HOME | DD

Description
It was a lot darker than it used to be around town now that the war was on.  Of course there was some light beaming from the specially adapted, low light, overhead street lamps and it reflected softly onto the wet, gritty pavement in some kind of graceful urban contrast.  An eerie silence hung in the air disturbed only by the sound of small, hurried footsteps splashing in the puddles and scuffing along the pavement.  The feet belonged to a blonde haired teen.  She moved in and out of the shadows, concealed further by a long, dark, hooded trench coat.  And disappeared completely when entering a dark backstreet withheld from the street's orange glow.  Her brown eyes scanned each gateway for signs of life, taking care to adjust for a couple of seconds to the blackness around her until her pupils were trained to the low light.  Just as she finished her watch, a small tapping noise coming from her right got louder and louder and was seemingly getting closer.  She froze, but quickly pulled herself out of it and stepped slowly back onto someone's back step.  A figure entered the alley, his head bobbing from side to side searching for something.  The girl stepped out from her gateway and cautiously approached him.  "Raven?" she whispered in a quivering tone.  "Yes.  And you?"  The man's voice was gruff and raw.
"Sparrow.  What have you got for me?"
"Something I sure she will like.  But first what do you have for me?" he replied harshly.  There was a high amount of seriousness in his voice yet also fear.  He wanted this over with quickly.  Reaching into the inside pocket of her trench coat, the teen pulled out a bundle of twenty pound notes bound with a rubber band and held it up to the man.  He reached out to take it, but she quickly snatched it back.  "Ah, ah, I want to see it."  The man raised his eyebrow and contemplated for a second then took a couple steps backwards and held up a fist with his right hand.
On command, a dusty, white van slowly and quietly reversed around the corner of the entry and backed up to where he was standing.  The back doors opened and two men carrying crates jumped out and dumped them at her feet.  She knelt down and prized the top open.  Inside was a neat pile of guns and ammo.  Pistols, machine guns and even grenades, they were all there.  She picked up a pistol and looked over it with inquisitive eyes, everything seemed in order.  She closed the crate and stood up; her eyes fixed on Raven, they locked with his for a couple of seconds.  She pushed her arm out towards him holding the money.  He reached his scarred hand out to take it but snatched it back as he heard the sound of a rifle being loaded, from the entrance to the alley way.  He swivelled around to see to two officers stood with their guns pointed at the four of them.  "State your business." The first one shouted through a strong German accent followed by a bark from the second demanding to see some form of identification.
Raven quickly pivoted around to face Sparrow and snatched the money from her outstretched hand and went to dive in the van as the teen ducked onto the floor, but it was too late.  The sound of gunfire shattered the night silence and the bullets pierced the man's head and chest.  By the time he hit the floor he was dead.
The two other men, who had made it to the van, sped off past the Germans leaving Sparrow alone.  The first officer glanced at the second and smirked, tipping his head towards the girl.  She quickly stood up as they advanced on her, their leather boots creaking in the awkward silence which had once again blanketed the air.  Sparrow stood her ground and watched them advance until all between them were the crates.  The Germans looked down and the first one kicked the lid of the opened crate to reveal its contents.  "Gun running." he sniped.  "An offence for which you can be shot on sight I believe."  He took one hand of his gun and touched the teen's cheek.  "Now why would such a pretty face risk her life for such - instruments?"  A twisted, hungry smile spread across both their faces yet Sparrow still stood motionless, part through loathing and part fear.
The first officer placed his roaming hand back on his gun and without warning thrust the butt of his gun into her face forcing her to her knees.  She took her gaze away from the two men and stared at the pavement her breath quickening.  The German who struck her threw his gun down in rage and grabbed her by her the top of her coat throwing her up against a wall.  He pushed himself on her until his hot breath blew across her bruised cheek.  "I want you to be looking at me when I break you."  His grip tightened around her coat and his other hand reached for the crotch of his uniform and started to undo the zip on his trousers, the twisted grin returning to his already twisted features.  Her eyes widened, she dared not leave his formidable gaze.
