Odd Couple 22

By xxxevilgrinxxx | Published: November 25, 2008

The dim glow from the emergency light in the hallway is the only light in the room. The office is stark, a large desk, clear of everything but the contents of an emptied safe, behind the desk, and your weapons, rifle, knives, and wire. The bag is empty, the remaining two explosives gone. The straight razor is in your hand.

There’s a set of keys on the desk, and I’d be willing to bet they fit these cuffs. Looks like you asked pretty hard. I don’t want to move just yet, until I know you won’t make a move for me.

There is blood, and worse, everywhere. A pool of blood has soaked into the carpet, underneath McDermott. Also behind the desk, the chair, where it looks like you started. The blood spatter across and behind the desk is small, in comparison. The cuts would have been small, painful, but not lethal. Torture. I wonder if he just stopped answering questions, or if he just didn’t know, or if you just lost control.

You crouch over McDermott, your teeth bared. Covered in blood. I couldn’t even begin to count how many times you’ve stabbed and cut McDermott. It’s got to be over a hundred. How you can lift your arm at all, I don’t know. The switchblade lies buried deep in what is left of his chest. He’s not recognizable as human anymore. Your knee rests in what is left of his guts. Eviscerated. You haven’t dropped the straight razor yet.

Even I’m shocked.

“Ava”…….softly, I don’t want to startle you, even though you’ve been watching me the second I came in. You’re somewhere else, in your head, I have to be careful.

“Ava, we have to go, now”…..slowly, inch forward, to the desk, to the keys, uncuff myself. Your teeth aren’t bared anymore, but you haven’t moved, the only sound from you a constant low growl, from deep in your chest.

“Ava”….just keep saying your name, try to bring you back from wherever you’ve gone.

Close enough. If I was a stupid man, I’d make a grab for you, but I don’t underestimate you. You’re far more dangerous than you ever were, and now isn’t the time to rush.

“Put the razor down, Ava, we have to go”…..reach for your hand, watching your eyes the whole time. “Ava”?

You tuck the blade into your pocket, and I can’t help but be a little relieved. Reach out for your arm, slowly. You’re slick with blood, but you don’t resist.

Help you to your feet, still being careful. You’re not growling anymore, and your breath is returning to normal. Your head starts to clear a little, as you look at my wrists, maybe wondering about the cuffs. You say nothing. You turn to the desk, and put the contents of the safe into the bag. Your right arm stiffens, locking up. I finish it. You tuck the wire back into your wrist, and hand me your rifle.

We slip out of the office, and out of the house, making our way for the woods.

We’re at the edge of the woods, when I hear the whine of the dogs, from in front. Seems we haven’t got all the guards afterall. I turn to grab you, make a run for it, but you’ve vanished. I move behind the trees. The guards are pretty easy to spot, and I move in, quietly for the kill. The guards are confused, they don’t know what’s wrong with the dogs, they’re terrified. Body armor. I drop and cut the tendons at the hamstring, before turning to the other who is advancing on me.

He seems to smile, in front of me, his smile growing wider, as he sinks to the ground. Ava. Behind him, with your knee in his back for the last pull, as the wire cuts through his neck. You haven’t made a sound. The woods grow silent. The dogs, no one to force them to be in the woods, have fled.

You cradle your right arm, and, with my hand on your back, we make our way back to the ship.

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