A Murder of Crows
Title: A Murder of Crows
Part: 7/12
Author: KKChitown
Status: Final
Category: Fic
Warnings:The same as before
Feedback: you betcha
Disclaimer: Nothing out of the ordinary
A Murder of Crows: Part 7
By KKChitown
Cold, dark liquid flows over me, but I feel dry. I can hear
screaming, voices of those that died at my hands. Men, women and
possibly children. It all washes over me, feeding me with energy.
But one scream becomes louder than the rest, standing above everyone
else. That voice belongs to me, desperately trying to wake me up.
/QUATRE!/
My eyes shot wide open, my pupils dilating trying to adjust to the
semi-dark room. Slightly to my left Trowa sat on the bed, arms
crossed with all of his attention focused on me. Looking around I
can see that I am in my room, the fireplace did the lighting. The
candle that usually sits next to the bed was on top of the fireplace,
the flame a icicle. I found Duo standing in front of my window, with
the shotgun primed in his hands. He turned his body towards me. I
have never seen so much flatness in his face. There wasn't a trace of
Duo at all; his smile, his laughter, and good spirit was all tucked
away neatly somewhere. What I was seeing was the anger in his eyes,
and his hatred. What I saw right then I have never seen outside of
when we are about to face OZ or Romafellar. Shinigami was out in full
force, ready to claim souls to take back to hell.
I let my sight drift to the window. Light from the outside was
seeping through into the room, so I know its still daytime. The
crows on the window were blocking the majority of the light. I can't
say how many there are. Fifty or sixty maybe, stacked one on top of
the other like a pyramid. How close together they were made it look
like there was a solar eclipse. That's why Duo is at the window.
But then again, why am I in bed?
"Trowa, what happened?" I croaked, my neck and throat not exactly
working with me.
"What?!" Duo bellowed from the corner of the room. He stomped his way
heavily to my bed, throwing the gun to Trowa who caught it
effortlessly. Duo jumped on top of me, pinning my arms and legs to
the bed with his own, death in his eyes.
"What do you mean `what happened?' You jumped out the fuckin' window!"
"What?!" Now *I* was screaming.
"Yeah, I was making snow demons when I saw the window to your room
open and you walked out on the ledge with your god damn eyes
covered!" With every word, Duo's grip tightened on my arms. "Luckily,
Trowa was on his way to the house and managed to catch you. What the
hell is wrong with you, Winner?"
Oh no, now he was starting to sound like Wufei. "I don't know, I-I I
got cold and tried to get away but, the light was bright and-"
"What? What light, what cold, what the fuck are you talking about-"
"That's enough Duo." Trowa motioned with his hand to release me, and
Duo followed suit. I managed to sit up, even though I was feeling
very stiff, especially my neck and back. Duo snatched the gun roughly
from Trowa's hands and went back to guarding the window.
"Both of you, listen very carefully," Trowa's voice was hardly louder
than a whisper, " we have to leave. Quatre, you would have broken
your neck. This has gone too far. You and Duo leave now. I will stay
behind and wait for Heero and Wufei. Take the cell phone and when you
get to the carriers, since your gundams are already together with
Wufei's, take off and go to the boarding school. You might as well
room together until the rest of us return."
"No, Trowa we can't leave you-"
I was cut off when Duo yanked me out of bed, gun in the other hand.
Trowa forced my coat on my arms and back, zipping it up for me. Duo
put on his coat, gun *still* in hand. He must be really anxious. Once
he was settled he wrapped his arm around my waist for support. He
turned to Trowa to hand him the shotgun when Trowa pulled out a 9MM
from his waistband and my machete from under the bed. Duo nodded his
approval and half carried me down the stairs, while I chanced a look
back at Trowa. He held his hand up, as if he was saying goodbye, just
like I saw in one of my dreams.
Oh no.
***
The snow storm was horrendous. It was so strong that I could not see
Duo's face next to mine. How he made it to the car was a miracle. He
shoved me into the backseat of the wagon like I was a sack of
potatoes, tossing the gun to the floor. He jumped over the car and
hopped into the drivers seat with duck tape between his teeth. Since
the passenger side window was busted out, which was my fault, he took
off his coat to place over the broken window, taping it into place.
This stopped the majority of wind from coming in, and stopped all the
snow.
It took a couple of tries to start the car, since it was so cold
out. "Duo, you have to let the car warm up so the engine won't die."
