and then dropping another three in attempt to shake the beast chasing them. Sasha was throughly exhausted and she wasn't sure how much more running she take before she dropped.
"Maybe, I don't know." He replied, they had come to dead end. He took the wrong turn at the last intersection, it had been a while since he had roamed the dormitories. This was a section he had never been in, and now staring at the wall ahead of him he realized his error, one that could prove to be deadly.
"Maybe? You don't know?" She shrieked , a scream came from the turn at the end of the hall. "Please tell me there is away out of this hall."
"Wish I could, love." He responded, finally making eye contact. He saw the fear in her eyes when he told her that, she trusted him to get them to safety and he failed again. Just like he had failed Elise and Julianne. He pushed her behind him but he wasn't going to just let her get torn to shreds without him trying something. "Stay behind us."
Reaper dropped to a knee in front of Preacher facing the direction the beast was coming. Preacher stood behind him, both locked and ready to fight. Slowly it slinked around the corner, both men started firing. Shells lodged into the side the deformities head and shoulder, it snapped around facing the two, licking its face with its massive tongue. It released a low growling hiss, as it stalked toward the trio. A shell tore a chuck from it's shoulder, blood sprayed the wall momentarily before Sasha witness the skin stitch itself back together. It was in that moment she realized how hopelessly screwed they were. It didn't matter where the shell ripped through the wound would close up within seconds. The wendigo surged forward, knocking both men into opposite walls, rifles scattered across the floor as it pinned her to the wall by her waist. She pushed back with all her strength to keep it’s snarling mouth away from her. Saliva and blood slid down it's chin, creating a slickness that made it hard to gain a purchase from.
The wendigo pulled back on it's hunches, and lunged forward trying to get past her hands. A long onyx talon pierced her shoulder, pain exploded instantly. She screamed in pain, sending the beast into a snapping fury, foam frothing from it's mouth, spit spraying on her face. Her hand slipped, resulting in her holding it back with only her elbow. It's teeth just inches from her face, she crinkled her face in disgust as the thing's tongue slipped out and whipped across her cheek wildly.
Suddenly it went rigid, tilting its head, listening. It's hissed it's hot breath across Sasha's face, the smell of putrid decaying flesh filled her senses. Slowly animal reached back digging its talons into ceiling, puncturing the cement, and flipped it's body the opposite way. The beast landed deftly on its feet racing back the way it came. Reaper and Preacher slid down the wall, taking in a gasping breath. They looked at one another, then over to Sasha who was slumped against the wall. Hair cast in front her face, looking down toward the ground. Her shoulder bleeding profusely, her chest was heaving with every heavy breath she took. She looked up at both of them, while taking in a deep breath.
"Thanks for the help." She remarked as she pushed herself back up off the wall, bracing as she started to lose her balance.
"Love, if we hadn't been pinned, I assure you, we would of tried to help." Preacher stood and walked up to her. His vest was ripped and hanging to the side, he let it slide from his shoulder.
"Why did it stop?" She asked as he pulled her sleeve up inspecting the damage done to her shoulder. He could see though muscle, the hole was large and ripped piece of flesh dangled down.
"It heard its own kind, or something that sounds like it's own kind. Defending it's food supply is their top priority, including over feeding." Reaper responded retrieving the rifles, he inspected them for damage. He sighed as he dropped one back to the floor.
"So there is another one in the building again." She questioned, Preacher placed his hand on the hole in her shoulder. "Hang on, what are you doing?"
"Not necessarily, when you sister screamed earlier it attracted one." Reaper stood guard, looking away from the two.
"Me? I'm not doing anything. Just go back to talking with Reaper." Preacher smirked.
"Why?" No sooner then she had asked him a burning sensation coursed through her shoulder, causing her knees to go weak. Preacher caught her with his free arm as he pressed tighter against the wound.
Riptide walked back toward the metal table, he put the electrode away, rummaging through it. I lay on my side against the cold floor, tears slowly traveling down my cheeks. The pain was intense, I felt like every nerve was on fire and my muscles spasmed erratically. I couldn't move, all I could was watch and pray for death to find me.
"I thought you would put up more of fight." His voice was calm, I think that's the part that bothered me the most. He was calm, I don't know what I'd expect a crazed madman to sound like but being calm was definitely not it.
"Go to hell." I murmured, barely even being able to hear myself through my clenched teeth.
"Hmm, what was that?" He asked, pulling a long braided rope out of the table. "You'd like the whip, now that I can do."
He swung his arm up, and snapped it back down. I was helpless but to watch as the cord arced up, flicking in midair making a loud wicked snapping sound. He threw it loosely over his shoulder, and turned to face me. He stepped slightly to the side, as grin slowly played across his scar covered face. I averted my gaze, I knew what was coming but I didn't have to give him the satisfaction of him watching my face contort in pain. It was sudden, the searing pain across my shoulders and chest, stealing the breath from my body. I drew a deep breath in just as the second lash whipped it's way across my hip and abdomen. I screamed instinctively, which roused laughter from the evil being in the room. I bit my tongue as the third racked across my thighs.
