Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Living Hell ❯ Zech's Appearance ( Chapter 3 )

Living Hell: Chapter 3

Heero looked at Duo, still unable to believe his luck. He had found him, after three years of searching, he had finally found him.

Duo, on the other hand, was too tired to respond with the same enthusiasm that Heero suddenly seemed to have.

There was a faint trail of blood from his injured shoulder and leg as he hobbled along, arm around Heero's shoulder, using him as support.

"We'll fix you up at the hospital," Heero was saying, staring at him, as if afraid that he'd disappear if he took his eyes off of him.

Duo just gave him a tired smile. "Thanks," he said, a his voice sounding rough.

Heero paused at a crosswalk, and Duo pointed in a direction.

"I've been there lots of times. I know all the ways."

Heero just nodded, although it bothered him to hear Duo admit that.

They walked silently for several minutes, and then Duo paused.

"Oh, no," he whispered.

"What?"

"Rena!"

Heero turned to where Duo was looking at, and spotted the small girl running into the hospital.

"She usually waits for me outside. But if she's going in, either there are more of those things around, or she's hurt!"

Heero couldn't help but let out a grunt. Truthfully, he didn't care for the girl anymore. Now that he found Duo, he felt like he should just leave her alone.

However, it was obvious that Duo felt some sense of protectiveness over the girl.

"Come on, let's hurry," Duo whispered to him.

They soon made their way up the steps, and it became painfully clear that Duo was getting worse.

"It hurts," Duo murmured, clutching his leg. "Fourth floor... cleaner beds. Medication in floor 2, and equipment on the 3rd. Elevators aren't that great. What are you doing?"

Duo's voice came out in surprise as Heero lifted him up over his shoulder. "I'm not letting you walk any further in this condition," he said.

Duo let out a tired chuckle. "I'd protest... but I hurt too much."

From his perch, Duo painfully pointed out each direction for Heero to make. The elevator in the western hall was the only one functional and accessible. However, it only opened up on the third. From there, they had to travel to the northern halls, where Heero picked up equipment for proper stitching and bandaging. The elevator only went to the second floor, the other levels blocked. Heero gathered several bottles of disinfectants and medications, and a few health bars that looked edible. From there they went to the eastern elevator that took them up to the fourth floor.

Heero paused. "This is a psychiatric ward..."

"Fitting, don't you think?" chuckled Duo, as Heero gently lowered him to a clean looking bed. "Pain killers before you start anything, please."

Heero handed Duo a bottle.

Duo glanced at it, then back at Heero, eyebrow raised. "This'll knock me out."

"Would you rather be conscious during my administrations?" Heero asked, threading the needle in his hand.

Duo blanched and quickly took two tablets.

He then lay back down on the bed, waiting for the pills to take effect.

"Oi, Heero?" he asked, wincing slightly as Heero cut and pulled the clothes away from his wounds.

"Mm?"

"How long has it been since that night? One year?"

Heero paused in his actions. "Three years."

Duo glanced at him.

"Three years since Zechs took you away from me in his arms."

Duo reached out and placed two fingers on Heero's lips. "Please," he whispered. "Don't say that name."

Heero stared into those eyes filled with so much sorrow and pain.

"What has he done to you?" Heero whispered, gently taking Duo's hand into his own. He bent over the bed, and Duo just closed his eyes, waiting.

Heero pressed his lips against Duo, feeling tears burning his eyes. Oh, how long ago it was to feel such softness...

His hand caressed Duo's face, feeling the texture. It touched Duo's hair, remembering the silkiness.

Duo moaned softly as Heero's hand ghosted over his chest.

Heero began to kiss his way down, injuries forgotten as long suppressed passion and lust threatened to burst.

"Duo," he whispered, unbuttoning the top of Duo's pants.

A steady breathing stopped him from going any further.

The pills had taken effect and Duo was asleep.

Heero struggled to bring himself back under control. He gave a small smile and touched Duo's face one last time before picking up the needle and thread.

X

Heero yawned and stretched as he made his way through the second floor.

Duo was still asleep in one of the lock up rooms, but he had murmured Rena's name.

If it were up to Heero, he would have just waited until Duo woke up. But he didn't want Duo worrying about her the minute he woke up, so he decided to find her himself and bring her to the room.

He soon found himself in a cafeteria that had tarp all over the walls. He wondered what they were hiding.

Then immediately decided he didn't want to know.

A shuffling sound caught his attention.

He paused.

Something walked out of one of the dark corners.

Heero stepped back, and the thing passed him, as if not noticing him.

It looked like a person, only melded into a bed. Unlike most creatures, this one had eyes that seemed alive, and full of torment.

He had to admit to himself that it creeped him out.

He had seen a lot of death during the war, but this was completely different. Bodies just didn't walk around.

If this was Zechs's doing, Heero began to wonder if he was prepared to fight him.

