Landing on the ground, he clutched the bullet that had torn through his side. He grimaced looking at the blood that leaked out from the wound. It had been such a long time since he had last seen blood come from him in such a large amount. Gritting his teeth, he placed his bloodied hand over the wound, trying to create enough pressure to ease the flow of blood. He could hear footsteps walking towards him and wondered if this would be the end of his life. Panting heavily, he forgot how fragile the human body could be and he was rather fragile, compared to everyone else.<br/><br/>The boots that stopped right in front of his line of vision were rather intimidating. He inhaled sharply realizing that he was knocking on Death's door, far too early for his liking. He froze when he heard the clicking of the gun's magazine being taken out. He flinched when it was dropped right beside his face, he knew what was about to happen. He tried not to show fear though he would not lie if someone asked him if he was afraid. That would be an understatement as his body trembled from fear and blood loss. He couldn't die here, could he? He heard the hammer of the gun being roughly pulled back and he knew that he could truly die here.<br/><br/>He was weak but he would not beg for his life. He could only think of everyone else. In these final moments, he could only think if he had been helpful to them. He had done his best to ensure that they had always been taken care of and looked after. He thought of Lucian, the man that had been there with him thick and thin. He was his blood brother, even though they were born into different families. He prayed that Lucian wouldn't blame Shizu for his death. He prayed that Lucan would still look after her when he was gone. He prayed that Lucian wouldn't lock himself away in order to cope with the loss. Closing his eyes, he held back the tears that threatened to fall from his eyes. He couldn't allow the enemy to see him cry, it wasn't because he was scared that he was going to die. It was the loss that made him want to shed tears.<br/><br/>The figure above him made a noise of frustration, his boot taking a slight step back. "Fine, I got it," he grunted out before stepping back closer to Elias. He crouched down, clutching his chin in his grasp, he sneered slightly before roughly letting go of Elias. His boot collided with the hacker's stomach, Elias let out a gasp of air, feeling his ribs crack under the pressure, only causing more pain to wreak havoc on his body. The pain caused him his mind to go black for a moment. His vision was filled with dark spots as he tried to regain focus. He couldn't even describe the man's face, let along how his voice sounded.<br/><br/>"Well it looks like it's your lucky day, kid."<br/><br/>The man huffed out, obviously annoyed with the new information. He slowly walked away from Elias's body, looking out for more of Dean's men but their numbers should be low by now. They would be heading out soon enough before anyone else caught on to their presence here.<br/><br/>Elias laid there stunned. He was in disbelief that he had been allowed to live. He grimaced as he tried to move from lying on the ground. His hand continued to clutch his wound, gasping for air. It was pretty fucking cold outside today. If he would have worn more layers, maybe it would have made the wound less deep. Coughing slightly, he tasted copper in his mouth. He couldn't bleed out here, hell; he had been given a second chance. God was looking after him; after all that he has done to ensure that His will was carried out in each mission. "Guys, I hate to say this...." he panted out to Azrai and Ivan. “But...I don't think I can move from this point."<br/><br/>He grunted in pain testing out his theory. Yeah, moving was not in his best interest right now. He didn't want to agitate the wound any more. He knew that he was officially useless at this point. However, he did this all in order to save Shizu; God let them have a hold of Shizu soon. He didn't know what he'd do if they lost her. However, he knew that things weren't looking in their favor right now. He was down and he didn't know if Azrai or Ivan sustained any injuries. Shizu's condition was still unknown to him as well. Coughing once more, he mused at how morbid the red and white scene surrounding him looked.<br/><br/>"Don't worry...about me," he breathed out, trying to calm down as best as he could. "...Just get Shizu."<br/><br/>He could only hope that these new people didn't leave him alone to focus on Shizu. That would only spell trouble for Azrai and Ivan. He could only pray that they lost interest in this fight for now.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>She knew she should have left when the thought first crossed her mind. Now she was at a stalemate, waiting for someone to get her out of this predicament. The gun in her hand was clenched tightly as she tried to listen to everything around her but it was far too loud. She could hear people from the streets screaming to call the police and to take cover. Something about it being a terrorist attack was being passed around. The last thing they needed was the police to show up. They would have to end this soon. There were bullets flying and voices yelling to one another. She couldn't think clearly in which direction to go. She heard a shot from behind her, only to realize that the person in hiding had been killed. She was thankful for that but she knew that she still needed to move but the dead end proved to be a problem. If she turned back now, she would have to deal face to face with the enemy.<br/><br/>The temptation to allow herself to use her Oni abilities was very sinful. It would be a few easy kills but she knew that right now she wouldn't be able to differentiate who was ally and foe. It was too much a risk to take, especially in a populated area. She sighed knowing that her powers were a double edged blade. Just when she thought that she would be able to get out of this situation. She glanced around looking for a place to climb up in, a window or another fire escape. Unfortunately, it would take too much effort to try and reach such a height. She was lost in thought when the dart sank into her body.