Darkness Surrounding

I almost stormed off before Jolie told me where to find Emery and where the guards would be stationed. I didn’t really care either… my only thought was to get to Emery as soon as possible, being able to hold her in my arms again and never let go.

I also barely registered Shads voice telling me that Zack would accompany me. I felt him behind me when I made my way up the stairs, we had worked so long together, I knew exactly his moves and where he was headed without looking twice.

When we reached the bottom I looked around, pressing myself to the wall. Zack landed next to me, holding our breathe, we heard we one of the guards disappeared into another room, while footsteps sounded somewhere else.

I motioned to Zack with my hand, that there were two. Zack nodded once and crouched down, he made his way towards the just closed door to take out the one guard that disappeared while I would take care of the one watch dog positioned directly at Emery’s door.

Memories flashed through my mind, when I had been here with Shads before, where Pagano had let us into the girls rooms to find evidence on their disappearance, when the girls had been with us a long time. I wished those times back, and soon I would be able to have them back. Have my life back, have Emery back, only a door and two guards were between her and me-

I waited till I heard the thud coming from the room where Zack had moved into and when the guard at Emery door turned around, I jumped forward. I slammed my hand over his mouth, to muffle any sounds that would escape him, and then turned him around and with one precise punch against the guys temple he fell to my feet.

Two down – one to go.

Zack appeared out of the room, brushing his hands on his uniform. “Done.”
I nodded and motioned to the room. We heard some commotion from downstairs and I narrowed my eyes.

“Go down. I will grab Emery and be right behind you” I told him and saw the uncertainty in Zack’s green eyes.

“I’m with you” He stubbornly shook his head and I walked a step closer. “I will be right behind you now move” I said again through gritted teeth and saw Zack nod. “I see if Jo and Matt made it to the exit. But hurry” With that Zack disappeared and I went to Emery’s room door.

I knocked on the door, and waited, I knew the guard would be cautious but, I also knew he didn’t have a choice then to open the door and check.

The door slowly opened, revealing the guy I had set my eyes on for a long time already. I didn’t recall his name, but I knew he had been the one guard always being responsible for Emery. And I hated his guts for him caging her in, being a part of this, for spending more time with the woman I loved then I was able to… but that would change, and that would change right now.

“Fuck” He gasped when he saw me, but I moved so quicklybanging the door against his frame that he had to move back. I closed the door with my foot and stood directly before him.

He opened his mouth to – scream – call for help? I didn’t know but I charged on him without mercy. I didn’t see Emery anywhere, but I knew she had to be here somewhere. Time was running out and I had to get Emery and both of us out of here, now.

I slammed the heel of my hand into the chin of the guy, his head snapped up but he recovered quickly. I let him land a punch on the side of my face as distraction, when he tried again, I grabbed his arm, turned it behind his back, and dislocated his shoulder. He gasped in pain, and was too distracted to notice that I was about to knock him out for good. I wanted to do more damage, but I didn’t have the time and had o be quick.

It ended with him crashing to the floor in a heap, blood pouring from his nose, his shoulder hanging in and odd angle and I finally was able to go look for my girl.

I just turned around when the adjoining door opened and revealed a pale, way too thin Emery. Her eyes were bloodshot and red, her cheek a little pink, and my heart almost stopped. She looked almost ill, but for me she still was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.

“Emery!” I said, my voice almost sounded strangled, it was hard to swallow. I was finally back together with her, she was here, and whole, at least as far as I could tell for now.

“Brian?” A small smile came over lips as I moved over to her with long strides.

I pulled her to me, as close as I was able to, god how much I missed her. How I had longed for her, hoping she was okay. Wishing to see her. I loved this woman more than live itself and now we were finally back together. I pressed my lips to hers and enjoyed feeling her melting to my body. She was finally back, we were back.I lifted her up, because I wanted as much of our bodies to touch, couldn’t have it any other way.

I slowly set her back down on her feet before taking her face in my hands, god how much I loved her.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” Emery asked in awe, and that was the moment when I realized our time was running short.

Emery wobbled on her legs and I grabbed a hold of her body. Pulling her close again. I heard screams from outside, heard footsteps running and knew, our time was almost up. I told Zack I would be right behind him, which had been a lie right from the start. I wouldn’t be able to get Emery and me out through the main foyer.

