Scars Ch. 13
#13 of Scars
This took some time to work on. This chapter has a lot more detail than a lot of the other chapters which I hope to improve on further in the future. I'm gonna try and have Ch. 14 come out by the end of this month, but if not then it'll come out the beginning of July. Until then, enjoy the chapter and tell me what you all think of it :D
My blade strikes down another mercenary, blood stains the ground and walls around me as the body lands onto the ground, I look at the shock and confusion on the face of the dead mercenary just as another mercenary runs up to me. Chris and Patrick, still in their car, can only watch as I swipe my sword and take down the mercenary with little effort. Within moments I'm surrounded by more mercenaries, each carrying their own assortment of different weapons.
In front of me is a small Fennec Fox holding a large axe, twice his own size, but still able to move and use it with ease. Behind the Fennec stands a Cheetah, sparring two daggers in each hand, the tips of the blades coated in venom, the foul odor itself a dead giveaway. Behind me are three large Bulls, brothers most likely, each one carrying large spiked axes. For a band of mercenaries who deal with silent assassination, there are a lot of those in the guild who like to do things the loud way and kill the target with the least "silent" weapons. With these three, I could easily outrun them with their heavy weapons and armor without breaking a sweat, what I'm worried about is the Cheetah that stands before me.
The Fennec is the first to strike as he charges and slams his axe toward me, the attack is easily dodged and I drive my sword straight to the Fox's neck, but before my attack can hit, the Cheetah blocks it with his right dagger. With his other hand he goes for my own throat, but I pick my head up as the dagger grazes the fur on my chin. As the dagger misses and gets out of range, I try to swipe at the Cheetah with my sword, he dodges the swing, throwing the other dagger at me. The blade snags my shoulder before hitting the wall, I cover the wound with my hand, wincing from the pain.
"That my friend is checkmate," the Cheetah snides. The venom is not fast-acting, I'm not even feeling the effects yet. I've heard stories of this Cheetah, Valentine was his name; he uses venom that has no effect until it's too late for a cure to even help the poor bastard that's his target. I grip my sword and bare my teeth toward him in defiance. "You still want to play then? Alright Gates, have it your way."
Valentine takes his dagger into his hand as the two of us run toward each other. For such a small dagger, he's able to keep up and block all of my attacks. His attacks are powerful and quick, even though I may have the stronger weapon, I'm on the defensive. As the two of us fight, the Fennec swings his axe again, I jump high in the air, dodging the Fennec's attack, kneeing Valentine in the jaw at the same time. As I land, I duck my head down as Valentine tries to retaliate with a swing of his dagger, still staggered by the blow. I capitalize from this and plunge my sword deep into his gut, going straight through as I pin him to the wall. "I don't...get it," I wheeze. The venom is starting to get to me now, my vision is blurry, and my tongue feels numb along with parts of my body. "Why would Conway sacrifice all of his men just to get me? All I tried to do...was leave...."
"You don't...leave family," Valentine says, coughing up blood. My vision is almost gone, but I can still see the grin on his face as I turn my head to see the dagger Valentine previously thrown into the wall now in his hands again. I suddenly fee an agonizing pain in my shoulder as the Cheetah digs his dagger into my shoulder, the same one he cut earlier. "The only way to leave family....is in a body bag".
"LUCAN!" Chris cries out from inside the car, trying frantically to get out of the car, Patrick desperately to restrain the distraught Dingo as he watches me go down to one knee. I can barely see Chris yell out for me. I see a boot step up in front of me, I look up and see one of the Bulls from earlier, his large menacing axe lifted high in the air. My "executioner" smirks as he readies to end my life, but his face suddenly goes cold, he lowers the axe. All I can hear are faint sounds of someone yelling, the Bull turns away, the figure is blurry from the distance. Is it Conway...Victor....
"...Drake...," I wheeze. Drake walks down the alleyway, past the other mercenaries who simply stare in fear and astonishment. The Bulls and the Fennec step back away from Drake, Valentine merely watches in annoyance as Drake closer to me until he's within reaching distance. I look up and him, blood dripping off my muzzle, a low growl erupts from my mouth. Drake looks at me and then at the other mercenaries.
"Conway wants Lucan Gates execution to be at the village," Drake says, no emotion as usual in his voice. The other mercenaries surrounding bare their weapons.
"We were told BY Conway that Lucan Gates was free game!" the Fennec shouts angrily.
"To all of you yes," Drake says. "I was told to be the Lucan's executioner for his crime of desertion when he was brought back. Victor was supposed to do that job, but failed his mission, so I'm doing it for him. Thank you for weakening him for me," Drake turns back to me as I snarl weakly toward him before collapsing onto the ground. "It would be a pain having to bring him back without killing him."
"Speak for yourself, "Victor says, leaping down from the roof right next to Drake. :You weren't the one that had to deal with your little brat. Way to go killing everyone's adrenaline as always, and to think I was actually enjoying the show." Victor's suddenly switches his attention toward Patrick and Chris. Patrick is trying to start the car, but the engine is jammed. "Well at least I can kill something before we leave."
