Fan Fiction ❯ Chaos Insues ❯ CI3 ( Chapter 3 )

I was really starting to hate him; there are only so many times you can get kicked in the head before it gets old. There was a slight ringing in my ears and spots danced in front of my eyes.

"If you're going to kill me, do it now," I spat vengefully.

"I can't do that just yet, Miss Wayfinder. Fear not, you shall die soon enough," Nanashi replied with a sneer.

At least he wasn't beating me any more. Small comfort really, considering I was going to rip off his arms and legs.

I took the time to check out the place. It was sparsely lit and smelled of dried blood and other body fluids. I was glad I wasn't hungry. There were no windows that I could see and the whole place was covered in pink. That fact alone made me want to retch. 'How can anyone stand to have an all pink room? It's inhuman, I tell ya!'

"Are you *quite* finished? We *do* need her alive, for the time being, that is," said a voice from behind Nanashi.

He growled and gave me a final kick to the ribcage. "Yeah, I'm finished."

"In more ways then one..." I muttered to myself.

He stepped back into the shadows as I tried to get up. Unfortunately, I only got as far as my knees; the pain in my chest and sides was just too much. 'The guys would laugh themselves silly, if they knew how messed up I am.'

"And, who might you be, Sandy Claws?" I asked, as the new guy slinked out of his hiding spot.

"How amusing. No, my name is D Bryan, and I have been expecting you, Miss Wayfinder." He answered, raking a hand through his short black hair. He took the term `creepy' to a whole new level.

He grabbed my left shoulder and I let out a hiss of pain. 'Dislocated shoulder, wonderful. That's going to hurt to put back.'

"Now, tell me, how many of you are there?" His tone was light, eyes hard and a death grip on my aching shoulder.

"What a ridiculous question, there is just one of me; though my friends would say one is more than enough." He twisted my arm, making me scream. 'Oh, he's on the top of my to kill list, followed by Nanashi.'

"That was rather rude of you. Tell me how many are in your group."

"I'm being rude? You're the one who's bending my arm, buddy. What makes you think I'll tell you anything? Hmmm? Do whatever you like, but I'm not telling." I thought about sticking my tongue out at him; but decided I was already being childish enough.

"My, what spunk--we can fix that. We have ways..."

"Of making me talk...blah blah blah. I've heard that one before. I'm still not impressed," I replied, interrupting him in mid-rant.

"We shall see. Take her to Del. I'm sure she can--pursuade--Miss Wayfinder to cooperate," D Bryan said, turning to a guard by the door, which had not been there a moment ago. Another punch to the back of the head and my world went black.

*****

"Hn." I awoke with a groan. You would, too, if you'd had a beating and then had someone punch you in the head. I tried to sit up but encountered resistance-I must be strapped down. Great, just what I needed, not...

"Good, you're awake. Dr. Dana."

"Yes, Del?" Both women were dressed in white coats with rubber gloves. A mad scientist would look better-dressed.

"The drug..." the one known as Del said with a sigh.

"Oh! Right." Dr. Dana walked over to me, syringe in hand.

I glared at them both. "What is that?"

"Just a little something to...loosen your tongue. Have no fear, it won't kill you, I hope." Del replied with a frown. I watched in something close to horror as Dr. Dana shoved the needle into a vein. I felt a bit funny; the strange fluid was fighting with my body for control.

"Now, while we wait for that to kick in, we might as well get some lunch...Dr. Dana? What is it?" Del asked her trusted assistant.

"She, uh, she's..."

I gave her a smirk, "Never give your patient a drug that you're unsure about, for you can never tell how it will affect them."

The air temperature dropped and ice was starting to form on the walls of the lab. And, if I looked in a mirror, I would see that my eyes were a nice shade of ebon black.

"Del! What's...what's happening!?" Dr. Dana cried, teeth chattering.

Del just moaned, as I broke the bonds that held me...

*****

Why is it that, when you are pumped up on drugs, you can't really remember what you did later? That was the question running through my head as I sat up in the lab.

Glancing about, I saw that the whole room had been torn apart. Vials were broken, tables overturned, animals were loose, the lights were flickering and both doctors were gone.

"What the hell...?" I jumped at the sound of the voice. Standing in the doorway was Nanashi. He looked around the room, not noticing my presence.

I ducked behind one of the overturned tables, looking for another exit. I could hear people shouting out in the hall. Most likely, they were searching for me.

I waited `til the voices (not the ones in my head...) had died out before peeking over the table. 'Ok, the coast is clear. I'm out of here!' I dashed into the now empty hall. Unsure where I was, or where to go; I could just magic my way out of here...if I had my staff. Frowning, I rushed down a side corridor.