I had to think of something else, I had to get us out of here, but how…

“Brian? How did you-” Emery started again, but I stopped her with another kiss. I had to think, but with her sweet perfume in my noise and her body pressed to mine, many things were in my head but not a real escape plane. Since I didn’t recall all the outlines of the house I had to probably wing it, and since I was alone and had to make sure nothing would happen to Emery on my way out,it was a critical situation.

“We need to get out of here” I told her “It will be fine, the others are downstairs too, with your sister. We need to find a way out but from your room.” I instructed and saw Emery’s eyes widen.
“What? How did you… I don’t understand-” Emery looked utterly confused and I kissed her nose, giving her a small smile. “I promise to tell you everything when we are safe, but we have to go now.” I moved towards the window to found them locked and secured. You wouldn’t even be able to open them from the in or outside. Shit.

“Is there another way out?” I asked Emery, I had to think of something quickly. “This door is to Jolie’s room, and this to my bathroom. NO other rooms are adjoined.” Emery said and I rubbed a hand over my eyes, just as a loud signal sounded, the alarm signal sounded, meaning a security breach had been discovered.

“Fuck” I grabbed a chair from beside the bed and told Emery to step back and cover her. I slammed the chair with all my might against the window, but it didn’t break. What the fucking hell?!

I knew I was causing too much noise and they would be checking upstairs in only a few moments. I quickly moved over and tried the lock, holding. I pushed the still unconscious body before the door and then to the sides some of the nightstands to at least give us a little more time.

“How about your wardrobe is there something?” I asked Emery and she shrugged. “No, it’s a closed up room. But maybe the window in the bathroom, they haven’t redone that lately, it will be locked but its not a secured glass” She mused and I grabbed her cheeks pulling her in, kissing her forehead.

“Thanks babe.” I quickly pulled her along with me towards the bathroom. I heard cars outside, screams and knew if we didn’t get out now, there wouldn’t be a way out for us and we would be screwed.

“Babe, I will smash in the window.” A loud banging sounded at Emery ‘s room door and her big blue eyes looked scared as hell, giving my heart a painful squeeze. She had gone through too much already, and this was adding up to it. I had to get us out of here, now!

“Em, Emery” I said louder “Look at me.” I pulled her into me, made eyecontact. “I will smash in the window, I will climb out first, check the area as to how we get down from here, then I will be right back, and you will follow my instructions. You will be going out first and I will be right behind you, you heard me? I will make sure you stay safe. Okay?” I asked, and saw her swallow thickly. But she nodded finally and I sighed.

Gun shots sounded and the door to her room was being hammered against, it was only a matter of seconds till they were in here.

I grabbed the small stool, pulled Emery behind my body and then smashed it against the window, the glass broke to me relief. I pushed the glass shards out of the way and looked around, Emery looked freaked, her eyes moving to the commotion outside.

“I will be right back” I headed through the window, felt the glass cutting through the uniform and flesh but I didn’t care. I would only make sure Emery was safe, I could be stitched up later. I slittered out and found a emergency latter down below, we had to jump, but it was manageable.

I was about to climb back in, to help Emery out, when the door to her room burst open. Emery’s wide eyes moved towards me, and where had been anxiousness and fear the entire time was now something else, it looked like determination.

“Em! Babe, come on!” I climbed through the glass and tried to get a hold of her, saw how the guards were moving towards us, I leaned so far in a glass shard was now poking a hole inside my thigh but I just gnashed my teeth together and endured the pain, I had to get to Emery.

“EM! GODDAMNIT!” I yelled, when she turned to me, I saw the sad smile on her face. “I love you” She said moved towards me and I almost wanted to sigh in relief “I love you too, come on!” I was desperate now, but instead on taking my hand and follow me out, she gave my shoulders a hard push, and I fell backwards out the window, slithering on the roof until I was able to get a hold and not fall down into my sure death.

“Emery! NO!” I saw how she looked out the window, just as the guards got a hold of her. A tear ran down her face and I just got what she had done, she saved me, but damned herself… all over again, and now I wished I had fallen, because I wanted to die.

Jo’s POV

My heart had never been beating so fast or had against my ribcage. Not even when Matt and the Avenged boys had kidnapped her from her father, those many months ago. It felt like a lifetime was lying between it.

And now here I was again, in my father house, and this time it was me trying to escape, together with my loved ones. I couldn’t wait to get to the van where The Rev and Dan would be waiting. I just hoped everything would be going according to plan.

