My heart was pounding harder and harder as I hid behind one of the many shelves in Jack's shop, my eyes tracing Grey's shadow from across the room. I looked left towards where the others were hiding, it looked like they had managed to go unnoticed but Julian had completely zoned out, his gaze was locked to the floor and he wasn't reacting to Rico poking his back, very unusual.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," I could hear Jack stand up from the stool he was sitting on, his boots hitting the floor with a thump.
Purple light spilled underneath the shelf I was next to as Grey spoke, "I don't think that's necessary."
Was he actually going to kill Jack? I needed to help him, but how?
I glanced over to Alice and Rico, meeting their eyes, I knew exactly what I was going to do.
"Come on Corra, get on with it!
I looked up at the massive wall I was supposed to scale, a bad taste settling in my mouth. My bare feet shuffled nervously across the wet grass as I looked to my right, the ringmaster was still egging me on, beckoning me to climb the massive cliffside. If I had more training I would have been able to ascend the rockface, but I was only eight years of age, there was no way my small frail body would be able to complete the task that was assigned to me.
I looked back at the ringmaster, "Are you sure this is possible sir? I mean, it's so high."
"You want to perform don't you? Remember just who found you beaten in the middle of nowhere!"
"Well I don't really—"
"Nonsense, now climb." He handed me a pair of worn leather gloves, holes riddled the dark padding as I slipped them onto my bruised hands.
"How exactly are these supposed to help me climb?"
He patted me on the back, "Whenever you feel you might fail, look to the gloves."
I nodded, not knowing what he meant, and stepped towards the jagged stone cliff that towered above me, it's shadow making me feel even smaller than I was. I took a deep breath, and launched myself towards the wall, while my already bruised feet hit the jagged rock, cutting them open, my hands weren't harmed, the thick gloves had thankfully cushioned the impact.
I scanned the rock face, looking for any prominent notches that I could clasp my hands around and gain some extra height. Each movement was a risk as I climbed, my gloved hands just barely grabbing each jagged lege of rock, protecting my fingers from getting even more bloody and bruised. I looked down, I was about fifteen feet off the ground now, there was no turning back.
I looked down at the ringmaster who was watching me with interest, "Sir, I don't think I can do this—"
"Do it." His voice cut through the air like a knife, setting me off balance.
"But sir—"
"Do it." His soft voice raised to a yell, so knowing I'd be punished if I didn't climb more I continued, my tears making the stone slippery as well as sharp.
Just fifty more feet, you can do this Corra
My heart felt like it was going to beat it's way out of my chest as I climbed higher, I felt like I was going to faint. My tail brushed against my bare ankles, each time tickling me, making me jump and almost fall.
Alright Corra, you're close now, just thirty more feet.
As I climbed higher, I came across a dilemma, the higher peak of the cliff was almost completely smooth, there was nowhere for me to grab a hold of.
I looked down to the ringmaster and called down to him, "Sir, there's nowhere for me to grab!"
"And how exactly does that concern me? Climb or it's the nine tails for you, understand?"
I felt like my hands were going to give out as I searched for something to grip my gloved hands on, but no luck, I was just going to have to try to climb without any assistance from the cliff. I frantically grasped at the rough rocky surface as I tried to climb, my sweat mixing with the blood oozing from my feet to create a red watery sort of mixture.
As I tried and tried again to climb, my foot had slipped off one of the crevices supporting my body and I fell, the icy air slashing my face like a whip.
This is it, I'm going to die.
I could feel my stomach fly into my chest as I plummeted downward, I'd feared my life many times, but never like this. It was as if in an instant, everything I'd ever done had flashed before my eyes, telling me of all the mistakes I had made in my very short life. And then, as soon as it had started, I hit the cold wet ground, and everything went dark.
I stared up at the metal shelving, the memory flashing through my mind. If I wanted to climb over and spy on Grey I needed to do so silently. Quietly, I crept up the side of the steel supports that held up the shelving unit, making sure to do so slowly and carefully, just one misstep and my position would be given away. As I peeked around the top of the shelving, keeping it balanced by shifting my weight back and forth, I watched as a blood soaked Grey walked stiffly towards Jack, his hand blazing with power.
