[ Ongoing - Complete ] Escape

[roseblooms]

When; Before the ritual
Rating; PG-13 (Death) - Make sure you have lots of kleenex T^T [Sketches will be added as they're inked. :3]
Characters; Bridget [kickstartmoon], Yamamura Megumi [pinkenglishrose], Sephiroth [demonicnova],
Later: Sol Badguy [viper_flame], Axl Low [axl_bomb], Zappa [a_man_possessed]
Summary; Bridget finds Megumi and rescues her after she's beaten up from her former capture. However, their luck has just about run out..
Log;

This was like a maze, and it was utter chaos. There seemed to be a lot of people escaping, and a lot of people were fighting. Bridget was having trouble telling faces apart. Who was who, and what was what? There were vile creatures down here, and for now Bridget did his best to dodge all trouble. He wanted to save everyone! But it seemed like there were a lot of rescuers around. Surely everyone would get out safely.

Now that Roger was fixed, and working even better than new, he had bided his time until it seemed like a good chance to escape. Utter chaos in the underground right now seemed like a good chance! Mechanical teddy bears with buzz saws really were the best for escaping...though he had kept the handcuffs on his wrists, broken chain clinking against each one as he ran and jumped over people, keeping an eye out for someone specific.

Ah, a quieter section...with...

"Miss Megumi!" He skidded to a stop outside of the cell just in time to see a large man lift what looked like a metal baton. He gasped and flung out his yo-yo without further thought, the red disc spinning between two bars and wrapping around the wrist of the scary looking man. With a yank, the man was forced back against the bars, arm broken by the surprisingly sturdy toy and his head hit hard enough to daze him.

Bridget made a face as he reached through the bars to slip the keys out of the gross man's pocket. He hated touching dirty, mean people! This was awful...

"Ah~! Success! I am the winner!" He yanked the keys out and unwound his yo-yo to dock it at his hip, then let the man slide down to the floor inside the cell while quickly unlocking the cell door and darting in. "Miss Megumi! Are you okay? Oh no...what did the bad men do to you?!"

After she had fallen to the twisted gray child and the cave-in, Megumi's mind felt like it had hit some sort of fast forward button. She remembered someone grabbing her hair, she remembered being dragged across the floor of the tunnels, she remembered the mocking laughter and their hands hitting her, the insults and the blows. It was all a blur, because never before had she ever experienced so much agony in the shortest while ever. At least Nana was safe.. and Sol had come for her..

They'd done something to her legs, beating them over and over until they stopped moving. They weren't broken, she would have felt it-- there was just enough reaction and overwhelming pain for them to technically go into a numbness that would explode into pain on movement. Then, she had gotten to speaking to her friends who were worrying for her, trying to assure them she was fine.. and trying her best to not cry. If she cried, all would be lost and this was more physically painful than being any reason for her to cry.

Of course, the others didn't seem to be done.. and then she found herself being beaten down again, but she refused to yell this time around. She wasn't going to give them the satisfaction of knowing they were hurting her-- when--

The pain never came and Megumi blinked, blue eyes wide in confusion as the man in her cell flew off and away, and she turned her head to follow where he landed. She blinked, trying to focus her vision on the person outside.. then, after what felt like an action she hadn't done for years, she found herself smiling in relief at the sunshine-bright innocent face she saw.

"B-Bridget.." was that really her voice? She sounded horrible! Her clothes were messed up, and she knew she was visibly bruised all over, her cheek swelling a bit. But she was genuinely happy to see Bridget.. he'd made Roger cut through the metal after all..

Trying to sit up, she winced. "Wh..Why didn't you escape yet.."

Megumi looked positively awful. Bridget hadn't seen someone so badly beaten in a long time. Crouching down, the boy offered another smile, and he thrust out the teddy bear. "Miss Megumi, I promised that I'd protect you with my life! Hold Roger for me, will you?"

Shifting around, he remained crouched in front of her. "I know it must hurt, but try to wrap your arms around my neck, I'll take it from here. And don't let go of Roger! He's our guardian angel."