Chris notices Victor walk over toward the two of them, his heart beating like mad now as Victor's grin becomes wider. Patrick tries to fix the problem with his car as Chris continues to watch in complete horror as Victor get's closer and closer. Victor begins to take out his sword until Drake intervenes and steps in front of the mercenary. Victor's sly grin turns into an irritated growl. "Get out of my way Gates!" Victor growls.
"We've come for what we're after," Drake says. "You've had your fun." The other mercenaries look on in nervousness, some look on in joyous anticipation for what looks like and impending fight to occur. Chris's hear is beating so fast he feels like he's about to have a heart attack. Patrick continues to try to jump-start the car that is still stalled and unmoving.
"There's a Panda and Dingo in that car that stopped me from my kill!" Victor growls. "This has nothing to do with you, I'd call this a bit of revenge."
"Take it up with Conway," Drake says. "Speaking of Conway, he's not really pleased with you with that murder you committed at that school."
"What's so bad with one dead college student?! Victor says. "We're killers...mercenaries, when the fuck did we start following society's code?!"
"We only kill who we're paid to kill," Drake says. "If the police learned of our involvement in that murder, you would be joining Lucan in his execution." Patrick's car suddenly starts up and before Victor could stop them, Patrick kicks the car into gear and speeds off. An infuriated Victor bears his teeth viciously at Drake who simply away from Victor and goes over to his unconscious brother, picks him up and heaves him over his shoulder and walks away. Valentine walks over to Victor, my blade still embedded into the Cheetah's chest to keep from bleeding out. "Are you really going to let that prick boss you around?" Valentine coughs. Victor growls at Valentine, making the wounded mercenary draw back. Victor pushes pas Valentine and walks away with the rest of the mercenaries, leaving without any trace of their presence, nothing left but a pool of blood.
Patrick drives quickly, not bearing in mind the red lights and oncoming cars he misses. "We need to go back there and help Lucan!" Chris yells, his breathing frantic and his heart still pounding out of his chest.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?!" Patrick yells back. "That homicidal wolf was two seconds away from killing the both of us! I get you and Lucan became bffs, but I'm not risking my life or yours to save him."
"You know he'd try to save your life if you were in his place!" Chris yells.
The serious look on Patrick's face practically breaks into laughter. "Are you serious, the guy was trying to run away from all those psychos," Patrick says. Patrick makes a hard turn down a street, barely missing a car that angrily honks at Patrick to no response.
"Where are we going?" Chris asks. Patrick wanted to avoid that question, because even he hadn't the slightest clue which place was safe anymore. Now that Keenen is leading The Scars, the group will be more active and dangerous, R.J and Eddie's houses aren't a good place since Keenen could show up and blow Patrick's secret to Chris. Patrick sighs, knowing he has no other option...but "her".
"We can't go back to the apartment," Patrick says. "There's this....person I know who can let us stay at their place while things cool down." Chris doesn't respond, only thinking about Lucan and how he just let his friend die...and he didn't even do anything to stop it. The pair continued to drive for another half hour before making a stop in the outskirts of Midna. Barely anyone lives in this area so crime is scarce, although The Scars do show up from time to time to escape from the police, the area is for the most part safe.
"We're here," Patrick says. pulling up into a driveway of a house. Chris sees someone from inside peering from one of the windows before disappearing. Patrick gets out of the car and walks over to the door, Chris follows suit still thinking about Lucan. Patrick knocks on the door, the door opens within moments to show a Llama on the other side, her cold, tense eyes staring straight at Patrick. "Hey...Carolyn," Patrick sighs.
"What do you want?" Carolyn asks. She notices Chris behind Patrick. "Is that your friend?"
"Y...Yeah," Patrick stammers. "This is Chris."
"Patrick who is this?" Chris asks. Patrick didn't want to say it, telling Chris about his past dealings with The Scars is one thing, but he never wanted Chris to know about Carolyn. Scratching at the back of his head, Patrick tried to think of a good answer to say.
"My name is Carolyn," Carolyn says, her voice a lot nicer than with Patrick. "I'm Patrick's ex-girlfriend."
Back at the mercenary village, Radomir, Conway's lackey and servant, walks out of the main building. Out in the distance, the Rat can see the returning mercenaries walk toward the entrance, leading the group is Drake, still carrying my limp body over his shoulder. Radomir smiles and returns back into the building.
Walking past the entrance of the village, Drake drops my body to the steps of the main building as Conway, accompanied by Radomir and Tonya, walks to the returning group of mercenaries. Conway's attention is solely on my unconscious body. "Is he alive?" Conway asks.
"Barely," Drake says. "Valentine's venom is in his blood stream now." Tonya's eyes widen with horror to Drakes's awareness. A sudden loud cough comes from me, Tonya breaths a sigh of relief.
"I don't want him dying before the execution," Conway says. "Radomir, get the anti-venom from the reserves."
"Yes sir," Radomir leaves back into the main building. Conway continues to inspect my body which twitches and spasms in agony from the venom that ravages my insides.
"It's time you faces the consequences for betraying family," Conway says, a groan in pain. Conway smirks at the sight of my defeat. "Believe me when I say the pain you're feeling right now will be elevated ten-fold before we finally kill you, take him to the "Cage"." Drake picks up my body by the scruff on the back of my neck and drags me inside the main building and with the loud bang of the door closing, I am now offically a prisoner of the very guild I once called home.