Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dead Ground ❯ The Cross and the Door ( Chapter 15 )

I'm so sorry to everyone here at mm.org. I totally forgot to post this chapter here. *hides* Thank-you nightcrawls for reminding me. I've just been through the worst semester of my life and I just finished finals last week so I kinda have an excuse right? I'm hoping to finish this story before next semester starts.

 

Sorry again.

 

 

Pain.

 

It was the first sensation Trowa had as the world rudely reminded him that he was still alive.

His head ached terribly. With every breath his lungs burned and he couldn't seem to get enough air.

 

The tall boy took an unnatural amount of time thinking about the feel of the cold wooden floor beneath his body. It was hard, yet it felt strangely comfortable. It was all so… strange. He felt as if his mind was floating, not really grasping on to anything.

 

Suddenly, a creaking sound drew the attention of his mind. It sounded like a door opening. The sound and smell of rain swept over his senses as a breeze hit his body. Slowly, Trowa opened his eyes and waited while the room came into focus, or rather, while the ceiling came into focus. It was then that he realized he was lying on his back.

 

In a long, drawn out motion, Trowa's body reluctantly sat up. Nausea overpowered him as the room spun and his abused stomach gave up the remnants of what was left from his last meal. The pain in his abdomen, though wrenchingly severe, wasn't enough to allow Trowa to pass out again. Groaning, the green eyed gundam pilot wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt.

 

The sound of a door slamming shut caused the mistreated boy's body to flinch. His head swung up like a startled deer and again the world swam. Trowa blinked rapidly and willed the room to stay in one spot. His eyes wondered around the room looking for the one who had opened the door.

 

No one was there.

 

Trowa's eyes narrowed and he croaked a pitiful, “Hello?”

 

The sound seemed to reverberate in his wounded chest, causing the sharp pain he was already feeling to intensify. Wincing, Trowa brought his hand up and touched his chest gingerly. Broken ribs. He wasn't sure how many were injured and thought that perhaps he should have Sally take a look at it for him.

 

But…

 

Trowa stopped his gentle probing.

 

But… how did I get broken ribs? What happened to me?

 

Try as he might, Trowa couldn't seem to come up with an answer, and the more he thought about it the more his head hurt. Slowly, he moved his hand up to touch his head and found some sort of cloth wrapped around his head.

 

A shirt?

 

The mystery was deepening, yet he didn't have the presence of mind to really think too much about it. All that mattered at the moment was the fact that he had obviously been severely beaten, and perhaps he wasn't the only one… He needed to find some one to get more information. He needed to…

 

His line of thought suddenly stopped as his eyes stopped on the door next to him. The dry cracked wood was more than speckled with blood… Most likely, it was his blood, Trowa concluded. He reached out his hand toward the door, but it was too far out of his reach.

 

Quatre…

 

It was Quatre's door…

 

Was he alright?

 

With all the strength he could summon, Trowa crawled the short distance to Quatre's door, reached up and grabbed the doorknob, and slowly pulled himself to a standing position. He swallowed and knocked softly on the door.

 

“Quatre?” He called softly.

 

No answer.

 

The brunette cleared his throat. “Quatre?” This time just a bit louder.

 

Still no answer.

 

With his hand still on the knob, Trowa rested his head gently against the heavy wooden door as he tried to decide what to do. Go in and possibly risk more of the blonde pilot's wrath or not go in and risk Quatre being hurt and needing help.

 

Pressing his lips together, Trowa made his decision and turned the knob.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

When they finally made it to Heero's room, Duo helped the Japanese boy to the bed before going back to close the door. As he closed the door, Duo felt a shiver go up his spine as if he had just sealed his only escape. Yet… he didn't want to escape did he? Such a ridiculous thought. He only shivered because he didn't have a shirt on. It was then that Duo remembered the long banged pilot he had given his shirt to.

 

The braided boy looked back at Heero. “I should probably go check on Trowa… He was in pretty bad shape…”

 

You don't need to tell him that! His mind screamed. He's the one who did it!

 

Duo just shook his head, and turned toward the door. He didn't want to think of that right now. It just made things so much more… complicated.

 

Heero looked up, eyes wide and hurt. “You're going to leave me here… alone?” He whispered.

 

“Well I should…”

 

“Why?” Heero interrupted. “He doesn't deserve your help. Not after all the horrible things he said.”

 

Duo opened his mouth then closed it. How does he know that…? Was he awake when... no. no. I know he wasn't. Then how…?

