Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lean On Me ❯ Torn Apart ( Chapter 13 )

Authors Note: Hullo, I just thought I would mention that there is two lines bad-talking Britney Spears, so if you like her, please don't get offended and upset at me, ok? I ask forgiveness now, but I'm leaving it there.

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Chapter Thirteen

Riley kicked up her feet onto the table set up in the center of the room and put her hands behind her head. "This is the life," she whispered. "No one around, no one to bother me."

"Mind if I join you?" someone asked.

Riley's eyes popped open as something heavy landed on to the couch she was sitting on. She glanced over and glared at Duo. "Duo!"

He smiled at her. "What?"

"I came in here to get away from everyone. I don't want you to follow me. Of all people, it had to be you?"

Duo grunted. "I know you can't resist me, so just admit it."

Riley snorted, rolling her eyes. "Yeah right. I haven't, and never will." She suddenly noticed how close he was and moved away.

He smiled at her. "Am I that scary?"

"Obviously I will never be alone."

Vienna sighed in delight as she settled down in the cafeteria, a good book in hand. She flipped it open to where she had left off and began reading. Just another day. Alone, no worries, nothing. No Dr. J or talking Riley. Just my book and me. She began reading her book, getting hopelessly lost in the sappy novel.

Quatre walked in just then and saw Vienna sitting on her own, reading. He smiled and wandered over. He stopped by her table. "Hey, Vienna, watcha up to?"

"Hn."

He looked down at the book's cover and read the title: Dreaming of My Romeo. His eyes widened and he jumped back. Vienna looked up at him, frowning. "Quatre, are you okay?" she asked.

He smiled nervously. "Yeah, fine. Bye!" He dashed off.

Vienna stared after him in bewilderment. "What's eating him?"

An hour later, Noin gathered everyone into the conference hall again to make an announcement. All of them were there instead of just the pilots and the two girls.

Duo drummed his fingers on the table in boredom, staring glumly across the table at Riley, who was staring at Vienna as she continued to read her romance novel. None of the boys dared to sit by her, thinking she would do to them as she had done to Heero.

Midii tapped Riley on the shoulder. "Do you know when Noin is going to get here? This is getting boring. We've all been sitting here for over ten minutes waiting."

Noin walked into the room, followed by none other than the Vice Foreign Minister Dorlian.

Riley and Vienna both leapt up, staring at Relena in surprise. "Relena!" they gasped.

The boys' eyes widened, but none of them said anything.

Relena glanced at the girls, uncertain. "Do I know you two?" she asked.

"Um, well." Vienna looked at Riley. Riley shrugged. "In a way you do," Vienna finished.

Relena raised her eyebrows. "Who are you then?"

Riley cleared her throat. "Our real names are Riley Barton and Vienna Chang, but you know us as Kali Marietta and Diamond Kastle."

Relena looked as if she had been just given a million bucks. "You're the girls that disappeared after the banquet! And that means that- which of you is Kali?"

Riley looked Relena over wearily. "That would be me, but my real name is Riley Barton."

Relena smiled. "I never got to thank you for saving me. I doubt I would have made it out alive if not for you."

Riley grunted. "Actually, those people weren't after you."

"They weren't?"

"No," Heero said. "They were trying to kill Riley and Vienna. Mostly Riley, seeing as Vienna was outside. You just happened to be with Riley at the time, making it look as if they were after you."

Relena thought a moment. "I see. So you girls are wanted dead by those people?"

"Didn't Noin tell you anything?" Vienna asked disapprovingly.

Noin stepped forward. "The only thing I told her was that I had the Gundam pilots and two others here at the base, and that they needed somewhere safe to be. I asked if she would let you all stay in her mansion for the time being. I called her not long after the attack against us."

Quatre smiled. "We wouldn't want to interfere. We could go to my summer house if need be."

Trowa shook his head. "It would be obvious. Any of our places would be too obvious."

"Yeah, but Relena's place isn't much better," Riley interjected. "I mean, come on. They known Relena is friends with the Gundam pilots, and has housed them many times if the need arises. The mansion is the first place they would search for us."

