Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Living Hell ❯ Approaching the Truth ( Chapter 5 )

Living Hell

Chapter 5

Heero wiped the tears that managed to escape from his eyes. It was as if all his senses were shutting down. He couldn't see much further past the floor beneath his feet, and he didn't hear anything but the gentle throbbing of his heart. He couldn't feel the chill in the air anymore.

Nothing.

That's what he felt.

Absolutely nothing.

Except for the occassional stray tear that made the same trail down his cheek.

A shriek snapped him out of his grief induced daze.

"Lemme go!"

It was Rena.

Heero tore down the halls, making sure that his shot gun was loaded.

"You are not well at all," came another voice.

Heero rounded to corner and spotted the nurse holding Rena's arm, tightly. In her hand was a long sharp pic like object.

"I'll make you better," said the nurse. "Just as soon as I reach that special spot right near the eye."

Rena shrieked again as she tried to dig her small black shoes against the tile floor, her free hand trying to pry the older woman away from her arm.

She shook her head side to side, braids flailing in the air as she tried to stay away from the tool in the nurse's grasp.

"Let her go!' shouted Heero, aiming the shot gun.

The nurse looked up at him, her eyes flashing.

"Why? She's responsible for this, don't you know?"

"You're responsible for your own actions!" shouted Rena. "Don't try to pin this on other people! It's your fault you're here!"

"No!" shrieked the nurse. "I just know, as soon as your dead, I'll wake up from this hellish nightmare!"

Heero pulled the trigger, eyes closing.

He had hoped he would never have to kill another innocent human being, but just where did an insane person lie?

He heard the metal pick clatter and he opened his eyes.

Rena was running down another hall while the nurse sat on the floor in shock.

"Why did you save her?" she asked in bewilderment. "Don't you see? As long as she lives, we'll be trapped here! And all because of him! They are connected somehow!"

"What are you talking about?" Heero responded, levelling the gun towards her.

Just because he missed the first time didn't mean he was going to risk it by missing her again.

The nurse trembled. "She's part of this, somehow. . . I don't know... but it started with her... with her family... she's evil! I know she is! I'm not, I'm innocent, but she's punishing me for... for no reason at all. They're punishing me, for no reason at all." The woman's eyes began to grow blank.

"Or maybe it's you who is the main reason behind all this."

The nurse lunged at him, and Heero cursed as he raised the shot gun as a defensive weapon, having not actually taken the time to reload.

The nurse's hands landed on the weapon, trying to shake it out of his grasp.

Heero dropped to his back, using his legs to kick up and catch the nurse in the stomach, sending her over him.

The nurse just scrambled up, spittle flying from her mouth as she let out a hellish scream. She flew at him again, clawing at him.

Heero stumbled as he tried to grab her, hoping that he wouldn't have to use his shot gun on her.

Sharp nails raked across his face, drawing blood.

Heero shoved her, sending her back down towards the floor.

She jumped up yet again, and raced into one of the rooms.

Heero stood there panting, realizing that this entire journey was wearing him out. His body ached for sleep and this fight was only using up what little energy he had left.

The door to the room burst open, and the nurse returned, carrying an axe.

Heero backpedaled, having been taken completely off guard.

He pulled back as the nurse swung that axe at him, and he felt the rush of air as it barely missed his head.

He pushed forward, using his shot gun as a bat, and swung it at the nurse's stomach. He hoped to be able to disarm her and put her out of commission before running after Rena and hunting Zechs down.

Sharp nails raked across his face, and when Heero glanced up, he no longer saw human eyes in the woman's face. Instead, her eyes had gone completely red.

Heero instinctively jumped back. The nurse was no human. Was she ever to begin with? Heero aimed the shot gun at her direction and fired. The gun went off, hitting her in the shoulder. The nurse just jerked back, recovered, then continued to charge after him. Heero fired again, backing up, and still she moved towards him. It was as if she couldn't register the pain that shot gun blasts should have been giving her.

He found himself out of shells, and rather than taking the time to reload, he just started swinging the shot gun. He caught her upside the head, in the face, across the chest, but she wouldn't relent. It wasn't until he caught her hand with the axe did she drop it, and Heero instinctively went for it. Once in his hands, he swung upwards, and the sound of flesh being cut was heard as blood rained down on him.

He looked up and stared into painfilled brown eyes. She then gave him a soft smile, and spoke with a soft and broken voice.

