Mirror Image (Under MAJOR editing)

Chapter 30

Marley gripped Nan's hand in hers as she tried to help herself up. "Nan, I need to tell you something..."

Don't you dare Marley. Don't say it.

"Yeah Marley?" Nan wrapped her arm around Marley's waist to keep her up as they started moving through the alleys of London.

"If I don't make it, keep going. Don't look back and keep going." Marley looked at Nan's shocked face.

"No. We are in this together. You understand? I will not leave you." Nan looked ahead and kept walking with a quick pace.

Marley slowed down again. "Wait. One more thing." Marley paused and composed herself. "Thank you... for saving me in there."

Nan nodded. "Don't mention it. You would have done the same thing for me."

Would you Marley? Would you have stayed behind and saved her?

Marley pushed those thoughts out of her mind and focused on getting to their destination.

The yells of their pursuers echoed off the brick walls as they were getting closer. Nan and Marley worked in unison to get each other to safety.

Marley knew she was holding Nan back. "Leave me Nan. I'll be..."

"Dead." Nan looked at Marley. "You'll be dead if you get caught. Stop being naïve and keep moving. I already told you we are a team so start thinking like it." Nan pulled Marley forward, focused on surviving this night.

Marley started walking faster, adrenaline pushing her forward. "It's just up here. Just two more blocks." Marley went to look at Nan when something hit her hard in the back, sending her to the ground.

Marley groaned, trying to roll onto her back. "Nan..." Marley's vision was blurry as she vaguely heard shouting from behind her. As her vision focused, she saw Nan pinned on the ground by a huge guy. Marley recognized him as the same kid that roughed her up a bit when she was getting questioned by Moriarty. Marley slowly got up and moved her way towards him. He had his hands around Nan's throat, crushing her windpipe.

"Stop!" Nan gasped out, digging her nails into his hands. Nan started passing out when Marley lunged at him and knocked him off Nan. Nan rolled onto her knees, sucking in air as Marley landed with a thud on her back. Her air was knocked out of her which gave the boy enough time to get on top of her. Marley yelled in pain as he put his weight on her torso, applying pressure to her broken ribs and punctured lung. The stab wounds sent intense pain through her as she tried to fight his grasp on her.

Marley. The knife! Picasso's knife!

Marley remembered she had the knife that was lodged into the tree when he threw it. She struggled to get her hand near her belt and pulled the dagger out. She looked up at the boy who was smirking. "You should have listened to me when you had the chance. Don't mess with me." Marley then thrust the dagger into his chest and pulled out, causing him gasp out and hold where the dagger was. He fell on top of her, crushing her collarbone.

Marley slowly started pulling herself from under him when her arms were grabbed and she was pulled out from underneath him. Marley fought against the man as she was pulled onto her feet and thrown against the wall. She was pinned against the wall, the darkness shielding her attacker's identity. Marley raised her arm up with the dagger and went to stab him when she heard chuckling.

"My dear Marley, trying to kill me with my own dagger? Thank you for bringing it back to me." The dagger was easily yanked out of her grip. Marley stared blankly into the darkness when she saw a flash of metal go across her vision as the tip of the knife sliced into her cheek. Marley yelped, holding her face. "I'm truly surprised you haven't bled out yet. I always knew you were a strong girl." Picasso quickly punched Marley in the stomach were the stab wound was, sending Marley to the ground. "But don't worry. We have the best medic in London back at the Facility. She will be more than willing to fix you up again."

Marley's heart skipped a beat. "Nan..."

Picasso's icy laugh filled the ally. "Oh yes. She's coming back." He picked up Marley and pressed her against the wall, hitting her in the face and dropping her. Marley laid on the ground, seeing Nan get pulled down the ally, back to where they had just escaped.

"Nan!" Marley tried to get up but Picasso kicked her in the stomach which caused her to cough up blood.

"Marley!" Nan screamed out as she kicked against the three men pulling her away. She was fighting like a bat out of Hell but nothing could get her out of those men's grasp.

Marley gripped the ground and pulled herself away from Picasso but he just grabbed her ankle and pulled her back. Marley threw punches but her wrists were caught by Picasso and pressed against the ground.

Marley was shaking as she looked into Picasso's eyes. "You know I have to bring you back alive. Moriarty is furious with you. I haven't seen him this mad... ever." Picasso leaned close to her ear. "But he never gave me a time to be back. We could have a little fun, don't you think?"

Marley tried to pull her hands away but Picasso easily held her there. She shook her head, trying to keep herself from crying.

Please please please don't let this happen! I can't stand any more.

"And you never know. You could have bled out already when we found you. You only have minutes left anyways." Picasso gently ran a hand down Marley's face.

Marley clenched her teeth and looked away.

"Look at me love. I want to look at you when I do this." Picasso chuckled until Marley thrust her knee forward, landing it in his crotch. Picasso doubled over, falling off Marley.

She scrambled up and started stumbling towards the main street as she heard Picasso curse behind her.

"Marley! You are going to pay for that!" Marley let out a sob in panic as she tried to run faster. It was no use though as she was brought down. Marley tried to scream but Picasso had wrapped his hands around her throat. He picked her up and slammed her into the wall. She couldn't breath and desperately tried to pry his hands from her throat. He punched her in the face, sending her to the ground. Kick after kick was landed perfectly, extracting short cries in pain. The blows were coming from everywhere. She couldn't protect herself; she couldn't save herself. Picasso mounted her and wrapped his hands around her fragile throat. Blood dripped out of her mouth and she knew she had internal bleeding. She was running out of time and blood.

"You."

Picasso stopped and looked up to where the voice came from. Picasso chuckled and looked down at Marley. "Looks like your guardian angel has arrived. Too bad Nan doesn't have one. I'll see you later Marley and we will continue where we left off." Picasso then turned and ran down the ally and into the rainy night.

Marley looked towards the main street and saw a blurry outline of a tall figure in a knee length coat as lightning struck. Marley couldn't stay conscious as she let her head fall to the ground and surround herself in empty darkness.