Lyfers OLD VERSION

Chapter 17 - Down in the River

 – I... I need your help, Leto!

She could swear that it was the first time she would hear Siali's voice as much panicked as it was right now, and she sat back in a jump, anxiety rising sharply into her mind.

– What is it? Siali, are you okay?

– I fucked up, Leto, I... Help me, I beg you!

– What's happening? Where are you?

– I'm-...

Gunshots resonated through her cellphone, astounding both her and Rhy.

– Siali! Siali, are you okay? For fuck's sake, answer me!

– I'm at the hospital, in... In Downtown! In the parking, the underground parking, first level! Please come as-...

He did not finish his sentence, and the loud firing noises were the last thing the duo heard before Siali hung up. Leto gave a look at Rhy, nervousness visible on her face.

– I need to go there!

– I'm coming with you. No way I'm letting ya go in that kinda shit alone!

She acquiesced, and the two of them descended from the rooftop, getting into the car in a rush, buckling their belt. He drove off without wasting any more time, leaving the parking lot to go back into Dufferdale. On the road, she dialed both Ishael and Gesh's numbers, in vain.

– Those damn dumbasses are outta here getting drunk... she growled.

– D'ya want me to call some reinforcement?

– Not now, we don't even know in what kind of shit this asshole put himself into... I just hope it's nothing that bad.

– It's Siali Tofezza, right?

She answered with a nod, putting her phone back into her pocket, watching him while he was focused on the road.

– Yeah, that exact idiot.

– He's quite a reputed fighter. Should be fine.

– He better be. I don't wanna report his death to my freaking father...

She sighed, looking out of the window, legs shaking with the uneasiness her worry was giving her. In an attempt to reassure her, Rhy put his hand over hers, squeezing her fingers in his. She answered the touch and gave him a little smile: of course, with him by her side, she would be okay. Everything would be fine.

Some minutes later, they arrived in the middle of Downtown. Luckily for them, there was almost no traffic at this hour, and they were able to arrive in front of the hospital quickly. Since that, at night, the barriers to the underground parking were blocked, they parked there, getting out of the car, and sprinted towards the entrance. In their hurry, they nearly bumped into the automatic glass doors, but were way too occupied to care about that. They did their best not to overthrow anyone in the corridor, and ultimately reached the door to the stairs. They ran down it, but abruptly stopped when they were about to enter the parking.

– Are ya ready? Asked Rhy.

– Yeah.

– Then let's go.

They pushed the door open, staying close to each other, on their guard. The most stressful part was not knowing what was happening, and by so, what they would be facing. But their doubts suddenly faded when gunshots started to fly above their head, echoing against the concrete walls and the surrounding cars. Instinctively, they dropped to the floor, and he shoved her behind a vehicle before she could have the time to react.

– Did you see who shot?! She exclaimed, crouched down.

– I have no fuckin' idea, but it was coming from the south. We've got to move!

She nodded, took his hand, and dashed to another car, then another car, until they were closer to the origin of the firing sounds.

– Fuck, I should've taken a gun... he sighed, watching around them.

– We'll have to do it the ol' way. But-...

She hushed when she noticed something, or rather, someone: Siali was standing behind a pillar, a gun in his hand, but most importantly, a girl in his arms.

– What the-... Siali!

Between the noises, he still managed to hear Leto's shout, turning towards her. She could see the distress on his face, and that was something she was not used to. Especially on someone as skilled as him.

– That's Amnesia, Leto! He screamed back. That's fucking Amnesia who's shooting at us!

– Amne-...

She could not finish, as a bullet flew right next to her face. Rhy pulled her back to cover.

– You okay?! He asked her, with fear in his voice.

– Y-yeah, I'm alright...

– We need reinforcements.

– But won't it put you in trou-...

– Your security goes first, Leto.

For a second, she stared at him, astonished, but another, unknown voice got her out of her thoughts.

– Hand that woman over, Downtowner, and we'll let you live!

– Go eat shit!

Siali's answer got replied to by more and more bullets, piercing through the walls and through the metal, unforgivably. Every single sound began to enrage Leto, a bit more every time, until she could feel her blood boiling into her veins. How dare Amnesia attack them, while they had been at peace for years, now? It was intolerable, unacceptable. In a jump, she got back onto her feet, getting out of the hiding.

– Leto, what are you-... Leto!

Rhy tried to hold her back, vainly: she was already in another state. A vivid pink aura formed around her body, lightening the parking lot with its radiance, stunning both of the men who stayed back. Amnesia went off limits, and for this, they would have to pay. In a determined walk, she progressed farther, and finally, she spotted the assailants. There were four of them, all placed behind a vehicle. She could see and feel their auras: they were all low-rank purebloods. Nothing impossible, but nothing easy too. She perfectly knew that simply killing them would take a lot of her energy, maybe even enough to make her faint at the end, and also knew that if more of them arrived, they would be in an even trickier situation. So this time, she had no choice but to disobey the rules, if they wanted to make it out of there safe. That was a matter of life or death.