(Sergio Gallo continued from The Waiting Game)
Time continued to pass. Sergio had laid low. He couldn't keep up the focus to be ready to kill twenty four-hours a day so it was best to hide until he heard a noise. Noises happened a lot. It was usually birds or just the creak of the ships and jetties. It was exhausting. He was hoping that he would come across teammates or for it to be Endgame soon. It was hard to make it home without someone batting you in.
Now he was hunched over, leaning against the railing. It fucking hurt. When he'd checked his bandages earlier he could tell that the skin around the buckshot holes was inflamed. He'd watched this show enough. It was infected. Just one more reason things needed to end soon. One hour you could be fine, and then you'd be sweating out from a fever and retching up your last ration.
There was a buoy that blocked one view of him. It would have to do for cover for now. He was planning to go out in the sprawl. There were more hiding places then. He was just so tired now. He had to stop to rest a lot.
The moon was brighter than he would have liked. It was weird that he would think that. He thought that he would have been the one hunting down cowards at this point in the season, but now he was the one hoping that they would have nothing of him to play on the morning highlight package.
He groaned. It was hard to believe he'd been so distracted by that cocaine business. He should have picked better allies.
Or maybe he was just trying to find something to think about other than how the odds weren't in his favor anymore.
The Fourth Round
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“Ivan.” Akeno came to a stop, arm held out to the side to block her teammate from walking past her. “We’ve got trouble.”
EMMY’S SELKIES CONTINUED FROM Selkies
Up ahead, visible as little more than a silhouette lit by the moonlight and the glow of the nearby cruise ship against the backdrop of the jetties was a figure; slouched, leaning against a railing and with his back turned to them. Even with all of that she still recognised him; she should, given how many times they’d run into each other now.
Sergio.
Akeno raised the harpoon gun up and held it in both hands, looking it over and making sure it was loaded and ready. Patting her hip, she made sure the spare harpoons were still in her pocket if she needed them; learning from her mistakes. She turned to look at Ivan, at the shotgun he carried. This time around she was better equipped, better prepared.
This was another chance to take Sergio out before he could become an issue; she couldn’t miss it again. She wouldn’t miss again. “Ivan, are you with me?”
EMMY’S SELKIES CONTINUED FROM Selkies
Up ahead, visible as little more than a silhouette lit by the moonlight and the glow of the nearby cruise ship against the backdrop of the jetties was a figure; slouched, leaning against a railing and with his back turned to them. Even with all of that she still recognised him; she should, given how many times they’d run into each other now.
Sergio.
Akeno raised the harpoon gun up and held it in both hands, looking it over and making sure it was loaded and ready. Patting her hip, she made sure the spare harpoons were still in her pocket if she needed them; learning from her mistakes. She turned to look at Ivan, at the shotgun he carried. This time around she was better equipped, better prepared.
This was another chance to take Sergio out before he could become an issue; she couldn’t miss it again. She wouldn’t miss again. “Ivan, are you with me?”
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Ivan blinked, and he was resting against Akeno's outstretched arm, his upper body tilting into it, a solid weight against his chest. Tenga was clutched loosely in his left hand, a grip that tightened as he looked around at the sound of his name, from the silhouette leaning against the railing to the serious tilt of Akeno's brow.
She dropped her arm to ready her ridiculous harpoon gun, and Ivan shook himself, vibrating into reality. When the shakes stopped he saw floating spots on his vision, but he paid them no mind. They were almost a friend.
Akeno asked a second time - asking if he was with her, a note of seriousness in her voice. Ivan's gaze locked on the silhouette, brow furrowing, and he nodded, shrinking a little lower towards the deck of the ship.
"Me first?" Ivan asked, popping tenga open and finding two fresh shells. He snapped her back closed, caught Akeno's affirming nod, and slipped, barefoot and noiseless, towards the other boy.
The first shot at Sergio was too far away for the sawed off shotgun to do damage - most of the buckshot splintered into the wooden railing and floor - but it announced Ivan's arrival as he bolted towards Sergio.
She dropped her arm to ready her ridiculous harpoon gun, and Ivan shook himself, vibrating into reality. When the shakes stopped he saw floating spots on his vision, but he paid them no mind. They were almost a friend.
Akeno asked a second time - asking if he was with her, a note of seriousness in her voice. Ivan's gaze locked on the silhouette, brow furrowing, and he nodded, shrinking a little lower towards the deck of the ship.
