Losing Troy, Part 7

Troy's mind surfaced again from the mental fog, but Jolie didn't even notice nor care.

     What is going on? he thought. His brain felt...tired, and he really wanted to close his eyes again, drift in the silent sea of darkness he'd awoken from...but he couldn't. Strange visions were flashing in front of his face, visions of something he didn't understand, visions he didn't want to understand. 

     It was like he was someone else, in the brain of another being, as it focused its sharp eyes on the figure in front of it. Troy immediately recognized the lithe, red headed, emerald eyes figure. 

     Audrey?! What's going on? Am I killing Audrey?! His mind was spinning as he struggled to wake up from this terrible nightmare. Only, he feared it wasn't. The creature leaped, and Audrey dodged. But she wasn't fast enough. The creature twisted, smashing down on her, and Troy let out a mental scream, which rocked through the network of minds controlled by Jolie's mind, like a stabbing, jarring pain of searing light.

"What is going on?" Jolie demanded, confused.

     "What's happening?" the warrior wanted to know, turning its mutated face to meet Jolie's.

     "Something like a sudden, searing sword jab has gone through all the minds connected to this," Jolie explained.

     The warrior blinked. "Do you think it'll happen again?"

     "No," Jolie hissed suddenly, angry. "I figured out where it came from, and he will pay."

     "Give me what you promised first--the girl," the warrior responded.

     Jolie drew in a deep breath before agreeing. "Fine."

The Scav faltered on top of Audrey, as if pierced by a sudden pain, as it jerked its head back, shaking it viciously. She took advantage of this, managing to pull her arm out from where it was pinned beneath the Scav's front left arm, and bringing it up its chest again, parallel with its previous chest wound.

     It jumped away from her as fast as lightning, its body curving and writhing like a snake's. Audrey knew he'd strike soon, so she jumped to her feet painfully before backing up against the curved wall. If only she could get out...

     The Scav charged, wraith like, poison fangs bared and two tails snapping the air angrily. Audrey had little time to dodge artfully out of the way, letting it slam into the wall with a good bit of force, denting the heavy metal walls. It skidded to a halt, did a ninety degree turn, and charged at Audrey again, who was quickly approaching the curved wall at the other side of the cavern.

     Everything had to be timed perfectly, even down to the last second. Each reaction had to be perfect, flawless.

     It seemed to slow down for Audrey as the Scav charged, mouth gaping, saliva dripping of its fangs and tongue. She continued running full tilt, even as the wall loomed larger and larger before her. She forced herself to keep running with everything she had up that curved wall...her muscles screamed and gravity pushed her down, but she grabbed the edge of the hole with her fingers, and forced her tired body to swing out from the wall with all she had, letting the Scav smash his head against the metal wall right where her feet had been.

     She swung forward, her feet hitting the wall above the Scav's head, and pulled upward with her arms and shoved with her feet, pushing herself upward and the Scav's head down.

     Once on the rim, she collapsed, drawing in deep, gasping breaths for air. Her sides ached, her ankles were bleeding, her fingers were slashed from grabbing the sharp metal rim, and her ribs felt like they'd been crushed while her arms burned all over. In fact, she hurt so much, she almost felt like she could just fall asleep forever...

     The Scav pulled himself out of the hole much the way he had done the first time, but Audrey could tell he was more tired than he'd been then, just like her.

     If that thing charged at her again...she knew she'd be dead. She sucked in another great lungful of air before making one last desperate move.

     She threw her energy sword with all of her might as soon as the Scav came out of the hole and lunged for her, claws extended. Then she ducked as the Scav smashed to the ground right behind her, energy sword buried deep into its neck.

     Once again, Audrey almost gagged at the horrendous smell, and felt her head swimming as she wrapped her fingers around the bloody blade and pulled for all she worth.

     The blade left the body easily, and Audrey closed her eyes, willing the nausea away. She opened them again, took a deep breath, and sheathed the energy sword.

     "Jolie, I know you can here me. I'll make you a deal--let Troy go, safe and sound, and I'll spare your life."

Jolie laughed at Audrey's deal. "Ha, not a chance! Good luck trying to kill me."

     The warrior was not amused, however. He wanted the job done now. This ship was a vital part of his leader's plan, and it needed to get there. Right now it couldn't run, as there was nothing to power it. But what Jolie had promised him could not be ignored...as soon as she delivered it though, he would kill her.

     Pity, though--she really was such a genius. He admired the way she played with people's mind. Oh well. Killing never bothered him. Jolie would be no different.