The Red Doves

Chapter XV

The feeling of being sliced from the blade was still running through Suziky's mind when Alan arrived with a bleeding Taylor and an afraid Isaiah. The two boys were holding hands while Alan was walking in front of them, looking really mad. As for Arlen, he held himself from running to his lovers and get a chance to get killed by the mysterious guy who didn't reveal himself.

- You should have let me die, Alan, started Suziky when her friend arrived.

- I prefer to die slowly than knowing you died because I was beating up two idiots instead of helping you out, he only said before being cut by the assailant of Suziky.

- Put your hands in your back Alan and not a move or I slice her throat, understood?

- Perfectly clear, Alan answered, now staring at Suziky.

He did as the man said and put his hands in his back, letting Isaiah and Taylor run to Arlen. Arlen did the same and once in their arms, started crying quietly, thanking God they were alive and safe. Seeing this made Suziky feel even worse. Alan just kept staring at her, not a single trace of sadness on his face.
The assailant looked at the couple then turn back his attention on Alan.

- You two tried to kidnap these innocent people. Why?

- We are not going to say anything, said Alan with confidence.

The mysterious guy applied the blade on Suziky neck. With a sound of surprise, this one opened her eyes wide and looked at the blade : a thin line of blood was now covering the sharp part of the blade. Alan, who was now looking at the katana instead of Suziky, also opened his eyes.

- I won't repeat twice, said the armed person, so speak.

- We were forced to, just said Alan, staring at the ground with a little bit of fear in his eyes.

- Who forced you? continued the guy.

- Our boss.

- Who is he?

- We have no idea of his name or age. We only name him boss, just like he asked us to.

- He is the boss of what? A group? A company?

- A gang. We are named the Black Doves.

When the name left Alan's lips, the man staggered just enough for Suziky to get out of his grip and move out of his way. By backing off, she hit Arlen, Isaiah and Taylor, who were all hugging, and they fell on the ground. Suziky stayed on her feet with Alan standing beside her. Alan passed her a dagger and they both prepared themselves.
At some feet away from them, the covered man had now his face revealed, his hood down. We could clearly see his pale skin covered of old scars. His black hair was covering his eyes, but Alan and Suziky saw their blue color. The guy was holding his katana and was looking at them with anger.
Before anyone could say anything, he ran toward them and made an assault. Suziky just had the chance to lift her dagger in front of her and block the assailant's attack. She pushed him away and Alan was the one passing to offence. He attacked the guy to the legs with a low kick but the stranger didn't fall for it and jumped above Alan's leg before hitting his face with his flying feet.
Alan was sent flying on the ground near the wall with a scream. Suziky didn't have the time to look that the unknown person already attacked her with his katana. She bent under the blade and hit it with her dagger before straightening back up, trying to cut him with her weapon. He dodged the attack, stooping himself, and grabbed her by the waist.
Suziky, who wasn't waiting for that, screamed of surprised and tried to push him away. But the guy was too strong and ran to the closest wall, still holding her by the waist, bending to the front with his head beside her stomach, then smashed her on this wall. The shock was unexpected and harsh. It made Suziky's breath cut for a quick moment then her legs fell under her.
Her assailant grabbed her by the collar of her dark shirt and lifted her back up, then, with his other hand, grabbed her throat and held her against the wall. Suziky was unable to move and was being choked. She tried to free herself from the tight hand of the guy but he just squeezed her neck tighter and cut her breath even more.
The next seconds passed so fast. Alan, who was on the ground for a good moment, stood back on his feet and jumped on the assailant. With the screams of surprised of the three lovers who were still looking at the fight, Alan made the stranger fall to the ground and landed on him harshly, making the guy drop his weapon.
While this happened, Suziky fell on her knees on the ground, coughing and taking deep breaths to recover from the sudden attack. The assailant tried to free himself from Alan's grip but this one punched him as strong as possible in the face. He was still hitting him and as the lips and nose of the man started to bleed, Suziky intervened and pulled Alan away from the unconscious guy. He, at first, tried to get out of her arms but stopped when she told him to calm down since she was now fine.
Alan turned around and took her face between his hands.

- Are you ok? he asked, worried. Did he hurt you?

- I'm fine now, I just told you.

Alan's eyes were now staring at her neck. She was about to ask him what was wrong but she then remembered that some time ago she got cut there. Alan took his glove off and passed his thumb on the cut slowly.

- Ah!

- The bleeding stopped and he didn't cut too deep, he said, still touching her cut.

Suziky took a look at the couple not so far from there. Isaiah had some blood on the side of the head and on his shoulders. His clothes were all dirty and his hair messy. He was holding Taylor who didn't really seemed injured until she noticed the big red mark on his right cheek. As for Arlen, his pants were also dirty but he didn't have any open wounds or bruises.

- We need to bring Arlen to the boss before this dangerous guy wakes up, said Suziky, which made Alan look something else than her cut.

- What do we do about Isaiah and Taylor, he asked, backing away slightly.

- I'll try to talk to them.

- Pfff, are you serious? commented Alan with a quiet laugh.

- Really serious, she then said to him.

- Wait, you're not joking? Suziky, what could you possibly tell them?

- The truth.

- The truth? Are you crazy? he said, grabbing her arms and shaking her a little.

- Maybe, but you have to trust me.

- No, I can't just let you do that. You know the rules.

- Yes but...

- Suzy, no, cut Alan. You break a rule, you die.

- I know, Al, but please, let me at least try.

Alan looked away and sighed loudly. He stood up and gave a hand to Suziky. She took his help and stood up as well. Then, she looked at Arlen and his lovers.

- You are not changing your mind, are you? asked Alan and Suziky looked back at him.

- I'm not, I made my choice.

- You're insane... But somehow, I like it. So, what do I do?

Suziky walked to the boys. She didn't give them time to do a thing that she was already grabbing both Isaiah and Taylor away from Arlen and pulled them on the ground. Since nobody expected that, the two victims of the girl fell and Alan ran to Arlen. He tried to run away but Alan was running faster and got his hands on the shirt of Arlen. It made him stop and Suziky's friend grabbed Arlen tight before knocking him out.
Suziky, who was still holding Arlen's lovers stared at Alan with a smile.

- Just keep going like that.