"I told you already, Greyson, we don't serve your kind here. Now leave or I'll have to force you to."
"You'll force me to? With what? You're nothing but a worthless creat!"
I watched as Jack pulled out a revolver from his belt, it's bronze finish perfectly accenting the leather handle, "Eh, I couldn't care less if you're human, I'll kill you either way."
"Very well then, It seems as if you've chosen death."
I turned towards the others as a fight broke loose, bullets and lightning streaking across the room at blinding speeds. Julian looked like he had snapped out of the daydream he was having and Rico and Alice were hugging each other like the incompitent fools they are.
Julian met my gaze and mouthed the words, "Distraction."
"Yeah, but what?" I mouthed back.
Julian shrugged, and then that's when it happened.
"Hello! I'm Chubby Charlie! Won't you play with me?"
Alice had dropped her talking book, and the pages had opened, playing that voice line on a loop. I looked at Julian and we nodded, this was our moment to strike. As Grey turned around, confused by the sudden disturbance, I crawled across the top of the shelf, keeping my body and tail low so I wouldn't be seen.
"What was that? Who's here? Show yourself!" His creamy voice had almost changed into a growl like an animal turning savage.
I watched in horror as Julian got up from his hiding spot and walked out into the open, his hands folded like a gentleman.
"Remember me?" He said smugly.
Hurry it up Corra, Julian's going to get himself killed!
Now that Grey had been distracted, my low crawl turned into a sort of brisk shuffle as I made my way across the top of the shelf.
"I do remember you! "You're the boy from before right? You're a part of Ray's crew! How's your friend doing?"
"You mean the one you killed in cold blood?" Julian drew his sword, the emerald placed in it's hilt gleaming, "She's not doing that well, but thanks for asking, I really appreciate it."
That's it Julian, keep up the act so I can make my way across safely.
"Where are the others?" Grey seemed surprisingly calm despite having Jack's gun pointed to his head from across the room.
"I'm not sure I understand."
"Do you take me for a fool? I know you're not alone, where are the others?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"Don't play with me boy, you do remember how I took you down the first time don't you?"
"You mean when you thought you took me down and then I stabbed you in the back with my blade? Yeah, I do remember!"
I'd never seen Julian like this, normally he was so reserved and quiet, truth was, I couldn't tell if he was acting or not. This sounded like something Rico would do, not Julian. As they rambled on, I had finally reached my way to the back of the store, jumping down from the metal rack with ease. I snuck behind the counter next to Jack and peeked over it, waiting for my chance to strike.
"I noticed that you don't have your sword drawn, I know that the others are going to come around and try to ambush me while you have me distracted, you don't honestly think that would work do you?"
Come on Julian, if Grey expects the others, they're going to have to come out of hiding.
Julian and I locked eyes for a split second, as if he was telling me, "Sit back, I got this." I watched him turn back for a moment, and Rico and Alice emerged from behind one of the metal shelves. They looked extremely cocky and confident, but I could tell they didn't feel that way on the inside.
"Is this all? Where's Ray?"
"He didn't come with us." Rico spat.
"Let's test that theory then, shall we?"
I watched as Grey shot a massive blast of purple energy to the left, ripping through all of the rows of metal shelves holding the magic items and causing a massive explosion and setting them on fire. Jack cocked his revolver again, but I put my gloved hand on his paw, it seemed as if the message went through, and he lowered it towards the ground.
"There, let's hope you weren't lying."
"So, what exactly are you doing here, homus?"
"Oh, we're going to resort to name calling now little creat?"
Before Rico could start cussing his head off, Alice stepped in front of him, "Don't avoid the question Grey, what are you doing here? These grounds are for creatara only."
"Oh, that's right." He wiped his bloody hand across his cheek, "Well, I may have taken a few liberties."
Alice seemed confused, but Rico and Julian seemed to understand what he had meant, had he killed civilians to get here? No, even Grey wasn't that despicable.
"You're a monster, you know that?"