"What about St. Gabriel Academy?" Relena suggested.

"Wrong again," Vienna said "That would be the second most obvious. Plus, what would the students think if the boys arrived for a few days, left for almost two months, and then come back as new students now? That doesn't even include the many times they've taken shelter there in the past. I'm sure that the students who have been at that school for a few years are more than suspicious by now."

Duo nodded. "Good point, actually."

Noin sighed. "Where else can you go? You can't stay here. They know you are here."

Cathrine sighed. "I would say that the circus would be a good idea, but the ringmaster can't give all of you jobs. Plus, the men after you guys probably have the circus in mind as to a place you would hide anyway."

"I don't have a place we could go to," Meiran said. "I have a one room apartment on earth, but we can't house so many in there."

Midii shook her head. "I have a small apartment too, so I'm out of ideas."

"We may have to go to Relena's place," Quatre said in defeat. "There is nowhere else."

"Yeah, but we better be on our toes," WuFei muttered. Heero grunted his agreement.

Relena smiled reassuringly. "It will be all right. I have enough guards to guard the estate 24/7."

Riley snorted. "For the WRF, a few weak patrolmen will be simple."

"It's settled," Noin said. "Relena's mansion then."

Vienna straightened. "It would be less obvious if the only people who went to the mansion were the boys and Riley and I. If Cathrine, or Meiran or Midii joined us, they could capture them and use them as bait to get us out and rescue them."

"What would stop them from taking them when they are back in their homes?" Duo asked.

Riley shook her head. "They won't know where they are. Cathrine they would, since she's always with Trowa, but Meiran and Midii they wouldn't. They aren't important in this. The people the WRF are looking out for are Vienna and I, and then the boys. Cathrine could stay with Meiran or someone while this goes on so she would be safe."

"Hilde," Duo suddenly whispered.

Riley glanced at him. "What?"

"Hilde," Duo repeated, looking up at he.

"Isn't she your girlfriend or something? I think I remember something like that," Riley mumbled, scratching her head.

Duo smiled. "Not quite. But I'm worried about her. I left her without a word about where I was going. I forgot until now."

Midii smiled. "Simple. She can come with me, so she won't be alone. Cathrine can go with Meiran."

Duo smiled. "Thanks, Midii."

She shrugged. "It would be fun to have a girl around while Vienna and Riley are gone."

Noin smiled. "Good. I think it's best that you all leave as soon as possible, so you do not endanger yourselves or any others."

Riley sighed inwardly and nodded. "We can pack now and be ready in an hour."

Relena smiled. "The sooner the better."

Vienna grunted. "Yeah, whatever." She glanced at Riley and motioned for Riley to walk with her to a corner of the room. Riley nodded and followed. In a hushed tone, Vienna said, "We'll have to be on guard. All Raphael would need is a minute, and he would have us. Every second we are in that mansion we may be in his grasp."

"I know. So much can go wrong. Let's make a pact now, that if Raphael or someone has one of us then the other will run and get the others. If I was caught, and you stayed around to fight, they would eventually get you too. Then they would have both us, so it's better if the other would run. Promise?"

"Promise." The girls bumped fists and exchanged smiles before heading out of the room to pack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night Heero, Duo, Riley, Trowa, Vienna, WuFei, and Quatre all arrived at the mansion with Relena at their front. Heero brought up the rear with WuFei before him, making sure Vienna and Riley stayed in the center of them. All the boys had their guns out, and Vienna had her one gun ready, though she wished she had her sword. Riley had her dagger pouch strapped to her right thigh, the flap unbuckled so if need be she could take the daggers out in a flash.

Vienna, who was walking in front of Riley, whispered to Riley over her shoulder, "I think the boys are taking this to the extremes, don't ya think?"

"I dunno. Maybe a little. They act as if we can't protect ourselves. We're just as strong as any of them." Riley looked about the courtyard as they began walking up the steps leading into the mansion.

"Yeah, really. I'm sure you could kill any of them with one throw of a dagger, and I could kill any of them with my sword. It's too bad I don't have it with me."

"Yup. We gotta go with them though. At least we know they care."