"Fuck that! The engine can warm up while we drive. We don't have time
for that shit." Duo changed the gear into drive and punched on the
gas, sending the car sharply in motion. I flew back against my seat,
sending yellow foam speckles to float up around me.
Speeding off I tried to look back at the mansion. It was completely
engulfed by the storm. The sun couldn't even defeat the snow; it was
just a dull yellow ball in the sky.
All I could do was whisper. "Trowa, please be okay."
"OH SHIT!"
I don't know if we ran over a patch of ice or if Duo lost control,
but I flung against the window, grinding the side of my face in it. I
fell back on the seat as the car swerved out of control. I can hear
Duo scream for me to take cover over the screeching of the tires, and
somehow I saw over his shoulder the tree we were about to crash into.
Of course Duo didn't have his seatbelt on, so I wrapped my arms
around his shoulders and braced my legs against the back of the seat
to act as some sort of security.
CRASH. We hit that tree head on. I was no where near strong enough.
Duo was ripped from my arms, his body ramming into the steering
wheel. I saw him bite down on his lip to keep from crying out in
agony, knowing that he more than likely broke some ribs. I flew over
the seat, landing lightly on my back on the passenger's side, but the
back of my legs got slammed on the dashboard.
ARGH! That hurt!
My shoulders were slightly sore from trying to hold on to Duo, and
since I was now in the front seat, I ripped off the duck tape holding
the coat to the window and put it back on him. He jerked at the feel
of me moving him with his broken ribs and the cold air. Once outside
of the car, I flung one arm around my shoulders and grabbed at the
inside of his pants near the groin. I didn't want to hold him around
his stomach.
We made it to the pond in about twenty minutes, but it felt like an
eternity under the weight of the snowstorm, and the feeling that
somebody tried to run over my legs didn't help either. It would have
been quicker to go over the ice, but the hair on the back of my neck
stood up higher than it already was, and that was enough to tell me
to walk around it.
Halfway past the pond, a figure arose from it. The water flowed
freely around him, completely unaffected by the temperature and
snow. He stood on top as if he was Allah himself, walking almost
seductively in our direction. I pressed on. I am not going to die
like this, not when the colonies need to be protected. Duo, with
whatever strength he had left, defiantly flipped off Krahe.
"Fuck you turd!"
Thanks Duo, you are a lot of help.
He was rewarded with a conniving, semi-demonic kind of smile. As if
to return the kindness Duo shows him, Krahe raised his arms to his
shoulders and turned into a crow right before our eyes.
Ohhhhh kay.
I had to stop in my tracks. That was not what I was expecting. Of
course, this is totally beyond me, and I really do not know what to
expect, but I was blown away. I mean, this ties with Trowa
threatening Duo's nuts. I didn't think anything could top that, but
apparently I was wrong. Great.
Duo suddenly felt ten times heavier in my arms. Double great. I don't
know if he passed out from pain or from our `friend's' magic trick.
Finally, we were at the door of the mansion. I don't know if he
heard the accident or what but Trowa was there to greet us. He
snatched Duo's limp body out of my arms and disappeared into the
house. I turned around sullenly to meet the gaze of a sinister
prince, human again, his confident smile faltering as I stare head on
into his eyes.
He is still beautiful, and that is why I am weak. Not because he is
attractive. That is not the case. There is something about him that
is drawing me in, a magnetic force. There is some underlying feelings
that I have for this being. I want to be with him, and love him, but
some other force is fighting inside of me to keep me at bay, that
makes me want to defeat him, and possibly kill him if I get the
opportunity. He continues to hurt Duo, my best friend, so that helps
me fight against my attraction for him. Especially now that Duo could
be seriously hurt. I am so grateful for that force. I just wish I
knew what it was.
"Quatre, hurry inside!" Trowa's voice brought me out of my trance,
otherwise I would've stood there like that until I froze to death. I
wanted Krahe to feel my anger, to feel my rage at what he has done to
me and to the others. This is not over, and I want to do whatever it
takes to make him sorry he ever breathed the same air I did. I
continued to glare at him, willing him to disappear as I stepped into
the house and slammed the door shut in his face.
***
Trowa waited on the couch, and Duo sat along with him sipping on hot
water. Everything that we had was in the car, minus Heero and
Wufei's stuff because all of that was with them. The cell phone I
had stuffed in my pocket after the accident, so at least I didn't
have to worry about Heero killing me because of a phone. He can kill
me for blowing our cover instead.