Using the wall behind her as a form of leverage, Megumi tried not to show just how much in pain she was. She was good at that, so she knew it wouldn't be difficult to keep smiling for the younger boy. He'd always made her smile, and was such a dear that she knew she should keep her hopes up for him. So when he handed the teddy bear to her, she blinked.. then chuckled a bit... "Roger's doing his job wonderfully, isn't he.." with a smile, she reached out a hand to touch Bridget's face. She knew he wanted to help her, but she had to make sure he'd be fine too.

"It's dangerous outside.. I'm not a fighter, Bridget. I'll be a burden to you.."she told him. "... it would be best if you got out before me.."

Bridget tilted his head and looked over his shoulder at her with his eyebrows furrowed and eyes flickering in confusion. "Miss Megumi! I won't go anywhere without you."

Reaching back with one hand, he gently took her wrist and pulled it over his shoulder, then used his other arm to try and grip her thigh and pull her forward just enough so that he could quickly stand and bounce her more securely onto his back.

However, as petite as she was, Bridget was still small, so it took some staggering and leaning heavily forward before he managed to get his balance. "O-okay! Forward!" And he marched...or rather...trudged...and hoped nobody would notice them. Not conspicuous at all!

As inconspicuous as about wearing a sign on them that would read 'Look at us please!' . Megumi blinked in surprise as the boy made his promise and before she could argue, she found herself being raised over shoulders three feet shorter than her. The dedication and the strength the other put through to carry her surprised her, he really was more stronger than he looked.. and while this was seriously uncomfortable for her body, at that moment, she felt eternally grateful that he was there at all..

Closing her eyes, Megumi attempted to make things easier for the boy and began to whisper a small spell. It wouldn't be strong enough to battle, but for now.. it could help his task and make it easier, and lift her weight off him. By cancelling out the gravity beneath her, he could still carry her-- and not feel her weight on his back, and she smiled when the spell started to successfully act up.

"Silly Bridget.." she whispered affectionately, her voice soft. "How is that?" she asked, now attempting to maintain the spell so he could walk straight.



The sudden lack of weight surprised him, and he quickly looked over his shoulder to make sure he hadn't dropped her or anything horrible like that. When he saw she was still there, he realized what she had done and laughed. Immediately he shut his mouth and ducked his head, trying to hurry around a corner as he whispered excitedly.

"Wow! You really are so talented. That's a lot easier... Just don't wear yourself out, okay?! After all, the point of this is to make sure you stay safe, not tire you out."

He looked back ahead of him only to come to an immediate halt, and saw somebody that looked like a...nurse? She was standing still. He stepped closer, handcuffs reflecting in the dim light of the lamps as he got a little closer. "Miss? Are you--whoa!!" Immediately he stumbled back, nearly dropping Megumi in surprise as the bandaged nurse took a swing at him with what looked like a scalpel.

Fortunately, he DIDN'T drop Megumi... But he did quickly crouch down to let her sit. Even with her spell, he didn't want her to use it when it wasn't needed. Really, this thing didn't even look alive now that he was looking closely... So would it be okay to 'kill' it? Bridget didn't like shedding blood in any sort of manner, but this was for a bigger cause...

"Hey, Miss, are you alive? You don't have to attack me--AH okay, apparently you do!" He ducked when she swung again. She didn't seem to move a lot, though. What was it she was attracted to? Noise? Light? Hm...

She wasn't going to wear herself out, not when the joy of knowing she had Bridget with her and that at the very least he'd be able to escape was predominant. Her smile grew when he thanked her and she rest her head tiredly against his back when all of a sudden, she found herself being jerked back. As Bridget crouched, she immediately ducked her head and gasped at the disgusting sight of the nurse-- who-- she blinked, as she realised, had no face.

