Empty Eyes: Book 1

Chapter 33

"Don't be afraid! She's just not used to the scent of human blood yet!"

I scooted further away from the pair with my injured arm cradled in my lap, "W-What!"

Ino covered her nose and mouth with a hand and winced as she spoke in a raspy voice, "Everyone was heading out to rescue you and I refused to be left behind."

Before I could respond, another familiar face appeared from around the corner behind them. Both my and Madara's eyes widened when they met, but I swiftly averted my gaze back to my sister as I struggled to my feet, trying to put the fact that she'd already been turned into a vampire in the back of my mind until a more proper time to discuss it arose, "You really meant everyone..."

Beastlike screams began echoing through the halls and all of us jumped slightly. My heartbeat quickened. They sounded eerily close to what I'd heard when Obito wasn't in control of his body. Vampires were likely fighting somewhere in this damaged building. Sasuke might even be one of them.

Wracking my memory, I tried to remember the path Kabuto had taken me the day Karin and Tayuya tortured me, "I think Sasuke's cell is this way, follow me!"

The three new arrivals suddenly bristled and looked behind me, making me swiftly turn to see what had them on edge. To my unfortunate surprise, it wasn't the Uchiha prince sprinting toward us, but a crazed looking Tayuya.

A disgusting and terrifying snarl gurgled out of her throat as she lunged toward me, but someone wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me backward. Before I could be moved away, she was right in front of me and I didn't dare blink as she raised both of her hands with the intent to claw at me. Blood splattered across my face and body instead of pain. It took a few seconds for the scene before me to register, but I eventually realized a fist had shot right through her stomach and froze her in place barely a foot in front of where I stood.

My knees nearly gave out from under me once more, but whoever's arm was around my waist tightened and my body naturally leaned against them to stay upright as I watched Tayuya continue to fight. The woman didn't give up. Instead, she let out a deafening scream and grabbed onto the hand before pulling it further through her chest. I realized it was Obito who'd landed what should've been a fatal hit and was pulled away from them as he struggled to free his arm from the woman's rib cage. She shoved her body against him until they hit the wall and he winced when she sank her sharp fangs into his wrist.

Frantically, I looked back to see it was Madara keeping me upright and fought to free myself so I could assist Obito in any way I could, but he wouldn't let go despite refusing to look away from the fight in front of us. I sensed Sai move forward, but something dark flashed through the hall and suddenly Tayuya's head was on the cracked ground nearby. My limbs shook in disbelief as I realized two things. One: Sasuke had arrived and had been the one to decapitate the woman, and two: Tayuya's body was still fighting.

Sasuke didn't hesitate for even a moment and brutally tore the heart from her very chest, causing her body to finally stop moving. Obito slipped his arm out of the large hole he'd created and I fought the urge to be sick at the amount of gore I just experienced.

The Uchiha prince turned to face us and tears rose to my eyes as Madara finally let me go and I was able to rush toward him. In the back of my mind, I realized Naruto and Hinata had finally caught up with us and were lucky enough not to have witnessed a beheading. Another explosion rocked the floor under our feet and Sasuke swiftly met me halfway and wrapped an arm around me to make sure I was stable.

We didn't have time to cherish our reunion because Madara interrupted in a serious voice, "The building's going to collapse soon. We need to move."

Everyone turned and started to follow him and I briefly wondered why he'd even come. He's tried multiple times to either injure or kill me and I'd be surprised if he cared about his nephew. It was inevitably a question for later.