Vienna rolled her eyes. "Only Trowa and WuFei more likely. The others just don't want the universe in danger, though I don't see how Raphael plans on using only you and I to take over."

"Who said he was trying to take over the universe?"

"Duo," Vienna replied.

"He's been reading too many comics."

Relena opened the door and they all hurried in. The foyer was magnificent, with a large grand staircase before them leading up to two separate hallways.

To their right, an old man came bustling into the foyer, smiling. "Welcome everyone," he greeted cordially. "I hope the trip was well."

Relena smiled softly. "It was fine. We made it here without any problems."

"Splendid. Would you like me to show them to their rooms?" he asked.

"I can show the rooms to them, but would you mind bringing in their luggage?" she asked.

The man nodded. "Of course."

"Come on, everyone," Relena called. The boys spread out, giving Riley and Vienna room to breathe. They all relaxed and put away their weapons. "I have seven rooms available. Trowa, you're in this one," she said, opening a door. Trowa stepped inside and looked around. The room was a good size consisting of a desk, king size bed, dresser, connected bathroom, mirror, and other furniture.

Relena moved on, showing Heero his room; the room was the same as Trowa's. "I figure you guys want the girls in the center?"

"That would be better," WuFei said, speaking for everyone.

Relena smiled. "All right then." The next room was Vienna's, and the only difference in hers from the others was that on the outer wall there were French doors that led out onto a balcony. Riley's room was next, and was the same as Vienna's; from there it went Duo, WuFei, and Quatre, all of these three the same as Trowa's and Heero's.

It was almost ten at night by the time the man named Pagan, as they soon found out, had brought their luggage up to their rooms and they were ready to fall asleep.

WuFei and Trowa were uncertain about the girls sleeping in rooms with balconies all alone. After much persuading, Riley and Vienna were able to convince their brothers that they were able to fend for themselves.

Riley stayed in Vienna's room with her friend talking after the boys had gone to their rooms. Riley stood by the French doors, leaning against the cold glass, while Vienna sat on the bed under the canopy.

"What do you think of all this?" Vienna asked, leaning forward on her elbows. "If you ask me, I don't think we are safe anywhere we go. If you're right about this mind control device, I bet it has the ability to reach anywhere around the universe to find us and take over. I doubt it has a limit."

"I was thinking the exact same thing," Riley said quietly, folding her arms across her chest. "We're the reason for all of this. They're after us, not any of them. All we are doing is bringing them pain and anger and death! They could die just protecting us from harm."

Vienna nodded half-heartedly. "I know, but what can we do about it?"

Riley rubbed her temple. "If I think of something you'll be the first to know."

"Same here. In the mean time we just hang loose. Stay undercover, and try our best to stay concealed, even if the odds are 1 to 10."

"Yeah." Riley noticed Vienna's drooping eyes and she smiled. "I'll let you get some sleep. You look like you're about to drop from sleepiness. I'll see ya in the morning', okay?"

Vienna nodded. "Yeah, goodnight-" She was cut off by a yawn, causing her jaw to pop.

Riley chuckled and walked out, making sure to lock the door on her way out. She stood in the hall, looking straight ahead. She was tired but she knew she would never get to sleep. So many things were on her mind that her mind would be bothering her so much she would never get a wink of sleep. In defeat, she shuffled to the grand staircase and started down. She found her way to the kitchen, and dug around for what she would need to make coffee. She found what she wanted and prepared it. As the coffee was being heated, she sat down at the kitchen's center island, and started to read the newspaper that was in the middle of the island. She ended up reading the comics and an area of an article on Britney Spears' New CD coming out. The only thing Riley found interesting in that was the point that Britney wasn't pregnant yet.

The faint beeping announced that the coffee was ready, and she stood up to make herself a cup of it. The delicious smell of coffee drifted in the kitchen as Riley sat back down at the island and took a few sips from the cup. She was warmed inside and she felt better than before. She sighed, closing her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she took another drink. She glanced down at her watch. The numbers glared at her: 1:00. Had she been talking with Vienna for that long?