I hoped that Brian was fast enough to reach Emery, to get her out with us, if those two were left behind I didn’t know what I would do. I needed my sister, and I needed to know she was safe and with me.

“Let’s go,” Matt ordered, grabbing my hand and rushing out the grand double doors with Zack hot on our heels. We didn’t stop until we were outside rounding the corner, and climbing into the black van waiting behind the bushes.

“Fuck you guys are sight for sore eyes,” Jimmy sighed out in relief as soon as we opened the door. Matt helped me climb in, his hands hadn’t left my body on any occasion. Either he was holding my hand, his hand touching my hip or at least, a hand to the lower of my back guiding me. As if he needed the reassurance that I was there. And I was glad for that, had to feel him too, as soon and as much as possible. “You have any problems?” Dan asked.

“No, not at all,” I was so glad everything worked out, we were almost safe, we only had to wait for Brian and Emery and then we would leave this place for good. Without any doubt of returning here again, ever. I threw myself into Matt’s open arms. Couldn’t wait to feel his strength and warms, know he was whole and safe with me.

I turned in his arms to look at Dan and Rev, “You’re plan worked perfectly, Dan. Thank you!” I said before mylips found Matt’s in an eager kiss. It had been way too long, too long without him, worrying, seeing him bloody and broken… no never broken, but I knew it had been a thin line, they couldn’t have handled much more, and had handled way too much already.

“Thanks man,” Matt whispered over my shoulder to Rev and Dan as soon as we broke our kiss, still holding me tight on his lap. “I fucking owe you guys one.”

“Yeah, you do,” Dan chuckled just as Jimmy looked down at his watch and then squinted through the darkness.

“Where the fuck are Gates and Em? Christ just said he lost control of the system and the alarm sounded inside,” he said and I swallowed thickly. Oh my god, Brian and Emery were going to make it, right?! They had to be here any second, right!? Panic began to rise inside of me and I looked at Zack, who had last seen Brian.

“He said they would be right behind me,” Zacky leaned forward, with a look of panic on his face himself. “You don’t think something happened do you?”

“I don’t know but we’ve got company!” Jimmy announced and started up the van. “We cannot wait much longer, or we will be all trapped. I can shake one or two of them, but they seem to ready a whole arms to follow us. We won’t make it out of the gate if they are faster and blocking the exit. Dan and I disarmed the electric gate, but when they shut it down manual, we are trapped!” He said while looking wildly around through the tinted windows and backmirror.

“We cannot leave without Emery and Brian!” I almost shrieked the calm I felt in Matt’s arms almost forgotten and panic in its place. His hand rubbed my back up and down, in a soothing matter, while I saw him looking out the front window too.

“We can’t wait any more” Dan looked almost ill “It’s either leaving now, or being captured together” I felt tear prick my eyes and couldn’t believe after everything going so well, that now it came crushing down now, because we were about to lose the fight for Emery and Brian.

A loud thumb sounded on the roof of the van and motors started, the alarm now clear to hear and Jimmy started the van.

“I’ll get out, you go” Matt announced and my eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t go out there, they would shoot him without thinking twice. I grabbed his uniform shirt and held him to me “You can’t! It won’t change a thing!” I cried and Matt looked torn “I can’t leave him behind, Jo!” But Jimmy was already pounding the pedal to the ground, and we began to move.

“I am not losing you again, when I just got you. Gates is clever, he will make it and find a way to save Emery and himself.” Jimmy said, even though I heard the doubt and uncertainty in his voice. “We will get them, we managed this once, we will do so again.” And with that the Van drove towards the main gate, the door was being pushed closed while gun shots were ringing all around us.

My heart was beating so fast, and I couldn’t believe we were leaving Brian and my sister behind. What would Dad to do them when he got a hold of them? What would happen with Emery?! I felt tears slowly run down my cheeks until a thumb brushed them away, and Matt’s warmth pulled me in.

“Ssshhh, I promise I will make this right, babe. I promise we won’t let Pagano win. We will save Emery and Brian. It will be fine, I will guarantee that” He whispered in my ear, and I really wanted to believe him.

“Hold on tight, this gonna be close!” Jimmy shrieked and I saw how the van squeezed through the gate and out on the street, the sides were smashed from the gates but we made it through. We landed on the outside of the property with a fast left turn and Jimmy put his foot back on the pedal and we sped off into the night.