"And you think you're not? Just look at yourselves!" Grey laughed like a maniac, the spittle from his mouth mixing with blood, "Taking up jobs from others to what? Assassinate people? Pathetic!"
Julian immediately shot me an anxious glance as I started to make my way towards Grey, keeping in the shadows as I crept along the sides of the metal shelves, making sure no rogue flames would lick my skin.
Julain drew his sword, his calm composure turning into genuine anger, "For a miserable homus you sure do talk big."
I was so close now. Grey was less than ten feet away, just one swift movement and this would all be finished.
Alice's voice was trembling, "You never answered Julian's question, what are you doing here?"
"I just needed to pick up some supplies, that's all."
"For what exactly?"
"That's none of your business now, is it?"
All I need is a few more steps
I drew both of my knives, the blades coming out seamlessly as they quietly slipped into my palms, just one good slash was all I needed. I stepped into my attack as my blade swiped through the air, and then—
"Well, well, well… If it isn't Corra."
Grey had his hand outstretched, a purple glow flowing around it that seemed to be preventing my blade from touching his skin. I tried to pull away but it was as if my blade was stuck, like the purple aura was lodged in some sort of sticky glue, keeping it in place.
Alice launched herself forwards and launched an air blast from her palm, but Grey simply lifted his other hand and the attack shot back at Alice, hitting her in the chest and making her fly back, crashing against the wall.
"I'm going to make you regret wasting your second chance at life." Grey spat, his glaring eye piercing through mine, "How you lived I don't understand, but I'm going to make you regret surviving."
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Julian was dashing towards us, his sword drawn, a familiar look of determination was plastered on his usual smug face.
I frantically pulled on my knife, but it wouldn't budge. While I tugged, Julian sliced away, each frantic attempt missing as Greyson moved his other arm to block Julian's attacks, each movement swift and precise almost like he knew exactly where Julian was going to strike.
"Corra! Let go of your dagger!" Julian screamed, still hacking away at Greyson.
I probably should have let go at that point, but my blades were almost like friends to me, they comforted me in my times of need, their smooth hilts would rest in my palms and calm me down in times of danger. Instead of letting go I drew my other blade and slashed again at Grey, this time because he was distracted by Julian, I hit my target, just barely though.
I stabbed downward into Grey's thigh, making a large gash that spilled blood across the floor. He roared in pain and elbowed me in the chest, launching me towards the desk where Jack was. I hit the front of the wooden desk with a loud thunk, causing parts of it to shatter into splinters, the chunks of wood slicing into my back. As I stood up, I felt a painful sensation shoot through the right side of my ribs, like it was on fire.
Jack grabbed the back of my jacket and dragged me behind the wooden desk, "Corra, you stay here. You're in no condition to fight."
I silently watched as Jack cocked his silver revolver, and pointed it at Grey's head, aiming carefully with one eye closed.
"Wait!" I grabbed his pant leg, it was damp and stank of sweat, "You saw what he did to Alice, he'll simply reflect ranged attacks!" I lifted my blade and pointed it towards Grey, "We need to go up close and personal."
Jack immediately stomped on the ground next to my hand, making me instinctively freeze, "Like I said before, you're in no condition to fight." He knelt down and touched my ribcage, making me flinch, "Plus, that looks like a cracked rib cage, just leave this to me."
"But—"
He put his fuzzy finger to my lips, "Shut up… Just shut it. You've got to learn that sometimes Corra, you can't always be the hero." He popped another cigar in his mouth and lit it, "Now sit back, have a smoke, and watch me do my thing." He handed me a cigar, winked, and stepped out from the desk, spinning his revolver in his hand.
Julian had a few marks and scratches but he was still swinging, Grey dodging each attack from his sword, and Julian weaving around Grey's punches. As Jack walked closer, black smoke started to swirl around his hands, I could almost feel the air get thicker as the room got dark with black smog, the smell making my nose burn.
"Grey!" Jack lunged forwards, it looked almost as if he was throwing a ball as he arched his paw, a sphere of pure black smoke leaving his hand and shooting towards Grey at a speed so fast, I could barely see it.
