Maybe (COMPLETED)

Chapter Eleven

A cold hand clamped over my mouth, a woke to a weight pressed on top of me. My eyes flew open, and in the dim light I could just make out Archer's glowing blue eyes giving me a warning look. He looked towards the window, and I heard a faint tapping noise.

"Don't move." he whispered, so quiet I could barely hear him despite our close proximity. He slipped out of the bed covers silently, and I glanced over to see Mekhi and Ash still in bed, still facing the same way they were before. Archer was crouching on the ground, eyes still focused on the window as he reached over and quietly grabbed his bow and slid an arrow from the quiver. He set the arrow carefully in place, and absolutely froze.

I realized the tapping was in some sort of pattern. The same pattern, repeated over and over again.

Tap tap, tap tap tap, tap. Tap tap, tap tap tap, tap.

Over and over again. Archer's eyes narrowed slightly, and he pulled the arrow to his cheek. The tapping didn't stop. His eyes slid over to where Ash and Mekhi were sleeping, and his eyes narrowed practically to slits.

His released the arrow. It flew as fast as a bullet, smashing through the glass, causing the whole window to break. Ash and Mekhi flew awake and onto the floor, Mekhi instantly adopting a fighter's stance again. Ash did the same, but with his fingers splayed open, palms facing away from him. Archer swept up his quiver and hooked it over his shoulder.

"Archer! What is it?" hissed Mekhi.

Archer scowled. "The tapping was annoying me." He drew a sword from a sheath on his side which I hadn't noticed before and chucked it at Mekhi, who caught it with agility. I scrambled behind Archer. "Protect Ash and Isaak." Archer told Mekhi.

It all happened so fast.

Figures leaped in from the window, diving forward with swords already raised. Mekhi launched into action, lunging and parrying with ease. Archer drew arrow after arrow, at record speed.

"Isaak!" Ash grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room. Mekhi somehow managed to dive away and come through the door with us.

"This way!" He gasped. I saw a red darkness blooming through his shirt near his hip.

"What about Archer?" I practically screeched as we sprinted down the hall.

Mekhi lead us into the main area of the Inn. Multiple pairs of eyes looked up at us in an array of suspicion, confusion, surprise and hostility. "He'll be fine." Mekhi's eyes swept over the crowd. He grabbed Ash, who was still holding me, and pulled us through creepy looking people.

Julio was standing in front of the door, his green eyes wary, arms crossed. "Where are you off to?" he questioned. "And in such a hurry. Not in trouble, are we?"

Mekhi growled. "Let us go, if you want to live."

Julio's eyes narrowed. "I don't think so. I know who you are. You guys have a handsome reward on your heads." His arms dropped to the side, fists clenched. His posture stiffened and his scowl deepened. A smash echoed from not far away, footsteps smashing on the ground.

A sharp sound. Something wet splattered on to my face. And arrow protruded from Julio's forehead. A gasp escaped Ash's lips. "Sorry Ash, no time!" Archer shoved past all three of us and smashed the door open. "Follow me!"

We sprinted through the streets of the town. We dived behind some trees in the forest. Ash leaned heavily against a tree and glared at Archer. "Archer, that wasn't necessary!"

"It's not my fault Mekhi wasn't moving his fucking arse!"

"Hey! Don't bring me into your stupid arguments!"

I suddenly heard footsteps. "Guys! Shut up!" I hissed.

We all froze. Mekhi glanced over at me, and I saw his eyes widen. "Isaak!"

An arm wrapped around my chest. I was pulled roughly into another person. "Give me your precious Ash, or this onama will die." said a harsh voice. Something freezing cold touched my neck. A blade. I felt a sharp sting, and something warm dripped down my neck. Blood. My blood.

Ash stepped forward, but Archer grabbed his arms, holding him back. "Don't be an idiot Ash." He raised one palm and muttered a single word. A blue light wound through his fingers, then shot forth, wrapping around the knife on my neck and creeping onto the man's hand. The figure behind me screamed and released me. I fell to the ground, and when I turned, I saw the man was clinging to a tree. He suddenly turned, still clutching his dagger. He threw it.

Pain erupted from my arm. I drew in a gasp. "Isaak!" Screamed Ash. I felt arms lifting me up, and the world blacked out.