Stranded [ 11 ]

>Whatever was producing that sound was coming closer at an incredible speed.
>You searched the night sky with your pistol raised.
>There was a strong, frigid wind that made your hands shake.
>The light provided by the moon also made it much more difficult to aim.
>At this point, you had no idea what was going on.
>All of this shit was getting a bit out of hand.
>Then a winged figure landed in front of you, creating a blast of wind that chilled you to your core.
>"Anon, you're okay!"
>Alright, what?

>By the voice, you could tell they were a woman.
>But... wings... and the reddish skin... and the horns...
>Were you dreaming?
>"Anon, are you alright?"
>She was wearing a long-sleeved sweatshirt and a pair of jeans.
>Which contrasted with the fucking horns and wings and shit.
>And they knew your name somehow.
>You weren't dealing with this, no more of this bullshit.
>You raised the pistol, aiming it at her face.
>She screamed and shielded herself with her arms as you pulled the trigger.

>Click.
>Oh, the magazine was empty.
>And the woman, or whatever it was stood in front of you, crying.
>"Anon... what's wrong with you?"
>Her voice was unfamiliar, and so was her appearance and face.
"Who- er, what are you, and how do you know my name?"
>She didn't answer.
>Before you could react, she rushed towards you and wrapped her arms around you.
>"Anon... this is a joke, right? Please tell me you're just messing with me..."
>Her eyes were filled with a deep sorrow.
>When you didn't answer, you felt her begin to sob.
>You had no idea what to do in this situation.
>"No... no, no, no, no this can't... please... look at me..."
>She looked up at you, and her eyes met your own.
>"You don't recognize me... do you?"

>Her apperance was threatening in more than a few ways.
>Sharp talons, crimson scales, reptilian eyes, long horns, and large wings.
>If you weren't careful about this, you might not walk away in one piece.
>With this in mind, you chose to take a neutral approach.
"No... I don't. Sorry. I've lost my memory, you see? I woke up in this hospital with a gunshot wound to the chest. And... I still have no idea what's going on."

>She still clung to your chest.
>"Even if that's true, you've gotta trust me, alright?"
>She let go and backed away.
>"My name is Jennette, and you used to be the one person I could trust."
>This was still a lot to take in.
>"Now, don't know if you're the same person that I knew before."
>The monster... woman... thing grabbed your hand and looked back into your eyes once again.
>"Even so, we aren't safe here. We have to go."
>She moved too quickly to react, and no more than five seconds later, she was flying with you in her arms.
>Holy shit.
>This was real.
>You were being carried above the city by a winged, sort-of-dragon woman.
>The sight of the ground so many feet beneath you was as surreal as it was terrifying.

>"We're going to land on top of one of these buildings and talk, okay?"
>Although her voice was distorted by the wind, you understood her.
>And you would be grateful when the two of you finally landed.
>It was cold, windy, and rather fucking frightening this high up.
>It appeared that she was heading for the skyscraper owned by a large banking system.
>It would be a safe, though frigid and dark place to sit and figure all of this shit out.

>She gradually descended to the rooftop.
>"You're going to have to let go! It's only a five foot drop."
>You looked down.
>Well, she was right.
>You let go of her hand and fell to the ground.
>It hurt, likely due to the impact with the hard concrete.
>You groaned and stood back up, and you could swear a few bones popped around.
>"Sorry, I could have been a bit gentler there..."
"It's alright. But... exactly why did we need to go all the way up here?"
>The wind began to slow, and you were grateful for the reprieve from the chilled air.
>The woman paused for a moment before answering your question.
>"There's someone I'd like you to meet. You probably don't remember when I was talking about them."
"Just gonna say this again. I don't remember anything at all. I have no idea what's going on, or why any of this is happening. Just... don't expect any big reaction out of me."

>"I didn't really think you'd be this calm about all of this. After we talk, you can decide what you want to do."
>Well, you had assassins after you, a demonic chick or something that seemed really fucking attached to you, and there was no lack of combat skills on your part for you to use.
>This was some wierd shit that you had been a part of.
>You still thought it could be a dream.
>But, well, deep down you knew it all had to be real.
>She turned away from you and called out to someone.
>"Hey, you can come on out now!"

>Suddenly, a flash of green leapt out at you.
>Reflexes and training took over once again.
>You caught the attacker in midair and hurled them into the ground.
>As you stepped away, there were a few oddities you noticed about this person.
>Well, they might not be human, first off.
>Like the one who had suddenly shown up and taken you here, this creature's appearance was humanoid.
>But the similarities ended there.
>"Hey! Don'tcha think you coulda been a bit less rough there?"
>Another woman?
>That's what their voice sounded like, anyways.
>She stood up on uneasy legs and shook her head.
>"Come on now, you coulda killed me. My neck mighta went crack and that woulda been that."
>The creature in front of you stood at a height of an estimated five feet, but a pair of black horns extended above her head that were at least six inches on their own.
>They had... fur, which was a light green color and dotted with large streaks of yellow.
>"Hey, you alright buddy? I was just tryin' to give you a scare or something. No harm intended or anythin'. Just a joke," she said with a worried grin.
>Jennette shook her head.
>"Loka, I thought I told you... we don't do that anymore."
>Loka was the name of the one who had jumped at you.
>It sounded familiar somehow.
>Probably just deja vu.
>That didn't matter though.
>You just wanted to find out what was going on.
"So, why am I here?" you asked impatiently.
>Jennette paused for a moment.
>"I was waiting for you to get better. Hoping that you'd pull through somehow. While I waited... I found Loka."
>You had a feeling that Jennette had been someone close before you had lost your memories.
>The way she talked to you, the emotion every one of her words held, it all added up.
>"Now... we've got no idea how we're going to survive in this place without help from someone. We'd like to have your help with all of this."

