Hetalian Protectors

Rebelling Against Fate (Part 2)

The last thing I saw were a pair of booted feet walking out from behind a pile of rubble. I managed to look up and make out a grey hooded figure. My head slumped back into the dirt.

Darkness consumed me.

*****

Scarlett's POV: My back hit something cold as I fell, my head cracking against the floor. I heard a scream, followed by another and another, voices swimming in and out of my barely held consciousness. Figures rushed by in my vision, but they were blurry and out of focus. I tried to raise my hand and someone caught it.

"Ms. Rose?! What's happened to you?" I felt relief wash over me. I was safe. I had somehow landed right in the middle of my house, which was hosting a meeting today. Although now that I think about it... I banished those thoughts, trying to answer the question posed for me.

"The League... rebellion... decoy..." The more I attempted to speak the more my throat closed up and my mouth filled with blood. I felt some trickle down the side of my mouth, mixing with the tears that had leaked from my eyes.

I pushed on though, using up strength, they had to know to keep the countries inside. "There was... a fugitive... created a weapon... tricked us... explosion..." I coughed and felt my lungs spasm in my chest.

"It's okay, you're safe now. Do you know what they were after?" I managed to make out the face above me as one of the secretaries that worked in my office, a young girl no older than twenty-five. She had always been sweet and careful when it came to her work. Now, it was almost as if I was the work she had to deal with. I felt a pang in my heart knowing that seeing me like this would haunt her.

I opened my mouth but no sound came out. I dragged one of my hands up my chest and touched my throat. I tried again and put all my effort into it. "Con...tries..." My eyes slipped shut as I forced myself to focus on breathing, it coming in short bursts now. Seeing that I'd completed my explanation the girl screamed out for a stretcher and I felt my body being lifted. Waves of fresh pain washed over me and I screamed, though all that came out was a hoarse yelp.

"Be careful, we don't yet know how serious her injuries are!" A male voice reached my ears and I felt the gurney rush off, the wheels making it bounce slightly. I felt us turn a corner and several gasps echoed as the stretcher came to a sudden halt. I felt, rather than saw, new people crowd around me. I knew who it was and I braced myself.

"S-Scarlett?" I knew how I must look, holes and scratches all over me, blood dripping from all the wounds, pale skin and blood splattered face. I did just come from a war zone. I didn't want them to see me like this. Concern washed over me, and I wondered why this was only hitting me now. Did all the girls make it out of there?

Opening my eyes, I fought against what to tell them. As my vision came into focus once more my chest tightened even more than it already was. Tears streaked down Kiku's, Mei's, and Jia Long's faces whilst Wang Yao stood pale and stiff behind them. I gave a hallow smile, lifting my shaking hand and placing it against Mei's hair, Jia Long's hand, then Kiku's chest.

"What are... you crying... for...? I'll be... just... fine..." I felt my strength snap and my hand slipped from his chest, hanging limply from the gurney as my eyes closed.

"Scarlett!"

*****

Aridan's POV: I felt myself hit the soft, cold snow as the green haze disappeared from around me. I let my gaze drift over my home and I smiled, a feeling of security blooming within me. I managed to look down at my body and saw two rather large gashes through my middle. Other that that the only wounds I had sustained were small scratches and few bullet holes. Thankfully they were nothing serious.