by ToCauson
weakness, which was everything right now because her body was pulsing with pain and she could hardly move, let alone defend herself. It rushed forwards, pulling its elbow back as though it was using the sword like a jousting stick. Mercy swallowed the pain and readied herself.
Normally her dodge would have been filled by a stupendous feat of agility, but all that she could manage right now was a manoeuvre that ‘got the job done’. Nothing more, nothing less. She stopped beneath the sword and tried to redirect it, though the blatta fought back, battling against her strength. It was too strong and she was too weak. She let go and spun out the way, feeling her energy drain far quicker than she was accustomed to.
Once again, she found herself wishing for her swords. Even when injured she might have had a chance to defend herself if they were in her hands. Yet here she was, unarmed in the face of this deadly soldier.
It was the sounds of more screams, louder this time, which spurred her on. She darted forwards, leaping off from her good foot and spinning around to lever it back into the blatta’s chest. It stumbled backwards, and she followed up with a flurry of punches. She felt her knuckles become twisted and battered, but she kept going. Hopping over its low swing like a skipping rope, she grabbed onto its shoulder and hurled herself onto its back. From there she was able to unleash elbows and punches to the back of its head, but nothing made it through the helmet, and it wouldn’t come off.
Damn it.
The blatta reached up and grabbed a handful of her t-shirt from her waist, dragging her down and flinging her hard into the ground. She felt the breath leave her as the blatta advanced for the killing blow.
He raised the sword up high, and Mercy resigned herself to it, having no strength left to fight, or will, for that matter.
She heard a sound like the shredding of paper as a blade tore through the chest of the blatta. It stopped in its tracks as blood squirted out and onto Mercy’s breeches. She gave a sigh of relief as the body of the blatta collapsed to the side like a ragdoll, giving Mercy a look at her saviour, Doc Remedy.
“You saved me again, Doc,” she laughed, though her voice was harsh and guttural. Remedy leaned over and struggled with the blade for a moment, slipping it out of the corpse. Mercy smiled as she was handed them. “My swords.”
Remedy smiled, though didn’t stop looking up and down the corridor nervously. “I was just coming to wake you, with these.”
“What’s going on? I just woke up and there was screaming. Then this blatta attacked me.”
“Magnum is Mr Big, and he killed the Luminary with the Lamina.”
“They have the Lamina?” she said, “is Grim and Patience okay?”
Remedy looked to the ground a second, blood also covering her, though it was unlikely to be her own.
“I haven’t heard from them, but I’m sure they’ll be fine. But Magnum has appointed himself as Luminary, so the blatta follow him now. He started killing people in the atrium.”
“How did he get it?”
“Grim and Patience had it taken from them at the Schism Complex. Magnum must have listened in on their conversation and tipped off his thugs when Grim was locking Murum up in one of the cells.”
“Alright, go back to the medical wing and hide. I’m gonna go look ahead and see what’s going on. I need to know, and if I see my opportunity, then I’ll strike.”
“You won’t get close to him, not while he has the Lamina.”
“I have to try.”
She rushed off further down the corridor, now with swords at her side and a new found energy. She was sure it was adrenaline, so when she finally stops at the end of the day, she would be seriously feeling it. If she made it to the end of the day that is.
She had been here for so long, and yet she still didn’t know her way around these maze of corridors. It was ridiculous. She had a sneaky suspicion that they changed every time she walked down them, it never looked the same, like it was shifting with a mind of its own.
Eventually, she found a landmark which she recognised and followed it along to the atrium. Her heart beat faster, not knowing what to expect. Except the fact that there could be blatta stood right behind her, or even beside her and she wouldn’t know. Super soldiers never were fun when used against the good guys, bet they never thought of that when making them.