"Thanks... for freeing me... this time." A sigh escaped her lips as she slowly slumped to the ground, Heero catching her in his arms.

His face took an appearance of shock. She had been human. He had killed another human being.

He slowly lowered her to the ground, staring at her calm face. Something had tormented her in life, and now she was at peace. But what did she mean by "this time?"

X

Heero tried not to gag as he opened the door leading the the back part of the asylum. Bodies were laying everywhere, completely mutilated. He had a feeling that the crazy nurse had been responsible for this blood shed, and the little sympathy he felt became one of disbelief and horror. If something could possess a person to do something like this... what was to say that he would be safe from the same thing? Maybe this place, this town, did this to people.

The door opened and a rush of fresh air met Heero's lungs. The sky was growing dark again and the fog was clearing up. He took a quick look. The yard was enclosed in a fifty foot wall of concrete, but to one side was a part the had crumbled down loose, leaving it open. He made his way to it, and when he walked through, he could see a giant lake.

Pulling out the map to make sure, Heero located that the hotel was across this very lake. Looking down the shore line, Heero could see the dock that had been on the map, and what looked like a row boat tied to it.

He jogged towards it and reach it in a short amount of time. He soon found himself climbing into the boat, the rope that held it to the dock in his hands. Settling down, he glanced towards the light that flickered in a distance... from a lighthouse most likely. He grabbed the two oars and began to paddle. With each stroke, the anger inside him began to grow. Somewhere in that hotel he might find a clue to finding Zechs. And when he did, he would be the last human he would kill... if Zechs was even still human to begin with. He had caused too much grief, and he did the worst by having Duo killed.

The memory of seeing Duo's body flashed in his mind, further fueling his anger. He wanted Zechs dead, no matter what. He was glad that he didn't tell the others where he was going. More than likely, they would have tried to stop him, said something about bringing him back alive so that justice could be served.

Well, justice will be served, but under his own terms. He wasn't going to risk a chance that Zechs would serve a sentence that would seem unfair when comparing it to the loss of Duo Maxwell.

The sun was finally setting when he reached the shore. He jumped out into the water and pulled the boat further inland. Standing up and catching his breath, he looked around. Had it been a different story, this place would have been beautiful. The trees had some life in them, the green still almost fresh.

The building itself was more elegant than what he had seen in the pictures. And somewhere, on the third floor, he hoped to find a clue.

X

During the war, Heero was surrounded by the sounds of explosion and gunblasts and thermal weapons. After living 3 years of peace, he found that his nerves were being rattled by the sounds that his shotgun was emmiting.

He realized that he hated violence. Living a peaceful life had made him somewhat soft.

And yet here he was, tearing into yet another creature, sending pieces of it flying in the air as he kept shooting it again and again and again.

BAM! click BAM! click BAM!

Heero panted heavily as he looked around the front lawn. Anything sneaking around was now dead. He looked at the staircase leading to the door. He had almost reached it when he had been attacked. And now he realized that the air here felt like it was trying to suffocate him. And standing before the house, coming down from his adrenaline high, Heero couldn't help but think that he had been here once before.

But it wasn't a hotel before, was it?

Heero shook his head and began running to the door. He turned the handle and found it unlocked.

The room inside was dark, and Heero was forced to bring out his flashlight. The gentle hum of the airconditioner was all that he could hear. His body began to move on it's own. It was definitely as if he knew this place. He had been here before... but in his dreams? Or in real life?

He walked slowly towards the hall that he knew held the staircase. He approached it with caution, ready to fight whatever was up there. His body was drenched with nervous sweat as he continued to trek on upwards, reaching the staircase and heading to the third floor.

The air was cold, but it gave him chills, but the tempertaure of his body continued to rise as his anxiety built up.

Room 312 was his destination.

Before long, he found himself standing in the 300 hallway, the key to the room in his hand. He slowly walked towards it, counting off each door. In room 312, he hoped to find some answers. Find out where Zechs was... find him and kill him.

Heero stopped in front of a door marked 312. With trembling fingers, he gripped the doorknob. It didn't turn. Old habits kicking in, Heero pressed his back against the wall adgancent to the door. Reaching out with his hand, he used the key, inserted it, and turned it.

The door clicked as it unlocked.

He pocketed the key, reached for the doorknob again, and turned it.

