Title: Written in Blood
Author: AstroKender
Pairings: 5x2
Rating: action/mystery
Warnings: How much can I beat this poor guy up?
Spoilers: None.
Notes: Takes place after the Eve Wars of Endless Waltz. Everyone works for the Preventers.
Disclaimers: GW isn't mine, go figure. So don't sue, k?
The black Sedan flew over the loose gravel straight at the cowering figure. Duo heard Sally's scream just as the vehicle reached him. Quickly extending his arms out in front of him, he pressed his cheek to the ground and held his breath.
Duo could feel vibrations of the engine thrumming in his ears as it passed overhead. Some piece of the engine he didn't have the mind to name right then scraped against his back, leaving an oily trail across his clothes. Suddenly, his shirt got snagged, and he felt himself being dragged along with the vehicle. Frantically Duo clawed at the gravel below him, trying to find some purchase. He was going to be dragged over the edge! Duo twisted around violently.
With a rip, his shirt gave way, and he was free. The muffler scraped against his back, burning him. Gritting his teeth, Duo watched as the sedan's back tires roll past his face. Finally he was out from underneath it. The braided boy duly registered the sound of the run away vehicle slamming against his Jeep, sending them both over the edge of the cliff. After a nameless amount of time, an echoing crash was heard. Duo took in a shaky breath and forced himself on hands and knees. His shirt was in tatters, his hands were cracked and bleeding, but he was alive.
"I feel like a detergent ad." Duo bit down on his tongue to keep himself from laughing hysterically. "Sally..."
Duo lifted his head and watched as Sally Po and the killer rolled around on the gravel. The doctor tried frantically to reach for her gun a few feet away, but the dark figure grabbed her by the hair and slammed her head repeatedly against the ground till the woman went limp. The killer raised his fist for the deathblow and Duo burst into action.
"Stop!"
Stumbling to his feet, heedless of his injuries, Duo ran across the parking lot. The dark figure looked up and the braided pilot could see the eyes widen behind the ski mask. Leaving his position over Sally Po, he ran for the woods.
Reaching for his gun, Duo shot at him blindly. But it was too dark, and the world spun around dizzily. Reaching Sally's side, he checked for a life beat. Sighing in relief, Duo crawled weakly over to WuFei. The ebony haired boy was deathly pale, but Duo could see his chest lift and fall with every shallow breath. They were alive; they were all alive.
Duo wanted nothing more than to lay his head down on WuFei's chest and let the darkness claim him. But the killer was still out there. And while the braided pilot might have run him off, he could come back. Gripping his pistol loosely, he stared out into the darkness.
I should call someone... Duo thought. But thinking required a great deal of effort, and no small amount of pain. So he continued staring dully at the trees. The crickets chirped softly, blending in with the buzzing in his ears. It seemed like every part of his body hurt. The pain shot through him with every thrum of his pulse. Squinting his eyes in concentration, Duo pulled out his little bottle of pills.
"C'mon Maxwell. Gotta pull it t'gether." Shaking hand attempted to open it, but it slipped through his numb and bleeding fingers and rolled across the gravel, bouncing to a halt a few feet away. "Shit."
We're gonna die out here. This thought came clearer than any other. Already Duo could feel himself shiver uncontrollably in the chill night air. His breath clouded up the air only to dissipate into the heavens above him. Can't let them die. It'd be my fault.
Shakily, Duo stood to his feet. Walking unsteadily over to Sally Po, he bent down and dragged her over to WuFei. Arranging them so them could make the most out of each other's body heat, he fell down next to them. Removing his cell phone, he dialed up Quatre. The phone rang without any answer. Numb fingers shakily dialed the Preventer office. Holding his breath, Duo prayed.
"Preventers. This is Une here."
"Anne?" Duo's voice shook.
"Duo? What's wrong? Where are you?"
The braided boy took in a shuddering breath. "I'm at the Cliff. We had a run in with the killer and I lost my Jeep. Sally and Wu-WuFei are b-both here but they are unconscious. I have no way of g-getting them back to town. I need some b-back up."
"I called Trowa up about a half hour ago when you two didn't report in. He should be there soon. Did you neutralize the threat?"
"N-negative." Duo was finding it harder and harder to concentrate. The forest seemed to come alive around them and he jumped at every noise.
"Duo? Stay with me here. What is your condition?"
"Negative..." Out of the wood stepped a dark figure. Duo dropped the phone and lurched to his feet.
"Duo? Duo! Respond!" But Duo ignored her.
"I knew you'd come back..." He raised his gun to fire, but the figure vanished, blending in with the darkness around him. Duo did something that he would have never had done normally. He ran after him.
The trees quickly closed around the braided boy as he barreled deeper into the woods. Halting himself, he leaned against an old stump, his breath burning in his lungs. Hearing a twig crack, he spun around wildly, gun in hand.
"Where are you? Come out and face me you coward!"
Suddenly the gun was knocked from his grasp and fist slammed harshly into his stomach. Falling to his knees, Duo struggled to breath.
"You are pathetic." The dark figure said. Growling, Duo's hand crept to his boot, where he kept his knife.
"You...really...think so...huh?" Snatching his knife, he stabbed forward blindly, and was rewarded with a cry of pain. A foot slammed against his head and he dropped the knife as stars burst across his vision. He heard the killer move to pick up his knife and struggled to rise, but it was no use, he could barely keep conscious.
"You die now." The knife rose to strike. Duo forced himself to raise his head to meet his killer's eyes. "At least show me your face." He whispered.
The figure hesitated, then shook his head. "I will not." The knife flew downwards.
A shot pierced the air and the killer stumbled backwards, knife shot from his hand. Clutching the bleeding appendage, he looked hatefully at the dark figure behind the flashlight. The gun fired again and the killer cursed. "It's not over yet." He whispered to Duo as he disappeared into the forest.
"Duo."
Violet eyes looked up blearily to meet hardened emerald ones. "Trowa..." The Latin boy knelt swiftly beside him. "What were you thinking? Running into the woods by yourself! If is wasn't for the fact the you bled all over the foliage, I would have never found you in time."
Duo's laugh turned into a wheezing cough. "You don't know how good it is to hear you bitch."
Trowa glared at him. "Well, you are going to hear me do it a lot more as soon as I get you to a hospital. I've got Sally and WuFei already loaded into the car." He carefully helped Duo to his feet.
"Are they alright?" Duo leaned heavily against him.
Trowa nodded. "Sally's conscious right now and cursing up a storm. WuFei's still out of it. Can you walk?"
Duo shook his head. "I've stayed conscious for much longer than I wanted. If it isn't too much trouble, I'm going to make you drag me out of here. Just be sure to at least try to miss all the really big rocks." His eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped forward. Cursing, Trowa lifted him up and slung him over his shoulder.
"You owe me Maxwell." He words belayed his tone though, and he moved as quickly as possible through the woods, his burden held in careful hands.
"Hold on, Duo..."
End Part Fifteen
(:./astrokender/written15)