But before he could move on her he was interrupted by a loud whistling noise coming from the end of the backstreet.  Both officers turned around to see a shadow and a pin of red light which looked to be the end of cigarette.  The light got brighter as its owner inhaled and slowly blew the smoke out.  Then the shadow spoke.  "Wouldn't do that if I were you."  The second officer lowered his gun and scrambled for a torch at the sound of the rough, female voice, whilst the first one still held a tight grip on the teen.  The torch light hit the figure, lighting up her blue eye and casting a shadow over the scar above and below her other, red one.  "Who are you and why not?" barked the German holding the torch.  "Are you going to stop us?"  She threw the cigarette to the ground and stamped it out before replying.  "I could try, I really could, but I wouldn't stand a chance."
"Ha", smirked the man still holding Sparrow, "you fear us.  As does this one."  He hit the teen hard into the wall before releasing her.
Again the nameless female spoke.  "Nope, not really."  The officers exchanged glances as she continued.  "I mean I wouldn't even get a look in now you've pissed her off."
The two men exchanged glances for a second time, this time worried ones.  They had a moment of realisation.  "You!" shouted the first one running for his gun lying where he left it on the ground, but before he could reach it he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head.  He lay on the ground and rolled over to see Sparrow swinging her leg to take another kick.  Quickly he swung his body around in time to catch her foot.
The second man watched the scuffle and then turned to the figure in the alley to see it running towards him.  It took a flying kick at him knocking him winded and torch-less.  He lashed out with his arm but she ducked in time to miss it.  Pulling her arm sharply she pushed his away and took a swing at his face.  His nose seemed to explode into a fountain of blood.  He took another swing and this time his fist contacted with her cheek, hitting her jaw line.
Meanwhile, Sparrow jumped up and wretched her foot free from the other man's grip.  He quickly jumped up and backed her up against the same wall, but this time she didn't stay there.  She lifted her knee firmly and sharply into his groin, forcing him to curl over in pain.  She took a glance over at the stranger to see her regaining her balance from the last punch.  The unknown girl pulled a long object out sharply from by her side and it collided with the German's stomach.  She made another quick jab and this time what appeared to be the hilt of a sword collided with the man's already bloody face smearing the red liquid over the sword.  She looked back at Sparrow and called out to her, "Sam!"  Sam turned around but it was too late, the officer grabbed her from behind.  She struggled in his once again tight clench, but couldn't move.  She tried to elbow him, but to no avail.  His grip started to tighten, closing her chest up more and more.  She felt her airways struggling to push breath to her lungs and her heart quickened.  Sam glanced at her partner, her brown orbs shooting a message of pain to the shadowed girl followed by a small whimpering cry.
The red eyed fighter saw the trouble her colleague was in and quickly threw her gaze to the ground looking for an aid before the other German had chance to retaliate.  The officer struggled to his feet, bruised, blooded and winded whilst she kicked his rifle across the ground to her friend.
Sam started to slowly edge her foot towards the rifle, each shuffle, and each stretch bought her closer and closer to it.  Until finally success, she hooked her trainer around the strap and lifted her leg as hard and as fast as she could manage throwing the weapon up into the air above her forearm and ensured that it landed into her ready, outstretched hands.  Quickly, she turned the gun around so the barrel was under her assailant's chin and pulled the trigger.  Sam felt the warm blood splatter into her hair and onto the back of her neck as he slumped to the floor.  She then thrust the butt under her arm and turned her body around to face the other officer, but to her horror found her ally held hostage with a pistol to her head, fresh blood flowing from a cut below her lip and a scared look in her eyes.  "Le." She whispered in disbelief.
Sam knew she had to make a quick decision, her head told her to shoot him and hope she got off a round before he could.  Yet her stomach and gut told her to charge at him and beat him to the ground.
"Ha." The officer cried "I can finally eradicate the parasite gnawing at the core of our bright vision.  I can get just revenge for death of our commander, Phillips and live my leader, Laugana's dream" He leaned in closer to Le and whispered in her ear almost seductively, "You'll make me famous sweetheart."
Sam and Le locked gazes and both looked stunned.  "It can't be, I killed her - I heard the gun fire when I pulled the trigger.  She's dead" insisted Le.
"She shot you", he bragged, "yet you still live."  He pushed the pistol further into Le's skull.  Her eyes and head filled with memories and she felt a twinge of pain in her rib where the hot bullet had ripped her skin apart and left her with pinkish, healed gash.  She closed her eyes and hoped that Sam would come through for her like Le had for her only two years before before.  The night had once again fallen silent.  All Le could hear was her breath quivering in the cold night air.  Then finally a gunshot rang out for the final time that night and both Le and her attacker fell to the floor. A small cough rung into the air and Le moved.  The German lay dead a bullet buried in his skull.
