<div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/9d9fce26-223e-48bc-872d-c996e0a1872a.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF0000">Ellie</span></span></span></div><br/><br/>All hell had broken loose and before Ellie realized it, she was in the underground tunnel with a knife and a resounding slam of the door. Shortly after a loud explosion rocked the small area, causing dust and a few loose pieces of stone to rain down. The blond woman gave an alarmed cry, throwing her hands over her head and crouching into a ball in hopes of sustaining as little damage as possible.<br/><br/>Everything soon quieted, but Ellie did not dare move from her position. Her whole body shook with adrenaline and fear, and the knife she had was in a comically tight, shaking grip. Muffled voices and footsteps sounded above, but Ellie had no desire to listen in. She knew Marqu was likely one of the people talking and she didn't want to hear his voice anymore than her dreams already made her.<br/><br/>However, nothing Ellie could have done would have blocked the sudden screams of sheer pain that poured over her ears. It took the shaking woman a moment to register that the screams belonged to Paislee. That realization seemed to be all it took for tears to spring to Ellie's eyes as she took a shaking hand to cover her mouth, silencing her sobs as she did her best to block the screams from above. It seemed, however, that Paislee had a set of lungs and Marqu had managed to get her to use them.<br/><br/>After what seemed like an eternity, Paislee's screams died down to one long wail and silence engulfed the underground tunnel. The sudden quiet had Ellie slowly unfurling from her position, standing slowly as she tried her best to be quiet. Paislee was probably dead...and the silence meant that Athan and Kareem were likely dead too. She was alone again.<br/><br/>Before the idea settled in her mind though, a loud scraping sound came from above, followed by smoky light filtering through the now open entrance. Ellie cowered for a moment, her right arm coming up to block the somewhat harsh light as she tried to figure out the silhouette of the person reaching for her.<br/><br/>Relief flooded her red eyes as she recognized Kareem, though the relief was short lived when she noticed his panicked state. "What happened?" she asked as he helped pulled her up. He didn't seem to hear her as he turned away and quickly made his way over to a strange lump sprawled across the rubble of the Namikal's home. "Oh fuck! Oh fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuuuuuuck! Athan! Paislee! I...I..." with those panicked words, Ellie realized that the lump was Athan. Her horror only grew as she looked slightly to the right to see Paislee's rapidly paling face and missing arm. "Oh...gods...I'm..I don't....I'm sorry!" Ellie strangled out, her hand coming up to her mouth as she tried her best not to vomit.<br/><br/>Kareem still seemed to have his wits about him as he checked on Paislee, then returned to Athan, "Sorry buddy. This is gonna hurt like hell, but It's to save your main squeeze here." Kareem then lifted the badly wounded bad to rip off a piece of his shirt. "El! Do whatever he asks, and so help me god... Don't let him die!" Ellie jumped at the sound of Kareem's screaming voice. "O-okay!" she replied as she made her way to Athan, her hands hovering shakily over him. "I...I don't know what to do!" she stated with a sob, but Kareem was too busy trying to tie a tourniquet around Paislee's stump. Athan, who had been rather quiet the entire time, finally found strength to speak, "S-s-she's g..oing to .....to blame her..self." Ellie's chin wobbled as her hands pressed against Athan's wound, doing her best to slow the bleeding, "She won't. Be...because you won't die!" Athan gave a grim, blood caked smile, "El...d...don't...b-be...a ...fu..cking....liar." Ellie shook her head, looking to see what Kareem was doing--looking to see anything but Athan's dying face. "....tell her....tell her.....it isn't...her fa..ault," Athan said between gasps of breath, his hand coming to grip the top of Ellie's shirt as he pulled her down with surprising strength. Their noses were practically touching and the smell of Athan's blood seemed to burn itself in Ellie's mind. She licked her drying lips and gave a swallow, "Alright..." she finally agree. Athan was dying, she couldn't live up to Kareem's demand...but she could at least grant Athan his request.<br/><br/>The moment Ellie made the promise, Athan let go of her--his freakishly strong grip suddenly sucked of life. Athan's breaths seemed to struggle and his panicked eyes looked into Ellie's. His fingers twitched as he seemed to be searching for something to hold onto to keep him bound to this life, but it was a fruitless effort as his body began to still. His eyes no longer focused, but seemed to drift off into a far away land, then his chest stopped moving, releasing his last gasp. Ellie's eyes closed and she resisted the urge to scream.