Chapter 03 - Old Oranges

"Pinged something several blocks down the road from our guy."

"How many is several?"

"Eh... four? Five? Maybe four and a half? The one you're on right now counts as half a block to me."

"At the big intersection?"

"No, just before. I think. Number of blocks is a rough estimate anyways, but should still be around there. Maybe it is on the big intersection."

"Ah... damnmit. Let's go check it out. Find a side road to pull into."

"Do we just stay in the car? A car is like half a bomb."

"Eh, actually more like a bomb amplifier."

"I guess you're right. But then you have to get into how much-"

"Shuttup. Yukimura, your fireteam is in charge of guarding the VIP. Kanada, you and your fireteam on me. Let's go check it out."

...

"Emi! Get up!"

Something warm was sliding down my face. Blood. The ground was covered in it. So was the entire alley.

"Get out of here! Go, I've got your back!" My lungs struggled to breathe. My legs screamed as I tried to get myself up. I stumbled. I could hardly get farther than ten meters before collapsing again.

Reina turned around, reached for my arm. Dagger suddenly pierced her palm, shattering her soul gem on the other side. The lights in her eyes went out and she slumped on the floor next to me. Two more magic blasts slammed into brick. All I could hear were two screams drowned out by the landslide of stone.

...

"That all of 'em?"

"Yeah." The flicker of a lighter. "Should be."

"Make sure. Fuckers need to learn some goddamn respect."

"...Hey, weren't there eight of 'em?"

"'unno. Didn't count."

"That's 'cause you're fucking illiterate. Whatever. Jyuubey should be satisfied. I am. Make sure they're dead. You know the drill."

"Aye. Headshot gemshot."

Gunshots, followed by the cracking of skulls and flesh, then by the breaking of something precious.

Gunshots, closer and closer.

I shuddered awake, the last gunshot putting a bullet through my head. Just another dream. I opened another box of orange juice. Poured it in a glass. Tried to, anyways. Ended up spilling some of it, thanks to shaky hands.

I gave up and just ripped open the top of the box and dropped my gem in. I pulled the blanket over myself and stretched out on the bed. Was much easier to relax this way in orange juice, compared to being curled up.

...

Citrus is such a strange feeling.