 

The American boy turned around fully and looked at Heero. Could Quatre have been right? There did seem to be something… odd about Heero. But it was nothing Duo could point out, just a sense of something not quite right.

 

It wasn't just the fact that Heero's usually calm, stony demeanor was now so needy and frightened since the attic incident that afternoon. No. It was something else… something different… something… new…

 

Duo walked to the bed where the dark haired boy sat looking up at him. A bruise was already starting to form on his smooth tan cheek from Quatre's kicking. It seemed to make Heero more vulnerable in a way. Duo had the sudden desire to reach up and touch the other boy's cheek, to caress it slowly, and maybe…

 

The teenager from L2 closed his eyes and shook his head again. He needed to clear his head. He wasn't helping anyone by thinking thoughts that were better left to when he was alone. Sighing, Duo opened his eyes and looked down at Heero.

 

“Okay. I need some answers. I need to know what the hell is going on with you.”

 

Heero looked down at his hands and shrugged.

 

Sighing again, Duo plopped down on the bed next to Heero. “Come on buddy. This ain't like you at all.” A pause, then, “Is it what happened in the attic?”

 

Heero seemed to tense up for a moment before shaking his head in a negative motion.

 

“Then what is it? Let me help… please…”

 

Heero looked up with anguished eyes. “Duo… Do you… Do you care for me?”

 

Duo blinked at the unexpected question. “Well, yes of course I do…” He answered, not really sure how much he should tell his friend.

 

“How? How do you care for me?”

 

Duo's mouth opened, but he said nothing. The perfect opportunity to let Heero know how he felt about him, and Duo couldn't find the words… or the courage…

 

Dark blue eyes tightened in pain at Duo's silence and looked away.

 

“Heero…” Duo whispered. “I'm… I'm afraid to tell you… I don't want to lose your friendship or… have you think bad of me… I…” He blew out his breath, wishing that he didn't sound like such a fucking sissy. Just tell him! Or at least make some sort of a move! His mind shouted at him. He asked how you felt! If he didn't want to know, he wouldn't have asked!

 

I'll do it. Duo thought resolutely to himself and reached his hand over toward the other boy.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

When the door slammed shut, Wufei spun around and grabbed the doorknob, trying to reopen the heavy wooden door, but with no success. The knob was slippery, but even so, Wufei was strong enough to get a good grip and turn the knob a fraction.

 

Locked...

 

His heart was pounding in his chest and his breathing was labored as he tried to get a hold on himself. Hands still on the doorknob, the young Chinese teen rested his head on the door, but quickly reared back when he felt the same cold, slippery substance on the door that was on the knob. The fluid began running down Wufei's forehead and to the bridge of his nose before he reached up and wiped it off with the back of his hand.

 

Bringing his hand away from his head, Wufei looked intently at the appendage but couldn't tell what the goo on his hands was. The light from the dirty windows was minimal, and his eyes still hadn't adjusted very well to the darkness of the cabin's interior. He touched his fingers together and moved them apart, feeling the stickiness. Slowly he brought the hand to his nose and sniffed. His eyes opened wide and he moved his hand away quickly.

 

Blood...

 

A dawning awareness came to the black haired boy then. It wasn't just the slime on his hand that smelled like blood… The air in the cabin was heavy with the stink of death… A deep chill settled over him as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his head.

 

Slowly, Wufei turned around. At first he saw nothing, but slowly the room emerged from the oppressive blackness, and revealed itself to his adjusting sight. His eyes widened and his mouth opened. The view before him was rank and nauseating, and it only took a few seconds for the sight to become too revolting for him to bear. Dropping involuntarily to his hands and knees, Wufei lost control and vomited.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

The door creaked as Trowa hesitantly pushed it open. The stale air smelled of sweat and grime. The room was dark and even as Trowa reached to turn on the light, he knew he would find the switch on…

 

Sighing, both in pain and in frustration, Trowa opened the door wide hoping to let in what little light creped in from the filthy living room windows.

 

In the gloomy blackness, the brunette saw a thin figure standing, arms stretched out, palms pressed flat against the mirror. He didn't need a light to know who it was.

 

“Quatre?” He croaked.

 

No response.

 

Trowa opened his mouth to try again, but decided against it. Instead, he pounded against the door three times with his fist and succeeded in making much more noise then his injured lungs would have allowed.

 

Still no response.

 

He leaned heavily against the doorframe, wanting nothing more than to give in and let himself slip back into the quiet oblivion from which he had just come from. The pain was intense, his body screamed for relief… yet his heart, which yearned to reach his friend, won out and Trowa straightened, preparing to shuffle into the room.

