When Angels Fall

Chapter 2

The man grins. His mouth seems to stretch too widely, but I'm more worried about the gun that's less than three feet from my face. His finger clenches around the trigger, and I squeeze my eyes shut.

I hear two gunshots go off, followed by the rest of the patrons screaming. But I'm still alive. I open my eyes to see that Kuzo has leapt between the man and I. He now slumps back against the table, blood flowing freely from two bullet holes in his chest. But he's not dying.

With a yell, Kuzo launches himself at the shooter, tackling him to the ground and knocking the gun from his hand. It skitters across the floor, disappearing under another table. I watch, in shock, as Kuzo yanks a dagger from his boot and drives it into the man's skull. The man gives a final hiss, then falls limp. His eyes are still wide open, his mouth curled into an ugly smirk.

I can barely breathe, staring in stunned silence as Kuzo calmly stands, pulling the dagger out of the dead man's skull. He grabs a napkin from the table beside him and wipes his knife off, then sticks it back into his boot. He then turns back to me. He must be in pain. He's still bleeding heavily. How is he not dead?

"We need to go." he says softly, gently grabbing my arm and pulling me from my seat. The customers who were in here have all run outside, and I doubt they know that the shooter is dead.

I can't really resist Kuzo, so terrified that my hands are shaking. I feel like every step will be my last, and that I'll pass out. Or die from a heart attack. But Kuzo wraps his arm around me, holding me against his side and keeping me steady as he slowly walks me out of the building.

Once we get outside, I take deep breaths of the cool air, trying and failing to fill my lungs and relax. The gunshots have drawn attention, and people are crowding around to stare in the windows. They don't seem to realize that Kuzo is injured.

He walks me over to an empty bench away from the crowd and sets me down gently. I wrap my arms around myself for comfort. I can't believe what just happened.

"You should be dead." I stammer, looking up at Kuzo with wide eyes. His previously playful demeanor has all but disappeared, leaving behind an almost military sense of severity. He's watching me closely, his stance ramrod straight and proud.

"But I'm not dead." Kuzo replies, as if it's obvious, which it is. "I'm giving you ten seconds to rest and gather your thoughts, and then we need to move."

Move? Move to where? I'm in shock, someone just tried to kill me! But I stay silent and take deep, shaky breaths. "Do you need to go to the hospital?" I ask. Kuzo shakes his head.

"I'll be fine." Fine? Impossible. I can't believe he's still standing.

Ten seconds seems like nowhere near enough time, but apparently that's all I get. Kuzo takes my arm again and carefully pulls me to my feet, then wraps an arm around my shoulder and starts walking. I don't like the way he's looking at everyone, his eyes restless like he expects anyone to suddenly attack him. Or me.

Mr Montgomery, a sweet elderly man who sells flowers on the street corner, gives me a smile, then frowns with worry. Before I can ask him to call the police or something, Kuzo pulls me with him across the street. I don't struggle. Kuzo took two shots in the chest for me, and, if I'm to believe him, he's now trying to keep me safe.

We continue walking, people glancing at us and giving us strange looks. It's no wonder: I'm pale as a ghost and Kuzo's bleeding.

I have no idea where we're going, but Kuzo does. We pass a lot of familiar landscapes, but soon we're on the other side of town, the side I'm less familiar with. The streets are dirtier, the houses run down and falling apart. I hear and feel Kuzo let out a soft grunt of pain, and I look over to see that his jaw is clenched, the muscles in his neck straining. But he doesn't say a word.

Another minute or so, and I'm the one supporting him. His steps have started to falter, so I wrap his arm across my shoulder and help him. He shakes his head. "No. I'm fine."

"You're obviously not fine, you've been shot." I retort. Kuzo falls silent, letting me partially carry him. A few moments later, and we arrive at a tumble-down brick church. It's probably only big enough to hold a school bus, and it looks like it hasn't been used in years.

"Are you sure this is where we need to be?" I ask, worried that Kuzo is confused. But he simply nods and shoulders the door open. I follow. What choice do I have?

Kuzo forces himself to walk down the center aisle, toward a heavy stone alter on the small stage. He climbs the stage, tripping and almost falling, but he manages to catch himself.

"Shouldn't we go to the hospital?" I ask, standing back and watching in confusion. Kuzo doesn't reply as he braces himself against the alter. With a huge shove, he manages to push it away by a few feet. The stone grinds loudly against the wooden floor, making my ears ring.

Beneath the alter is an opening, a ladder descending into darkness. The alter is hinged so that it swivels away. So that's why it was easily moved, I think.

Kuzo rests against the alter and grabs a flashlight from on top. He holds it out to me. "Do you want to go first, or do you want me to?" I find it incredible that he can form complete sentences.

I don't answer, looking between Kuzo and the pit at our feet. He takes my silence as a sign to continue, so he flicks the flashlight on and shines the beam into the tunnel. Then he clamps it between his teeth and starts down, moving slowly.

I don't follow right away. I could easily leave the church now, run. He'd be too injured to follow. But I can't. Even if he is insane, he needs help. So I take a deep breath, then steel myself and climb down after him.