She'd seen many zombies and monsters in her lifetime but this was the first time she'd seen something like this- so.. primitive in a way, yet. That didn't mean it wasn't dangerous! Gasping, Megumi's gaze turned to the boy's handcuffs and she noticed the glinting light, remembering her earlier time when she was trying to escape with Nana. The monsters, as soon as she'd starting using her powers, had started heading towards her. Realisation struck, and she turned to focus her gaze on the back of the boy's head.

"The light-- Bridget, back up!" she exclaimed, and with another uttered spell which she muttered after dispelling the other one (she could always use it again, even if it was straining her)-- she summoned the reflection away from his handcuffs, and directed the life into a spiraling mote of light in front of the nurse itself. The nurse began to swing wildly at it, convulsing, and walking towards it and while she would be distracted with that, Megumi turned to Bridget again.

"Let's go!"

The spell wasn't one he had expected, but he had immediately done as directed, and was amazed when he saw the reflections going elsewhere. So it HAD been the light. Relieved that he didn't have to fight the nurse-like-thing if he didn't have to, he ran back over to Megumi and crouched to lift her up once more.

"And you say you aren't a fighter! You're a lot more useful than lots of fighters, Miss Megumi." The young boy got a good grip on her legs before he quickly tried to dart off. If she hadn't been lessening her weight any, he probably wouldn't have been able to move fast enough, but with her spell he made sure to keep going at this pace while she still had the energy to use her magic.

He did NOT want that creepy thing to catch up with them.

Ahhh, he had no clue where he was going... But if he just kept avoiding the crowds and the guards, then surely they'd find an exit!

Megumi smiled at the words when they were spoken, and making sure to keep her strength up about her, she held onto Bridget. Yes, she knew it was helpful to cast these distracting spells but that only went as far as her body would allow her. She didn't want the boy to be trapped here, not when those mad people would be around and..

Closing her eyes briefly, she tried to remember. Sol had come from this way, there had been a cave in, but.. she knew that there was a path right there they could follow around it. The place started looking familiar, and Megumi chuckled softly. "If I was useful, you wouldn't have to carry me." she was almost afraid of the fact that she had no feeling in her legs, but she knew they weren't gone yet and she chuckled. "Be careful, there are monsters still and.. " she looked up, trying to focus. "At least we're away from that strange ritual.. whatever that was.. I want no part of it." she was grateful to whatever spirit had protected her that had protected Bridget as well, then she smiled. "I recognize this tunnel-- if we take that path--" she pointed with her hand. "We can climb on outside.. there's a way out from there I missed when they caught me last.."

What she didn't know, was that there was already someone there laying in wait. Of course, he wouldn't have normally cared about the escapees, all the captured ones were technically small fry, but to lose too many, well. That wouldn't be quite beneficial to their cause, would it? And from the dissolving darkness before them, a burst of black feathers sent forth-- before they'd hear the gentle whisk of heavy clothing.. and the gleam of a blade catching in their eyes.

Sephiroth was waiting. And amusement shone in his eyes, mixed with blood lust, at the sight. Someone useful leaving? Oh, no. He knew children, and innocents had no place here, but there was that interesting little price of ruin.. and he smirked, stepping forward, Masamune held to one side, tilted in a way to confuse it's length.

"Leaving so soon?"

Bridget's smile of hope soon evaporated when he heard the bone chilling voice, and was forced to slow to a stop yet again when he saw a tall, enigmatic figure appear out of the darkness. The being ITSELF seemed to embody darkness. That nurse thing wasn't half was creepy as this guy seemed.

Suppressing a shiver, he tightened his grip on Megumi's legs and stepped back a bit, eying behind them, and then trying to peer around Sephiroth. If he could just...get around him...he could run, and... Nobody was faster than him when he was running at full speed! Surely...

"You... You guys are bad people! Kidnapping innocents like this... Why would you do this?!"

Sephiroth's face was calm. However, lurking beneath that cool look was a monster that had awoken right when this cruelty had begun. He was not, by any ways, tamed to the needs of the city. He had needed blood and needed to kill, and with Jenova not responding to him, he had been further driven mad by a silence he'd truly wanted to fill with something, anything. Company was not an option. However, now..

