Tales of the Broken: Roses in the Wind

Chapter Eight: Regret

     Vika forced her way past the crowds on the streets, granting her evil looks and yells of anger. But Vika didn't care. She had to get to the subway, and tell Ashnir about Rose. Even though she had left the subway, he'd be willing to help. At least, that was the hope. Runetooth bounded behind Vika, following in her footsteps. As Vika continued to run, she smelled the faint scent of smoke. When Vika glanced into the sky, a pillar of smoke covered the dim moon. Vika shook her head and continued her path. She couldn't delay any longer than necessary.

When Vika arrived at the subway, the smoke's aroma was burning in her nostrils. The entrance to the subway was blown open, and smoke billowed from the open cavity. Vika's eyes widened when she saw the scene. She rushed inside, seeing the glow of flames flooding the floor and licking at the walls and ceiling. Vika spotted Ashnir laying against a wall, axe in one hand and the other hand gripped his stomach. Vika ran to him, putting her hand on his shoulder.

Ashnir glanced up at her and coughed up some blood. Ashnir tried getting up, but only succeeded in putting himself in more pain.

"Vika..." he choked out, his voice raspy, "you've got to help them..."

Vika shook her head, "What happened?"

Ashnir looked down at the floor, "Some dragoons and a man blew the door open and razed the place. That damn dragoon was bigger than anything I've ever seen, heard, or read about. I... I tried to stop them. I-I tried to protect them. But I was just stabbed in the gut and tossed aside."

Vika grit her teeth, "And what of the others?"

Ashnir shook his head, "Gone... they... took them. They took them to the docks."

Vika started to get up, but Ashnir gripped her sleeve. Vika turned back around and kneeled next to him.

Ashnir took his axe and shoved it into Vika's chest, "You've... gotta call... Stonewall. You... can't... do it... alone." He said, taking shaky breaths in between words.

Vika nodded, Ashnir whispered to her once again, "Take the radio from my room... call... Stone... wall... save... them."

Vika grimly nodded, Ashnir's hand fell from his axe to the ground. His eyes were wide open when he died, and his mouth hung agape. Vika lowered his body onto the floor. She held out her middle and pointed finger and kissed them. Vika took her two fingers and used them to close his eyes. Vika then took her hand and closed his jaw,

"Durme ben. Sono eterno." Vika whispered. Vika stood back up and rushed to Ashnir's room. On his desk lay a radio, Vika picked it up and pressed the switch to talk, and made her first contact with Stonewall,

"Is anyone there?" Vika said, the radio responded with static for a good while, and Vika was ready to give up when a deep, gravely voice came over the comms,

"Who the hell is this and how'd you get this signal?"

Vika responded, "I retrieved a radio off of a desk in the subway. It's been raided and demolished."

Stonewall gave a grunt, "Hmpf. I only allow one person in the entire thread know that I'm still kicking without killing them. And you're not him. So give me one good reason why I shouldn't hunt you down and blow your head off."

Vika's grip on the radio tightened, "Because I'm one of Ashnir's."

Stonewall laughed, "Hardly a good reason."

Vika grit her teeth again, "Ashnir was killed in the raid in an attempt to protect the children."

Stonewall's laughter was cut off.

"The entire subway has been reduced to ashes, and all the children have been taken captive by the dragoon that did this, and the children are being held at the docks."

A loud crash came from the other side of the comm channel, it sounded like Stonewall flipped a table, "You had me when you mentioned Ashnir's untimely demise. You had me hooked when you said the children were taken captive. But now that dragoons are involved... I have a vendetta. Meet me at the cliffs overlooking the docks tonight. If you're not there I'll hunt you down and kill you for learning of my existence. Understood?"

Vika nodded, even though Stonewall couldn't see it, "I wouldn't have it any other way."