Le sat up and took a deep breath in.  "Whoa, intense."
"Not what I would call it." Said Sam disapprovingly "I thought you said Laugana was shot by someone trying to shot you." Said Sam inquisitively.  "Why lie?"  she pieced Le with her gaze, commanding her to tell the truth.
"I didn't." Le replied, "I said she was shot by a bullet intended for me."  A confused look spread across Sam's face, wasn't that the same thing?  Le started to explain, "When I woke up I was in a small room with her.  When my eyes focused properly I saw a table between us and a gun on top.  She said first to pick it up walks out, guess she thought I'd hesitate for too long with refusing to shoot before, but I didn't see a person in front of me any more.  I saw the woman that shot me" she paused and turned to face Sam "and who was going to kill you.  I could either break the rules and give us complete freedom or I could die for a cause that wasn't even worth fighting for."  With that Le stood up and picked up one of the crates, breaking Sam's psychological hold over her.
"That doesn't answer my question Leonie.  Why lie?" Sam's tone changed and became more forceful and imposing.
"Look, first of all I didn't lie, ok?  I bent the truth.  Second I'm not proud of what I did, I broke a personal boundary I never thought I'd break.  I took a life with an evil weapon for the first time.  I was scared."  Le lowered her head and stared at the crate.  "Scared of who I was."  Sam softened slightly and she walked over the sea of bodies to get to Le and took the crate from out of her arms.  "You have a red eye, numerous scars and a head full of bad memories.  You could only go one way, you knew that when you left to find me.  Besides what difference does it make to me who you are?  I don't listen to you anyway."  She smiled at Le and piled the crates on top of each other.
Le turned around and smiled to herself, knowing her heart and head were that little bit lighter now someone knew.  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a battered key fob, pushing the button on it at the same time.  A small click could be faintly heard from around the corner accompanied by a beep and a glaring beam of light.  Sam followed and they both walked around the corner to see the familiar sight of their war-beaten, sprayed land rover, which by now had definitely seen better days.

Description
It was a lot darker than it used to be around town now that the war was on.  Of course there was some light beaming from the specially adapted, low light, overhead street lamps and it reflected softly onto the wet, gritty pavement in some kind of graceful urban contrast.  An eerie silence hung in the air disturbed only by the sound of small, hurried footsteps splashing in the puddles and scuffing along the pavement.  The feet belonged to a blonde haired teen.  She moved in and out of the shadows, concealed further by a long, dark, hooded trench coat.  And disappeared completely when entering a dark backstreet withheld from the street's orange glow.  Her brown eyes scanned each gateway for signs of life, taking care to adjust for a couple of seconds to the blackness around her until her pupils were trained to the low light.  Just as she finished her watch, a small tapping noise coming from her right got louder and louder and was seemingly getting closer.  She froze, but quickly pulled herself out of it and stepped slowly back onto someone's back step.  A figure entered the alley, his head bobbing from side to side searching for something.  The girl stepped out from her gateway and cautiously approached him.  "Raven?" she whispered in a quivering tone.  "Yes.  And you?"  The man's voice was gruff and raw.
"Sparrow.  What have you got for me?"
"Something I sure she will like.  But first what do you have for me?" he replied harshly.  There was a high amount of seriousness in his voice yet also fear.  He wanted this over with quickly.  Reaching into the inside pocket of her trench coat, the teen pulled out a bundle of twenty pound notes bound with a rubber band and held it up to the man.  He reached out to take it, but she quickly snatched it back.  "Ah, ah, I want to see it."  The man raised his eyebrow and contemplated for a second then took a couple steps backwards and held up a fist with his right hand.
On command, a dusty, white van slowly and quietly reversed around the corner of the entry and backed up to where he was standing.  The back doors opened and two men carrying crates jumped out and dumped them at her feet.  She knelt down and prized the top open.  Inside was a neat pile of guns and ammo.  Pistols, machine guns and even grenades, they were all there.  She picked up a pistol and looked over it with inquisitive eyes, everything seemed in order.  She closed the crate and stood up; her eyes fixed on Raven, they locked with his for a couple of seconds.  She pushed her arm out towards him holding the money.  He reached his scarred hand out to take it but snatched it back as he heard the sound of a rifle being loaded, from the entrance to the alley way.  He swivelled around to see to two officers stood with their guns pointed at the four of them.  "State your business." The first one shouted through a strong German accent followed by a bark from the second demanding to see some form of identification.