"Yep, let's just follow the blood sucking, skin piercing thing from hell in hopes it's not running into another blood sucking, skin piercing thing from hell. It's a wonderful plan, maybe on the way we can stop and sing rousing number with swat." Sasha whispered to herself, as they tracked the gouges in the cement.
"You have a better plan? Then by all means please disclose them." Preacher quipped from behind her. She rolled her eyes, this has got to be the dumbest plan she had ever heard she thought to herself. Reaper's plan was to follow it hoping to lead them to Julianne. As much as Sasha prayed that was the case she wasn't holding her breath. Nothing had gone in their favor since they woke up.
"I thought the two of you were the genetically modified ones, I'm following your lead." She snipped, the crack of a gun going off shut her up.
"You two drop your weapons!" Someone from behind them announced.
"Well, isn't this charming." She looked over her shoulder. Preacher rolled his eyes as he turned around and placed the handgun on the floor. Evidently he couldn't see past the two of them to Reaper.
"Charming is not what I'd call this. This is a mild annoyance." Preacher responded as Sasha turned to face the man.
"A mild annoyance, I'm afraid to see what massive annoyance would be." She retorted.
"Are you two married?" The man asked, he was dressed in plain black with a handgun, not vest. It was obvious he wasn't swat.
"Thankfully not." She smirked, Preacher glanced over his shoulder.
"There could be worse things then being married to me, love."
"I need you two to come with me, there is no unauthorized travel." He was curt, and his sentence clipped.
"Really? I must not of got that memo, just thought I'd take stroll down hall." Preacher responded excessively loud, Sasha could feel Reaper slowly backing away. She sighed as she realized they there resigned to the roll of decoy again.
"Sir, I really must ask you to come with me." The officer barked, keeping his gun pointed at the man.
"Sir? How formal of you. I must ask do you have credentials?"
"Alright, that's enough." The officer strode up, holstering the gun. He reached out to grab Preacher by the shoulder. Preacher snatched his hand and spun the unsuspecting man with a quick twist, slamming his face into the wall.
"Wrong move, mate." He picked up his gun, and turned to face Sasha. "Really do feel dreadful about that."
A gun went off, and Preacher lurched into Sasha. He pressed the gun in her hand before falling to the side. She didn't hesitate as she shot the non-swat officer. She dropped to ground watching as the crimson rose spread through his chest.
"Preacher." She cried softly, pulling him into her lap, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Love.." He sputtered out, blood pooling at the corner of his mouth. "Don't do that."
"Please don't." She choked out, a sad smile crossed his face. She watched as the muscle in his face relaxed, and his body went limp. She pulled him up closer, and started to cry.
Riptide had stopped, and I could hear him rummaging again. I turned my face to look at him, there was a gleeful glint his eye. He was throughly enjoying this. I rolled to my knees, my muscles screaming at me to stop. I wasn't going to lay there any more, I couldn't let him have that. A scraping sound outside there door caught both of our attention. He looked over his shoulder at me, a maniacal gleam crossed those beady eyes. With long powerful strides he came to me, grabbing me by my face, pulling me up into a knelling position.
"Now I can do what I should of done long ago." He sneered. "That pesky friend of yours should of died long ago." He shoved my face away, and confidently walked up to the door.
I slowly made way to my unsteady feet, pulling at the chains that bound me. The door wobbled a bit as he reached for the handle. Quickly he pulled the door open, the beast sprang into the room, catching the man off guard. The two slid across the floor colliding with me, I heard the snap of metal and was shoved into the wall behind Riptide. I heard the man shriek in pain as the beast ripped into his chest. I wiggled as hard as I could out from behind the two, a large blasting sound ring through my ears just as I freed myself. The beast whipped about toward the door. To my relief I saw Reaper standing there, rifle in hand trained on the thing.
It growled at him lowering its head, opening it's mouth as it's screams reverberated through the room, deafening me. It lunged onto Reaper, teeth snapping. Quickly a ran to the overturned table, I found long curved knife. I snatch it and sprinted to the beast. I hurled myself onto its smooth back, it's skin hot to the touch. Briefly it paused, I took the chance to whip the chain dangling from my hands around it neck. Suddenly the beast lurched, and spun. It bucked wildly trying to throw me from it's back.
I had no clue what I doing or what possessed me to get on it's back. In hindsight not my smartest idea. The chain had hooked onto the bolt that held my shackles together, even if I changed my mind dismounting the bucking catastrophe was not going to be an option.
I pushed myself up while it spun trying to get enough leverage to drive the knife in. That was until the thing reared back slamming the back of its skull into the front of mine. Just a quickly as the thing had reared up it slammed it's body forward kicking up it's butt. And that folks is how you get slung and twisted over the neck of the pale distorted mount, my face to it's eyeless face.