I already left them downstairs after I raided the kitchen. Nothing.
I had already gone through Trowa's room, Duo's room, Wufei's room,
and now I am in Heero's. What I wished I noticed from the start is
the other rooms. None of them were decorated like mine. They had
the blankets and beds with the drapes but they weren't as elaborated
as mine was. Heero's room didn't even have a window. My room was the
only one with a fireplace and night stands, furniture and the perfect
view of the surroundings. What made my room so special? I am so
angry you can cook an egg on my forehead.
I punched four holes in the walls, which magically were repaired. The
whole house was in complete and utter disarray, with whatever fabric
or pillows thrown out in the hall, furniture turned over. What was I
looking for? I don't know. Something, anything for me to jump on to
tear to shreds. He has a weakness, just what is it?
Now I am back in my room, going through the furniture and the sheets,
watched intensely by the crows on the window, which were still
stacked one on top of each other. I shattered the flame icicle
flinging a pillow over the fireplace as I topped the huge bed over.
When I am angry my strength and endurance factor goes through the
roof. Anyway, I paused briefly to catch my breath when a strong but
delicate hand landed on my shoulder forcing me to face him.
"Quatre, what are you looking for?" Trowa almost looked concern.
I have no idea on how to explain this nagging feeling at the back of
my mind, without forcing the others to think about putting me out of
commission, but I have to try. "I know this is going to sound crazy,
but I don't know what I am looking for. I-I, I need a sign,
something, anything, but I'm so tired, and I just want this to be
over with." I was starting to trail off towards the end, my fatigue
and the pain in my legs were wearing me down.
"I know you are, but the others will be back soon."
"I hope so. But still I am not going to sit back and wait for them.
This is not natural Trowa, and I want to find the answers. There has
to be something I can do."
"Yes, you can rest with Duo."
Ah! I can never win. "No, Trowa you don't understand. There is
something else, I just can't figure it out yet..." I moved so that I
could pace the floor to think when I tripped over the post of the bed
not paying attention. Trowa moved in front of me and caught me around
the waist when I reached up and fisted my hands in his turtleneck to
keep from falling. I stared at my hands in disbelief, but I couldn't
let go. I felt his arms around my waist, supporting me. I was so
afraid to look up in his face, knowing that if I did I would probably
kiss him.
Oh well, here goes everything. My eyes slowly followed an invisible
trail up the now wrinkled turtleneck to his neck, then continued up
to his perfect lips, his nose, and now his eyes. Because of how close
we are now, I can see them both. I know I stopped breathing, and my
eyes are now the size of saucers, to be modest about it. I am in the
arms of the man of my dreams, all alone, and I am frozen stiff in his
embrace.
I don't know how long we stayed like that, maybe five or ten minutes,
but neither one of us were willing to make the first move. My heart
beat was fast and hard against his chest, and his grip on my hips
tightened. Something has to happen soon.
"Hey guys! Hello! I'm dying down here."
I didn't mean for that to happen. Damnit Duo!
I tore my eyes away from that beautiful face and stood on my own feet
to focus my attention on the fireplace, apologizing profusely. He
nods and tells me not to worry about it. Now, I am really depressed.
Once again the boy is mocking me, arm outstretched to welcome his
eternity. The crow sat willingly on the wrist of his master. Both of
them looked on in almost a loving fashion off into space.
What a minute, I didn't think about.....
"The tree."
Without another word to Trowa, I ran downstairs to end up bumping
against the rail, and sliding down the last four due to a pillow case
(must be from Duo's side of the family). I picked up my coat from the
back of one of the chairs to put on. Duo snapped out of his trance
long enough to give me a `what the hell are you doing' look before
Trowa met up with us downstairs.
"Quatre, where are you going?"
"To the tree a few meters from here."
"Quatre," Duo spoke up, quiet for a grand total of thirty
seconds, "do you see the snow out there? You will be buried alive.
Besides, what is out there that you need?"
"I don't know yet, but I want to find out."
"Fine. Duo take the gun, I'm going with Quatre-"
"NO! Trowa, stay here with Duo, he's hurt."
Duo's mouth hit the floor like a ton of bricks. I would never
say `no' to any suggestions that Trowa made, but this was my mess,
and I'm going to clean it up. However, he recovered quickly.