Raven quickly pivoted around to face Sparrow and snatched the money from her outstretched hand and went to dive in the van as the teen ducked onto the floor, but it was too late.  The sound of gunfire shattered the night silence and the bullets pierced the man's head and chest.  By the time he hit the floor he was dead.
The two other men, who had made it to the van, sped off past the Germans leaving Sparrow alone.  The first officer glanced at the second and smirked, tipping his head towards the girl.  She quickly stood up as they advanced on her, their leather boots creaking in the awkward silence which had once again blanketed the air.  Sparrow stood her ground and watched them advance until all between them were the crates.  The Germans looked down and the first one kicked the lid of the opened crate to reveal its contents.  "Gun running." he sniped.  "An offence for which you can be shot on sight I believe."  He took one hand of his gun and touched the teen's cheek.  "Now why would such a pretty face risk her life for such - instruments?"  A twisted, hungry smile spread across both their faces yet Sparrow still stood motionless, part through loathing and part fear.
The first officer placed his roaming hand back on his gun and without warning thrust the butt of his gun into her face forcing her to her knees.  She took her gaze away from the two men and stared at the pavement her breath quickening.  The German who struck her threw his gun down in rage and grabbed her by her the top of her coat throwing her up against a wall.  He pushed himself on her until his hot breath blew across her bruised cheek.  "I want you to be looking at me when I break you."  His grip tightened around her coat and his other hand reached for the crotch of his uniform and started to undo the zip on his trousers, the twisted grin returning to his already twisted features.  Her eyes widened, she dared not leave his formidable gaze.
But before he could move on her he was interrupted by a loud whistling noise coming from the end of the backstreet.  Both officers turned around to see a shadow and a pin of red light which looked to be the end of cigarette.  The light got brighter as its owner inhaled and slowly blew the smoke out.  Then the shadow spoke.  "Wouldn't do that if I were you."  The second officer lowered his gun and scrambled for a torch at the sound of the rough, female voice, whilst the first one still held a tight grip on the teen.  The torch light hit the figure, lighting up her blue eye and casting a shadow over the scar above and below her other, red one.  "Who are you and why not?" barked the German holding the torch.  "Are you going to stop us?"  She threw the cigarette to the ground and stamped it out before replying.  "I could try, I really could, but I wouldn't stand a chance."
"Ha", smirked the man still holding Sparrow, "you fear us.  As does this one."  He hit the teen hard into the wall before releasing her.
Again the nameless female spoke.  "Nope, not really."  The officers exchanged glances as she continued.  "I mean I wouldn't even get a look in now you've pissed her off."
The two men exchanged glances for a second time, this time worried ones.  They had a moment of realisation.  "You!" shouted the first one running for his gun lying where he left it on the ground, but before he could reach it he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head.  He lay on the ground and rolled over to see Sparrow swinging her leg to take another kick.  Quickly he swung his body around in time to catch her foot.
The second man watched the scuffle and then turned to the figure in the alley to see it running towards him.  It took a flying kick at him knocking him winded and torch-less.  He lashed out with his arm but she ducked in time to miss it.  Pulling her arm sharply she pushed his away and took a swing at his face.  His nose seemed to explode into a fountain of blood.  He took another swing and this time his fist contacted with her cheek, hitting her jaw line.
Meanwhile, Sparrow jumped up and wretched her foot free from the other man's grip.  He quickly jumped up and backed her up against the same wall, but this time she didn't stay there.  She lifted her knee firmly and sharply into his groin, forcing him to curl over in pain.  She took a glance over at the stranger to see her regaining her balance from the last punch.  The unknown girl pulled a long object out sharply from by her side and it collided with the German's stomach.  She made another quick jab and this time what appeared to be the hilt of a sword collided with the man's already bloody face smearing the red liquid over the sword.  She looked back at Sparrow and called out to her, "Sam!"  Sam turned around but it was too late, the officer grabbed her from behind.  She struggled in his once again tight clench, but couldn't move.  She tried to elbow him, but to no avail.  His grip started to tighten, closing her chest up more and more.  She felt her airways struggling to push breath to her lungs and her heart quickened.  Sam glanced at her partner, her brown orbs shooting a message of pain to the shadowed girl followed by a small whimpering cry.
