The Story of Blood and Roses

"You still there?" I heard him call out.

"Always," I assured him, as I took out two more people. They kept coming. Out of nowhere. I could tell that the building was heavily protected, but I had never expected to be outnumbered like this.

I saw Michael duck and then sprint closer to me. Relieved, I slid the only gun that was fully loaded at him. He nodded and then pulled the trigger. Clearly appeased by the lithe quality of my gun he shouted out to me, "I'm keeping this baby."

"Sure," I replied, as I refurbished the dead man's gun and put it in my belt.

"Clear the next floor. I'll take care of whoever is left." I nodded, and then sprinted towards the staircase, knowing well that he would have my back, again. Not one bullet reached me. Taking a liberating breath, I swiftly climbed the stairs and jumped into the room. There seemed to be no one in the room at first glance, but I could see that there had been people here. Worried, I slid out my knife and raced up the staircase to the rooftop. Surely, the door was slightly open and I could see the shadow of a foot on the other side of the door. I dropped to the floor and aimed directly at the angle in which I knew I would find the foot. Screams could be heard, and I jumped back to safety as the door got annihilated by a barrage of shots. I sighed in relief that I had gotten out of the way in time and then used the holes to my own advantage. Gauging the angles, I finalized that there would be around three or four men on the other side, one of whom I had already injured. Downstairs, I could hear the shots cease to be fired. My breath hitched in my throat as worry seized me.

Fuck, is he alright?

I shook the thoughts out of my mind and barged into the rooftop. I heard shooting from outside and realized that people had either escaped the building or where being shot at as they were on the roof. I hoped it was the latter because the former would mean that Michael was...

'Don't think about it.'

I kicked the door open and fired random shots to clear my path. Once, I saw that my path was cleared, I slammed the door against the wall, getting a loud 'oomph' from behind it. I chuckled and used one of the bullet holes to kill the motherfucker.

Like a boss. I thought to myself and then took my position behind the corpse. I could see that one of them was peeping from behind the wall I was leaning on and used the corpse as my shield and shot at him. His body fell forward, with a string of curses that followed at a distance. Apparently, the man was checking to see if I was dead. And his friend was right behind him, waiting. Now, I supposed that he was the only one left.

At least, that's what I hoped.

I let the body in front of me drop and then tiptoed over to the corner of the wall. I could hear the erratic breathing of the man, and I smiled in content. This was not going to take much longer. In a blink of an eye, I shifted my hands and shot out fires consecutive to each other. I breathed, unsure if I had finished the job and turned the corner. The man was sitting on the floor, his hand gripping his chest. His head turned and his hand lifted. I shook my head and picked up my gun as well. I waited patiently as I saw his finger pull the trigger. I did the same. His shoulder pushed back in recoil and the bullet flew way off the mark. Mine stayed on point: between his eyes, serving him a quick death. Satisfied, I pushed the gun back into my belt and then strut out of the rooftop.

Another shot ricocheted past me and I dropped to the floor.

"Mia!" I heard him scream. I sighed in relief as I looked up. He ran to me and then dropped to his knees. "Are you okay?" he asked with urgency, I had never heard in his voice. I nodded, taking the time to look back and see that there was another dead man on the rooftop.

"Are you alright?" I whispered to him. He nodded, his hands still gripping my shoulders.

"Fuck," he mumbled. His eyes were dark, his jaws set. He looked like death frozen over. "I-" his lips crashed into mine. I stumbled back but held on.

Dear God, I held on. I pressed my lips to his and pushed my hand against his chest. We collided and stumbled. We didn't care. I had nothing left in me to care. I tugged at his hair and pulled him closer. He pulled me closer, closer still.

My mind wouldn't stop, but he pressed on. He never let go.

'Don't let me go just yet,' I wanted to tell him.

My bravado had dissipated. I was worried; I was worried out of my mind. He didn't let me. He made me forget.

Cold worry washed over me, the nights of planning caught up to me, and I surrendered myself.

You are brave, his lips said.

'You kept your promise.'

'I'd never let anyone hurt you.'

'I know.'

'Yes.'

'Always.'

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