The Things We Want

CHAPTER 7 "SURPRISE"

The next morning Ava laid curled up in Eugene's arms, both of them sound asleep. Light seeped through the curtains, slowly creeping up and reaching Eugene's eyes. He squirmed slightly, squinting in the sunlight. Ava, still out cold made a content little sound, adjusting slightly.

"EUGENE!" A yell came from the other room.

"Ten more minutes?" Eugene sighed.

CRASH.

A scream followed.

"Jared?" Eugene gently moved away from Ava, then rushed to the doctor's door.

"NO. D-don't... Ava!" Jared yelled through the door. Eugene spun around just in time to see the front door swing open. The lock was broken and two men in black stood in the doorway.

"Why now!" Eugene muttered under his breath as he threw up his fists, blocking a punch. The other went for Ava but Eugene stuck out his foot and tripped him. A fist smacked into Eugene hard, knocking him back. He recovered quickly, tackling the first man he came into contact with.

That's when he heard a blade slip out of its hilt. He shoved the man again into the floor and stood quickly, taking the wrist with the hand holding a small dagger and twisting it up. The man cried out in pain as the other picked himself up off the ground.

"You guys don't give up, do you?" Eugene huffed, throwing another punch causing the man to drop the blade. Eugene grabbed the man's collar and turned to see the other man towering over Ava, holding a blade himself.

"Stop," he threatened. Eugene released the man's collar, and the man shoved him to his knees, "We have this physician's home surrounded. Make a move, she gets hurt. You understand me?"

"Crystal clear," Eugene put up his hands, "What do you want?" He said as another man wearing black dragged Jared into the room, barely conscious.

"The king's riches, power? Our leader was banished from this place a long time ago, but he plans to come back with revenge and strategy. Taking the form of kidnappings, deaths, hostages... you get the picture," the man finished, twirling his knife. Ava squirmed uncomfortably, her eyes finally opening but still clouded in a medicated haze. The haze was mostly replaced by fear and adrenaline when she saw the knife dangling above her.

"The princess was already gravely injured by your people... surely this is not necessary," Eugene commented, motioning to Ava and Jared.

"Actually it is truly important, for when the king arrives to retrieve his lovely daughter, we'll be ready for him, and your actions will decide what he finds," he threatened again, kneeling beside her now shaking body.

"E-Eugene?" She whimpered quietly, her eyes wide.

The man laughed, the other putting his dagger to Eugene's throat as he pressed down on Ava's wound. She cried out, frantically trying to push the man away but the pain was overbearing.

"STOP! You said you wouldn't hurt her! She didn't do anything to you!" Eugene yelled, his blood boiling. Ava fought to stay conscious and with her wound open and bleeding it made it difficult.

"You- you'll kill her if you do this..." Jared spoke up, "If you want any negotiation or cooperation or conversation with the King that you've had with us? This isn't the way to go," he said cockily, his head hanging low.

"Well then, what do you suggest hmm?" The man commented, stepping closer to Jared.

"Allow Eugene to apply pressure to her wound. She will bleed out otherwise," Jared said. Eugene didn't quite understand what was going on but he knew the beginnings of a plan were being made in his head. The man looked skeptical, but he told them to bring Eugene closer.