He had his own reasons for aiding this cruel cause. Somewhere, he still longed to make people suffer, to punish them, and knowing he was capable of it brought him greater joy of sorts. So when the boy spoke, a smirk appeared on his lips, the blade of Masamune gleaming in the faint light that would be their escape. Then, with a calm sweep, he swung the blade in a fluid motion so that his arm was extended and the blade held barely an inch from the boy's neck.

"For a greater cause." was his simple reply, a dark grin on his lips. He wasn't one to kill the innocent, and this boy and woman seemed very much so, but they needed their sacrifices.

"I suggest you turn around and return.. the ritual is about to begin and it cannot work with it's sacrifices escaping ... what will we offer her..?"

Megumi's blood ran cold at the way the other spoke and when he swung his blade towards Bridget, she was immediately ready to send a barrier ahead to deflect it-- but he didn't seem to want to kill, not yet. Her heart was beginning to pound madly in fear, realising their escape would never come through as long as this man was around and neither of them were a match for him at all. After they'd come so far!!

She had to get Bridget out.. at the very least, and she loosened her grip on the boy's back, ready to be taken away. "Then let Bridget go. You said you don't need children, didn't you? " if she'd been through so much here, then she might as well go through with it entirely. "Let him pass, and you can take me in his place!"

"I don't think you heard me." Sephiroth's expression grew darker and he took a threatening step forward. "The ritual is about to begin. You will return right now. There will be no more escape." his voice had grown lower and the glint in his eyes more maddened than ever.

"Or do I need to explain further..?"

That blade was long. If Bridget wasn't so busy worrying about escaping and being rather disgusted by this obviously evil man, he might have admired the obvious skill it took to wield such a long, find blade.

However, Bridget was very much busy trying to plan an escape. Sweat beaded at his brow at how close the tip of the blade was to his skin. He wasn't even in range to get a good kick in. And here he had really been practicing those with Greed.

Finally sighing, the boy backed up a few steps. "Greater cause, huh...? Miss Megumi has a point, I guess..."

He looked like he was about to turn, but in an instant he was flicking his yo-yo out, the red gleaming as it was tossed and spun to wrap around a beam and then right out the exit, the thin but surprisingly sturdy string forming a line above Sephiroth's head. It had been a risk, because he hadn't known if it would catch onto anything out the door... But fortunately it had. "Miss Megumi, hang on tight!"

Without even a moment's hesitation, he forced himself to forget how much this would hurt with Megumi's added weight, and jumped up, grabbing Roger from her hands and using him to hug the string so that it didn't slice into his hands, and he lifted his legs to swing for momentum, but since the string was already at a slight angle, they practically seemed to fly through the air right over Sephiroth's head.

"Nyaaah~! My cause is WAY greater than yours!" He made a point of sticking out his tongue to Sephiroth in passing before they flew out the door. Unfortunately it wasn't a smooth landing, and he was pretty sure both of them were going to have even more nasty bruises from it... But they were outside!

Scrambling up, Bridget called his yo-yo back and ran at the door, forcing all of his weight against it to slam it shut. He was relieved to hear it click. Automatic lock? Few. Oh, his legs hurt so much from that jump.

Turning, he slumped back against the door a bit and looked over at Megumi. "Ta-da! Are you okay?"

Megumi had been partially convinced that they weren't going to make it. That they would go back, before they could see the light of day again.. and their escape was so close. Even after missing the area where the cave-in had happpened, even after finding the one place they could have made it out of.. it had been so close, and Bridget's efforts had been in vain.. now, she felt, she could only count on the others, coming for them, to save them.. if they got here in time. She'd heard the crying and screaming and there was no way she could turn and go back now.. It was too horrible to even think they'd be trapped here, and for what? For a sacrifice they wanted to be no part of?

However, when Bridget moved, Megumi found everything, all her thoughts, become a mad blur, and then---

.. the light..

A brilliant light of freedom, before the pain began again and she rolled on the ground, gasping in pain, before stopping.. and just barely made out the sound of the door closing.

