Chapter Text
“...and that is all, see you at the site tomorrow” As Koleda finished the meeting, she could see the relief in everybody's eyes. Today was already an arduous day both for her and the team, and they can't wait for the day to be over. As everyone gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, Grace turned to Koleda, question at the lips. Before she could ask, Koleda cut her off.
“I'm fine, Grace. You don't have to wait for me today, I have some paperworks I need to look over” Grace looked at her, not quite believing her word, but still smiled before leaving the room. Once Koleda is left alone, she slumped into her chair and let out a sigh.
She can't wait for this day to be over.
It was already late into the night when the paperworks was done. Somehow, she found sitting at the same place looking at papers to be more exhausting than running around the construction site or smashing Ethereals into bits. When she left for home, all her muscles felt stiff and her eyes barely held themselves open. Well, at least the walk from here to home isn't far.
Her stomach grumbled. Right, she hadn't eaten any dinner today… or lunch… actually, did she even have breakfast today? Ah, whatever, no use in thinking about it now. She might as well take a little detour to the convenience store.
As she rounded the corner into an alleyway, the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. The same feeling she got when an Ethereal got too close, or when Grace activated another sentient killer robot. She turned around to find nothing lurking within the shadows that she could see, so she ignored the feeling and continued to walk forward. There, at the end of the alley, two jovial teens talking to each other, backs against each side of the building and blocking the way out. She sighed.
“Excuse me, could you two move over a bit?” She yelled. No reaction from the two of them. She scowled, surely the universe is just out to get her at this point. She marched closer, fury in her steps.
“Oi! Could both of you-”
Click
A cold steel pressed up against the back of her head.
Shit
Of course it has to be the day that she hadn't brought her hammer.
A low whistle sounded out from behind her followed by a chuckle.
“Looks like we bag a good one today boys” The two men at the end of the alley now move closer to her. “Why, ain't that the president of Belobog herself?” She could picture the smug grin on the gunman's face. She tried to turn towards the gunner before he jammed the barrel into her head harder.
“Don't move. I'm quite trigger-happy, you see. Wouldn't want to shoot our valuable asset by accident now, do we?” God, she can't wait to punch him. Still, she complied and stopped.
“Good girl,” He purred. “Now, stay still while I-” A loud crashing noise rang out from the far end of the alleyway, as if something just knocked over a trash can. Everyone, including her, turned towards the source of the sound.
“The hell?” One of the men spoke. Footsteps slowly stumbled towards them, followed by ramblings she couldn't make out. She squinted, trying to get a better look. There, under the moonlight’s glare, a figure emerged from the darkness.
“Oi, who’re you?!” The gunman angrily questioned. The figure moved closer, mumbling something ineligible. Now that the figure moved closer, she saw that he was a man clearly not from New Eridu, with the most striking feature being his missing left eye. That, or he decided to cosplay as a pirate. The two men that were blocking her exit now slowly moved towards the man.
It was now or never.
With fury, she slammed her foot with all her might on the gunner's foot, earning a yelp of pain from him. She spun around to face her assailants, and now all attention is on her.
“You little-!” They reached for their pockets, ready to draw weapons. She was ready to made a run for it when-
“AAAAAAAHHHHHHH” A loud scream came from the mysterious stranger as he slammed the bottle into one of her assailants’ heads which shattered upon impact. The man fell to the ground, blood started oozing out of his injury.
“You fuckers-!” The gun now aimed at the stranger. Without thinking, she tackled the gunman, trying to throw off his aim. “Get off me!” He tried to grab her arm, she ducked and bit his hand in retaliation. He hollered in pain. She internally grinned in satisfaction.
A scream rang out, she looked up and saw the stranger, knife stabbed into his sides. His face contorted in pain and anger as he grabbed the stabber and smashed his head against the building. The sickening crunch is followed by the red that stained the wall as the man slumped onto the ground. However, the split second loss of attention from her resulted in the gunman twisting his hand and-
BANG!
Ears ringing, visions blinded, screams tore from her throat. Yet, it was not pain that laced behind the screaming.
It was anger.
“You motherfucker!” Adrenaline coursing through her veins, she used her newfound strength (and recklessness) to smash her head against his, stunning him and forcing him to drop his gun. She released him and scrambled to get his gun.
“Wait-!” She whipped around, the cold steel against her sweaty palm, aimed directly at his core.
BANG!
…
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
Click
Click
A shuddered breath escaped her, the gun fell to the ground. The man in front of her lay motionless in a pool of blood. She stepped forward before she collapsed on the ground as well.
“Oi, lassie!” The stranger called out. She glanced down at her side, now covered in her blood. Footsteps rapidly approached her as she felt herself being hoisted up. She tried opening her mouth to communicate, but the only thing that left her throat was wheezing from a dying person.
“C’mon, C’mon- Oi, Engie! Get the doc ready, I got a patient for ya!”
Is this how I die? Is this it for me?
“Hold tight lassie, ya gonna be just fine” The stranger reassured her. He started to move and so did her. She smiled as the world got darker.
I'm coming to see you, dad
She closed her eyes as consciousness failed her.