Unstoppable: Revitalized

-15-

I slid to my right as Poppy swung downwards, the sword cutting crisply as I kept her on the other side of the table, my mind working in overdrive trying to figure out how I'd get out of this.

If she cuts me up, I go back to Callum. Which means, I go back to The Boss. Which means, a lot of pain. I can't go through that again.

She jabbed the sword forward, and I moved too slow as the blade lodged itself into my shoulder, taking a small chunk out as she pulled back, my adrenaline keeping me numb to it. My fight with Liam drained me, so I had no idea how long my natural painkiller would last for. She raised her eyes as she struck forward again, this one I dodged.

"That should've cut deeper. What are you made of?" She mused as she jumped over the table, causing me to slide under it, crashing into the bookshelves. A few items fell on me, and luck seemed to be on my side, as one marked with 'Gunpowder' landed in my lap. I grabbed it, thinking fast.

"Tougher stuff. Get away from me."

This place is fireproof. She said it herself Either that means fire can't get in, or it's contained here to stay out. I set off an explosion, a small one, I'll knock her off her feet, make her drop the sword, and stomp her head down. She's trying to kill me, it's only fair.

I quickly grabbed a few randomly assorted ingredients, shoving them into my pockets as another swipe narrowly missed me, her strikes getting more and more accurate. I kicked her chest, knocking her back, as I poured all of the packet's onto the pile, watching them blend the cocaine into a thick, darker mix. Refocusing, I knocked the table, causing it to rock and a few splashes to stain the floor as Poppy charged me, sword pointed at my heart. I flung myself to the floor, grabbing her legs and pulling them out from under her, her head hitting the floor as I ran back to the shelves, digging through the supplies until I found a lighter. Quickly sparking it, I aimed to return and light it, but Poppy was back on her feet, swinging it down and cutting through my chest, my skin splitting as blood spat it's way out of the wound. My body screaming, I pushed into her, causing her to fall over as I flicked it into the mix, watching it boil and bubble.

Keep her busy. The longer it sits, the more of a chance something happens.

"Stay away from that!" I heard her call as she cut me again, a hand deciding to get caught as she took a small park of my ring finger off, the flesh plopping to the floor and spreading crimson. I couldn't ignore the pain as I moved back, grabbing her and pushing the sword to the sides, my hands going towards her eyes. She dropped the weapon, freeing her arms to stop me as she dug her nails in, drawing yet more blood from me. I kept my thumbs close to her pupils, trying to gouge them out as she shook and pulled mine back. I took what I could get as I changed my grip, throwing her into the table, and with a moment of satisfaction, watching it crack, powder filling the room. Taking my chances, I grabbed every packet I could, throwing them into the sludge now filling the side of the area, Poppy to the side of it, still down. I picked up her sword, throwing it aside as I watched the mixture dissolve the plastic, everything combining as I felt the temperature increase by the second.

I'm gonna make it. Keep her down, set this off, and get out.

I took a second to admire before I felt a force behind me. Going to turn, I caught a look at my chest, and found the tip of Poppy's sword smoothly slicing through my skin, ripping it's way out as she kicked me to the floor, driving it into my stomach. She flipped me over with a hand, examining me as I coughed dryly, trying to hide the pain.

"Why couldn't we just do this at the start? You've ruined my product. You've set me back massively. You... animal."

I was trying to form words, fighting against the blood rising in my throat, before finally spitting out two words I was waiting to say:

"I... I... I'd duck."

Just as I said that, a deafening sound rang out, a plume of pure light suddenly spewing out pure blinding energy, a heat I'd never felt engulfing me, Poppy's high pitched scream the only other thing I could focus on. It soon died down, leaving the room covered in a thick, black smoke.

Stand Adam. We have to get out of here.

I dragged my body towards a wall, using it to help me stand, finally glancing over at Poppy, her clothes rags as her exposed skin wriggled and blistered against the heat, a lasagne reaching peak temperature. She seemed to still be standing through the lines of smoke as she took a few steps, her sword still in her grasp. As I watched, she fell to the floor, still twitching, before going utterly still. I didn't even think: I stumbled towards the door, knocking three times, and hearing a click. I went to open it, but as it opened, a fist of pure fury swung towards me, laying me out as the door closed. A kick was faintly felt in my ribs as my eyes glossed over, catching the blonde hair and the green eyes of someone I really didn't want to find.

"You really are the dumbest person I've met."

And with that, I lost consciousness, the darkness I'd felt before claiming me, my body floating into the inky darkness of the unknown.