They'd escaped.. They'd escaped!? She didn't know how it had happened, only that it had, and right now, Bridget looked more beautiful than the sun after a dreary, rainy storm. His smile was almost contagious and Megumi found herself laughing.. they'd just.. dodged that madman.. and gotten out--

But he was still in there, he might come after them.. and she tried to shakily stand, nearly delirious from what had just happened. "Bridget, that was amazing! You--"

Her words died in her throat, and her expression began to change completely as she felt the ominous darkness permeate from behind Bridget. The world seemed to slow down at that very moment, and her breath stilled-- eyes widening.

He wasn't gone..

"BRIDGET-- GET AW---"

The warning never went out. Because in the next moment, the door was exploding behind the boy, rubble and stone flying, and a gleaming light-- now piercing past her vision and then.. the whisper of a blade, a screaming blade.. and then she felt the warm wetness of blood on her face, splattering everywhere..

And she froze. What she saw then, destroyed everything, every bit of light and joy, that would come with freedom.

Masamune.. was struck right through Bridget's chest.

It was. And he hadn't been expecting the child to be so much of a fool to have remained there, after the display he had just shown. Pity, he could almost feel himself being disappointed. He was, in a way, when he realised that he had hit flesh instead of wall when he had turned to cut through to retrieve them. Normally, he wouldn't have bothered. But right now, it wasn't as if he had had much to do.. the two had given him a small challenge of pursuit. He kept his hand extended, his expression now becoming like death itself, empty and cold as he observed the sight before him. The boy's body, impaled at the end of Masamune's blade. He was still alive, but he wouldn't be for long..

Oh, perhaps there was no point anyway. He'd struck through the spine, breaking it and through his heart. It would be merciful if he struck him again, but he supposed the boy would want to say something. It was a warrior's way to permit a last wish.

Which was why he raised the blade and swung it down in a jerk, sending the boy falling face first into the ground, and swung the blade to a side, uncaring of the blood that sprayed around him. A cool eye cast over the stunned woman, Sephiroth shook his head.

"You should have listened." he stated calmly. "Now you're of no use for anything."

He did regret that he'd killed a child, but perhaps if he was lucky, he could live. Moving Masamune at a ready again, he gave the two a look of understanding, so out of place on his face now-- and a sign of his height of insanity.

"If you wish, I can do the same for you. It is not as if the city will not.." he stopped, turning his head as his ears picked up the summon. It was time.

So he turned back and cast a casual look at the two of them, a small smile on his lips.

"Perhaps he will grow into a stronger challenge one day. Remember my face. He will find me here to seek his revenge." that was the only thing he could do to rectify what was properly an error, but one he'd never admit to making. Then, without another word, the black-clad man turned on his heel and returned into the darkness.

At least that was refreshing. He hadn't killed in a long time. Too bad it had to be a child.

Now.. where was his dear, evasive Cloud..

She hadn't heard the words. She didn't think she'd be capable at that point, and when the man flung Bridget down like he was merely a toy.. something to be discarded, she'd found herself unable to move. Unable to even reach and grab him. Unable to speak, or breathe..

Why..? why did he attack him..? Why did he come after them..? They weren't even important, hardly his match, and yet..

She was angry. How DARE he? Was this justice? Was THIS the cause they were fighting for? Forcing people, killing them, destroying them?! She was angry, she could feel her hands shaking.. she didn't know when she moved, when the strength returned to her body.. she didn't know when she pulled Bridget's body into her arms, she didn't know when her voice returned.

"YOU MONSTER!!" she screamed, her throat burning from the sudden pitch. But the man only stopped in his walk, not turning around. "YOU FILTHY, MAD, MONSTER!!" she was crying now, and as if smirking at them, the man merely turned and then, vanished. He didn't care..

"oh god..." she found her voice breaking as she held the boy up, clutching his form in her shaking arms, shivering painfully. "No.. Bridget.. Bridget... look at me.." heal. Healing powers. Yes, she had healing powers.. she would heal him... "..Look at me, please.."