"Me first?" Ivan asked, popping tenga open and finding two fresh shells. He snapped her back closed, caught Akeno's affirming nod, and slipped, barefoot and noiseless, towards the other boy.
The first shot at Sergio was too far away for the sawed off shotgun to do damage - most of the buckshot splintered into the wooden railing and floor - but it announced Ivan's arrival as he bolted towards Sergio.
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This time the noise was no bird.
Sergio was jerked out of his stupor by the gunshot. He wasn't hit, but some of the railing and floor had taken a hit.
Whatever. He wasn't the one who would have to pay for it.
There was some dipshit, Ivan, charging his way.
Sergio didn't understand why he didn't just shoot him again, but maybe some kids from the short bus were still alive.
He grabbed a life preserver off the remaining railing and chucked it at the other boy.
It would be funny if he could ring him, then pull him, but Sergio wasn't feeling that lucky.
Sergio was jerked out of his stupor by the gunshot. He wasn't hit, but some of the railing and floor had taken a hit.
Whatever. He wasn't the one who would have to pay for it.
There was some dipshit, Ivan, charging his way.
Sergio didn't understand why he didn't just shoot him again, but maybe some kids from the short bus were still alive.
He grabbed a life preserver off the remaining railing and chucked it at the other boy.
It would be funny if he could ring him, then pull him, but Sergio wasn't feeling that lucky.
As the first shot rang out and Ivan charged forward, Akeno began to back away. She used the distraction her teammate provided to slip away, doubling back the way they had come before Sergio could see her.
The reaction to the attack was immediate, the silhouette grabbing something from the railing and throwing it Ivan’s way. There was no return gunshot. Akeno turned away from the pair and ran until she reached a fork in the jetties; she made a sharp turn and started running again. Circle around, cut off Sergio’s escape; that was the basic idea at least, assuming that these wooden walkways connected in the way she was hoping they did.
If Ivan was able to kill Sergio by himself then that would work too, but if he couldn’t then she would be in place to ensure he didn’t get away.
The reaction to the attack was immediate, the silhouette grabbing something from the railing and throwing it Ivan’s way. There was no return gunshot. Akeno turned away from the pair and ran until she reached a fork in the jetties; she made a sharp turn and started running again. Circle around, cut off Sergio’s escape; that was the basic idea at least, assuming that these wooden walkways connected in the way she was hoping they did.
If Ivan was able to kill Sergio by himself then that would work too, but if he couldn’t then she would be in place to ensure he didn’t get away.
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Ivan hadn't really tried to reach through the bars of his self-induced cage of narcissism back home. Other people at his school didn't really interest him unless they were super fans, aside from Stokes or something. So he wasn't super 'aware' of his classmates on a good day.
For instance, he'd forgotten Sergio had played baseball until the boy had hurled a hard piece of plastic at him.
He attempted to block the ring with a forearm, resulting in it flipping back and smacking him in the jaw, jerking his whole body back and to the left. It also had the effect of causing his ringer to pull the trigger, a second shotgun blast erupting through the jetty railings immediately to his right.
"Fuh," erupted from his lungs as he regained his footing against the railing, looking up to see Sergio's next move.
For instance, he'd forgotten Sergio had played baseball until the boy had hurled a hard piece of plastic at him.
He attempted to block the ring with a forearm, resulting in it flipping back and smacking him in the jaw, jerking his whole body back and to the left. It also had the effect of causing his ringer to pull the trigger, a second shotgun blast erupting through the jetty railings immediately to his right.
"Fuh," erupted from his lungs as he regained his footing against the railing, looking up to see Sergio's next move.
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This fucking guy.
Sergio's eardrums were ringing again because Ivan had to shoot out the railing again. Now every wannabe player left in the game would be trying to pinpoint their position. Even if Sergio won this fight, things would probably be shitty.
Fuck it. Sergio wasn't digging this. He'd been shot once. No point in doing it again.
He took off in the other direction.
If God was smiling on him tonight then Ivan would be out of shells.
If God wasn't, then that's what Sergio's legs were for.
Adios, Ivan.
Sergio's eardrums were ringing again because Ivan had to shoot out the railing again. Now every wannabe player left in the game would be trying to pinpoint their position. Even if Sergio won this fight, things would probably be shitty.