The door opened silently, as he cracked it open. Shotgun in hand, he peered into the crack of the doorway, body tense and ready to dodge should someone be waiting there with a weapon to fire at him.

Instead, his eyes spotted a large bed in the center of the room.

Someone was lying in it, covered up.

Heero carefully crept in, aiming his shotgun at the person.

Was the person alive? Dead? Or another one of those creatures, ready to attack. Was it Zechs?

Heero raised the weapon to fire it. But he paused. Instead, he moved closer, and using the tip of the gun, he pulled back the sheets of the bed.

Cobalt eyes blinked sleepily as they opened. Then they widened.

Heero stumbled back as the figure sat up in startlement, shot gun dropping to his side.

"Heero?!"

"I saw you dead..." Heero whispered.

X

Heero stared in amazement as he stroked Duo's braid.

Duo sat silently next to him, hands between his legs, clasped together.

He looked completely unharmed, a satin black button up shirt on him, and no traces of blood. His face wasn't pale, and no bruises. He looked perfectly healthy for someone that supposedly was gutted.

Then he began to speak. "You shouldn't be here. He might come back for me."

Heero looked out the window. "I'll see him if he comes," he said, remembering how Zechs was able to fly.

Duo shook his head. "There's a secret entrance that leads to the basement. It's the entrance he uses the most. I don't like it. Brings bad memories. The blood... so much blood. I thought I wouldn't have to see that much blood again after the war."

Duo's eyes watered as he tried to blink the tears away. "You should leave, Heero. Forget about me. It would be better, for all of us."

"Duo, I can't do that. I was lost without you, and I don't want to feel that again. When I thought I found you dead in that cell, I almost went crazy with shock and rage. Without you, I'll have no focus in life... I'll just be the Perfect Soldier, and I don't want that anymore."

They remained silent a bit longer.

"I don't even know who it was," Duo finally whispered. "I figured maybe he was trying to throw you off, by placing a look-a-like in there. For a while, I believed that it worked. Then you should up here."

"I wanted to kill him. I still do." Heero leaned over and gently kissed Duo on the lips. "He took you from me... and I hate him for that."

Duo looked at him sadly. "You left me open for that when you chose Relena over me."

"I was drunk. I didn't mean it when I asked her to marry me."

"Then why did you..."

"Why did I say it?" Heero interrupted. For some reason, he didn't want Duo to complete the question. "I guess at that point, I mistakened the need to guard her as love. I was stupid. I was not the Perfect Soldier for once."

"You liked being in control of your life," Duo whispered. "I guess I made you lose it."

Heero didn't know what to say. Duo was no longer the confidant young man he knew, and he hated Zechs even more for changing him.

"You opened my eyes to new experiences, new feelings." He brought up his hand and carressed Duo's cheek, before giving him another kiss. He pushed forward, pressuring Duo to lay down.

Duo complied, hesitant hands coming up around his shoulders.

Heero continued to kiss him gently. "I missed this," he murmured, moving from Duo's lips to the side of his neck.

Duo said nothing, but his breathing began to increase in speed.

With gentle fingers, Heero began to unbutton Duo's shirt.

He exposed the skin and paid attention to it with his lips and tongue.

He slowly undressed his long lost lover, and showed him just how much he missed him.

With loving fingers, he prepped him, and with slow motions, he took him. His speed started slow and steady, then increased as he relished the sounds that Duo made... soft gasps and pleasure filled moans. Hands grabbing at his arms, his chest, his back, and his head.

He had Duo begging for release before he finally gave it to him.

And as they lay down breathing heavily, Heero embraced Duo tightly and whispered, "I love you."

Duo said nothing for a few moments, then whispered back, "I know."

Heero frowned as he lifted himself up to peer down.

Duo's eyes were closed, and his breathing was even.

He had fallen asleep.

Slightly hurt at not hearing those words said to him, Heero forgave Duo. Instead, he gave a gentle smile, and moved into a comfortable position, holding Duo close in his arms for the rest of the night.

X

It was close to dawn, and both Heero and Duo lay asleep on the bed. Heero was on his back, one hand resting on his stomach, the other cradling Duo.

Duo was also on his back, head resting in the nook between Heero's side and arm.

A shadow flitted across them.

Duo stirred, then his eyes fluttered open. A moment later, his eyes opened wide and he took a quick intake of air.

