Crimson Roses

Chapter 10

My eyes scanned the room once more, looking for a better view. The pillars. I placed my foot on the brim of the pillar before climbing on top and walking across the platform that held the lights in place.

"Shit...they're all there...", I muttered as I saw my friends Simon, Akira and Kiyoshi all held hostage with the other guests. But they were all separated, Akira and Simon were near the exit and Kiyoshi was more in.

Kiyoshi and I locked eyes, causing me to freeze. I gave him a look to signal him to tell me what to do. He broke eye contact and began to blink in a pattern.

"You...have...to...leave?", I whispered and frowned.

I watched as he stared at the man who held him hostage. I looked at the man and noticed something which made my eyes widen.

"No ways...it can't be...", My voice trailed off as I saw a sleeve tattoo of a rose with vines and thorns wrapped around his whole arm.

I looked back at Kiyoshi as he looked at me, he began to blink again.

"Get out of here, now", his signal gave me.

My body became tense and stiff as I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth in anger.

"Control ...your...anger.", his signal gave.

I took a deep breath in before planning out my attacks while Akira and Simon noticed me. I looked around for anything can could be used as a distraction and found ropes.

"Perfect.", I muttered under my breath.

Kiyoshi's POV

"Damn it...", I muttered under my breath as Belle looked around.

She wasn't going to give up. She's too angry. I watched as Simon and Akira was separated from each other but close enough to the exits. I looked at them both as they locked eyes with me, I signalled them to be prepared for anything and they both nodded.

We watched as all the lights went out one by one. The men all had night vision goggles that no one expected. How did I even miss that out? They definitely knew she was here. They prepared for this.

"Where is she?", one guard voice echoed across the room as he looked for her. "AHHH!!!"

We could hear the gunshots echo and watched as his gun flared. I scoffed and then let out a dry laugh.

"She'll kill you all....", I laughed as I spat out. "You are going to die!"

Sofia's POV

I leaned my back against the wall in the dark as I watched one of the goon's frantic reactions as he started firing his gun in the wrong direction. I just smirked. I bounced off the wall and walked behind him, snapping his neck within a split second. Another man came to inspect the scene with his goggles but it won't work on me. I began to hear Kiyoshi's manic laughter echo.

I swung my katanas at the next man while I heard the echo of screams at the other end of the room, near the entrance and smirked. Akira and Simon. Another man grabbed my wrists and pinned me against the wall, causing me to lose one of my katana's in the dark.

"Argh!", I grunted as he pulled out his gun and aimed it to the side of my head. I stomped on his foot before headbutting him, causing his head to fall backwards, as soon as I felt his grip loosen on my wrists I quickly pulled my arms outwards, breaking free from his grip and soon grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back while I used his other hand that held the gun, aiming it at his head before pulling the trigger, leaving him to fall on the ground.

One of the men had put on floodlights which shone in my eyes, causing me to flinch. Seriously? Like where did he pull out that from?

"She's there!", the guard pointed at me.

I watched as another man, ten times bigger than me, cracked his knuckles as he walked over to me while I began taking steps backwards.

"You know...it's not to crack your knuckles before a fight.", I said which earned a laugh from the man.

I let out a dry laugh which faded away quickly. I held my katana and swung it against his hand but he quickly dodged, grabbing my wrist tightly which caused me to wince and loosen the grip on the katana. I used my free hand to form a sharp saucer shape and hitting his pressure points on his neck quickly but he managed to dodge that as well. He then grabbed my other wrist and pushed me against the wall. I used the wall as leverage as I leaned my back against it and placed my feet against his torso gaining enough leverage to have enough force to make him loosen his grip, causing him to fall. I fell in the process because his grip on me dragged me on. I jumped back to my feet quickly and stood in a defensive stance just to watch Akira shoot him which made me take a breather and huff.

"I had him.", I stated.

"Keep telling yourself that lie.", Akira stated before handing me the gun.

"Take one katana, just in case." I told her, she nodded and picked it up.

"You seriously need to change these old traditional weapons.", Akira scoffed.

"Yeah...",My voice trailed off as I saw the other katana shattered into pieces.

"I can't find Kiyoshi anywhere.", Simon stated after running to us.

"Something feels off...", I said softly. "Simon, Akira, how many guards did you guys take down?"

"Six.", Simon answered.

"Five.", Akira said. "What's wrong?"

"I took out five as well...I counted twenty, but I don't see the rest." I added.

BANG!

Simon got shot. We ducked to cover quickly as gunshots went off. I edged closer to see if there was anyone to shoot but they ran away. I aimed my gun at my surroundings, ready to charge against anything while Akira tended to Simon's gunshot wound.

"Belle....", I heard Kiyoshi's voice and ran to his side to see him bleed out.

I knelt down as I added the right amount of pressure to his wounds but he held my hand, stopping me from doing so. He handed me a white envelope before his body went still.

"Belle! Simon...he- he's gone.", Akira sobbed over his body.

I felt like I was suffocating in the room, I immediately ran outside for fresh air, remembering the envelope was in my hands.

I frowned as I looked at it, opening it up, just to see a white rose with a little note.

'Your time is up from hiding.'

I clenched my teeth and squashed the note.