valentine | the old guard

xiv. freedom fighter

Merrick stares ahead blankly for a moment, trying to comprehend my words.

Eventually, his eyes zero in on Andy and he bends down in front of her, taking a closer look at the wound. "You're a bloody mess." Tension fills the room at his words, my jaw clenching with violent rage. "Now, how old are you?"

Andy inhales deeply then lets out a sigh, her eyes looking up to meet his stare. "Come closer and I'll tell you."

Booker snorts under his breath and I clench my fist, the once-broken bone in my wrist snapping back into place. The noise echoes around the room and startles a few of the soldiers, the muzzles of their guns whipping around to point at my face. Once they see I haven't escaped, they relax. If only they knew the damage I could cause.

Merrick pauses, his eyes still not leaving Andy. He stands up after a minute, straightening his back and clapping once. "Right, let's get them home."

After his order, a flurry of activity is triggered around the room. The armed men he came with all sweep into action - separating into twos or threes and looking to each of us like objects to be moved.

"No! No!" Andy protests. She's fallen onto her side now, unable to get herself back up due to her hands being tied behind her back. Her eyes find mine as I start to fall unconscious. "Valentine, I need you to hang in their for me. Come on, Valley, think of the boys. They need you. I need you." The tone of her voice is verging on pleading now and I do everything I can to follow it, to keep my eyes open. "Stay with me, Valentine!"

"Let them go!" Booker yells, joining in. He's quickly silenced by a punch to the jaw, the force of it turning his face away on impact. I try to see what happens next but more men swarm around him, blocking my view.

Copley stands up from his position beside Andy, fighting to be heard over her yelling. "Get her up."

A man approaches me, trying to pull the sword out from its place in my stomach. When he finds that it's lodged deep into the wall behind me, he calls another man over to help. One of them holds me back by my shoulders as the other tugs hard at the blade. The result is that of me unleashing a scream so loud and feral that I surprise even myself.

"No!" Andy yells from the ground. I can see her kicking at the men's legs as they try to surround her. "Stop it! Stop hurting her!"

She's cut off when a firm hand finds her throat, pinning her down as they bring a metal needle to the side of her neck. The injector hisses and she starts to calm down.

"I'm sorry, Andy," Booker sobs as he kneels over her, the men behind him struggling to hold him in place. Before they can stop it, his head whips around to me - watching as the sword is finally pulled free. I fall back with a tired gasp and my head rolls back against the wall, my eyes finding his. "Valentine, I... please forgive me. I - I didn't know..."

A soldier lurches towards him, holding his neck in position as they bring a syringe up to it. "Hold him still."

I start to scream again, kicking my legs out violently but am stopped as I feel something small and sharp stab me. My gaze lists up to meet the cruel eyes of one of Merrick's armor-clad men.

"Fuck you," I hiss as I feel my vision starting to fade.

But I have one advantage - one hope - left. It's a little known fact amongst the team that I have been drugged so much throughout my two thousand years, that most medications and sleeping aids have a lesser effect on me.

For now, I follow the movements of Andy; letting my eyes close and resting the back of my head against the wall like I'm unconscious. I can still hear Booker groaning and - although I despise him for his actions - a part of me still desperately wants to help him.