Shell

Chapter 11: Happy Landings

I don't know how long I drifted in the darkness of what felt like death's embrace. I knew there was no way I could have survived being gutted like that with what was probably a demonic sword or something. My last moments kept playing over and over, my soul began to fill with regrets and burn in anguish as there was nothing I could do to save those I cared about and eventually becoming numb to things I shouldn't have. Well at least I know what happened to Medusa I have no idea what happened to Caren, Ares, or Vincent after the helicopter took off. I do hope they're safe...

-Ares

"You Bitch!!!!!!" Artemis yelled with a blood crazed scream.

"Artemis wait!" I yelled trying to rush towards her.

Artemis bolted towards Medusa's dark haired killer who had an uncanny resemblance to Artemis. I couldn't match her supernatural speed, none of us could, all we could do was watch. Artemis reached her target and gave a swing with her sword that could slice just about anything, however her target looked amused and blocked it easily. They stayed locked with each other for a few seconds before Artemis flared up again and began to attack wildly and viciously only to have her strikes blocked and deflected easily.

"Shes gonna get herself killed." Vincent said wide eyed.

"Fuck this we gotta help her!" I said as I began to make my way through the fire and wreckage. "Just last a little longer Artemis." I thought to myself.

Our lucks weren't very good as not a few seconds afterwards Artemis' sword was shattered and she was immediately ran through with a dark blade. I froze in my tracks as I watched her blood trickle off the blade and fall into a pool on the floor as she was held in place while the dark haired doppelganger whispered something in her ear. However Artemis had one last bold move in her as she grabbed the sword hilt and drew her handgun, the doppelganger let go of her sword and lept back into the flames evading Artemis' shots as she began to walk towards the helicopter with a sword still through her. I ran up to her and grabbed her and began to drag her back to the helo, Vincent ran to us and helped lay her down in our ride as Caren began to take off. I took the sword out of Artemis' gut and began to treat the stab wound as best I could but I couldn't stop the bleeding no matter as blood began to soak through the knees of my pants.

"Come on hang in there!"

However Artemis' fortune didn't favor her as I watched the life drain from her eyes. Vincent checked for her pulse twice and only lowered his head in silence.

"FUCKING DAMMIT, GOD, FUCK!!!!!!!" I screamed as I punched the door leaving a good dent in it.

"Hey you'll bring this whole thing down!" Vincent yelled at me an obvious lump in his throat.

"I know just... Fuck man."

I looked over to Artemis again whose ice blue eyes had dulled into a steel color. Something out of place happened as her cat ears and tail began to recede back into her.

"What the hell hey Vinc-" was all I got out before the helicopter shook violently and began to spin and fall.

"We've been hit, were going down!" Caren yelled from the cockpit.

I tried to grab a hold of Artemis but she slid away from me right before we crash landed. I blacked out for the initial crash but I woke disoriented after Vincent shook me, I saw Caren try to stop the blood that was cascading down her face. I looked around  and saw the helo had been torn in half and fire was flowing through the crash site. I got up looking for Artemis when I remembered she slid to the other half of the helo along with the sword. I found the other half pretty much torn to shreds and I had to rummage through the wreckage a bit before I found the sword and Artemis afterwards. Artemis's hair was caught on a piece of the wreckage that had dug deep into the ground so I took the sword and cut it off leaving her with short hair now. After I did that I noticed her face and arms were slashed up pretty damn good.

"Damn..." I muttered.

I hoisted her up and saw Vincent had grabbed the sword.

"Come on were actually not to far from a safe house." Caren assured us.

We began to follow Caren and I felt something faint but it gave me hope.

A heartbeat.