 

Suddenly, the figure in front of him began to fall backwards, as if pushed by someone unseen. Acting on instinct and adrenaline, Trowa bolted forward and caught the blonde boy in his arms. Unfortunately, the burst of energy wasn't enough to give Trowa the strength he needed to support them both and his legs gave out, sending them both crashing to the floor.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

When Duo's hand connected with Heero's shoulder, the Japanese teenager started slightly and looked up.

 

“I… I do… care… for you…” Duo said in shaking breaths.

 

Heero's eyebrows knit together as he searched Duo's face. Duo held his breath.

 

What will he say now? What will he do? Was I right or wrong? Maybe he'll just ignore me or something and give me the glare… I wish he'd do something… Duo's thoughts ran wild. He was so nervous that he thought his heart would explode from his chest…

 

“You do?” The response was so quiet, so sincere, that Duo didn't know what to say. The tone was so different from what he had been experiencing from the dark haired boy for the last part of the day, yet… it was different from Heero's normal tone too…

 

Duo opened his mouth to speak, but realized his throat was too dry. Instead, he closed his mouth and just nodded.

 

Heero's eyes left Duo's face and seemed to stare past the braided boy… almost blankly. Jerkily, Duo turned his head to see what Heero was looking at, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. When he turned his head back, his friend's eyes were once again on him. Eyes that suddenly had an earnestness in them…

 

“Then leave.”

 

Duo blinked. “What?”

 

“Leave. Leave now.” Heero said in a quiet, rushed voice.

 

The American raised an eyebrow. “What are you…”

 

Heero waved Duo to silence. “Quatre… He… He's right… Please Duo… I… I care for you too… and I don't want anything to happen to you.”

 

“No.” Duo said stubbornly. He wouldn't leave Heero. There was something obviously wrong with his friend and Duo couldn't… wouldn't, go. He wanted to be there for Heero. Besides, He knew Heero didn't really want him to leave. It was probably some stupid test to prove that Duo really did care.

 

A panicked look crossed Heero's face. “Please.” Heero pleaded. “I don't want to follow this plan. I… hate this…”

 

Duo shook his head. “What are you talking about?”

 

Heero didn't seem to hear the other boy as he continued to ramble. “I… I don't … want to… to do … it…”

 

Deciding he didn't have anything to lose, and thinking it might be the nicest way to get Heero to calm down, Duo leaned over, wrapped his arm around Heero and pulled him close.

 

When their lips met, Duo did not notice Heero's body stiffen then relax. Nor did he notice, after closing his eyes, the frightened, panicked look in Heero's eyes change…

 

Change to be more sure…

 

More… calculating…

 

All he noticed was Heero's arms slowly wrapping around him and the firmness of Heero's lips against his as the other boy returned the kiss.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

THUMP

 

Wufei's head jerked up at the unexpected noise. It sounded as if someone was banging on a door.

 

THUMP

 

Vomit dripped from his lips and off the tips of his loose, wet hair.

 

THUMP

 

The Chinese boy spit onto the floor, trying to get the last of the puke from his mouth, wishing he could banish the taste. He slowly wiped his mouth on his sleeve and stood up. It was only then that he realized the floor had been wet as well. A sickening sucking sound met his ears as he removed his hands from the floor. Sticky wetness dripped from his knees and down his legs as he stood upright.

 

Looking around he saw nothing that could have made the thumping noises. Yet, that really didn't mean much since the interior of the cabin was dusky and shadows loomed everywhere. Being a Gundam pilot had hardened him against many things, but the sight before him…

 

He struggled to keep from losing control again.

 

Bodies lined the inside of the cabin.

 

Corpses.

 

Rotting…

 

Some were so far gone as to show mostly bones… yet the skin still dripped from most… the humid atmosphere in the cabin keeping the bodies wet. He took another look around for the source of the `thumps' before walking toward the first of the cadavers. It was a teenage boy. Wufei looked around at the other corpses.

 

They were all teenage boys…

 

Looking back at the dead boy in front of him, Wufei took quick note of the condition of the body and concluded that the boy had been beaten to death… the bruises and cuts were still visible on the pale flesh. Wufei also noticed that there were no maggots on the body… he looked up again, cocked his head and listened.

