The Elusive Prince

Chapter 17: Can You Keep A Secret?

TW: Same still for violence, guns, and blood. If you are uncomfortable and sensitive to these topics please proceed through this chapter with caution.

Merideth

The trip to the main square was surprisingly calm as we encountered no more surprises, thank the heavens. The walk was also silent as none of us tried to strike a conversation that is until we reached close to the main square where I see everyone crouched down on the floor, scared and helpless as these terrorists circle them, pointing their guns at them. I couldn't spot my classmates as we were 4 stories high and hiding behind a pillar.

I looked at Cloud while his emerald eyes scanned the surroundings. His green eyes scanned the surroundings with a certain glint behind those grey and black mask with red roses on top of the eyes. The mask itself was pretty, with the lapse of clouds or was it waves? on the eyes and red marks on the eyes that look like tears. I think the lapse on the eyes were Clouds because that's were I based his name from. At first glance, you would see the similarity between his mask and the terrorists but it was distinctly more detailed and prettier.

I don't why though but I didn't have the urge to pull the mask off when I can right here right now and end this confusing chase. What is exactly stopping from doing it? Maybe it was the absurdity of the situation that puts knowing his face put in the back burner of my brain and my only at the moment was to get out of this unharmed.

As if sensing my stare, he looked at me and I didn't feel embarrassed about being caught. We just stared at each other before his eyes widened as he pushed me away to the pillar and before I could complain there was a bullet headed straight for him. He couldn't avoid it on time so he was hit on the shoulders and fell backwards. The guy walked close to where he was at and seeing the gun that he had, kicked it off on the other side and just waited for him to stand up.

I look to see that someone spotted us and this is bad. There were 2 more guys behind him and where the heck did they get this much people? The other two were big men compared to the guys from earlier but they weren't carrying a gun. Cloud seems to have regained his composure because he looked at the guy that shot him with raw bloodlust. The guy just seemed to smirk before launching himself on him with his fist up but without me on the way now, Cloud managed to dodge so the guy hit nothing but air. The other two seems to see that he can fight so they joined the fray.

Cloud moved swiftly, dodging all their punches but at this point he was going to wear himself out. These guys clearly have all day but I doubt he can last that long, especially now that he has a bullet lodged at his shoulder. Think Merideth, how can you help?

I bit my nails in anxiety as I looked around, then remembered that I had that pistol from earlier. I took it, turned off the safety and aimed at one of the guys from Kazimer's right and let go of the trigger. The sound of the bullet rang out as the guy fell with a loud thud on the tiled floor. They stopped fighting and looked at me. s**t I've been caught. The two guys look at each other before Cloud hit one of them square in the face and kicked the other on the gut hard. He looked at me and mouthed 'run' and before I could think I took off.

I didn't reach far however as there seems to be another guy coming out and caught up to me. He grabbed me by my feet which made me hit the floor then proceeded to hold me up and made me look at the fight. Cloud looked at my direction and in his moment of distraction got hit by the two guys. This time however, they didn't wait for him to recover and ganged up on him as they kick him continously. I screamed because even if I didn't know him nor trust him, he was still hurt because of me.

The guy holding me just laughed as I watch Cloud get decimated. The look of horror on my face fueled this guy more because he laughed more.

"Will you look at that? Who knew the Chief of the Legion of Roses' weakness is the Princess of Wiyelt?" he laughed which made me freeze and stop squirming. Did he say just say Legion of Roses? Does that mean this guy, the guy that danced with me was the Chief of the Legion, one of the most notorious gangs in Rhodes known for going against their ruler? They were considered troublemakers and outcasts even in their land. They seemed to be helping those in need of protection. So he wasn't kidding when he said he doesn't want to harm innocent people.

I looked at him getting beat by those guys when he suddenly looked at me, even behind that mask that magically didn't fall off, his eyes screamed relief when he saw me unharmed but later changed into rage as he saw me being held by this guy but he can't do anything but I can.