X

It was the feeling of cold that first woke him up. Reaching out, Heero became fully awake when he realized that Duo was no longer by his side.

Sitting up, he looked around. The room looked untouched, so where did he go?

Heero stood up the check the restroom. Maybe Duo was taking a shower? But it was quiet.

As he got near, Heero looked out the balcony window.

He froze.

Through the foggy haze, he could make out a figure in red with long hair running from the grounds, and in two were two more figures. One in black with a braid dancing in the air, and the one was half their size, with long light colored hair.

"NO!!!" shouted Heero as he slammed the glass in front of him.

Zechs was taking Duo again, and it looked like he had Rena.

"Give him back!" Heero kicked at the door, trying to smash the glass. It didn't work.

He yanked at the handle, but it wouldn't give.

Clouds began to race over the sky, covering the sun and the little bit of light that was visible. The darkness seemed to cause the fog to fade away, and one brief moment later, Heero could have sworn that they just disappeared into mid air.

Heero tore out of the room, heading to the first floor. No matter what, he had to follow them. He had just found Duo, and there was no way he was going to let him go either without a fight.

He would kill Zechs, he would find a knife and use it, gut him and slit his throat. He didn't care if he was human or not, Zechs had to die.

He skipped several steps and ran to the dining room where large glass doors led to the backyard.

They too were locked and didn't break as he kicked at it, punched it, threw chairs at it, and shot it.

Then he remembered the basement.

Tearing back out of the room, Heero let his instincts kick in as they guided him to another door.

It was unmarked, but somehow he knew that it led to the basement. The door opened before him.

Racing down the steps, Heero grabbed his flashlight and turned it on. He continued to jog, his breathing erratic, hands trembling.

He tried each door and they led to other rooms.

Then one was suddenly before him, marked "Back Lawn."

Heero opened it and ran in, the door clicking shut behind him.

And froze.

The walls of the staircase was engulfed in flames, and someone stood on the steps, running towards him.

"Daddy? Daddy is that you?"

Heero remained silent, clutching the shotgun in hand. Momoru.

The young mand stopped a few steps shy of him. "Why aren't you saying anything, Daddy? Please, I need you to forgive... oh... it's you."

Heero felt a bit of astonishment that the young man could ignore the fire that was surrounding him.

"I thought you were... never mind."

"Why are you here?" Heero found himself asking.

"I told you... I'm looking for my father. I need to... I need to hear him one last time. But that's impossible, isn't it. Out of all the people, it was him that I..." Momoru choked back his tears. "It doesn't matter anymore. Whether it's false hope or not, I can't give up. I can't leave until I am at peace with myself. Maybe you should do the same. Whoever you are looking for, leave him alone. It might be better for the both of you."

"I told you, I can't do that."

"Playing hero, huh?" Momoru sneered. "Just give up. If you are here, then you are no hero. Don't you understand?" Momoru began to walk back up the steps towards a wooden door.

Heero tried to go after him, but the flames suddenly erupted in his path.

"Momoru!" he screamed. "The fire! Run!"

"Oh, you see it, too?" Momoru asked, turning back once more. "I see it everyday."

And then he was gone.

Heero couldn't take the heat any longer and went back the way he came from.

And was shocked to find himself not in the basement, but at the bottom of a very long, long, staircase. It went up and up and up, and almost looked like it didn't end.

He stepped on it, and watched with horrid fascination as the walls before him began to deteriorate.

Rust colored stains began to crow from the ceiling, and drip downwards. The floor looked cracked and ancient, and even the stairs began to look old.

Somehow, Heero knew that he was heading in the right direction.

He began to run up the steps.

X

One black car pulled up in front of a building that was fenced in by a concrete wall and tall iron gates.

The car was turned off as a light fog created a haze in front of the building.

The occupants got out and looked around.

Quatre's blue eyes had small bags under them, and they were rimmed in red. He looked horrible, but tried to retain some diginity by placing sunglasses over his eyes, even though the clouds were gathering, blocking the light.

On the other side of the car, Trowa and Wufei stood side by side, looking out into the building.

"I don't like this place," Quatre said softly. "There's something... different... and I'm not talking about the asylum. I'm talking about this whole town in general."

Trowa gave him a supportive smile. "Come on... let's go inside," he murmured.

The three young men traveled forward as the gate before them swung open.

TBC...