When the van finally stopped I was completely exhausted, physically and mentally. I was drained, and as I looked around me the other weren’t feeling any else. The door to the van was pushed open, with great effort cause it was deformed from the gates pressing in.

Matt climbed out first and held his hand out to me. I almost stumbled into his arms, but he caught me with ease. When suddenly a loud thumb sounded behind us together with a pained moan and next to me landed Brian in a crouched position.

“What the fuck!” Dan had his weapon out and directed at the crouching Brian.

“Gates?!” Jimmy jumped from the Van and helped him up. He had several blood spots on his uniform, his hand pressed to his side, some scratches on his hands and arm, where blood also ran down to drip onto the floor.

“Where the hell did you just come from?” Matt asked and then moved in to hug Brian to him which looked like a whole lot of relief in his words.

“I-I couldn’t save her… She pushed me out. We were… too late” Brian’s broken words were barely audible, when he fell down on his knees because his legs gave out.

“Shit, Jo… We need you to look at his wounds. Jimmy help me carry him.” Matt instructed and it was the first time I was able to take a look around as to where we had just arrived to.

It was still dark outside, the van was now in a car repair service, all the shutters were down and only a small light was illuminating the room.

Matt seemed to know where to go and held Brian together with Jimmy up and brought him toward a door with a Private sign upon.

The door swung open revealing Johnny together with the Berry brothers, who quickly helped to carry Brian who was still mumbling towards the next room. Zack was walking beside me.

“Where are we?” I asked carefully and still let my eyes wander around “Is it safe here?” I added and Zack took my hand and squeezed.

“It’s our second compound. Not as luxurious as the other one, but hidden and secure.” Zack held the door open and we followed the other, another huge hall was presented, a tech central where monitors were blinking and then I saw how they pushed Brian onto the empty couch and were getting rid of the shirt from the uniform revealing gashes where blood was pooling from and I quickly moved to action.

I quickened my step and let Jimmy hand me supplies from the first aid kit to help stop the bleeding and see if Brian needed any stitches.

“How did you get these gashes?” Matt asked and crouched beside me. “Gates, tell us what happened!” Zack added standing on the other side, but Brian just murmured, until his eyes met mine.

“I tried to save her, I had her… we were this close, but then they stormed her room… she… she pushed me out, saved me… but now they got her… I how…how could I let that happen?! I should be there, not her…” He stared at me with wide eyes and I felt tears in my eyes, that sounded like Emery.

“It’s going to be okay. Emery… Em, must have done that because she knew they would have killed you if you stayed. She wanted you safe, Brian. They won’t hurt her…” I told him, my hand landing on his and his eyes snapped up “But it was me! THEY SHOULD HAVE ME!” He pushed me away, and I landed on my ass, which made Matt stand up pushing Brian down.

“Gates, calm the fuck down, or we will have to sedate you so Jo can work. And if you touch her one more time, I will fucking forget what we just went through, you heard me?!” He growled. But it quickly was back on my feet pulling Matt back, giving him a smile. “I’m okay. It’s okay…”

“Let me fix you up, and then you will tell us what happened, alright?” I said softly and Brian cursed but tried to be calm. I began to clean his wounds and he needed just for one gash on his side a few stitches. He didn’t give any sound, but I saw his muscles tensing and working when I touched him.

“We are done, you need to be careful with your movements, but it should heal fine.” I said and felt how my hands were shaking, the adrenaline now had left my system completely and I swayed a little on my feet.

“Jo, are you okay?” Matt’s concerned voice sounded and I nodded with a sigh “I’m just… exhausted. It’s okay” He walked over to me and pulled me into his arms. “I will show you a room where you can sleep, I will talk with Brian and the boys about our next steps, we need a plan. And we need to find out what Brian has seen… but you should take a rest… It’s because of you that we are free now. I’m so proud of you… I will be with you as soon as I can, okay?” He kissed my lips but I shook my head “I wanna hear what Brian says, I need to hear what is going on.” I insisted and saw Matt open his mouth to argue when the discussion behind us began to start already.

“You had been on the fucking roof of the van?! You were lucky they didn’t shoot you! Or that you fell off during the drive!” Dan yelled at Brian who just blinked up at him with a bored look, while I could see his mind was somewhere completely else… and that somewhere was probably still at the Pagano mansion, in my sister’s room.

Notes

UH OH!
Emery was left behind! What will happen to her!?
What will Avenged do about it?!

Comments, please :O