Fuck it. Sergio wasn't digging this. He'd been shot once. No point in doing it again.
He took off in the other direction.
If God was smiling on him tonight then Ivan would be out of shells.
If God wasn't, then that's what Sergio's legs were for.
Adios, Ivan.
That was the second shot.
Akeno was pretty sure Ivan only had two, meaning if Sergio was still alive and unhurt right now then he had a chance to get away. She glanced to the side, across the water, and saw the two shadows there; one was leaning against the railing, the other was running.
She ran harder.
Faster; she needed to get there faster if she was going to make this work. She ran with one eye on her target and one on the path ahead of her, sprinting with little more than the assumption that there would be something under her feet as she did; the meagre light was enough to see where the jetties lay, but if there was a gap or a hole in the planks then she wouldn’t know until it was too late. The path was intact though and Akeno arrived at a turn that led onto a much thinner walkway that connected her path to the one Sergio and Ivan were on. Grabbing a post, she dragged herself around the corner to maintain speed and threw herself across the walkway towards the other stretch of pier.
She saw Sergio out of the corner of her eye as her feet hit the jetty.
Turning to face him, Akeno felt the urge to say something. It was that kind of moment, the dramatic kind, the highlight reel kind; thanks to her head start and Ivan’s distraction, she’d arrived just in time to block his exit. Now was the time for a pithy one liner or a cruel gloat, depending on if people viewed her as a hero or a villain; something to cap off this scene that had been in the making since the start of both of their games.
Akeno pointed the harpoon gun at Sergio and pulled the trigger.
Akeno was pretty sure Ivan only had two, meaning if Sergio was still alive and unhurt right now then he had a chance to get away. She glanced to the side, across the water, and saw the two shadows there; one was leaning against the railing, the other was running.
She ran harder.
Faster; she needed to get there faster if she was going to make this work. She ran with one eye on her target and one on the path ahead of her, sprinting with little more than the assumption that there would be something under her feet as she did; the meagre light was enough to see where the jetties lay, but if there was a gap or a hole in the planks then she wouldn’t know until it was too late. The path was intact though and Akeno arrived at a turn that led onto a much thinner walkway that connected her path to the one Sergio and Ivan were on. Grabbing a post, she dragged herself around the corner to maintain speed and threw herself across the walkway towards the other stretch of pier.
She saw Sergio out of the corner of her eye as her feet hit the jetty.
Turning to face him, Akeno felt the urge to say something. It was that kind of moment, the dramatic kind, the highlight reel kind; thanks to her head start and Ivan’s distraction, she’d arrived just in time to block his exit. Now was the time for a pithy one liner or a cruel gloat, depending on if people viewed her as a hero or a villain; something to cap off this scene that had been in the making since the start of both of their games.
Akeno pointed the harpoon gun at Sergio and pulled the trigger.
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As Sergio ran his ears picked up that someone else was running around.
Was Ivan working with someone or was a vulture showing up?
His sweat felt like it was going to freeze into ice as he tried to get away from Ivan.
The sound of running was getting louder.
He knew that shape.
Akeno.
He had no time to plan. His insides felt like they were on fire. There was a spear in him.
If he'd been watching, he would have laughed.
He was a Serg-kabob.
The burning felt like it had extended to his right arm. There was a fist on the end.
It swung right at the bitch's head.
Sergio tried to let out a tiger's roar.
It sounded like gurgling.
Was Ivan working with someone or was a vulture showing up?
His sweat felt like it was going to freeze into ice as he tried to get away from Ivan.
The sound of running was getting louder.
He knew that shape.
Akeno.
He had no time to plan. His insides felt like they were on fire. There was a spear in him.
If he'd been watching, he would have laughed.
He was a Serg-kabob.
The burning felt like it had extended to his right arm. There was a fist on the end.
It swung right at the bitch's head.
Sergio tried to let out a tiger's roar.
It sounded like gurgling.
Akeno let her guard down.
The harpoon hit Sergio in the stomach, piercing through cloth and flesh the way she had seen it do twice before now. She expected that to be the end of it and let herself relax, let herself feel relieved that she hadn’t missed another opportunity.
She didn’t anticipate him charging forward, spear still lodged in his gut and dripping blood, and taking a swing at her. Akeno hesitated, arms wavering between holding on to her weapon and dropping it to block. In the end she let go of it, arms raised at the last second as she tried to sway backwards to avoid the punch.
