A Murder of Crows
Title: A Murder of Crows
Part: 8/12
Author: KKChitown
Status: Final
Category: Fic
Warnings: I don't think there are any. *gasp*
Feedback: You know you want to.
Disclaimer: You should know this.
A Murder of Crows: Part 8
By KKChitown
Running towards the mansion I can hear gunshots. I don't know how
many, but I wanted to make plenty of noise to make sure I don't get
shot. That wouldn't be good, to say the least. That's all I need to
make my week complete. I know, sarcasm is becoming my specialty
really fast.
"Trowa! Can you hear me, Trowa!"
A few feet from the house through the snowy winds I can see Duo and
Trowa waiting in the doorway for me. Trowa was already walking out,
gun in hand. Duo was resting against the door frame, holding on to
his ribs trying to breathe in the face of the intense wind, while the
three flashlights await at his feet. Surrounding the both of them I
saw about fifteen dead crows, and I bet it took him five or six shots
to get them all.
Stumbling onto the stone platform leading into the house, I dropped
the machete on the ground and allowed myself to fall onto Trowa's
body, my knees falling to the ground as I wrapped my arms around his
waist. Trowa returned the embrace somewhat, making sure he maneuvered
the gun carefully so as the barrel was not aimed at me. I felt
beyond relief at seeing his face.
He looked down at me and gave a genuine smile, glad to see me too.
But a slight noise over the howl of the wind brought his attention
up. At first his eyes widened, then they narrowed to thin slits. I
know that Krahe is behind us without even turning around, but I am
afraid that Duo will try something stupid. He didn't. Instead, he
picked up the flashlights and went inside the house. That is the
smartest thing he has done all week.
Halfway pulling me in the house, Trowa sat me down on the couch while
Duo fought the winds to close the front door. I didn't even bother to
look back. I didn't see the point. I knew that Krahe was out there,
and that he knows that I know. For now, we are going to ignore him.
Besides, I don't think Duo is in the mood for anything Krahe wants to
try.
Once the door was closed, Duo scooted off towards the fireplace and
retrieved a foam paper cup of hot water, placing my machete on the
dining room table. Too bad we didn't have lemons. For a moment, he
stood there and stared at me while Trowa went upstairs for a
washcloth. I knew then that something was wrong.
"Oh Quatre man, your face....."
I didn't realize how cold I was until Trowa sat me on the couch.
Once I was sitting still, my whole body started shaking, not badly at
first but then a little harder to where I couldn't hold the cup of
hot water Duo gave me. My teeth chattering not only annoyed me, but
I ended up biting my tongue. So when I manage to drink the water, it
will burn my tongue because the skin is broken. I can taste the
blood.
Trowa, after a minute came down with a little washcloth and another
foam cup of water, and starting tending to my lip and cuts on my
face. I knew that my face was worse than I realized because Duo's
expression said it all, plus the fact that he kept saying `those
bastards will pay' didn't help either.
Not that the washcloth itself did the trick, we didn't have any
antibacterial creams, everything was in the car. I don't know where
they even got the cups from, but now is not the time to ask. The key
was still clutched tightly in my hand. I am so cold I don't think my
hand will loosen. Speaking of which..
"I got something." I weakly stammered out. Duo sat down swiftly next
to me, and Trowa continued what he was doing, but I knew he was
listening. "I found this inside of that tree."
Shakily lifting my hand up, the key dangled from its chain. Duo
looked at it like he was deciding whether he should shoot it then
burn it or shoot it then burn it *then* blow it up. It's a tough
decision for him.
"What is it?"
"It's a key."
"How did you find it?"
"Well, when I got to the tree, nothing looked abnormal, so I climbed
it and cut it open from a hole that was between the branches."
"What possessed you to do that?" Good question. Leave it to Duo to
find fault with what I tell him.
"I don't know. Something kept nagging at me to do it so I
just...did." The only thing more vague than that answer would be
Trowa.
"Well, what are you planning to do Quatre?" I hate that devil-grin on
his face. Worse yet, I know what he is thinking, because we both
think alike. I'm almost afraid to say it.
"I want to go upstairs." There, I said it.
That dangerous grin got even wider on his face, so I know Duo
approves.
"Let's go!"