The red eyed fighter saw the trouble her colleague was in and quickly threw her gaze to the ground looking for an aid before the other German had chance to retaliate.  The officer struggled to his feet, bruised, blooded and winded whilst she kicked his rifle across the ground to her friend.
Sam started to slowly edge her foot towards the rifle, each shuffle, and each stretch bought her closer and closer to it.  Until finally success, she hooked her trainer around the strap and lifted her leg as hard and as fast as she could manage throwing the weapon up into the air above her forearm and ensured that it landed into her ready, outstretched hands.  Quickly, she turned the gun around so the barrel was under her assailant's chin and pulled the trigger.  Sam felt the warm blood splatter into her hair and onto the back of her neck as he slumped to the floor.  She then thrust the butt under her arm and turned her body around to face the other officer, but to her horror found her ally held hostage with a pistol to her head, fresh blood flowing from a cut below her lip and a scared look in her eyes.  "Le." She whispered in disbelief.
Sam knew she had to make a quick decision, her head told her to shoot him and hope she got off a round before he could.  Yet her stomach and gut told her to charge at him and beat him to the ground.
"Ha." The officer cried "I can finally eradicate the parasite gnawing at the core of our bright vision.  I can get just revenge for death of our commander, Phillips and live my leader, Laugana's dream" He leaned in closer to Le and whispered in her ear almost seductively, "You'll make me famous sweetheart."
Sam and Le locked gazes and both looked stunned.  "It can't be, I killed her - I heard the gun fire when I pulled the trigger.  She's dead" insisted Le.
"She shot you", he bragged, "yet you still live."  He pushed the pistol further into Le's skull.  Her eyes and head filled with memories and she felt a twinge of pain in her rib where the hot bullet had ripped her skin apart and left her with pinkish, healed gash.  She closed her eyes and hoped that Sam would come through for her like Le had for her only two years before before.  The night had once again fallen silent.  All Le could hear was her breath quivering in the cold night air.  Then finally a gunshot rang out for the final time that night and both Le and her attacker fell to the floor. A small cough rung into the air and Le moved.  The German lay dead a bullet buried in his skull.
Le sat up and took a deep breath in.  "Whoa, intense."
"Not what I would call it." Said Sam disapprovingly "I thought you said Laugana was shot by someone trying to shot you." Said Sam inquisitively.  "Why lie?"  she pieced Le with her gaze, commanding her to tell the truth.
"I didn't." Le replied, "I said she was shot by a bullet intended for me."  A confused look spread across Sam's face, wasn't that the same thing?  Le started to explain, "When I woke up I was in a small room with her.  When my eyes focused properly I saw a table between us and a gun on top.  She said first to pick it up walks out, guess she thought I'd hesitate for too long with refusing to shoot before, but I didn't see a person in front of me any more.  I saw the woman that shot me" she paused and turned to face Sam "and who was going to kill you.  I could either break the rules and give us complete freedom or I could die for a cause that wasn't even worth fighting for."  With that Le stood up and picked up one of the crates, breaking Sam's psychological hold over her.
"That doesn't answer my question Leonie.  Why lie?" Sam's tone changed and became more forceful and imposing.
"Look, first of all I didn't lie, ok?  I bent the truth.  Second I'm not proud of what I did, I broke a personal boundary I never thought I'd break.  I took a life with an evil weapon for the first time.  I was scared."  Le lowered her head and stared at the crate.  "Scared of who I was."  Sam softened slightly and she walked over the sea of bodies to get to Le and took the crate from out of her arms.  "You have a red eye, numerous scars and a head full of bad memories.  You could only go one way, you knew that when you left to find me.  Besides what difference does it make to me who you are?  I don't listen to you anyway."  She smiled at Le and piled the crates on top of each other.
Le turned around and smiled to herself, knowing her heart and head were that little bit lighter now someone knew.  She reached into her pocket and pulled out a battered key fob, pushing the button on it at the same time.  A small click could be faintly heard from around the corner accompanied by a beep and a glaring beam of light.  Sam followed and they both walked around the corner to see the familiar sight of their war-beaten, sprayed land rover, which by now had definitely seen better days.