The faint but defining sound of a thud from upstairs caused Riley to become alert. Her eyes narrowed and she froze, waiting. Another thud was heard, and she knew something was wrong. She dropped the cup onto the island, shattering the glass cup and the coffee flowed over the table to the floor. Riley ignored it all, and on her way out she grabbed a butcher knife off the counter. Her daggers were in her room, and she had no time to get them. She ran up the steps three at a time until she reached the top of the stairs. She was already at Vienna's door by the time Heero and Duo came running out of their room doors. Riley ran in and then remembered distinctively locking the door when she had left. She narrowed her eyes in wonder, but put the thought aside. The next thing she noticed was how cold it was in the room. The balcony!

She ran across the room to the balcony. She grabbed the railing and stared down. Attached to the bottom of one of the rungs was a sturdy rope that went down to the earth below. She was just able to see a sturdy man carrying off a struggling bundle into the darkness, and she knew she was too late.

"Damn!" Riley cursed without thinking of what she was saying. "Damn them!" She raised the butcher knife over her head and threw it at a root growing in the grass below. The knife struck the root, cutting it in half. She suddenly felt weak, and she grabbed the railing for support.

Behind her, Heero was searching the room for clues, and Duo came over and put his arm around Riley's waist, holding her up. "Riley, will you be okay?"

"They got her," Riley said in a strangled growl. "They took her. Why didn't I see it coming! We haven't even been here for over four hours and already they've attacked and taken one of us. Damn, I knew this would happen."

"Riley, you couldn't help it. We had nowhere else to go," Duo tried to calm her. Riley shook her head stubbornly.

"It's obvious she put up a good fight," Heero said behind them.

Duo and Riley turned. Riley could feel her strength coming back now, but for some reason she felt safer with Duo close by her. "What do you mean?" Duo asked.

"There are blood stains on the carpet," was the reply. Riley's eyes widened and she felt the strength go out of her again.

"Whoa, baby!" Duo exclaimed as he felt Riley give out. He pulled her back up, putting most of her weight on him. "We can't have you giving up Riley," he told her. "Come on. You were your tough old self a few seconds ago."

Heero paused by the bed and looked sadly out the window. She's gone, he thought. They have Vienna. And I let this happen. I should have known they wouldn't take long in coming. I let this happen to her. He blinked in confusion. What's going on? I'm acting as if I really care for her. What's up with this?

"Penny for your thoughts, Heero?"

Heero snapped his head in their direction to see Riley waiting for an answer. He shook his head. "Nothing. I was just wondering about something."

Riley nodded. "Don't need to say anything else. I already get it."

"Do you think they searched Riley's room?" Duo suggested.

"They could have. I'll look, and you put Riley in your room where she can take a minute to gain her strength back."

Riley grunted. "I'm fine, just a little upset over it all." She stood up on her own feet. Duo let her go, but stayed close.

"Shouldn't we go after them?" Duo asked.

Heero shook his head. "They're too far away by now. The chase would be worthless. All we can do is try to keep them from getting Riley, and at the same time getting Vienna back. For now Duo, I want you to get the others. They'll want to know."

Duo winced. "I guess I'll be the one to tell WuFei about his sister, huh?"

"I'll do it," Riley said. "He and I get along better than you and him."

She walked out of the room and down the hall to WuFei's room. They must be heavy sleepers to have slept through that racket, she thought. She didn't bother to knock on WuFei's door; she just pushed it open. "WuFei, wake up!" she called a bit louder than needed.

WuFei jumped out of bed in surprise and stared at her in shock. Riley raised her eyebrows at him. The only thing he wore were boxers that had pigs with wings flying on them.

Riley cleared her throat. "Normally I would be laughing my head off right now, but there is something far more important right now. Raphael has already struck." As she explained a shorter version of what happened, she felt the anger growing inside her like boiling water. As she finished up, WuFei seemed to have forgotten what he was wearing and started running for the door.

"WuFei!" she shouted after him.

"What?" he shouted turning around.

Riley threw a pair of pants at him. "You may want get some clothes on."