<br/><br/>The shot that came surprised her, there had been so much going on around her. She could hear the sounds of bullets being shot from every which way and it confused her. How was she to know which one was coming for her? She turned her head, only to feel something sink into her shoulder. Glancing down, she stared at the dart, her hand reaching to pull it out. It was different than being hit by a bullet though the pain was still there. Her hand took the dart, pulling it roughly out of her skin. She winced as it tore her flesh and she inspected it carefully. It seemed to have a hollow tip and small barbs to stay once landing on its target.<br/><br/>Frowning, she sniffed it and shook her head. It didn't smell of poison though she knew something had been released in her body. She dropped the dart to the ground, crushing it under the heel of her boot. She growled lowly, hearing more people approach her. Her eyes glimmered yellow, waiting for the attack. However, things seemed to become muddled. The images around her began to blur and she found it hard to focus of one thing for too long. Blinking a few times, she tried to move, only to feel her legs tremble slightly. She tried to gain her balance when she felt someone near her. Turning immediately, she hissed baring her fangs ready to strike. How could she have missed that? The momentum of turning suddenly caused her whole world to spin; she couldn't tell how many where around her.<br/><br/>A low growl rumbled from deep within her chest, like an animal backed into a corner. She could hear voices though the words never made it to her ears, it was all clogged. She blinked furiously, desperately trying to figure out what the hell was going on. She felt as if she were in danger though she could hardly make out the gun aiming at her. She wanted to attack but she wasn't sure where the person was. She could feel two people near her and there were more hiding away somewhere. Her entire body shuddered, feeling her strength leaving her. She fell to her knees, her arms barely managing to come out to catch her from falling face first into the ground. Sweating dotted her forehead and her breathing picked up as she was trying to fight the tranquilizer. Her hands felt hot as they clenched the snow covered ground. She couldn't let it take over her.<br/><br/>That was when she felt another prick into her side and she groaned. Her eyes felt so heavy at this point and she could barely lift her head up to look at Levi and Azrai. She wanted to apologize to Azrai; she should have never reacted like that. She should have found them faster, and then they wouldn't have to be in this situation like this. She found her cheek pressing against the frozen ground. Her arms had given out on her; she no longer had the strength to move her body any more. She laid there panting heavily, blearily trying to stay awake though it was a battle that she was losing. Biting her lower lip, she tried to say something but the words never left her. Her hands curled into a fist as she continued to try to move, but alas it was a fleeting hope.<br/><br/>Soon, all the sounds around her became muted as her vision faded in and out. All she could hear was the heavy breathes that resounded in her head. She could not longer keep her eyes open, her body growing heavier by the second. As hard as she tried to fight it, her eyes closed her struggling to stay awake fading and her body stilled.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>It was nice to know that his aim was not as off as he expected since he took a bullet to the shoulder. It was even more satisfying to know that the dart was successful in landing in the woman. Now it was a waiting game until the woman was subdued enough to grab. When Levi relayed the news that Hank was dead, he frowned a bit. In reality, David had always enjoyed being around Hank there had never been a dull moment. Also, the man got shit done when the time was needed, no matter how often he and Levi bickered in the past. With a heavy sigh, he took a brief moment to respect the death of a comrade. He moved once more, knowing that he would have more time later to mourn over the loss. Right now, they needed their hands on the woman. However, now was not the right time to get her, the sedative still had yet to set in.<br/><br/>Just how long would it take? Tyler better had been right about how many milligrams it would take. He would have the mythologists head if it didn't work. David knew all about the black market and the things that were available, but they were not always reliable. If this sedative proved not to work, he was not the only one whose ass would be on the line. They didn't have all fucking day or the time in the world to simply wait until she was unconscious. A frown came to his lips though it changed when he heard someone approaching him. Thinking it was Ivan, he turned ready to kill though was relieved to see Levi. He immediately lowered his weapon.<br/><br/>They made briefly eye contact; a knowing nod was given by David. He watched as Levi went out in the open to get the woman. He tensed when he noticed that someone came out as well. Raising his gun, he realized it was the man that had tackled Levi back at the other location. That must mean that he was confident enough to take out Levi because he had back up. He kept his cover knowing that he would have to handle whoever else decided to show up. Despite his injuries, he would still be able to bear with them until they were safely away with the woman.<br/><br/>He noted that the woman was not going down as fast as he had hoped, though the sedative was working. He had been worried when she ripped it out of her skin, like it was nothing to her. She had turned so quickly when Levi approached her that he was sure the mission was over. Her eyes were the same as in the first location and that growl; that growl that caused his blood to run cold with terror. She may have been a small woman but she knew exactly what to do strike fear in the heart of any man. He hated to be called a coward when he had faced many opponents and had been barely hanging on his life prior to this encounter. However, this small woman immediately made him feel inferior. It made him feel like he had never been closer to death before. This is what an Oni was and he didn't want to see what other things she was capable of.