"Wait Duo, we need to prepare." I am telling you he stopped in mid
air jumping over the couch.
"Huh?"
"We need to prepare. I don't know what is up there, *he* could be up
there, who knows, but we can't just barge up there like a boy scout
troupe."
"Fine Quatre, what do you want us to do?" I'm starting to wonder if
Duo had a head injury in that accident. He usually isn't this
cooperative.
"Wear your coats. The shotgun is in the car so leave it for now.
Trowa has his gun, Duo, take the machete. I will lead."
"Are you sure? Quatre, your hurt. Maybe you should wait down here
with Trowa," he gave me a wink. Allah, what did I do to deserve
this, "and I'll go and investigate."
"No. I want-I need to go. Besides, you're hurt too." I started to
feel very weak again. If Duo persisted on, he would have gotten his
way.
"Alright. Trowa?"
"Hn?"
"That's a go." He takes anything as assent.
"Fine, let's get this over with."
I was already suited up. Duo took the machete and swung it around
like a sword, imitating Wufei. I'm beginning to think it was a
mistake giving him that. Trowa was also ready, waiting for me to
lead the way. "Let's go."
Walking through the kitchen I noticed that we attained an audience.
Every crow in the country of Germany was here, lining up along the
kitchen window, and beyond them was an endless blanket of them,
numbering in the thousands. Their beady eyes twitched with every
step we made. I took a deep breath as I turned past the refrigerator
or freezer, whatever it is, to the bottom of the staircase.
Fear is probably the strangest of all emotions, because there are
different variations of it. There's the type that you are so afraid,
you are frozen stiff and can't move no matter what you do. All you
can hear is the pounding of your own heartbeat and the blood rushing
in your ears. Then there is the exact opposite, a fear that leads to
panic, because all you can do is run around and scream. Nothing else
in your mind wants to work or deal with the situations at hand, so
its either that or pass out.
Then there is the most misunderstood kind of fear, and what I mean by
that is I can't figure out why we react the way we do in this state
of mind. This fear drives you to the edge; it's the fear that is
making me walk up these stairs because the alternative frightens me
more, even though it is unclear what the alternative is. It holds
your body and bends it to its will.
I am so afraid it hurts to think, but my body will not let me do
anything else. I want to turn around and run, but I can't. My legs
won't let me, but the same amount of energy I could be using to get
away I am spending on this seemingly endless travel up a flight of
stairs.
The cracking of the rotten wood buckles under my feet, making my
heart race even more, but I still keep going. All I can do is
continue to put one foot in front of the other as I make my way up
the stairs to the moldy smelling, beautifully waxed light tan door.
The high shrieks from the crows escalate as I close in on my
destination, almost rocking the house.
I feel shame. I have never been this terrified in my entire life. Of
all the things I have encountered as a gundam pilot, of all the
people that I have killed and the things that I have destroyed, I am
afraid of a door. An old, smelly wooden door at that.
/I can do this./ I tell myself. /I can't let him defeat me./
"You will not defeat me." I murmured out loud to myself. I don't know
if Duo or Trowa heard, but if they did, they didn't give any
indication of it.
I stopped in front of the door, trying to drill a hole into it with
my eyes. No such luck. I can do this, I have to do this. The others
and myself are in danger, and its not because of OZ. Only I can set
this right. Okay. Here we go.
"Are you two ready?" I'm surprised at the sound of my voice. It's
really calm.
Neither one said a word, but I could feel them sharply nodding their
heads.
My hand still shaky, I fumbled the key into the keyhole. It slid in
and stopped coldly against the other side. Ok, good so far. Turning
it, I encountered some resistence, which is to be expected because
the change in weather would cause the metal to expand or shorten, so
its not going to be an exact fit. The key began to squeal in protest
as the door unlocked, ending with a loud "click." Withdrawing the
key, I slide it slowly in between my shoestrings for safe keeping.
Turning the knob I could feel Duo's body shaking against my back. I
guess I'm not the only one. I inhaled deeply in an attempt to gather
my courage, which is very, very shaky right now. Without another
thought I twisted the knob violently and forced the door open,
letting it ram into the wall.
My breath stopped in my chest. The only thing that smells like that
is something that is dead.
Really, really dead.
© 2000 by KKChitown. Please do not remove without permission.