I heard a yell, "Hey you, stop!" from behind me and increased my pace. A tingle down my spine was the only warning I had, as I dived into an open door. Lightning passed down the hall where I had just been. 'I don't need this kind of trouble...whatever happened to fair fights?' Shaking my head, I once more took flight down the long hallway.

Reaching a crossway, I paused, feeling I was close. 'Which way?' I focused on the flow of power. The faint presence was off to my right, so were my foes.

Casting a minor fire spell, I continued to head deeper into the hold. After what seemed like several hours, I reached the far end of the corridor. Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and went inside.

"Bah! It's useless! I told you it would never work." Nanashi growled, tossing my staff to the ground.

The other occupant in the room was D Bryan; he walked over and picked up my weapon. "What a shame...and you claimed you were a master in the arts."

"I am. I can't help it if that, that, thing, is worthless. I don't see why you would want it."

Smirking, I rushed Bryan and grabbed my staff. Knocking him out of the way, I headed for the door with a laugh. "The reason you can't use it, is that it's MINE! Only I can wield it. Well, see ya!"

Once out of the room, I busted a hole in the ceiling. Morphing my features, silvery wings sprouting from my back, I made my escape.

Gaining altitude, my gaze fell back on the hold. D Bryan and Nanashi were arguing, pointing up at me and shouting. The whole building was built into a cliff face and was about 50 feet above the ground. I could see men with crossbows and various projectile weapons. 'Oh, goodie.'

I started to cast a spell, when pain shot through my arm. "Shit!" I yelled, grabbing my shoulder with my right hand. 'It was dislocated, remember?'

Taking my staff into my right hand, I fired an arrow of roaring green flame at Nanashi. It cut through the air, the bright green flames dancing in the wind. He spun just as it connected with his body; his scream of pain was lifted to my ears.

I gloated for a moment before returning my attention to the matter of my limb. With a practiced hand, I twisted my arm back into place, a long line of obscenities falling from my lips. 'Now, where the hell am I and how do I get back? Why am I always the one getting jerked around...'

*****

{The Core-Darkness POV}

Darkness ran a hand through her hair as she continued to pace the floor. The battle had been more or less in their favor but Daria was still missing. Not that she was worried or anything...

Reggie and his group, with the help of the Seven Shadows, put a stop to whoever was behind all of this. That Nanashi character was the enemy but she doubted he was the mastermind.

"Ugh! I'm sick of this!" she shouted, punching the wall next to her. She hated sitting about waiting; it was just so...boring!

"Calm down, girl! Dar can take care of herself. Besides, we don't even know where to look for her." Pyros said gently from her spot at the window. She turned towards Darkness. "We are all concerned about her."

She went back to pacing the room, occasionally stopping and looking over at the door. 'Please, Dar, come back soon...'

*****

'Well, that confirms it, I am officially lost,' I thought glumly, as I looked about me. The sky was clear for miles around, save for me, not even a town in sight. 'I could go back and ask those nice men, with the sharp weapons, how to find the Core's HQ...or, I could just slam head first into a mountain.' Nope, that wouldn't be a good idea; besides, my name isn't Wayfinder for nothing. I closed my eyes, prayed like hell I would pick the right way, and took off.

*****

{The Core-Darkness POV}

Darkness was starting to really worry about Daria, two days had passed and yet she still hadn't returned. Pyros and the others were worried as well; of course, they wouldn't say that they were.

She glanced over at Lee; he was playing some sort of a game with Loc to pass the time. Of the group, she only knew Dar and Lee; they were her best friends. Now that Daria was missing in action, she felt like an outsider.

"Are you ok?" Lee asked her, with a frown, moving a piece on the board.

She nodded, not really paying attention; her thoughts drifting to the day of the attack. 'I should have done something...' she thought. A snapping sound brought her back.

"I win." Loc said with a grin.

"That's what you said last time!" Lee whined, throwing his hands up.

"Don't be such a sore loser. Would you like to play again?"

"Set it up."

She shook her head, glad for the distraction.

*****

I glanced about the brightening sky, still feeling lost. I wasn't making any headway and I was starting to get tired. My eyes flitted here and there, still nothing but mountains and forests. 'Great, not a sign of the hold anywhere. Now, what?' I scowled, at my own ineptitude; you'd think a mage of my caliber would be able to find one little building that was home to more then a hundred people. Of course, I also knew about half of them; so, that should make things a bit easier…should...but doesn't.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blur of white near the edge of a clearing. I turned my head; but it was already gone. 'Was that one of those dreadhounds? If it was…oh, shit!'

I dropped down to the tops of the trees, searching for that nasty creature or the prey it was after. I knew that it couldn't be after me; I was too high up for it to have spotted me. I strained my ears, to my left I could hear someone breathing. 'Well, that's a start.'

I lifted my voice, "Hey! Who's out there?"