He waited a few more moments before making his way back out. The creature was no where in sight.

Taking a deep breath, Heero travelled back to the first floor. It would make sense to start the search from there. After all, they had made their way to the fourth floor, the only direct way possible. She must be around one of the other rooms.

Once he reached the first floor, Heero made his way to the receptionist desk. Looking around, he spotted a set of keys, some of them broken, a few still intact, and an employee map. Seemed like there were a couple more ways around this hospital.

Maybe Rena knew about them.

Several old reports caught his attention. He skimmed over them, and found himself a bit disturbed about the contents.

They were patients of the psychiatric ward, and each one was committed after a heinous crime.

One was a man who butchered and ate his entire family, another took the pleasure of gutting small children and using them as sex dolls... a third was given only a number, having no identification. He had killed countless people, but was found catatonic after his final killing.

Heero decided not to read anymore.

Duo could be sleeping on one of the beds used by these people. He really didn't want to think about that.

Heero left the receptionist's office, taking the map with him.

According to the map, there was a service elevator in the east all that required a key. As he made his way towards it, Heero couldn't help but wonder why Duo didn't know about it. Maybe someone else had the key and just left it that day? Heero didn't like to believe in coincidences, but he really didn't have a choice at the moment.

Then again... maybe the person with the key just recently met the same fate as the man in the apartments.

Heero shook his head, and paused when he found the locked double doors.

He went through the keys in his hand, and found one that worked.

He pushed the doors open and stepped inside. He pressed the button for the second floor.

Stepping out when the doors reopened, Heero made his way through the dark halls. The state of the rooms here seemed to be worse that the ones he passed before.

He couldn't help but make a face at the scent of old blood.

The rooms looked more like scenes of horrible experiments.

Old stains were on the wall, and it was impossible to tell if it was blood or rust.

As he slowly walked down the halls, a soft sound caught his attention.

Someone was humming.

Heero approached the source.

It came from an operating room.

Inside, the sheets on the rolling beds were jumbled up, and on the floor, facing the wall, sat Rena, playing with something.

"Rena?" Heero called out, cautiously.

Rena stopped humming. She pulled whatever she had in her hands closer, then slowly stood up and turned around. She didn't look happy to see him.

"What are you doing here?" she asked.

"Looking for you?"

"Why?"

"Duo was worried."

"Duo's always worried. But he really doesn't have much reason to anymore, does he?"

"What?"

Rena looked down at her arms. Cradled in them was a teddy bear.

Heero refrained from shuddering.

One eye was missing, and from where he stood, the looked like the fur was matted with dried blood.

"There use to be children here," Rena suddenly said. "With families. I never really had a family. I liked Duo when I met him. Wanted him to be my daddy. I think he wanted to be my daddy, too."

Heero stepped closer. "You talk as if he doesn't anymore."

"Why didn't you leave him alone?"

Heero gave a start.

Rena threw the bear to one side and stomped her foot angrily on the floor. "Why can't you leave him alone?! Why do you always have to hurt him! I hate you, Heero, I hate you I hate you I hate you! You always made Duo cry! You still do!"

With that, she ran past him, and slammed the doors.

Heero lunged at them, and found himself locked inside.

"Rena, I don't know what you're talking about, but let me out this instant!"

Rena glared at him from the other side. "Just go away."

"I can't do that, Lena. I've come for Duo and I can't leave him here."

Rena laughed. "I didn't say leave him here. Just leave him alone!" Rena turned and ran.

Heero slammed the door before remembering that he had some keys.

As he pulled it out, a creaking sound caught his attention.

He glanced back and spotted nothing.

Of course there wouldn't be nothing... it was just him and Rena, and nothing had made there way in.

A chain fell and wrapped around his throat, lifting him up.

Heero gagged as he clutched at it, feet kicking in the air.

Up above him, hanging from the ceiling, was what looked like a bloody corpse melded ito the frame of one of the beds. Thick chains held it up, and saliva dripped from its mouth as it let out a hissing sound, arms holding onto the end of the chin choking Heero.

Heero struggled his way out of the hold and fell to the ground, gasping for breath. He ducked down as the creature swung over him.

Looking around, he spotted a metal rod. He dove towards it, picked it up, and got on his feet.

He swung the pipe hard, rattling the metal frame of the creature when it connected.

He struck it several more times, until he succeeded in knocking it down.

The creature let out a hoarse wail as it flailed about. Heero swung down hard, specks of blood hitting his face and chest as he hit it over and over again until it stopped moving.

Heero dropped the rod to his side, gasping for breath as blood dripped onto the floor.

For one split second, an indescribably rage filled his head and he was determined to shoot Rena as soon as he saw her.

But then it was gone, a twinge of guilt taking its place.

Duo would not be happy if he did something so rash and horrible. Not to mention he didn't have any bullets left to begin with.