I heard a low growl, I could feel it's lips pulled back against my abdomen. Yeah, this was not a good idea. The thing snapped forward, failing to grab hold my body with its teeth. It leaned it's body forward, in turn lowering my body. My feet touched the ground as in continued to push forward with its body weight. I took the chance, leaning to side, gaining enough room. I slammed the knife into the side of its neck, driving it in as hard as I could. Blood coursed over my hands as the creature went to the side, sliding chain over part of its head in the process. It whipped to the other side, completely dislodging the chain, and slamming it's body into the wall. I watched as the knife went hilt deep, and beast stopped moving.
I pushed myself back up to my feet, leaning against the wall I staggered over to Reaper. Blood coursed from his neck, he looked up at me. He smiled as he stroked the side of my cheek.
"But you can't.." He shook his head, stopping me mid-sentence.
"I'll be fine, I just have to let the wound close." He whispered through a hoarse voice.
"Uh." I heard a moan come from the direction Riptide lay. Slowly I stood up, grabbing Reaper's rifle from the ground. I wobbled over to him. His leg were mangled, and his ribs were exposed. The part of his cheek that been ripped off was all ready closing. I brought the rifle up, took aim square at his head and pulled the trigger.
I was knocked back as brain splattered the wall. If my shoulder wasn't dislocated before, I'm sure it is now. I rolled onto my stomach, propping myself up and glanced over at Reaper, he had already pushed himself up into a sitting position.
"You can't be dead. I don't want you to be dead." Sasha choked through.
She held Preacher's limp form, tears falling from her cheeks to his face. Sure he was a jerk she thought but he had grown on her. He was the first man she met that not only could handle her sarcasm but could dish it right back her. Now he was gone, just like Elise and her parents and possibly her sister as well. She suddenly felt truly alone for the first time in her life.
"Such wonderful gifts." Preacher nuzzled into her chest. Her eyes went wide with shock. "What no mouth to mouth resuscitation?"
"You.." she seethed and stood suddenly dropping his torso abruptly to the ground. "You're an asshole."
"Hey, I was just shot, love. Easy on the dropping me." He chuckled, propping himself onto an elbow rubbing the back of his head.
"I thought you were dead!" She yelled at him.
"Dead? No, afraid only a head shot can do that." He grinned, snatching the handgun from the ground next to him. "Before you get any ideas."
"I hate you." She quipped turning her back him, crossing her arms.
"Love, we both know that's not true." He stood holstering the gun. "You all but declared you un-dieing love for me."
"I did not!" She exclaimed, spinning to face him.
"Please, don't be dead. You can't die." He mocked her, grasping at his chest, pressing the back of hand to his forehead.
"Seriously? You got I love you from that?" She scoffed, smacking him in arm as he took a step to her.
"Then why were you crying?" He asked, his voice soft and deep.
"I got something in my eye." She retorted.
"Well then, let me just wipe those not crying tears from your cheek." He murmured, brushing the streaks from under her eyes.
I hobbled down the hall using Reaper as my crutch. We had found ourselves in the main room that swat used, computers hummed waiting for their next command. I sat down in a chair, looking around wondering what to do next.
"I wonder which switch controls the overhead system." I pondered to myself out loud.
"This one." He pointed, walking over and flipped it.
"Attention citizens, as you have noticed by now, there has been an up rising." Stated, leaning forward in the chair to alleviating the pain that spread through my lower back. "Those of you who were members of swat, as I imagine there isn't to many of you left, stand down. Please return your weapons, and you will be unharmed, the refusal to do so will consider you an enemy and we will react according.'
'To the rest of you who survived,' I paused trying to find the right words, I looked up at Reaper. The muscles in face were soft as he watched me, the kindness in his eyes had returned. "Today is a new start, a fresh start. For the last hundred years have we have lived separated. We should have never been to be broken down by class, that was never the plan. From this day forward we mingle, live one aside each other, work together, we can become the society that our ancestors wanted for us, and died for us. There will be no doors keep us from one another, this will become the home we were promised."
I flipped the switch off, my hands trembled. I hoped we could restore balance, that the words I spoke would come to be. We could achieve greatness if we worked together, I knew this, I could feel it. I stood up, feeling drained. I walked over to Reaper, and laid my head against his chest. I thought about Elise, I thought about my sister wondering if she was alive or dead. I knew this was far from over, we had an up hill battle to try and change people's mindsets. I felt Reaper wrap his arms around, and lay his head on top of mine.
"So are you two having another moment?" Preacher's annoying voice announced his presence.
"Shut it, Lucas." Reaper responded, his chest vibrating.
"Another moment?" My sister chuckled with confusion. I lightly pushed Reaper aside and threw my arms around my sister, tears threaten spill.
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