La Petit Mort

22

"You lied to me!" Pantalone's wrist was firmly grasped as he and Dottore left the restaurant. He winced and stared at the woman who had tried to get information out of him at the college. 

"Excuse me?" Pantalone pulled his arm, but her grip tightened. 

"You are Baizhu!" 

"There must be some sort of mistake here," he tried once again to remove himself from her grasp. "I didn't lie to you. My name is Pantalone." 

"Listen lady," Dottore stepped in front of him and grabbed her arm. "You let go of him right now or I'll break your arm like a twig," he seethed. 

"I've heard about you. You're the one that brought him to the hospital, isn't that right? Are you two working together? What happened to my sister?" she continued attempting to get answers out of them before she heard a loud crack. Her bone snapped in two and she immediately let go of Pantalone. She would've screamed if it weren't for Dottore's hand covering her mouth. 

"There are two ways this can go from here," Dottore stared into her eyes. She shivered as if he was looking into her soul. "You turn around and forget about this little incident. Go get your arm checked out and leave us alone. Or, you keep pressing for answers and I'll take you to your sister. I really hope you choose the second option, sweetheart, I would love to watch the light fade from your eyes." He lowered his hand and she sunk to the ground. 

Dottore and Pantalone turned to leave but she jumped up and stabbed Pantalone with a pocketknife hidden in her bra. 

"Dottie," Pantalone coughed, grabbing his arm for support. 

"Ooooh, you bitch," Dottore turned on his heel as a shadow cast itself over his face. His voice was eerily calm as he cracked his knuckles. He grabbed her by the hair and punched her in the gut. She coughed and he hit the back of her neck, knocking her out, and then he slung her over his shoulder. 

"Sorry about my friend here," he said loud enough for anyone within hearing distance. "She is a bit drunk, we better take her home," he looped his arm under Pantalone to support him. "Perhaps you've had too much to drink too." 

"Hang in there, Pants," Dottore spoke by his ear. "The knife is still inside you. It should stop the bleeding until we can get you treated." 

"My life is in your hands, darling," he closed his eyes and passed out.