Downfall [Punk Niall Horan]

16

This was going too well.

We moved swiftly through the barren streets, barely even a a sound escaping from any of us. It was almost as if everyone abandoned the city and left it an empty shell, hollow and cold. Clinks of guns hitting our backs sounded very mutely every now and then, and our light footfalls thudded beneath us quietly.

Other than that it seemed like we were the only ones left in the city. Cam, Bea, and Luke were jogging briskly in the front of the group. Calum and Ashton fell behind them, matching their steps evenly. Then there was me and Niall at a steady walk behind them all.

I was surprised I wasn't heavily breathing at this point because I was not the athletic type at all. I think the cause for this though was because I was scared to even make a noise to alert people of our presence. Knowing me, I would be the unequipped person that got us caught.

Niall had his gun outstretched, awaiting any threat that came from the shadows. In all honesty I didn't know if something bad was going to happen tonight, but I'd like to believe that we would get out of this unscathed. My eyes flitted towards Niall, taking in his tense body.

He was ready for anything it seemed, but who could be completely ready for anything on this spontaneous earth? The road flew beneath us as we traveled to the grocery store I assumed, or the city market.

Other than my days with Val, I really didn't go into the city at all. Chefs went out to get the food and then came back to cook it. Staff members ran errands for us. Besides a few lunches and dinners with officials, I never ate in the city.

So I never really got to explore all the stores in the city, much less the city itself. Though I never really cared much for this place because I always wanted to travel. Nevertheless, Val and I did all we could with the time we had, but it was never enough.

Well, doesn't matter now, I thought.

Shivering, I caught back up with Niall. I guess being lost in my mind made me fall behind a few steps. To be honest I was scared, even with a bunch of ruthless Gang members by my side. What if push came to shove and they would kill me to get at my Dad? They probably wouldn't lose a drop of sleep at night. Maybe one person would at least-

My thoughts were derailed as I hit the ground harshly. Pain spilt through my head and I was momentarily blind from the sudden impact. Blood started to roll down the side of my face, slicking my sweaty skin.

Growls sounded from above me and my blood froze, recognizing that horrible noise. A mutant human was on top of me yet again, but in the slight glow of the city light I could see more of its features now.

Red veins crisscrossed in her eyes, black almost overtaking them. Deep blue, almost black, veins ran underneath her skin that looked as white and see through as paper. Saliva dripped from her mouth in a long line and down onto my face.

All the while, I struggled to grab the weapon stationed in my waistband of my pants. Strangled screams ripped from my throat and I wondered just how far I had fallen behind my group in that time that I was thinking. Shouldn't Niall be right beside me?

What was left of the woman's hair was matted with blood and grime on top of her head and stuck out at odd angles. There was a lot of strong women in the world, but none should be this strong ever. Not even if they're a body builder. This strength was unnatural, inhuman. "Get off me," I gritted, trying with my best effort to push her off. Still my fumbling hand couldn't reach the gun in my jeans as I sputtered underneath the shifting weight.

A gunshot rang through the air, and her body crumpled to a lifeless heap ontop of me. Black blood oozed from her chest and onto my white shirt. Screaming, I shoved her off me as I got a horrible sense of deja vu. This literally happened just about a week ago. Why, why me?