The Black Knight (A Mercury Black Story: Part I)

Chapter 12

              We hurried to the house, trying to save Mercury in time. He's lost a lot of blood, and time was running short for all of us. Marcus and I laid Mercury on the kitchen table; his steady breathing and firm grasp hand giving me hope that he was going to make it out of this alive. I watched as Marcus pulled out some tools from the cabinet drawer that we never use. Now I know why, because it was when Marcus was working on somebody that he ever used that cabinet.
            "Zuri, I want you to go in my room and grab a box from my closet. Don't look in the box, but bring it here, then go into your room. I'm going to put Mercury under so he doesn't feel any pain, but I need that box."
            "Okay," I said getting up and rushing to Marcus' room. I looked in the closet, finding a tall cardboard box; I lifted it carefully and brought it out to the kitchen, where Marcus officially had Mercury under. I set the box on the counter top, and looked at Marcus.
            "Good girl, now go to your room. I'll be done with him in a bit, but go and pack your things. You'll be leaving for Haven tomorrow. I'm sorry Zuri, but you can't stay here any longer."
            "But Marcus-"
            "I said 'now', Zuri!" he shouted as I nodded and rushed to my room. I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor. I struggled to keep my tears in as I stood up, walking slowly to my closet, picking up an old backpack that Mercury used to use on missions, and stuffing clothes and Dust in the bag for Haven. Why it's just me going to the school makes me wonder, but I understand that if I stay longer, Mercury is in greater danger of being killed. I finished packing as I lay down on my bed, waiting for Marcus to actually let me see Mercury.
            I stayed in my room for what felt like hours until Marcus finally opened my door, smiling. I stood up quickly, waiting impatiently for what he was going to say.
            "Well? Is he okay?"
            "He's alright, but he's... well..."
            "What? He's what?" I shouted, getting nervous.
            "Well, come see for yourself," Marcus sighed as I followed him to the kitchen. I looked on the table to find Mercury, still passed out from the amnestic, but instead of his normal human legs being there, there were two mechanical legs attached to him with bloody bandages holding them until they fully heal. Shocked, I went over to him and touched his arm, knowing that once he woke up, he was probably going to be a whole different person. "He's alright, but should be one hundred percent by tonight. He's going to be hurting mentally for a while though."
            "Then why send me away? Why not let me stay and help him while he's like this?"
            "Zuri, you know I can't let you do that. But, you can look after him right now; I'm going to go out for a few hours. I should be back by ten at the latest."
            "Marcus, wait-" I tried to say before he slammed the door on me, walking down the path to the city. I sighed and looked back at my friend, who was now starting to come too.
            "Mercury?" I said rushing to his side as he tried to sit up. He rubbed his forehead before trying to speak.
            "Z-Zuri? Where am I?" he asked as he looked at me, "Why do my legs hurt so badly?"
            "Mercury, you were thrown against the tree by a Beowolf, and broke your other leg so badly that you had to get surgery... and well, the surgery went well..."
            "Where are my legs?" Mercury said astonished as he looked at his legs, "Where are my legs?"
            "Mercury..." I said as I looked at him.
            "He did this didn't he? My dad did this, didn't he?" he raged, his grey eyes filling with fire. I nodded slowly as he leaned back on the table, his mind running a mile a minute. "Why? Why did he do this?"
            "You were dying!" I said, standing up diligently, "You would of died if your dad had nt given you those legs!"
            "Damn... where is he now? Where is he Zuri?"
            "He went out; he said he'll be back in a few hours."
            "God... what am I supposed to do with these? What do they even do?"
            "They have gun components in them, and they are basically indestructible. Mercury, you can possibly beat anyone with these now. You'll be a lot stronger than you were before you got these legs. You could possibly be even stronger than your father!"
"Stronger then my dad you say," Mercury sneered, "Well, let's figure that out, shall we?"
"Mercury, what are you doing?" I said as he lifted himself off the table, his legs reacting to touching the ground as he winched a little bit. He smiled wickedly after he finally got used to his legs, turning to me.
"Grab your stuff and meet me outside, Zuri, you're going to be in for one hell of a night."