Grey turned, caught off guard, and the sphere of smoke hit him straight in the chest, blasting him against the far wall adjacent to where Julian was standing, it looked almost as if the smoke passed straight through the purple aura around his hands, almost as if it wasn't affected by whatever the strange magic Grey was using.
From my knowledge, Jack had never said he had a morte, so how come he decides to use it now? Back when we hadn't even recruited Rico, he was one of our best clients. He was actually the reason that we can still remain in business, the sheer amount of jobs he would assign was absurd.
"Give up Greyson, we have you outnumbered, now get out of my store or else."
Gryeson laughed maniacally, blood spurting from his mouth, "Or else what?" He stood up slowly, his hand was still clutching the wound I had given him on his thigh, his knees wobbling as blood spilled from the gash.
I could barely see now, smoke had filled the room like a thick black mist. I crawled down low towards the exit, if it weren't for the fire that Grey had started, I would have been completely blinded by the smoke. As I trudged towards the exit, I heard the sound of someone grunt as I bumped into a figure lying against the wall.
"C-Corra?"
Now that I looked closer I could see that it was Alice, parts of her clothing had been ripped to shreds and her blonde silky hair was a mess. Her hands were clutching a massive wound on her chest, blood spilling from in between her fingertips as she lay there, wincing in pain.
As I picked her up and started to dash towards the exit, she immediately yelled and pointed towards the shelves that Grey had set fire to.
"Wait!" She squirmed, pulling herself from my grasp and leapt towards the fire, her mouth moving at lightning speed as a blue aura shimmered around her.
I watched as she ran straight towards the fire and rushed in, her torn yellow dress almost shimmering in the firelight. The flames instantly disappeared around her as she ran out of sight and into the roaring fire of shelving and product. I panicked and instantly dashed towards her, but froze as the flames let off an explosion, the force shooting me backwards and onto the ground.
"Such a fool. She'll die braver than most."
I turned to see Greyson standing behind me, his arm was outstretched and his yellow scarf had been slightly burnt, it's bright colour shifting to a dirty brown.
I unsheathed my knife and scanned the ground for the second one I had stabbed Grey with. I couldn't bear to lose it, my knives were the only things that kept me sane.
"Simply incredible, you just don't stop fighting do you?" His hands started to crackle with power, the purple colour mixed with the orange glow of the fire around me made him seem even more intimidating, "It's a shame, I would love to know how you survived, but I simply can't stand small talk. Let's finish this, I'm going to make you regret taking your second chance at life."
I rolled to the side as pure electricity barely grazed my skin, using the momentum to stand up in an instant. I let out a sigh and charged, my arms instinctively weaving in and out of Grey's attacks, my knife feeling like another part of my body as its silver blade moved in one fluid motion as if it was responding to my body's every whim.
The room was now so thick with smoke, I could feel my lungs begin to give out, I was going to have to go low to avoid breathing most of it in if I wanted to survive. I crouched down low and used the floor to assist me as I dodged Grey's blows, my tail brushing against the sooty ground like a broom.
Grey wiped the blood and dirt from his face, "That's all you got? You know I can do this for hours."
I remembered my cracked rib and instinctively touched it, the mere brush of my gloved fingertips made pain shoot up my side, making my spine tingle.
He's right, I'm not going to last long before I either start moving too sluggishly and get hit, or pass out from the sheer pain from my ribs. I'm going to have to end this here and now.
I made a break towards Grey, dodging left and right to try to fake him out as he tried to aim at my body, one eye closed as purple energy began to sparkle around him.
I've cheated death twice, I won't make the mistake of doing something with my life.
I rolled between Grey's spread leg and slashed his right ankle, making blood spill across the ground where I rolled, drenching me with blood. As Grey reeled back, I stabbed him in the chest, my blade completely piercing through his body, once again the warm feeling of blood pouring across my hands. As he collapsed on the ground I felt as if I was going to pass out. As I tried to steady myself, I realized it was too late, I had pushed my body too far. Before I could react, my knees buckled and I fell face first behind Grey, almost drowning in the pool of blood that I had created. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and darkness swallowed me, shifting my consciousness into nightmares.