At first it had been similar to a sharp pinch. One that made his eyes widen and his body seize up with tension as the door exploded behind him. He could see Megumi. Her face... She looked so shocked. What...? Why was there red on her?

Oh... Then it hurt... And then there was just...nothing. A faint buzzing in his ears that he faintly picked up as somebody's voice from behind him. It was when he finally looked down and noticed the blade sticking out of him that he was flung forward, and Roger slipped from his hands as well as his yo-yo, both rolling off to the side as he hit the ground face first without much of a sound.

Bridget was so confused. What had just happened? Hadn't he rescued her? Ah, more buzzing. Different. It was warm again.

Forcing his eyes open, Bridget squinted a bit as he saw Megumi's face, and realized she was holding him. He smiled, his voice barely a whisper.

"Oh... Miss Megumi... It's okay, I don't think it's that bad... It doesn't really hurt... It hurt at first, but now...not so much...like when you get a bad burn... See, he left. He left us alone."

He tried to lift his hand, but that wasn't working. He really couldn't move. And that WAS blood on her. Suddenly a little scared, he shut his eyes. "...I'm tired... I haven't taken a nap all day... Can I take one now?"

Heal. Heal him. HEAL HIM. Megumi's mind was screaming at her, and she was trying- her hands were glowing, attempting to pass him her life force, to seal that wound, to put it together, but even as she attempted to, her mind was already warning her. She may heal the living. She could not raise the dead. Her eyes were blurry with tears as she grabbed the boy's hand, her own weakness forbidding her from using any more power than necessary, and she cradled the body in her arms, his head in her elbow, and her lips against his forehead.

He'd torn right through him. And while she knew that Bridget wasn't to die eternally, he would be returned to the city, it still made things painful. He'd never grow. He'd never be able to leave. He'd.. be stuck in this place forever, subjected to the curses and madness for as long as this world existed..

"I'm sorry.. I'm sorry..." she held him closer, realisation sinking in as she stroked a hand over the boy's forehead, brushing his bangs back. ".. you did so well. You're my hero, you know? Something.. even Mr. Sol couldn't do.. " realisation. " Bridget. You're so strong. I'm proud of you." gently, she pulled him up against her, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gently pet his hair down, getting blood all over her, but not caring.

"I'll take you home. You deserve the rest. " It was my fault.. ".. sleep, little Bridget. " He was protecting me. "I'll make you something nice.. when you wake up."

The words were soothing along with the embrace, and his smile slowly returned once more as he laid limply in her arms. His eyes remained shut, however, for he just couldn't seem to muster the energy to open them again.

Maybe all the fighting really had just made him sleepy. Had Megumi just healed him? It had seemed like she was using her power again. Oh, he was so lucky to have a healer with him.

So warm. She was so warm. Even as numb as he felt, he could feel it in his soul. Just like...

"Mama..." he murmured under his breath, voice getting weaker with every word. "Did I make you proud?"

There was no comparison to how much pain she went through right then. Her heart felt as if it had broken completely, and when the boy's final words came through, she found herself going numb in realisation, in understanding.. in shame.

"Very proud." Wherever your mother is.. I hope she forgives me. ".. Very proud.. Bridget." and then, she braced herself, for that dying rattle that knelled his death, and she stilled, her forehead now touching his.. and she lay a gentle kiss on it, holding him close to her.

"Thank you."

And he was gone. When his body went limp, she felt as though she'd been stabbed, and she ran a hand over his face, then embraced his body tightly. Nothing had prepared her for this.. but he had succeeded. He had become the strongest..

But why did he have to die..

"I'm so sorry..." and she broke, clutching his body to her own and burying her face in his chest. "I'm so sorry..."

Her little companion had given his life for her. There was no way in hell she was going to let him go now.

She was safe.

And when she saw that.. she broke down, crying in pain.

Thank you... Bridget.

She knew she wouldn't be right for days to come. Nor did she realise, that those that had been coming to rescue them had arrived..

It was too late. For anything.