Angel heard Ray’s sharp exhale as she flopped down next to him and shut her eyes just for a second.
“I know.”
Those words distracted him. Enough for him to forget where he was. Enough for him to not realize the threat until it was hanging right above his shoulder.
“We’re at war.” Akash’s voice snaked its way down his spine, and Ray’s head whipped around in surprise.
Angel shook as well, his hold on his gun tightening as he grabbed onto Ray’s wrist to stop her from moving,
“And do you know who’ll win this war Angel?”
Too close. The voice was too close.
Which meant his people hadn’t managed to complete the job. Angel grit his teeth and turned to Ray. She was already looking back at him, something like panic and fury shaking in her gaze as they slowly moved away from the barricade.
They hadn’t been expecting it–
Boom!
The ground shook underneath them, and Angel was lurched forward by the sudden movement. The bomb, the explosion had been too close, he could tell. Sudden ringing began in his ears as he slammed on the ground with a yell. The feeling of blood trickling down his forehead came later. His vision blurred first, a nauseating amount of bile rising up his throat as he groaned out loud and squirmed on the ground. Something like soundsilenceechoed with the wind as the ringing in his ears intensified.
Ray’s scream followed his movement, and he saw as the barricade behind her fell apart and heard the softclinkbefore sudden smoke lifted in the air around them.Shit, this wasn’t good,he managed to think before a wave of pain rushed down his spine. Angel groaned again as his fists loosened.
“Ray,”he gasped through the smoke, and balled his hands into loose fists in an attempt to keep his eyes open. She groaned beside him in response but moved enough for him to figure out where she was.
His eyes were barely open when he saw the silhouette of a tall figure walk over the shattered barricade.
His breath came out in violent gasps as the smoke cleared and Akash Smith stepped through the smoke with a pistol in his hand. Angel growled, his vision still blurred, and his ears ringing when he saw Akash point towards–
No,a part of Angel screamed as Ray groaned but rolled onto her back. Through the smoke, he could see wisps of her hair, see the glint of her narrowed eyes as she grunted at the gun pointed at her chest.No,he wanted to scream when she lifted herself onto her elbows and snarled,
“Wewin the war, Akash.”
“No,”he breathed just as the smoke cleared. Just as he saw a smirk lift the corner of Akash’s lips and his gun raise further.Fast, he had to be fucking fast if he wanted to get his hands on Akash.His hands shook violently as he fumbled with the bands of his watch, removed it swiftly. Akash barely heard thecrackwhen he slammed his watch on the ground and removed the vial hidden in it.
“Sorry.” Akash said and Angel growled, going up on his elbows with whatever strength he had left, the small glass close to getting crushed as he rose, “But that’s the wrong answer.”
Angel didn’t think. Barelybreathedwhen he jumped from his crouched position with a growl and shoved Akash away from Ray. The latter gasped in surprise, scrambling to get up on her feet as Akash whirled on Angel with a venomous look and advanced. Angel didn’t give himself time to think, just threw his free hand back and threw a jaw breaking punch.
Except Akash was faster, was easily able to dodge the fist by ducking and jabbing at him instead. Angel let him take the hit, and bit back a cry of pain as he grabbed the hem of his t-shirt and hauled him closer. Akash’s dark eyes widened and he barely had time to register what was happening before Angel shoved that vial’s tip on the side of his arm.
Akash roared, pushing away from Angel with a loud curse, and ripped that vial off his sleeve.
He glared at Angel, but he didn’t see him.
His vision was already blurring when he saw Akash’s hand clench around the hilt of his gun and rise when–
Ray pounced on him without making a single sound. He heard thesnapof his bone as she landed on him with enough force to make him fall back on his ass. He heard the sound of agony rip past Akash’s lips and stumbled back as Ray whirled on him and punched him enough for his head tosnapin the opposite direction.
With what strength, Angel didn’t know, Akash bellowed and grabbed a hold of her upper arms, yelling something inaudible before throwing her away. Angel heard Ray’s groan, saw her shift on the concrete ground with blood gushing from the side of her face when Akash stumbled back up on his feet. Angel moved, or at least tried to but Akash was faster. Was quicker.
Was already wiping the blood from his nose and pointing that damned gun in Ray’s direction.
Angel let out a harsh breath as Ray saw Akash’s movement, her eyes widening at his action. She snarled something low, somethingvenomousenough for Akash to flinch. But Angel didn’t hear it. Heard nothing but the ringing in his ears and seeing nothing but the flash of panic in her eyes as Akash cocked his gun.
Thought nothingas he jumped in between and covered Ray’s body with his own. He heard her gasp of surprise. Saw her honey eyes flash. And managed to shoot her a faint smile before the gun went off.
Bang!