 

No flies…

 

Strange…

 

He had been to quite a few battlefields after the dust had cleared and seen many dead bodies. There were always insects…

 

Always something to feed off the fallen…

 

But here…

 

Nothing…

 

Nothing living…

 

Nothing but… himself…

 

A creak sounded toward the kitchen and Wufei looked up, peering into the darkness. His heart began to thud loudly in his chest.

 

Another creak.

 

Something was there.

 

And then he heard it…

 

…just a whisper…

 

... yet the sound made his blood run cold and for a moment his rapidly pounding heart stopped.

 

…Wufei…

 

It was her.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

Trowa groaned. Once again, he found himself lying on the hard wooden floor, only this time with Quatre lying on top of him. The other boy may have been thin, but he felt like a ton of bricks. His broken ribs protested against the unwelcome pressure and with all the strength he could summon, Trowa rolled the blonde teen off him.

 

The effort left him feeling winded. He breathed in jaggedly, each intake of air producing a sharp pain. Slowly, Trowa moved his eyes to where the Arabian boy was lying next to him. He could only see the blonde's back, having dumped his friend onto his side.

 

Suddenly, Trowa wanted nothing more than to see Quatre's face. Weakly, he reached over and pulled at Quatre's side to get the blonde boy to roll onto his back. Unfortunately, the brunette's minor effort wasn't enough. Feeling frustrated at his lack of strength, the pain and at not being able to see what he so much wanted, Trowa sat up slightly and put his weight on the side of the other boy.

 

Slowly the blonde's body moved to the position Trowa desired. The tall teen felt strangely satisfied, as if he had conquered the world. He could die happy now… and die he would, he was sure of it. But at least he could die looking at the one he loved.

 

Trowa felt himself begin to slip into unconsciousness, when Quatre's voice summoned his mind from the blackness.

 

“Remember…” The blonde boy muttered.

 

What? Remember? Remember what? Trowa thought.

 

“If nothing else… remember…”

 

Slowly Trowa moved his hand to touch Quatre's. Not that he had any false hopes that his touch would wake the other boy… he just wanted to touch his friend, because he knew he could do nothing for him.

 

Suddenly Quatre's eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright.

 

“Duo!”

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

The desire to help his friend slowly began to be replaced as Duo felt another desire. This one burning hot and urgent. An immediate need that had to satisfied. The braided teen pushed the other boy down on the bed. Duo awkwardly moved to a kneeling position over Heero.

 

Need.

 

He needed Heero.

 

Heero moved one hand down Duo's shirtless back and tightened his grip.

 

Duo had wanted this for so long…

 

So long…

 

He trailed his kisses down the dark haired boy's neck, sucking gently in a few tender spots.

 

Need.

 

Kisses were nice… but they weren't fulfilling his need.

 

Urgently Duo reached down and unbuttoned his pants, then Heero's. A small moment of sanity came and Duo looked at Heero. The Japanese boy looked back at him, mirroring Duo's own desire. The American leaned his head down, intending to whisper into Heero's ear when the cross that hung from his neck smacked the other boy in the face.

 

Duo blinked at it. Surprised to see it… He had forgotten somehow that his shirt wasn't there to hold the golden pendent back. It gleamed brightly in the light cast from the laptop on the dresser. Duo raised his head slightly and watched as the religious symbol swung slowly in front of the dark haired teen's face.

 

Back and forth…

 

Back and forth…

 

It was as if Duo were in a trance… mesmerized by the sight…

 

“Take it off…”

 

Duo looked again at the boy beneath him. Heero's hand was palm up as if asking Duo to give it to him. Several things bombarded Duo's mind at once. Need… The cross… The insanity of what was happening… He grabbed onto the cross, feeling the sides dig into his palm, and stared at Heero.

 

“Duo…” Heero whispered.

 

”Duo…” He could hear the voice from where he hid under the pew. It was from the outside… from the darkness beyond the chapel walls… Yet he felt as if he knew this voice. Duo's ten year old eyes peaked out to the heavy wooden door that lead to the outside… Should he open it?

 

Duo's eyes moved to stare blankly at the cross in his hand.

 

The cross…

 

Heero…

 

“Duo… Don't you care about me? Please…” Heero whispered pleadingly.

 

The boy crept to the door. He could hear the rain pounding on the other side of the door. He knew IT was out there… The thing… the evil…

 

But…

 

The voice…

 

He knew it, though he couldn't place it… it was a friend…

 

Duo put his hand on the smooth metal of the doorknob, but hesitated.

 

“Duo… Don't you care about me? Please…” Came the pleading whisper.

 

Duo slowly raised the chain, pausing only momentarily before slipping over his head.

