Forgotten Paradise by Average Canadian

Chapter 11: Just a fragment of Before

Bolting passed cars and closing stores, Percy pushed passed late night goers. A taxi screeched to a stop forcing Percy to slide over the hot hood. He passed under streetlights flashing above him as his heart thudded in his chest painfully.

He was a fool to leave Rachel by herself. A bloody fool.

He cursed himself at his utter stupidity.

Finally he reached the building and weaved through some people to slip through the doors. Swiping the keycard several times he hoped that it would make the elevator hurry up.

The doors slid open achingly slow and Percy was out as soon as he could fit through. Rachel was still sitting on the grey couch looking over her sketch book.

The redhead looked up at him and immediately scowled. "I thought I told you to get out!"

Percy put a finger to his lips and tried to convey the urgency through his eyes.

Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump.

His heart started to slow down but the adrenaline was still fresh making everything in vivid HD. Percy steadily pointed to the balcony.

Rachel froze and turned to look out over her shoulder. Through the floor to ceiling windows the pool was still, the plants undisturbed and the night quiet.

Percy stealthily slunk over to the other side of the room and press himself up against wall beside the balcony door.

'act natural' he mouthed to Rachel. She trembled slightly in tension and returned to looking at her sketch pad.

Percy took a chance and slipped a look of the side of the balcony you couldn't see from the window. A figure in black was detaching his rope. That was the only glimpse he got, but it was enough.

Letting out a tense sigh, he rolled his shoulders and got ready for ambushing the attacker.

A silhouette peered into the room, only a shadow could be seen. It was tentative and brief but still had a leopard like movement to it.

The intruder gently, silently pushed open the screen door. His eyes set on Rachel, determined for blood, he stepped into the room.

It only took Percy a second to break down what he was up against.

Around 6'5, large muscular shoulders but thinner legs in comparison which was a potential weakness. A face covered by a ski mask which was probably limiting his hearing, vision and breathing. As suspected a thick bullet proof vest was tight against his body giving Percy the advantage of agility. A small pistol shoved in it's holster beside the straight sheath of a concealable dagger.

Best mode of takedown: Surprise attack.

Percy catapulted himself down and slammed the guy in the legs. The sound of bodies hitting and tumbling to hardwood floor shattered the frail silence like a bomb. In the background Rachel shrieked piercingly and darted up the stairs, disappearing into her room. Rolling off him, Percy attacked again.

It was like a dance.

Roll, dive, punch, dodge.

A very violent un-practiced dance.

He twisted and flipped Percy off him. A forceful punch was aimed but Percy side stepped and grabbed his opponents outstretched arm, judo flipping him. The floor shivered with the impact as the man was visibly winded. Sluggishly, the intruder rolled back onto his feet but Percy was quicker and delivered a palm heel strike to the chest sending the man flailing to the ground.

The intruder reached for his pistol, a silencer elongated the canister. A silent shot was fired and Percy barrel rolled behind a sofa feeling the wake of a breeze the bullet left. His back was pressed to the pale grey sofa letting him feel the waves of blood stringing through his body.