>This was getting a bit out of hand.
>But... these people were likely your best chance at learning more about yourself.
>Diana had been quiet about your past after learning that you had amnesia.
>The only things you knew for sure...
>You were previously some sort of assassin.
>The criminal record following you was suspiciously clean.
>And you were an orphan.
>Why couldn't you have been someone normal?
>An accountant, maybe a doctor, even a freaking truck driver would have been easier to comprehend.
"Just... just fill me in on what's going on," you said.

>Jennette explained the situation, of how they were trapped here and have yet to find a way back to their own world.
>Then, Loka filled you in on how she had already met a human before Jennette found her.
>Apparently the guy hadn't come home one day, and she had been alone.
>Jennette had then found Loka wandering through a nearby forest.
>By the sound of her voice... she was still upset over the man's sudden disappearance.
>"I ain't got any clue where he went... the guy just up and poof, gone."
>Both of them had someone they'd lost in one way or another.
>You stepped closer to the two of them.
"I'm sure he's still out there, Loka. And Jennette... I don't remember you in the slightest, but I'll help you. Just tell me what I can do."
>Even if they looked... a bit out of the ordinary, it was probably for the best if you helped them, or at least agreed for the moment.
>Epecially since you were stuck on a rooftop with them.

>"There's one more thing you need to know before you agree to help us."
>By the tone of her voice, you knew this was something big.
>"There are people after us. Hunting us."
>Of course.
>By 'helping' them, you thought they had meant assisting them in returning home, not defending them from some other fucker and risking your life.
>You'd already almost died from being shot in the damned chest.
>That was one experience you didn't want to have again.
>Being stuck in a fucking hospital for months.
"Well... great. First, you scare the shit out of me, then kidnap me and take me here, then you tell me this? It would've been better just to start with that so I could've said no."
>You had snapped.
>The look on both of their faces afterwards brought on a feeling of immediate regret.
>They were really counting on you, but you still had no idea why.
>"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't know that this would happen... and you aren't the same person I knew before. I thought you'd help. I thought you'd be glad to see me. I was... wrong."
>And now she was crying.
>Loka, on the other hand, just looked disappointed.
>"Well, good job. You've gone and made her cry. If you don't wanna help, just say so. Don't screw with us like that though. Especially her."
>Loka leaned in as she motioned to Jennette, then lowered her voice until only you could barely hear it.
>"I know it's confusin' and all, seeing as you don't remember her, but you and her used to be a couple of some sort from what I heard."
>Wait... oh.
>That's who she was?
>That's why she seemed so distraught when you couldn't remember her?
>But... she isn't human.
>"I know you've been all messed up, losin' your memory. You should still try to give her a chance. She really does love you."
>Loka backed away after that final, somewhat jarring statement.

>Considering what happened at the hospital, you weren't going home any time soon.
>Hell, the police might have already started looking for you, and there was also the issue of the assassins after you.
>Oddly enough, you were probably as safe as you were going get while with these two.
>And... it wouldn't hurt, trying to gleam some knowledge of your past from speaking with Jennette.
>Maybe you could gently break ties with her so she could find someone else without any guilt hanging on
>You made your decision.
>For real this time.
"I'll help. Even with these people after you. I've got... well, I know how to fight."
>Jennette wiped her eyes and looked back up at you.
>"A-are you sure y-you're going to do th-this? I know you c-can fight, but are you sure you w-want to?"
>She waited a moment, took a breath, and began to speak clearly.
>"I know you don't remember either of us... and this is probably a shock to you. I remember when I first met you... it was terrifying. But... you took care of me, made sure I was okay."
>She smiled as she said this, as if just simply recalling the events was enough to brighten the mood.
>Suddenly, for the second time tonight, her arms were around you, and she was staring up at you.
>Her eyes bored into your own, a wounded, yet hopeful gaze.
>"I'm going to return the favor. You've got to trust us... got to trust me. We'll protect each other."

>This was probably the best thing you could do at the moment.
>At least this woman seemed trustworthy enough.
>The other one though... put you a little on edge.
>They seemed to blend in with the shadows too easily, always hiding in plain sight.
>That grin of hers somehow simultaneously unsettled you and seemed friendly at the same time.
>You looked back down at Jennette, who still had you in a gentle embrace.
"Well... I guess we should go somewhere where I'm not freezing to death, right?"
>She nodded while laughing quietly.
>"Alright... let's get going. We'll find somewhere to hole up in."
>You looked out over the city one last time.
>A neverending sea of light and sound, punctuated by the faint traces of stars above.
>It was beautiful and frightening, all in its own way.
>"Are we gonna take off now, Jennette?"
>Loka's voice gave you a start.
>Jennette felt your sudden twitch and let go of you.
>"Yeah. We're going to find a place to rest, and maybe sleep."
>Jennette grabbed your hand and held it tight.
>"We're going to fly again. Both of you, hold my hand tightly."
>Loka took her right hand, and yours was firmly clasped in her left.
>Without any further interruptions or warnings, Jennette took to the air, wings beating against the rushing winds with a determined fury.
>"Here we go!"
>She screamed over the wind, while you could barely get a breath in.
>But you were off once again.
>Jennette held you and Loka as she tore through the starry night sky.
>And so the night continued on, your entire life changed again within the hour.