The guy holding me down was relatively the same height as me so I took the opportunity when he was leaning into me and smashed my head into his which made him let go of me in favor of rubbing his broken nose. I decided to use what I learned in judo and use one of the throws that didn't rely on power too much by pulling him forward, spun my body to the left by extending my right leg into his right foot. Then I pulled his body forward over his own leg and throw him on the ground. He landed with a thud and before he can react I kick him in the head hard enough to make him pass out which he thankfully did.

The two guys seemed to be too much into the beating that they didn't notice me incapacitate their comrade down. I grabbed the pistol that the guy kicked from my hand earlier and aimed for the leg. I don't want to kill them so I timed it just right that I wouldn't be able to hit Cloud and fired. It hit on his thigh directly which made him pause mid-kick and scream in pain. The other guy seeming to notice his friend down looked at me but I was already smiling at him as I aimed to his leg and fired too. Now they were both in the ground clutching their leg with the blood pooling around them.

I run to their direction and fired on the other foot again so they couldn't move and run after us before dragging the barely conscious Cloud away and into one of the stores.

He was heavy but since I was running on adrenaline I was able to carry him to the store. I surveyed the damage as I laid him down and only saw a couple of forming bruises and scratches but thankfully no broken bones, although his shoulders were bleeding a lot staining his grey dress shirt look red. The bullet was still lodged on there and I couldn't do anything to get it out without having the proper tools. Is he going to be okay though? He lost a lot of blood already.

I sighed in relief as he opened his eyes to look at me. I'm still surprised that his mask didn't come off after all that beating. He must've glued it or something. He looked at me and tried to speak but ended up coughing which got me concerned.

"Hey don't try to talk just yet." I said as I eased him on the wall and looked around the place for something to put on his wound. I couldn't find anything so I stalked off to the counter of the store and saw a towel. I grabbed that and started pressing it on the bleeding wound.

He winced a bit and was coughing before stopping and looking at me. His emerald eyes seems to be a turmoil of emotions, pride, relief and happiness stood out the most and one emotion in particular that I can't seem to determine.

"I'm glad you're okay." he whispered and I can't help but feel my eyebrows twitch in annoyance.

"Of course I'm okay. I'm not a damsel in distress. You should be worried about yourself. You took quite the beating and a bullet." I said before looking out to the glass door and seeing as no one seems to come after us, loosened my grip on the gun and sat beside him, trying to catch my breath and calm my abnormally fast beating heart due to adrenaline.

"Yeah of course you're not. Don't worry about my injuries, I've been through worse I can manage." he had the gal to laugh and I just glared at him which made him chuckle. He probably really was the Chief of the Legion of Roses for him to be this unfazed after being shot and beaten by two guys. He seems to notice my gaze because he spoke.

"Are you not going to ask?" he said which surprised me as he groaned and sat properly beside me and took the gun away from me.

"No at least not yet. I'll save it for when this is over." I say before making sure that the towel was tight enough to stop the bleeding. I meant what I said about not questioning him because I didn't want to know just yet not after what happened a few moments ago. I just shot two guys and I can't even be more thankful to Father for teaching me how to fight because we would've been screwed if I didn't.

We sat in silence for a while, trying to calm down before we heard a loud bang and a series of loud gunshots. We both looked at each other, mirroring the surprise in both our faces. We sprinted outside the store, despite our tired bodies as we saw the military come inside and began apprehending the terrorists who fought back. It was utter chaos as the people were screaming and running around for cover as the military and the terrorist exchange fires.

Thankfully it didn't last long because they weren't so dumb and decided to use snipers and shoot the other terrorists. The terrorists couldn't win seeing as they were now outnumbered and overpowered. Some surrendered willingly while some fleed which got caught all the same and then it was over as they cuffed the others. I sighed in relief and felt tears on my eyes as this was finally over. I turned to look at Cloud to rejoice with him but then he smiled sadly and before I knew it there was a cloth in my face. It must have some sort of drug because I feel myself swaying and losing a grasp in consciousness.

Before I succumbed to the darkness though, I heard him say...

"See you again Merideth. I hope you don't hate me for this."

And then darkness.