Sweat dripped down my face, my hands wrapped in black gloves. I've been hitting this punching bag for a couple hours now getting out whatever pent up energy I held inside. Raylee is in a room to my right sparring with Lillith, Sona close by in case anyone had injuries that needed to be taken care of. A few of the others were by themselves including Joel on a treadmill honestly it surprised me seeing him work out. *kick...punch....kick.... block* I kept repeating the movements noticing my strength gradually increase with each hit, which was odd as it was meant to ware me down, but I guess there was a lot of anger built up inside me.
We got word that Cormac was gonna be gone a little longer then we expected an extra day or two at least, he believes he found a lead on something that could help him in his quest if that's what you want to call it. I was lost in my thoughts, hits and punches, and only stopped when I felt something fleshy beneath my fist. A whoosh of breath expelled from there lips as they doubled over, there black hair a mess in there face. I roll my eyes resting my sore hand on my hip, I flinched at the sudden pain in my wrist but try to ease it by rubbing my opposite hand across it.
"Alright that was stupid on your end there Julius, why would you step in front of me while clearly seeing me work out.?"
A chuckle comes out of the bent over figure before he begins to stand back up rubbing his stomach
"For a prisoned princess for many a year you sure have a strong hit, how did you even learn that in there facility?"
Rolling my eyes at his statement I let out a sigh.
"From the few memories that have started to come back I remember we weren't just bound to our cages, they did take us out once in a while to build our strength, the governess and her scientists had a sick tendency to think a vulnerable child was to easy, to boring for them, they liked to try and see us fight them, they enjoyed seeing us struggle because they knew in the end no matter how hard we tried we still would end up there prisoners, vulnerable to there tortures so to speak."
I look past him for a moment falling back to that time before I received what little freedom I have now, I knew some of the other kids, some people would call them friends. It was the only way to stay sane in that place sometimes, but it was always hard when they would leave, the fear of thinking they never would return, and sometimes they never did.
I snap back to reality and stare at him with a look of anger.
"You'll never understand just how cruel those people were."
By this point Julius was back in his regular stature but instead of his devilish smirk his lip seemed to falter, a small twinge of regret shone in his eyes before he directs his stare right at me.
"Don't jump to conclusions miss Jonz you don't know what I've gone through, what I've seen"
I freeze for a moment, a fist balled at my hip but before I could say anything a door crashed beside us making me jump slightly at the person in the door frame. Molly had come in with a quick pace in her step as she headed to the center of the room. Everyone stops staring at her, even Raylee and Lillith had come out to see her. They both wore a black skin tight suit with blue stripes along the sides, most likely there sparring outfits..
Raylee brushes past me hitting her shoulder into mine before looking at Molly.
"What is it M?" she asks, her hands resting on her slender hips.
Molly looks slightly up at her, she had a paper book and pen in hand, a headset resting around her neck.
"Viktor just called me, there's been an attack at the night-break bar, he sounded a bit panicked, I think he needs help."
The room was silent for a moment before Raylee spoke up.
"Alright you heard her guys suit up, it looks like we have a problem on our hands that needs fixing."
Everyone nods and runs off to a room adjacent to the workout room. I run up to Raylee and look at her.
"What's going on, what do we need to do?"
She looks at me with a twinge of annoyance, she was back to her old self, the crime fighter and warrior she was.
"You heard her, go suit up with the rest, NOW." she says shoving her gloves into my chest before walking off to the adjacent room, standing there for a moment I tried to calm myself down before stomping into the room. I make my way to the locker they so graciously gave me. It rested in the far left corner and they had already left me whatever getup I needed to wear inside it.
We began walking through the underground base heading back up to the main building to gather our resources before heading to the night-break bar. I wore a pair of black leggings with knee high boots along with a black bodysuit. It was a turtleneck with cutouts in the shoulders. I had put my hair up quickly in a sensible ponytail as I walked with the others. Raylee lead with Titus at the back as we headed to the Armory where all the weapons were held. It seemed they already had a set up that everyone followed. We all had sensible attire on meaning we probably weren't gonna be facing the aftermath of something but rather helping detain whomever was brave enough to attack the bar.
Soon after in the back of a dark blue van we were rushing down roadways making sharp turns till we pulled into an alleyway a couple buildings down from the bar. We had face masks now covering all but out eyes as Raylee told us the plan.
"There are three entryways into the bar, the front, upper side and lower back door. In teams will fall in for we cant all go in as one group or they'll mow us down like mouse caught in traps. Lillith, you'll take Molly and Joel through the second story door into the guest rooms. Julius, Cyra and Sona you come from the back while me and Titus enter from the front. Will trap them in, cause them either to surrender or be killed so we can figure out who organized this attack and why"
Without hesitation the groups comply. I feel my hands shake a bit but I brush it off thinking fear could be my undoing. We all put our hands in a circle before chanting 3,2,1,For Freedom! Rising our hands into the air before breaking off to our separate positions. Radioing to each other once we were in position we all begin our way into the bar.
The back rooms were dimly lit, faded paint rested on the walls that were covered in old desks and cabinets piled high with files and worn books. A flickering vending machine rested in the center of the far back wall with old clothes and blankets resting around it. As we move forward an open file catches my eye on a desk that seemed newer then the rest, I move to look at it catching a glimpse of the name on the marker at the top of the file. In bold letters it said ASTRO. As I go to touch it a hand firmly grips my wrist, my automatic reaction was to hit but it to was caught. I looked him in the face seeing the disinterest fall across it
"Focus Jonz there's no time for a reading session, we got a real threat to deal with right now past these doors, now take your weapon and be ready to shoot." he says pushing it into my hands before turning back to Sona and pushing past her. I growl to myself then fall back into line behind Julius. Looking back at the file for a moment I sigh before turning back to the problem at hand.
We could hear distant groans in pain and the occasional glass shatter or shot ring through the air, it almost seemed miniscule to what I was expecting. Julius turns back and hushes me and Sona before pointing to the door and telling us to come closer. We could hear mumblings from people on the other side but not the whole conversation.
"Where's the girl...silver.....weapon" there's voices on both ends. Julius grabs the door knob and begins to open it. We step out into a better lit room, the brassy smell of what only could be blood was the first thing to hit our senses along with tints of alcohol and sweat in the air. Adjusting to the light we take in the carnage around us, both living and dead lay on overturned tables, gunshots still ring in your ears as we lift our guns pointing around us looking for any alive. Searching the area most laid hurt or unconscious. A chuckle billows from the one side of the room where a small stage stood with torn velvet curtains.
From the shadows a figure emerges, their white hair tinted with crimson steps onto the stage holding there side that gradually was darkening with there own blood.
They lift there head with a smirk and spoke through a grunted tone
"Damn took you.. Ugh, long enough guys.... Fuck this kind of hurts" he says with a laugh showing his bloodied hand to us before leaning against the wall.
"Julius turns to Sona.
"Hurry he's lost a lot of blood get the med kit out we need to patch him up!"
He says as she runs past him. There guns both lowered for only the moment. she runs to the man now sitting on the floor holding his deep wound. I freeze in place for a moment staring at the damage around us, the rest of the teams was fighting still in rooms above us and closer to the front. This one was empty, but only for the moment.
Looking at the destroyed tables and mangled bodies I tremble and think to myself
"Oh god, what have I done?"