fallen | ✓

Chapter 32: "On The Run?"

(Tagged: Carmen)

"Bullshit." I scowled.

"Miss," He frowned.

"Bullshit!" I yelled.

"Okay, alright," He grumbled, gesturing me to lower my voice. He turned on his heel, walking out of the bar. I followed after him when Joao suddenly grabbed my arm before I touched the door handle.

"Where are you going?" He questioned. I gently brushed off his hand.

"Seeing my friend's dead body."

"Can I come?" His face showed concern. I glanced at the door, nodding. He smiled, standing, following me out. I caught up with the man, gripping my bow. Joa unslung his gun, trailing behind me. We arrived at the mall, sliding under the garage. The man looked around for some time, his brow furrowing.

"What in bloody Hell?" He barked. "It's not here!" I glanced around with a sense of mystery inside me. And I'm not sure I liked it. "His corpse was right there!" He yelled in frustration. I turned, smacking him.

"You fuckin' lied to me!" I yelled in his face. "He's alive you douche bag!" I growled, unslinging my bow, storming back out. Joa trailed behind, frowning.

"Hey, I can help you look." He said. I glanced back at him. And you know what he did? He smiled a bit at me. I nodded, facing forward again. He caught up, walking by my side. "We'll find him, alright?" He looked at me. "I promise." He held out his hand.

I stared at it for quite some time before shaking it with another nod. "Thank you."

~~~

Well, so much for that idea.

We split up to cover more ground, and now here I am at Outlook, shaking my ass off, in cover. I glanced over my shoulder at the entrance, covered in those little Outlook bastards. I faced forward again, gritting my teeth. If he was in there, I swore to God I'd butcher them all. I wanted to shoot them all down but that's impossible to do with a bow and a few arrows. A figure approached me and I looked up.

Surprise, surprise, it was Joa. He stared down at me, holding out his hand. I yawned, grabbing his hand as he swiftly pulled me up. I rubbed my eye as he stared at me. "What?" I stared back. He frowned.

"You need to sleep, Carmen." He sighed.

"I need to keep looking," I said desperately.

"I can keep looking for him." He frowned. "Just go back to Crane Town and sleep in apartment three." He slipped a key-chain with a small iron key attached to it in my palm. "I'll return him to you by the time you wake up, alright?" He put his hand on my shoulder. I slowly nodded, and we split ways again.

When I finally got into Crane Town, I walked up the ramps to the apartments, opening the 'apartment three' he was talking about, locking the door behind me with a sigh. I just met this man today..? And I trust him with finding Connor? I slapped my forehead, pinching my eyes shut, grumbling. I shrugged off my backpack and pulled off my boots, jumping on the bed.

If he trusts me with his apartment, I'll trust him with Connor.

And with that, I fell asleep.

~~~

I was awoken by a knock on my door. I rubbed my eye, sitting up as I yawned. I tossed off the covers, unlocking the door, pulling it open. My eyes focused and the only thing I found was Joa. He looked down on me, leaning on the doorframe. He cleared his throat. "He's dead."

My heart sank and face dropped. "What?" My voice croaked. I heard stirring to my right. I glanced over and saw Connor peek out. He laughed.

"Surprise!" They said in unison. I paced over to Connor, smacking him in the face, then hugging him tightly.

"Fucking idiot!" I squeezed him tighter as he let out a strangled screech. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" I cried on his shoulder, my grip loosening. He chuckled, patting my back. Then my eyes darted open and I let go of him, glancing over at Joa.

"Thank you." I breathed a laugh. He nodded, snickering.

"It wasn't hard." He shrugged. "He was yelling like he was getting his arm cut off." I snorted and Connor shot him a glare. I smacked him again, giving him one last hug.

"Y'all wanna go out for some drinks?" I asked as Connor pouted, rubbing his cheek. Joa held up his hand, shaking his head.

"I'm fine." He said politely. "Thanks for the offer, but I got stuff to do. See ya around." I returned his key and he turned on his heel, pushing the door open, walking down the ramp. I glanced at Connor, smiling and grabbing his arm, pulling him to the bar.

We sat at the counter, glancing around for the bartender. A small boy came behind me, tapping my shoulder. I glanced at him, raising a brow. "What?" I stared at him.

"Hey," He smiled at us. "Follow me so it's not as noisy." He turned out the door. I glanced at Connor and we both raised, following the young boy. He sat us at a table up at the fight pit. "I'll go get drinks. I wanna talk to you guys for a minute." He explained before heading back down to the bar. I glanced at Connor, raising a brow.

"If he tries to do anything funny, I'll pummel him," Connor growled under his breath, leaning forward on the table.

"He's just a kid, Connor." I sighed. "Even if he did try to take one of us the other could take him down easy-" Connor brought a finger to his lips, pointing behind me. I glanced and saw the kid come around the corner with the plate of drinks. He set them down in front of us with a smile.

"So!" He exclaimed, sitting at the table, grabbing one of the drinks. "What are your names?" He asked, popping the cap on the counter. I grabbed the bottle of scotch on the platter, doing the same.

"I'm Connor. She's Carmen." Connor explained, grabbing his drink.

"I see." The boy nodded. "So, Connor.." He suddenly glanced at the wall, peering. "Do you see that..?" He tilted his head. Connor glanced over.

"No, what?" He glanced back at the boy.

"Look closer, Connor.." He pointed to the wall. My gut tightened. Connor looked closer when suddenly the boy pulled a bat, smacking his face into it, jumping over the table, making a run for it. I grabbed his arm by reflex, slamming him to the ground, digging my knee in his back.

"What the Hell was that?!" I barked, unsheathing my cutlass. He struggled to breathe, squirming. I dug my knee deeper. "Answer me!" I roared, holding the cutlass to his neck.

"H-He's a target..!" He let out in a strangled cry. I scowled.

"So is your throat," I growled, pressing the blade into his skin. He yelped, squirming.

"D-Don't hurt me!" He screamed. "I'm only twelve!" He started to cry. I lifted my cutlass, cutting halfway into his shoulder, standing and kicking his sorry ass toward the door.

"Get the Hell out of my sight." I spat. He bolted out into the streets, clutching his shoulder. Then I turned to Connor, staring at him on the ground. A small stream of blood coming from his nose, his eyes shut. I walked over to him, holding his face between my hands, frowning. I turned over his head to see a big bash dent. Lucky it didn't kill him.

I tossed his arm over my shoulders, half carrying him to the clinic.

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