"Quatre dude, look. Let Tro go with you. I don't want you out there
alone with birdman on the loose."
"That's just it Duo! He is after me. If something happens, you two
still have a chance-"
"Quatre, you are NOT winning this argument! Either Trowa goes or I go-"
"NO! Duo, its too dangerous for you to-"
"YES! And that's final-"
"NO! Duo please-"
"Enough!" Trowa's voice cut through our shouting match. Face still
calm, he turned back to me. "Quatre, if you don't want me to go,
fine. But if you take longer than ten minutes, I am coming after
you." The resolution in his voice let me know that I can not talk him
out of his decision.
"Wait, I'll need longer than ten minutes because I need to get the
flashlights from the car."
"I'll get those," Duo volunteered, "you find what you are looking for
and get your butt back here okay?"
I knew I was outvoted, so I sighed in defeat and nodded my approval.
Duo stuck his feet back in his boots, complaining, and I got my coat
back on. Trowa slipped into his coat and perched himself on the thin
sill of the window, ready to make good on his threat. I slipped the
machete inside the bottom leg of my pants, making sure the blade laid
flat against my skin and that the handle of it was firmly in place in
my sock. I tied the shoelaces extra tight so that the handle wouldn't
move. It hurts though, because it is resting against the hard bony
ball in my ankle. But I'll have to ignore it. Its now or never.
Once the door opened, Duo and I did a once over on each other to make
sure we were snuggled up as well as can be.
"Ten minutes cat."
"That goes for you too."
"Ch', don't worry about me, I'm not the one trying to explore around
here, okay Casanova?"
"Casanova was a gigolo Duo, not an explorer."
"Same thing." He darted off towards the car, braid trailing behind.
Smiling, I went to my destination, hoping against hope I find
something there.
***
I walked around the tree twice already. There's nothing special or
unique about it as far as I can see. But something is itching at the
back of my mind, telling me that I should climb it, almost screaming
at me. Its always been right before, now is not the time to doubt it.
Guess I'll have to. It's not really that big. It's as thick around
as a manhole cover, and maybe ten feet tall. Of course the tree is
dead and the wind will make it hard for me to climb to the top, but I
only have seven minutes left. What makes it worse is almost all of
the crows are perched on top of the tree. If I get up there, will
they attack me or leave me be? Only one way to find out.
I wrapped one leg around the base of the tree, with both arms hugging
it simultaneously. With my other leg I slightly jumped, swinging my
other leg around to wrap the other way around. Now I feel like a
caterpillar. Using my stomach muscles, which are starting to feel
sore from the accident, I drew my legs up towards me, and squeezed
them tightly together to hold myself while my arms reach up to lift
me higher.
This took me maybe two minutes, every two advances I made I slid down
three. Anyway, once at the top between the two branches I saw a
little hole, but my hand was too big to fit in it. Now, holding on
VERY tightly I reached down to my pants leg to draw out my machete.
Carefully, but with some force I stuck the end into the hole, trying
to widen it. The crows, which were sitting quietly until then, began
cawing and pulling at my hair with their feet. One managed to
scratch me on my cheek.
With the increase noise and wind, I started whacking wildly at the
torn wood. Chunks were falling away, hitting me in the face and eyes
as the wind blew, the cold nipping at my nose and ears despite the
hood I had on, and the crows were not helping. If I didn't hurry,
Trowa would be out here and something will be dead, so feverishly I
cut the bark open to reveal the inside of the tree.
Dropping the machete, I reached my hand inside the hole to feel
around, since blood was dripping in my eyes from a claw against my
forehead. Anyway, I lifted myself higher to reach in because
something caught my hand, when a crow charged at me biting me on the
lip. I swung to fight it off, but the wood broke sending me crashing
into the snow. I landed next to the machete, point in the ground
first. Yikes. Laying flat on my back facing the sky, I can see
little stars dancing in front of my eyes.
"Great."
I was sitting up when something colder than me rubbed against the
back of my hand. Lifting it up to eye level I can see it is a key.
A black one, with the handle of it in the shape of a crow's head.
"A key?"
I studied it closer, as if it would tell me its purpose. I must've
really hit my head.
"What can the key go to......That's it!"
Time's up. I used my hand to push myself up on my feet, slid the
machete out of the frozen snow and ran as fast as I could back to
where Trowa is waiting for me.
"You will not defeat me."
© 2000 by KKChitown. Please do not remove without permission.