Her shaking hands gripped the door, and then she slowly edged it open to allow her eyes to wander its contents. They jostled from side to side, scanning the room. Everything looked normal, there were still loads of people in there, getting on with their day to day activities. But there was something new. The blatta were no longer invisible, but lined the edges of the walls with their swords drawn as though they were not guarding the people, but intimidating them. Also it was subtle, though she could see the fake expressions on their faces. The people were terrified, looking out the corner of their eye constantly to check they weren’t about to be killed. And then she spotted Magnum standing on the vehicle exit lift, which was positioned half way up. He leaned against the metal bars and looked out upon everyone, his eyes scanning for someone to kill.
A man broke away from the crowd. Mercy didn’t recognise him. He had dark hair and tanned skin, but none of that mattered, since he only made it two metres before erupting into a cloud of smoke. His entire body was gone. The Lamina had killed him within seconds.
Mercy recoiled from the door, her heart pounding. She would need to find another way out. There was no way she could reach Magnum, but she couldn’t just leave Doc Remedy alone.
She sighed and made up her mind. There was nothing she could do here, it’s not like she was running away. She would leave, and come back with Grim and the ‘gang’. They would know what to do.
She suddenly remembered something that Doc Remedy had said. Grim arrested Murum and put him in jail. That could be her way out.
Setting off at a jogging pace, she made her way over to the cells, hoping that Magnum hadn’t already released Murum. In her fortune, he was still sat there staring idly into the corner of the room. He looked up when she entered.
“What do you want?” he growled, narrowing his eyes.
Mercy smiled. “Shouldn’t be so rude to the person who’s about to release you.”
“Why would you release me?”
“I want to make a deal,” she said, “you get me out of here, and I will let you out the cell.”
“What happens once we get to the surface?”
“Well I’ll let you go free,” she said, “can’t promise I won’t come after you in the future. But you’ll get a head start at least.”
He looked at her for a long time as though studying her to determine if she was being truthful or not.
“Magnum will release me.”
“I doubt it.” Her tone was mocking, “he’s been in control a long time. If he was planning on letting you walk, he’d have done it by now.”
He sighed. “Fine, get me outta here.”
She forced him to shake her hand through the bars, before picking the lock of the cell. It was relatively easy, but that’s because she was familiar with their systems. She drew her sword, and used it to batter his handcuffs until they fell off him loosely. He traced his wrists with the tip of his finger, enjoying freedom once again, just as Mercy grabbed his jacket.
“I’ve let you out, now take us out of here.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re so bossy, hey are you single?”
“You are not flirting with me right now.”
“How about when we get back to the surface? I know this nice Chinese place that has the best food on the entire planet.”
“Can I just make this clear,” she said, “you do not flirt with me, otherwise I will break every bone and organ in your body, apart from the one needed to feel pain.”
“Jeez, gimme a break,” he said defensively, “you’re the first girl I seen since being locked up here, and before that I spent years in the vault. You can imagine I’d be desperate
for any girl.”
“What are you trying to say? Am I not attractive enough for you?”
“So now you’re offended I’m not flirting.” She ignored his comment and indicated that he should get moving.
They moved up to the edge of the wall, his magic was quickly draining back to him now that the handcuffs were off him. “Whatever you do,” he warned, “don’t let go.” She nodded.
Together, after he insisted on holding hands, they ran towards the wall. She closed her eyes, expecting an impact. Instead there was a multitude of colours, and a floating feeling in the pit of her stomach that somehow didn’t feel natural. Mercy felt herself rise, and then they touched down on the surface.
“Alright, I did my part,” he said, “so I can go?”
Mercy nodded. “A deals a deal.” He turned to leave, sending one cursory glance back. He flashed her a quick smile, turned and….
He was knocked off his feet by a huge fist, falling to the ground completely out cold. Grim stood over him with a slight smirk, heading towards Mercy.
“Hey,” she said, feigning anger, “I made a deal with him.”
“I didn’t.”
Patience was trailing behind him, as usual, though this time she held herself higher. She always thought well of herself, but somehow now she seemed more dutiful, like she had realised what was at stake here.
A lot had changed in the short time that she had spent in a coma. She was happy to be back though, even under the circumstances.
“We have to go back,” she