 

Duo slowly turned the knob, pausing only momentarily before turning the knob completely and cracking the door open.

 

As if in a trance, he lowered the chain into Heero's palm, then looked into the other teen's eyes.

 

Cautiously, he peeked out into the storm. It was dark but the slight illumination from the candles within the church slightly lit his visitor's face and he saw the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen.

 

Suddenly Heero's hand tightened around the chain and he pushed Duo off balance and onto his back. The braided boy seemed not to notice, his eyes far away. Heero snarled menacingly as he roughly turned Duo onto his stomach. Quickly, Heero stripped the pants off both himself and Duo.

 

Heero's breath was labored as he eyed Duo hungrily. Roughly, Heero ran his free hand over Duo's rear before forcing two of his fingers into the American.

 

The boy looked familiar in some strange way that Duo couldn't place. The intense look the boy gave him sent a chill down his spine.

 

`Who are you' Duo thought.

 

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind hit him and he was knocked to the floor, the door swinging out of his grasp is it was flung open.

 

Heero grimaced and withdrew his brutally probing fingers. His eyes darted about the room for something liquid… something thick… something…

 

His eyes rested on the cross he held in his hand. Clenching his teeth together, Heero stabbed his arm with the long part of the object. Tightening his hold on the pendent, Heero moved the metal down the length of his arm. Blood flowed from the long, jagged cut almost instantly. Seeing no further need for the cross, the dark haired boy threw it on the floor and lifted his arm over the other boy.

 

With his hand now free of the pendant, Heero wiped his hand across his arm and applied the thick wetness on his hard member.

 

After a few moments, Heero positioned himself between Duo's now blood soaked cheeks.

 

“Duo… Let me in…” he whispered as he tried to push into the other boy.

 

“Duo… Let me in…” Duo looked up from where he had fallen.

 

`Why doesn't he just come inside?' Duo wondered, but didn't make any move to invite the other boy in.

 

Heero's eyes narrowed when he felt the resistance. Laying down fully on the other boy, Heero slipped his arms under Duo to get a good grip on his manhood and whispered into Duo's ear, “Duo… Please let me in…”

 

“Duo…Please let me in…” The boy lifted his hand and his voice was almost a plea. Duo stood and walked toward the door. He looked at the hand the boy held out and started when he saw it was covered in blood. With wide eyes, Duo looked up at the boy who seemed unconcerned about the gore. The ten year old looked past the small dark haired boy in front of him, and out into the darkness. The candles' light didn't extend past the boy, and the deepness of the darkness sent a cold chill through his body.

 

Should he let the boy in?

 

Was the boy in danger from the evil too?

 

Duo's eyes met the boy's

 

Heero smiled slightly as he felt the resistance begin to give.

 

Duo reached out his hand to the boy and took the bloody hand. He stepped back, slowly letting the other boy in.

 

A malicious grin spread across Heero's face as he felt himself completely enter the other boy, but it wasn't enough just to know that he was in…

 

Once the other boy had crossed the thresh hold of the building he pushed Duo back, knocking him to the floor, causing him to cry out…

 

Savagely, Heero pushed into Duo and a small cry escaped the other boy's lips…

 

He… needed…

 

A darkness seemed to enter the chapel and Duo looked fearfully up at the boy. The darkness had entered with him… It wasn't him, but it had come with him…! The door slammed shut and the darkness began to spread. Duo franticly tried to scramble away, but the boy malevolently grabbed a hold of him, keeping him from escaping.

 

Harder…

 

Deeper…

 

It was all Heero could think of…

 

The need driving him… was so… great…

 

Duo tried to kick the other boy away but it was almost imposable… he looked up and stopped. The other boy had a strange look on his face… hungry almost… and yet… it was if the other boy wasn't even mentally there.

 

Suddenly the blackness was surrounding him…

 

Covering him…

 

The evil was everywhere…

 

And then there was pain…darkness, and his own screaming filling his ears.

 

Heero pushed hard into the other as he climaxed and was unaware of the terrified scream coming from Duo for several moments. As the dawning realization of what had just happened seeped in to the rational part of Heero's mind, Heero's own horrified scream joined Duo's.

 

;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;

 

Quatre looked down at Trowa with large, alarmed eyes as the muffled screams seeped through to Quatre's room.

 

“Duo's gone…”

 

Trowa's eyes widened in shock.

 

Again Quatre spoke… and this time his voice was almost dead in its finality.

 

“…It's here.”