She jogged past him and headed for her room. The door was open and everyone except she and WuFei were in there. Trowa looked at her when she came in and he gave her a comforting hug. She hugged him back. "Thanks, Trowa," she said, smiling up at him, "but I'm not the one who needs comforting right now."

Trowa glanced back at WuFei as he entered the room. He nodded. "Got it."

Riley finally surveyed the room she had planned on staying in. The balcony doors were wide open and again there was a rope hanging from the railing. Her bed sheets had obviously been shifted through, and the connected bathroom door was open. Heero stood on the balcony, searching the French doors, Quatre was talking with Duo off to the side, and then WuFei and Trowa were talking out in the hall.

She sighed, her hands clenching into fists. So much was going wrong. If she wasn't careful, she could end up being caught as well, and then things would go from bad to worse. "I'm cornered," she whispered. "They have Vienna, every place I can go they will still find me, and no matter what area and distance I am, I'm still vulnerable. Man, this sucks like heck."

"Riley, come here," Heero called to her. "Take a look at this." He moved out of the way as she looked at the area he pointed at. On the lock of the French doors there were scratches, as if they had been pick-locked open. "Hm. They're smart. Breaking the glass open would not only wake Vienna and I up, but also give us time to escape, and for you guys to get in our rooms. Pick locking the door isn't as noisy, and it gives them a sneak attack approach. These guys are not idiots. They know what they're doing."

"Hn," he grunted. "If that's the case, then the same scratches from a pick lock should be on Vienna's balcony doors."

"One step ahead of you," Riley stated as she lifted herself onto the railing of the balcony and leapt across the gap between her balcony and Vienna's. She landed on Vienna's balcony, rolling until she hit the other end. She sat up, shaking her head. "I'm okay!" she called once she noticed all of them were gathered on the other balcony. She jumped up and started searching the doors to Vienna's balcony. She frowned: there were no scratches.

"Well?" WuFei shouted over to her.

Riley shook her head. "None." She looked across at them. "No scratches."

"Then how did they get in Vienna's room?" Quatre said.

Riley paused. "I think I know. Meet me back in the hall outside Vienna's door." She entered Vienna's room again and went across to the door. She knelt down on her knee and looked at the lock under the doorknob. She smirked. "I was right," she whispered.

"Did you figure it out?" Duo asked over her.

Riley nodded. "Oh yeah. There are scratches on this lock." She looked up at them. "I locked her door when I went downstairs to the kitchen. My guess is that they came up to my balcony, broke through those doors, and split up. One searched for me, the other came around into the hall, pick-locked this door, and came in this way. When the man in here had Vienna, he probably heard me coming up the stairs, and Heero and Duo coming out of their rooms. He had no time to go back to meet with his partner, so he had to go down Vienna's balcony."

Trowa nodded. "But then what happened to the other guy?"

Riley froze. She had only seen one man running away with a large burden. That had to be Vienna and her captor. But then that would mean- "Crap!" She leapt up and ran into her room just in time to see a man dressed in black disappearing over the side of her balcony. "Oh no you don't," she growled. She sprinted onto her balcony and climbed over the side. She slid down on the rope after the man, her eyes flaring. She dropped to the earth and was off again.

"Riley," someone called from the balcony above, "get back here!"

She ignored him and continued running after her target. Her anger pushed her onwards, not letting her stop for anything. As she ran, she came across the butcher knife she had thrown down earlier and swept it up into her hands as she ran past it. Now she had a weapon.

When the man got into a wider range, she aimed and threw the knife. It hit the man between the shoulder blades and he dropped to the ground. Riley slowed to a halt by the body and dropped down beside him. She pulled the butcher knife from the man's back and pushed him over. It was easy to see that the man was dead. Her breathing became ragged as she realized she had killed him. She dropped the knife and stared at it. Blood covered its blade and was dripping onto the grass. She then looked down at her hands. They were coloured in the man's blood. She stood up, staring at her hands in shock and anger. She had killed so many people and she wasn't over twenty years old. Her hands were bloodstained for life; there was no turning back. The lights in the mansion turned on one by one and soon the lights outside began turning on. She stared at the mansion and her mind was made up. She turned and fled from the estate.