"Please don't kill me! Call your beast off, please!" came a very scared alto.

I gave a rueful snort. "Ain't mine, I think those things are just sick. I am sorry that it's hunting you. By any chance, do you know which way it is to The Core? I'm a bit lost."

Whoever it was made a gagging sound before shouting at me. "My life is in mortal peril and you're asking for directions!?"

"Well, do you? If you don't, I'll, sadly, have to leave you here."

"What!? Why?"

"I would sacrifice your life to save many more. It's simple math, really," I said in an offhanded tone. A flash of white to my right made me speak up once more, "So, do you know the way? Speak up, it's getting closer to finding you."

Screams pierced the pre-dawn air, as the voice called out again. "Yes, I know the way! Now, please, help me!"

A quick glance to the ground showed I had no more time to play around. I scanned the branches of the nearby trees. I spotted a very small boy, clinging to a branch. I called out as I got closer, "When I tell you, jump as high as you can with your arms over your head."

Somehow, I knew this was going to hurt. I dived straight down just as that ugly red-eyed demon jumped up. With all the force I could muster, I swung my staff at it. I could hear the bones breaking in its jaw as it fell to the forest floor. I followed that up with a double kick to the head. I was just glad its mouth was shut. Using my momentum to force me skyward once more, I gripped my staff in both hands.

"NOW!" I called.

He jumped from his precarious perch as I gained altitude. Before I could tell him, he grabbed my staff. I hissed in pain as my shoulder throbbed. Ignoring the extra weight, I broke through the treetops once more.

"Ok, kid, which way?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"To the east, it's not far. Thank you for saving me," he replied quietly.

I nodded as I winged eastward. After some silent miles, I spoke, "So, you got a name?"

"Ronnie."

I blinked, "D's kid?"

"Who's D?" he asked, turning his head to look at me.

I chuckled, "Darkness. Though, for the most part, we all call her D."

"Oh, well, then, yes. Are you a friend of hers?"

"You could say that. I'll bet my best throwing knives that she's worried sick about me. Where are my manners? I ask for your name and don't tell you mine. I'm Daria Wayfinder, your mother and I got to know each other pretty good at the Core."

His face went as pale as the hide of the dreadhound that had been chasing him. "You're the one that killed all those people years ago."

I made a disgusted sound in the back of my throat. "I see my reputation precedes me…look, I had a reason for terminating their existences. They were very bad men; there was no other choice but to kill them. 'Sides, your mom was there too. Do you think she's evil?" He didn't answer. I took a deep breath before continuing.

"We of the Seven Shadows were charged with the job of ridding this world of the menace that was Ga'Jin and his men. 'Course, in those days, people were not as, uh, peaceful, as they are nowadays." To me, it was like yesterday. "The powers of the world were scattered and many people wanted that power for themselves. Now, you have to understand that we weren't the only ones watching out for corrupt individuals. Heck, every town and village had a group. Though sadly, most of them didn't live long. Our own had eleven members in the beginning. Our leader, Light, and three others, were killed when Ga'Jin attacked the king's castle. After that, we more or less just ran around like chickens with our heads cut off. Everybody loved Light; he was one of the best warriors in the land. I pointed out that we still had a job to do and couldn't afford to just sit on our hands. And, I guess, that's how I became the leader."

I chuckled softly at the memory, Lee had then asked *me* what I thought we should do. When I had told them my idea, they all agreed that it sounded like our best bet. I'd been suckered into it, plain and simple.

"True, my tactics were a little bloody, but not any more so than Ga'Jin's. He slaughtered anyone that got in his way of world domination. You can imagine his surprise when we showed up on his doorstep and told him 'we wanted him to come out and play'. After Lee cut his pretty little head off, people stopped trying to take over the world. It wasn't even my idea to put it on a pike out in front of the castle--that was the king's doing."

"And my mother was involved in such a slaughter of human life?" he asked in a hushed voice. I winced slightly realizing that D hadn't told him about her glory days with the group.

"Yeah, she was. You shouldn't think ill of her; that happened right after your father left her, taking you. She was badly hurt because of it."

"Ok, I can see the hold, we're going down. I really don't want to, with those hellion whelps still loose; but, I can't carry you any farther."

I swooped down to the flat plain and slowed to a hover. He released his hold on my staff, dropping to the ground with a thud. My own landing was less graceful and I stumbled. Once I was sure of my footing, I shifted back to my elfin form. I was glad Lee and the others hadn't seen that one. It was bad enough that Ronnie saw me; I'd have died of embarrassment if my friends had as well. I turned to my companion to say as much, when I caught sight of the sneaky mongrels that were now advancing on our position.

"Shit! It's time to haul ass, kid! We've got just under a mile to go and a pack of them mutts on our tails!" I grabbed him by the arm and started running.

*****