Heero couldn't help but let out a bitter chuckle. Even if he had gone through with the action, he would be nothing more than an ideal patient for this particular hospital. Killer of children just because they annoyed him.

He picked up his fallen keys, trying to calm his breathing.

He poked each key through the lock, and found that his luck held up.

The doors opened, releasing him.

Heero stepped out and looked both ways, the rod in his hand. Without a gun, this was the only weapon he had available. He mentally swore when he didn't see a trace of Rena either way.

Shaking his head, Heero turned to go back to the elevator.

The sound of someone screaming caught his attention.

"Mommy, no!"

With his heart in his throat, Heero ran towards the source.

He burst into another room and froze.

It was Momoru again, and he was being attacked by a similar creature to the one in the other room.

The young man was huddled on the floor as the creature clawed at him.

"Mommy, please! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" he was screaming.

Heero quickly rushed forward, swinging his rod.

The creature stood tall and backhanded Heero, sending him crashing to the wall.

Heero winced as his vision threatened to give out.

His eyes focused in time to see the creature lifting a small table over it's head and bringing it down.

Heero rolled to one side and jumped up, swinging the rod again, aiming for the head.

The creature went down, losing it's balance.

Momoru suddenly raced forward, a small television held over his head. "Die, bitch!" he screamed, throwing it down.

The creature's head made a squishy sound as the television landed squarely on top of it.

Momoru fell to his knees, shaking with suppressed fury.

It then went away, and Heero stepped back, recognizing that this was the "young man" version of Momoru.

"They just won't leave me alone," he whispered.

It was the child like one now.

"I just want to find my daddy. Have you seen my daddy? He'd protect me if he were here. He wouldn't hurt me like they did."

The cold sounding one.

"Why did you show up here to save me anyhow? Were you hoping that I'd let you fuck me? Most of my family did." Momoru sneered.

Heero stepped back. "Uh, no."

Momoru raised an eyebrow, stepping forward. "Really? You mean you don't find me attractive at all?" He ran his hand down his chest and stopped right above his groin. "I can be a very sweet bitch if you want me to."

"I have someone," said Heero, gritting his teeth.

The more gentler version snapped into place. "I'm glad. I'll never have anyone. Just my dad. But he's... he's missing. Lost, here... somewhere. And it's my fault." Momoru moved his way past Heero. "Thank you again for saving me from... that. But I really don't think you should bother next time."

Heero reached out to stop him.

"Don't touch me!" Momoru screamed, looking livid.

Heero yanked back his arm, and Momoru calmed down. "I mean... I'm sorry... I have to go. I have to keep searching. I need to say sorry, or else I'll never be free of this damn place." Momoru fled, leaving Heero behind.

Heero sighed as he stayed where he was for a moment.

He was glad to have only met these two, Rena and Momoru. Any more citizens of this place would have driven him insane.

As he was leaving, he suddenly heard a faint shout.

Looking up, he realized it was coming through the vents.

"Heero? Heero?! Heero!!"

"Duo!" Heero ran out of the room.

X

Heero stood outside in disbelief.

Duo was gone.

He looked around. Where could he have gone to? Was he taken by force?

Heero glanced at the map in his hand.

There was a nearby access to the rooftop. Could he be there? If not, he may be able to see something.

Heero raced for the staircase and found the door leading to it wide open. It gave him hope.

He tore up the stairs and threw the door open when he reached the top.

He stood in the middle and felt his heart jump into his throat.

Duo stood at the edge of the building, tears falling down his cheeks.

"You left me," he said, his soft voice carrying through the air.

"Duo..." started Heero, freezing when he saw something rise behind Duo.

It was like a dark cloud, and in the center stood Zechs, dressed in his old OZ uniform, mask and all.

Zechs smirked, and stretched out a hand.

Duo turned his head and let out a small cry as he moved away from the ledge.

Black tendrils shout out of the cloud and attached themselves to Duo like whips, cutting his skin.

"Duo!" cried Heero, rushing towards them.

Zechs pulled back his hand and Duo moved towards him, crying out in pain.

His back touched Zechs, and arms wrapped around him possessively.

Heero leapt towards them, but something hit him from behind, sending him crashing to the ground.

He looked up in time to see a tall mutilated person with a metallic triangular armor like head, and a spear in its hand, standing over him.

Heero rolled out from under him, looking back towards Zechs and Duo.

Duo looked unconscious as Zechs and his cloud moved away from the building.

"Duo!!"

The creature swung it's spear, catching Heero in the ribs, and sent him rolling to the edge.

He flipped over the edge, hand catching the ledge, slamming his body into the wall. He looked up his attacker as a demented cackle seemed to fill the air.

The creature raised his spear and brought it down, point force, leaving Heero no choice but to let go of the ledge to avoid being speared.

"Duo!!" he shouted, as he began to fall.

tbc...