Borderlines

Chapter Forty-One

Everyone pulled to a stop as Claus held up his hand. They were in the hall that led to the throne room.
"Now I expect this place to be heavily guarded. You're going to have to a keep a sharp eye out and do whatever you can to get into that room. If we get split up, keep going. I'll see you guys when all of this is over." He said with grim determination. Fawn looked at Travis, for once she could actually see his uneasiness showing. Claus peeked around the corner.
"It's as I expected, get your weapons ready." Fawn pulled her gun out. They were so close to ending this. Claus charged out and began firing. Everyone followed and shots began to volley all over the place. Fawn stayed positioned around the corner, while everyone took places of cover. There were over a dozen guards and Fawn was worried until she saw that the group was pinned in the hall by another rebel group. The Black Ivy soldiers were surrounded and they weren't about to go down without a fight. Fawn choked down her fear and began firing. Travis was across from her, unloading who knows how many bullets on the soldiers. Sean was beside him, they kept shifting. One fired while one reloaded. It didn't take long for Claus's group to begin overtaking the group. Fawn heard the sound of pounding footsteps behind her and turned. A group of Black Ivy soldiers were headed right toward her, reinforcements. The leader signaled them to stop suddenly. Fawn watched as the mysterious leader took off their helmet. Beach blonde hair and cherry red lips smirked at her.
"She's mine boys, go help out the others." Ruth dismissed her group. The soldiers ran by Fawn, a few bumping into her. Fawn didn't have much time to call out to her friends, but sudden shouting told her they had spotted the advancing group. Ruth kept her gun in it's holder.
"Well isn't this just beautiful." She laughed. Fawn tightened her grip on her pistol.
"Leave me alone." She said defensively. Ruth quirked an eyebrow.
"You're shaking dearie, I doubt you have the guts to shoot me." She smiled devilishly. Ruth took in a deep breath, "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this. Do you know I was actually afraid of losing Garth to you there for a little bit?" She chuckled,"But now, with you gone, all have his full attention and love." Fawn stayed tense.
"Garth is a madman, he's incapable of loving. He's an animal." She said sternly. Did Ruth really think he cared about her that much? Hadn't she seen how careless he was, the overseer could change personalities like a light switch. Ruth features hardened.
"You're a liar. I know him better than you." Fawn heard a crash behind her and it caught her attention for a second. A second was all Ruth needed. Fawn was flung back and her gun went flying out of her hand. Ruth charged her, a knife unsheathed. Fawn rolled away as the girl aimed a stab, just missing the blow. Ruth whirled around.
"I want to watch you bleed and I want to watch you suffer." The girl hissed, spit flew out of her mouth. Fawn reached for her gun, but Ruth kicked it away, tackling her. Fawn was flattened onto her back and Ruth straddled her body, raising the knife. On instinct, Fawn grabbed the girl's wrist, grunting with the effort of keeping the knife away from her face. With the other hand, her fingers inched along the floor, knowing her gun was close to her. Ruth was pushing hard with the knife, her face twisting in anger.
"You are nothing!" She growled, shoving the knife closer to Fawn's shoulder. Fawn knew she wasn't going to able to hold the knife up for too long and when Ruth lunged again, she hit her target. Fawn shrieked in pain when the knife caught top of her shoulder. It didn't stick all the way in and Ruth pulled it out with a victorious smile.
"Ahhh!" Fawn groaned, rolling with pain underneath the girl. Ruth leaned close to her face.
"You're nothing but a useless wretch." The girl smiled and raised the knife again. Fawn's hand closed around the handle of her pistol.
"That's where you're wrong." She said and swung the gun up, hitting Ruth in the temple. Ruth fell off of her and Fawn jumped up. Ruth was already on her feet and she lunged with her knife aimed high. Fawn dodged her weapon, the point of her gun pushed into the girl's abdomen. She pulled the trigger. Ruth's charge halted and she made a sort of choking sound. Fawn closed her eyes, feeling something warm run onto her hand. She stepped back. Ruth stood there with her mouth opened in a silent gasp. Fawn swallowed as the girl looked at the gap in her stomach and tried to babble something. Blood was coming out of her mouth. Fawn quickly unzipped a pocket in her vest, pulling out one of the shots Claus had given them. She plunged the needle into Ruth's arm and the girl collapsed. Fawn sighed, at least she could die in her sleep, instead of watching Fawn with wide eyes. Wincing, Fawn placed a hand on the knife piercing in her shoulder. It was bleeding decently. She limped back toward the corner, noting that the gunfire had seemed to slow. It was clear that the Black Ivy had almost been completely picked off. Her earpiece lit up.
"Fawn, where are you?" Travis's upset voice rang through the earpiece.
"Around the corner." She said and poked her head out. Travis was just outside the throne room door. He looked at her while Sean fired.
"What happened?" He asked. Fawn pressed the earpiece.
"Ruth showed up and wanted a personal fight." Fawn watched his brow furrow.
"Are you okay?" Fawn tried to peek at her shoulder, it burned with pain.
"I could be worse." She said with a grunt. He took a step forward, but Fawn saw that Sean was signaling him to run into the throne room.
"No. I'll be fine. You go." She said firmly. Travis looked torn.
"But you're hurt!" He exclaimed. Fawn smiled softly.
"I'll live. You have the chance to end all this, do it." She looked deep into his green eyes.
"I love you." She said in a soft voice. Travis blinked.
"I love you too." He said, his voice cracking. She watched him slowly back peddle and then run through the throne room door. Fawn's back pressed against the wall.
"Please come back to me." She whispered aloud.