Chapter 12: Beggin'

Chapter 12: Beggin'

There was a burst of yelling and confusion, followed by a renewed surge of Crimson Eagles seeing their apparent advantage and trying to push into storm our distracted defenses and destroy us. Tristans hand remained locked on that bloody knife shoved in his pocket. Quickly walking in my direction.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I turned away from the psychopath who just shanked the Captain to death while he was busy defending us. Running right towards the scuffle of fists and pain taking place at the back exits. My hands were shaking, if that bastard just stabbed Captain Till, I didnt doubt for a second hed slit my throat to keep my mouth shut. I needed an out.

I slapped my hands together, desperation breeding necessity. Blue lightning arced between my hands as I pulled them apartthe skin up to my forearms going numb. But more than that, relief flooded me. Fickle fate was on my side.

With that, I rammed right into the flying blows, cussing delinquents, and ducked under a soaring golfing club. Trying to ignore the fight, and scramble past the two fighting sides controlling the back exit.

Unfortunately, a Crimson Eagle with a broken nose decided to prevent that plan. Planting his dumb ass right in front of me, and keeping me firmly from escaping the psycho at my heels. I didnt have time for him. Move! I screamed, tossing a quick feint. Lucky, he fell for it. My knee sprang forward, digging into his balls.

My foot slipped at the sudden movementnarrowly avoiding a blow from behind. I let the Crimson Eagle curl to the ground, uninterested in taking him out of the fight for good.

I afforded myself a glance at Tristan; the lieutenant broke into a jog. In a couple of seconds, hed be close enough to stab that bloody knife into my lungs too. I didnt fancy bleeding out.

I called upon Fickle Fate as I lobbed a fist at another Crimson Eagleshowering us both in red sparks as my knuckles connected with his side. Tristan moved quicker than Id expectedI saw a flicker of steel out of the corner of my eye. The guy I punched reeled, stumbling directly into the point of Tristans blade. His misfortune body-blocked a stab intended for me, by that psycho fuck.

Poor guy. But I didnt have much time for sympathy.

I turned and broke for the exit, seeing my clear path out of the hell-hole. Hearing a blast behind me as someone threw some unknown Soul Ability out. I ducked into the connecting alley. Luck to see that any of the Crimson Eagles that circled around this way were already pressing into the entrance. They didnt care to track down someone actively fleeing from the fight.

My lungs burned but I slapped my shoes to the half-dirt alleyway, putting whatever distance I could between me and Tristan.

Rather than feeling a sense of horror at the impending doom, the only thing I could think was how fucking great the euphoria and excitement made me feel. It was like I was on the center of the stagethe bikes headlight my own personal limelight as I made the biggest bet Id ever taken. A game of chance with death. The anticipation of rolling the dice felt more intoxicating than any mortal liquor could ever be.

Would it be red or blue? Would I end up a corpse rotting in this alley? Or would I win and have that sweet air of freedom. Tristan, the murder, his betrayal. None of it passed through my mind.

No. Just fate looking at me with its vicious love.

When I called upon my Soul Seed, it was more responsive than itd ever been before. A single inch of will for it to activate. Blue sparks rippled out from my hand to my screwed-up arm.

I ran towards the bike instead of away, the Crimson Eagles eyes widened. No doubt thinking Id turned suicidal.

Right before the bike slammed into me and spell my endits front-wheel hydroplaned in a patch of mud beneath it. The guy driving overcompensated as he tried to right the balancebut it threw it off, and he lost control. The bike brushed past my side, then slammed directly into the wall he meant to squish me against at an angle. He screamed in pain.

I took in a deep breath of gasoline-scented air. A wide smile on my face. I took one look at his mangled body as he cried for help.

There wasnt time to gloat or relish the feeling of being alive and winning. At any moment Tristan might turn out of that garage. Id won. Now it was time to collect my prize. Escaping with my life.

I began to book it down the alley, and heard Tristans hoarse voice scream out, Traitor!

There wasnt a point in turning around to defend myself. My word didnt matter compared to his. I didnt know what would happen later, but that hardly factored into my decision. All I could do was escape. Put distance between him and me, and lower my chances of taking his knife to my gut. After that, I could report that hed stabbed the captain, for what it was worth.

Maybe somehow, against all the odds, that poor man lived through his betrayal. Right now, there just wasnt anything I could do. Or so, I told myself.