Hell's Angel: Devil's Backbone (BK 2)

Phantom Hope

Dani's POV
(Nightwing27th)

I see Frank laying on the ground with Alison next to him. All I can think is that I hope he's not really dead. That wasn't supposed to happen. He was supposed to take the drug and we make it look like he's dead. He was never supposed to actually get hurt, to actually might be dead.

I slice the throat of the ninja I was fighting, now enraged and spite to get this over with. Mack and Daisy should be arriving at any minute. With any luck we won't need their help after all. I pushed the ninjas body away and then planted my foot into the stomach of another. He stumbled back giving me a chance to attack another one.

I'm surrounded. Fight four ninjas at once. I kicked and I punched, but none of it seemed to be working. It just seemed like, now, I was on defense. I ripped the sword out of one's hand, jamming the pommel into his face and then driving the sword straight forward into the next ninja. But for every one I killed, it seemed another took it's place.

I yanked my sword out and spun. I swung the sword at a ninja, preparing to decapitate it. But he ducked, moving so fast I didn't have time to react. He'd ducked and then drove his sword up. It pierced my suit and went into my flesh. I felt it enter the left side of my abdomen and then come out the other side near the base of my shoulder blade.

I merely sucked in a breath. It's hard to describe the pain I felt. It did hurt but not as you'd imagine. My hand instinctively grabbed the handle of the sword. Time slowed as I looked down at the blade still in me. I looked up at the owner of it, just as I felt another force against me, this one from behind.

I looked down and saw the front half of another sword going through me, dripping with my blood. This one went through the right side and came out on the front just beneath my bra line. All the air had left me and I felt my body try to go into panic mode, warning me of the danger my body was in. But there was nothing I could do to stop this.

My bow fell from my hand. The sound of it clattering to the ground sounded muffled, distant. The sword going through the front of me was pulled out. I sucked in a breath, wanting to scream and not knowing how to tell my body to. Blood droplets splattered the ground as the ninja stepped back.

A foot was put on my back as the sword behind me was yanked out. A muffled cry escaped me as I was pushed toward the ground. I hit the pavement, completely limp to stop myself. I closed my eyes and tried to control my breathing. This is it. I'm dying. I'm dead, there's no coming back from this. I'm going to die, and a stupid ninja is the cause. Figures.

I opened my eyes, feeling someone's touch. I was rolled onto my back, pain coursing through me. I closed my eyes, grinding my teeth against it. I felt an arm around the back of my head. I opened my eyes and found Matt. I looked him over, his cuts. He looked tired and worn. But concern was the thing screaming from every pore he had.

"Dani," he sighed with regret.

"I guess...history's going to repeat itself...until it gets it right," I said.

"No. No, this is not like last time."

"You're right. Last time...I didn't know...your name," it felt like my throat was constricting and my lungs felt heavier. "I didn't...know you. Last time...I didn't care about dying. I didn't want you...you to hear my heart stop." He huffed, trying to rein in his emotions. But he wasn't going to be able to stop the tears. "I love you...too much for that."

It was starting to get harder to breathe. I coughed, tasting blood in my mouth. "But...at least I'll die with you...in your arms."

"No, shhh. You're not gonna die, okay?" he said. And I wish it were true. I wish I had time to make things right. To say more. I closed my eyes, feeling them burn with tears. I am going to die. And he knows it. And he knows that I know that he knows it. I opened my eyes, a tear rolling down my cheek.