<br/><br/>Ellie sat next to Athan's body with a defeated posture while Athan tended to Paislee, unaware of his friend's death. It wasn't long after tending to Paislee that the sound of many releasing airlocks filled the air. What followed after could only be described as a loud crash and miniature quake. The tremor shook the dilapidated house violently, causing Kareem to curse under his breath and rush to the door. "This better be our back u-" As the door flew open, Kareem went silent. His skin turned as pale as it had ever been, and then he slammed the door shut and leaned his back against it. He looked Ellie right in the eyes and smiled weakly, alarming Ellie as she looked back at him.<br/><br/>"AUTO-TITAN EXTERMINATION SUBROUTINES BOOT-UP INITIATED. FULL SEQUENCE PROCESS FINISHED IN T-MINUS.... 90 SECONDS."<br/><br/>"...The hell is that...?" Ellie asked, though she already knew the answer. "What the fuck did you do?!" she asked Kareem, momentarily forgetting about everything else. Kareem didn't answer her. Instead he decided to peek outside to see what was going on. Ellie didn't bother looking, already knowing very well what was likely going on outside. Kareem didn't seem interested anymore as he slammed the door shut and quickly moved to the girls and Athan's motionless body. He stared at the body for a couple seconds, cursing under his breath before looking to Paislee. She wouldn't last much longer if she didn't get immediate medical help. She still had not shown much acknowledgement to the outside world, even when Kareem had put the tourniquet on her.<br/><br/>As Ellie remained seated, she watched Kareem walk to the back door, only to open it all the way before turning back to face the two women, "We're going to make a break for it. El, you help Paislee. I'll take care of any men Marqu might have left for us that weren't crushed or otherwise....Well, blown into bits of meat." With that, he grabbed a large piece of rock that fell from the wall and then stepped outside. Ellie sat with her mouth slightly agape for a moment, alarmed by Kareem's idea. What they needed to do is avoid the outside until those auto titans were gone!  Ellie was pulled from her thoughts as a scream sounded from outside and Kareem came back, this time bloodied and carrying a pistol, "Ok, let's go." Ellie gave a sigh, too tired to oppose Kareem, and much too trusting of his judgement. She grabbed a nearby, dusty throw blanket and put it over Athan's body. She then situated Paislee on a scrap of wood, securing her the best she could. With that, they were running out the door, Ellie muttering prayers to herself.<br/><br/>As the group ran around the side of the Auto-Titan, a new Synth appeared from around the corner. It was another female Synth, but she was very different looking from most other Synths--it seemed she was part machine. Ellie noticed a strange light of sudden familiarity enter Kareem's eyes as he stared at the strange Synth. The Synth examined the group quickly, her gaze landing on Paislee's wound. "This girl is in need of medical attention right now! Did the inner city bring a mobile medical unit with them?!" Kareem asked in a rush, but the Synth didn't answer. Ellie was about to repeat Kareem's question, but the Synth stepped out of the way and pointed down the alley she had come down. Kareem nodded, and Ellie hesitantly followed Kareem, doing her best to gently drag Paislee behind.<br/><br/>Soon they were at a medical unit of some sort and Paislee was hurried away while Kareem went to go speak with someone about her care. Ellie stood awkwardly among the hustle and bustle of the medical unit as she tried to process what the day had brought. If they had only come to the conclusion that she needed to live with Kareem earlier, then maybe Marqu would have never found her under their protection. Then again, Paislee and Athan lived boldly--they never tried to hide who they were, what organizations they were with, or where they lived. They had known the consequences of living such a way...but still, taking Ellie in was riskier than usual business. She was Marqu's favorite slave--most durable, he said.<br/><br/>Ellie shook her head went over to a wall, sliding down it in a sitting position.<br/><br/>Eventually she caught sight of Kareem again, though she didn't move from her sitting position. He seemed to notice her as well as he came over to her. Silence was all that there was between them for a few moments and then Ellie spoke up, voice raspy and raw, "Why did you take me from Marqu's...? Not that I'm not grateful, it's just..." It seemed Ellie had started with a question and had gone into a ramble, her voice becoming more and more choked up as she went, "Athan's dead, Paislee is likely going to be destroyed, and you are going to have to always watch you back...and for what? Me? I just...I don't know that this was all worth it." She paused, taking a breath and blinking her eyes rapidly. The woman finally looked up to Kareem, "How is Paislee...is she going to be okay?"