<br/><br/>She was still far too lively in his mind; she looked ready to pounce on Levi at any moment. Had they been waiting for this moment? David didn't like taking risks or chances when it came to securing their target. Checking the chamber of his gun, he realized that he still had one more dart to use and he knew that he would. It was better to be safe than sorry at this point. Levi was either going to die or he was going to get his hands on the woman. Taking aim as she feel to her knees, he shot another dart, quietly celebrating as it landed. Azrai was too distracted with Levi to protect the woman from the second dart. It seemed as if doubling the dose caused her to fade faster as within a matter of seconds she had lost all the strength in her body. He knew that Levi wanted to avoid killing the Oni but he was being a bit risky at this point.<br/><br/>Still, David would keep himself in the background, should anyone else try to stop them. He knew that Azrai wouldn't readily make a move unless he was confident that the woman would be unharmed. It was basic knowledge for anyone trying to protect something. Make a move if they were going to be safe and currently the woman was not in a safe position. Azrai wouldn't possibly risk it, would he?<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>Ivan let out a curse as he was forced to take cover, he knew that it would cause some distance between them. Maybe he should have braved through it all in order to catch David. No, that was a reckless thing to do and he couldn't afford that. They were nearing Shizu, which was why the man had decided to finally attack back. Ivan grunted pushing out of his hiding place and hurrying down the alley. He knew that this little distraction would cost him and he tried to make himself move faster. However, he was already pushing himself to his limits and maybe a bit farther. All of this excitement was causing him to become more exhausted though he knew that there was no chance of stopping. Not until they had Shizu. He couldn't stop now.<br/><br/>That was until Elias's weak voice reached his ears. He nearly stopped his chase, disbelief replacing his former disposition. Even though Elias told him not to worry, Ivan knew better than to know that the hacker was doing fine. If he couldn't move then he was an easy target. If he couldn't move, then he was probably severely injured or worse, dying. This was not what he needed right now. He needed everyone to be in good condition. He needed everyone to survive. He didn't want to report to Zachariah that they lost their best hacker. He also didn't want to report back saying that they lost Shizu. Rubbing his face, Ivan was finally at a loss.<br/><br/>He didn't want to make the decision. Who was more important? In Ivan's eyes, they were both equally important. Elias was important for the organization and he was also a close friend of his. He was also the only one who could talk sense into Lucian. Shizu on the other hand, she was important because she was important to Azrai. The fact that she was an Oni meant that she would be better in their hands rather than made into a killing machine in someone else's hands. He knew that he couldn't leave Azrai to deal with Levi on his own, in case he had back up. He also knew that leaving Elias alone for too much longer was a risky move as well.<br/><br/>He tried to weigh out the situation before he made a decision but he still was unable to make one. In the end, they end up losing one of them or both of them. This caused a slight panic to fill the Russian. Each choice was not something that he would prefer to choose and he knew that he wasn't the only one trying to make the decision. Ivan did not want to show weakness by pulling back now but with one man down, it was too much of a risk. He still didn't know how many men Levi had left and he was sure that Dean's men were taken care of. He wouldn't forgive himself if he pulled back and allowed them to take Shizu. Then again, he would never forgive himself if he allowed Elias to die right now. They still needed him and there was no denying it. Would he be making the correct decision? Was it worth all of it?<br/><br/>Ivan moved forward heading to the direction that he had last seen David go off in. He was truly torn and he would make sure that everyone else knew that this was not the easiest of decisions. "Azrai..." he said slowly, knowing that this was the only option.  "We need to fall back now, it's too much of a risk if we-"<br/><br/>"Don't listen to him....Azrai," Elias replied immediately. "It's just-" He paused as he let out a noise of pain, the blood that made his wheeze sound wet audible. "I can manage."<br/><br/>Ivan frowned immediately. The way that Elias sounded didn't show that he would be able to manage. Ivan looked as he neared Levi and Azrai's figures though he hung back a bit. He knew that Azrai would not be pleased with his decision but he could see Shizu lying on the ground, a gun directed to her. There was no option left. "Pull back now, Azrai. That's an order," he said a calm manner. "You would be risking her life if you go in now," he reminded him. Ivan inspected his friend, seeing that he was wounded as well. From the corner of his eye, he saw movement. He aimed, not sure if Levi's back up would attack.<br/><br/>"We need to rethink this," Ivan said gently, knowing that he had failed this mission. He had chosen Elias over Shizu but with Elias still alive, then could easily track down Levi once more. They needed Elias in order to find Shizu, if he died here then....what hope would they have in the future? Ivan had yet to meet someone with Elias's skill in the organization and he wasn't about to allow them to lose it either. He didn't care if Azrai attacked him or anything like that.<br/><br/>This was the best decision.