You.

Chapter 13 - Unwanted Presence

"What the hell is wrong with you. You had one job." Zane yells at one of his men.

The man cowers, "I-I'm sorry sir. I didn't mean to-"

"YOU DIDN'T MEAN TO? YOUR ONE JOB WAS TO SHOOT THEM. NOT THE WALL BEHIND THEM."

Rose and Zoya were tied up at the hands and had gags in their mouths. They looked behind them to the hole in the wall and realized the door they had entered was cracked open. They looked at each other and nodded, as if reading each other's minds. In an instant, both girls ran in jet-like speed out that door and the men hadn't realized, because they were too busy fighting, that the girls had left.

"NO. No. No no no no no no. It can't be!" Zach starts pacing while trying hard to whisper.

Lonokai breathes heavily while his hands run through his hair. "No" he softly whispers.

They both take off their masks and throw them on the ground because that is the least of their worries.

"Hey. Guys. Focus. Come on." Joe says through the earbud.

"How the hell are we supposed to focus when they're dead bodies are in the same building as us??!" Both boys say simultaneously.

"Okay sorry jeez." Joe replies. "We should all meet at the front."

"No. We're going to go face him. You go get the car ready." Lonokai said,  demanding.

Pant pant

It was harder to breath in and out through the gags but they just continued. They kept running until they met with a large hallway, which looked like a ballroom but cut in half.

"Wait....hah, ...just....a moment....I need...to catch my....breath." Zoya breaths heavily while bent down.

"Fine, but hurry up! We don't have much time!" Rose cries.

Tap tap tap tap.

Gasp "Do you hear that? It sounds like it's coming from over there." Rose trembles and points to the other end of the hall where it curves.

"Did he already find us? How??" Zoya gets up and they both start running in the other direction.

Zoya looks back to realize it was just the two boys who had come to save them from the start.

"Stop!" She grabs Rose. "Look!"

Rose turns around. "*Gasp* Lonokai!!"  They run into each others arms.

"Zoya!" Zach runs and lifts her body into the air.

Then they realize what they're doing and break the contact.

"U-um. Heh, sorry." Lonokai says to Rose. "Don't be" She smiles back.

Zach and Zoya exchange looks and then look away from each other but don't stop smiling. They are robbed from their fantasy when they hear footsteps. Many footsteps. Zane's men had come after them. They all look at the men charging after them.

"Are you guys up for some fighting?" Zach asks, cracking his neck.

"We'll protect you." Lonokai winks at Rose while cracking his knuckles.

"Hey. We are women, not babies. We can do just about anything men can do." Rose says with her eyes closed and eyebrows raised.

The boys take out the men in an instant whereas the girls take a few blows to their enemies. The girls wonder how they are so good at fighting. But they put away the thought awat to focus on the task at hand. A man charged at Rose without her knowing it.

BOOM

Rose was headbutted on the floor with a nasty fall. She curled up in a ball, wincing and holding her stomach.

"Rose!" Zoya yelled, running to help, only to be headbutted as well. She lay on her back whimpering.

The boys were too invested in their fights to notice the girls in pain. Zach and Lonokai were fighting the men when they were turned so they could see them. Their angry faces immediately softened as they forcefully tried passing through the men. The men stopped them so the boys took a few more blows to each man. Then it was quiet. All except for the girl's groans.

"Zoya! Are you okay?" Zach rushed to her aid.

"I-I'm fine. I just-" Zoya tried getting up but fell into his arms. "My stomach hurts, and...so does my back." Tears start in her eyes.

"Don't cry. You were just hurt a little. Don't worry, I'm here." Zach gave her a reassuring smile while caressing her cheek.

Lonokai held Rose up half-way and held her on his chest. She continued to hold her stomach.

"How hard did they hit you??" Lonokai asked, fuming that another man even touched her.

"P-pretty hard." She tries to laugh but winces from the pain.

Lonokai immediately turns soft and looks down, worried for her. He puts his hand over hers covering her stomach.

"Your hand is warm" Rose smiles closing her eyes, feeling safe in his presence.

He smiled, closing his eyes too.

A whiplike snap sound was made. And what once was a quiet moment turned into a nightmare.

"AHHHH!" Rose grabbed her arm, screaming in even more pain. She was shot in the arm. By who you may ask? It was the lovely father whom Zach and Lonokai hated. Zane Madden.

Zane immediately ran in the other direction, trying to escape, when Zach and Lonokai were overcome with anger. They ran after Zane but he was too far ahead and they realized he wasn't worth it.

"Rose! Rose! Ah!" Zoya winced, trying to help her sister.

Tears welled up in Rose's eyes. "I'm sorry Zoya." And then she fell unconscious.