It wasn’t enough and Sergio’s fist met her face.
All things considered it wasn’t a great punch; he swung too wide, telegraphed the hit, and the power came from the shoulder and not the hips. Sergio was strong though and he hit her with everything he had left. She felt her nose crunch under his fist, felt her split lip tear itself open again. She felt her knees buckle as she intentionally let herself fall, felt her back hit the jetty a moment later.
Lying on her back Akeno looked up at Sergio, arms up to cover her face in case he tried to hit her again. Looking past him she saw her teammate, who now had a clear shot at Sergio’s back.
“Ivan!”
The harpoon hit Sergio in the stomach, piercing through cloth and flesh the way she had seen it do twice before now. She expected that to be the end of it and let herself relax, let herself feel relieved that she hadn’t missed another opportunity.
She didn’t anticipate him charging forward, spear still lodged in his gut and dripping blood, and taking a swing at her. Akeno hesitated, arms wavering between holding on to her weapon and dropping it to block. In the end she let go of it, arms raised at the last second as she tried to sway backwards to avoid the punch.
It wasn’t enough and Sergio’s fist met her face.
All things considered it wasn’t a great punch; he swung too wide, telegraphed the hit, and the power came from the shoulder and not the hips. Sergio was strong though and he hit her with everything he had left. She felt her nose crunch under his fist, felt her split lip tear itself open again. She felt her knees buckle as she intentionally let herself fall, felt her back hit the jetty a moment later.
Lying on her back Akeno looked up at Sergio, arms up to cover her face in case he tried to hit her again. Looking past him she saw her teammate, who now had a clear shot at Sergio’s back.
“Ivan!”
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Fire erupted from tenga.
Ivan pulled it - up and to the left - trying not to hit Akeno with the buckshot. He didn't take any chances, index finger pulled firmly on both triggers from his stance a few meters behind the pair on the ground.
Ivan squinted his wandering eye, already popping open the shotgun to reload in case he needed a second go.
Ivan pulled it - up and to the left - trying not to hit Akeno with the buckshot. He didn't take any chances, index finger pulled firmly on both triggers from his stance a few meters behind the pair on the ground.
Ivan squinted his wandering eye, already popping open the shotgun to reload in case he needed a second go.
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Thunder assaulted his ears and more gunfire ripped into his flesh.
Teamwork made the dream work, but not for Sergio.
He fell down to his knees.
He was going to die.
He stared up blankly towards Akeno and tried to speak.
A gurgle came from his throat.
He coughed.
A misting of blood left his mouth and rivulets dripped down from his lips and dirty chin.
Teamwork made the dream work, but not for Sergio.
He fell down to his knees.
He was going to die.
He stared up blankly towards Akeno and tried to speak.
A gurgle came from his throat.
He coughed.
A misting of blood left his mouth and rivulets dripped down from his lips and dirty chin.
A third shot; Akeno flinched at the sound of it, so loud now that it was pointed in her direction. Noise and thunder. So different from the harpoon gun, which she’d barely heard being fired at her, or Vasily’s machine gun, where she’d heard the bullets hit the deck but not the gunshots themselves.
None of it hit her. Ivan had aimed high by the looks of it and the buckshot didn’t even come close to her as she lay on the ground. Sergio wasn’t so lucky; it tore into him and he dropped to his knees a moment later.
Now it was over. This time, it was the end.
Akeno let her arms drop and began to push herself away from him, crawling backwards with hands and feet. She could taste fresh blood in her mouth; her own, from her lip or her nose, and maybe a little of Sergio’s as well. Hard to tell. There was a lot of both, more of the latter.
She stood up and wiped a hand across her upper lip; it stung and stained the back of her red glove a darker shade of the same colour. Looking down she saw Sergio looking back at her; dying, eyes blank, but still barely alive. Her hand touched the outside of her pocket again, feeling the spare harpoons through the fabric of her trousers. Her fingers wrapped around one and she pulled it free slowly before letting her hand drop again to hold it loosely at her side. She adjusted her hold on it, tightened her grip, so that the sharp tip was pointing down. She moved her thumb so it was placed over the blunt end of the spear, so it wouldn’t slide when it met resistance.
Akeno raised her hand.
Hesitated.
Took a deep breath.
And plunged it into Sergio’s neck.
None of it hit her. Ivan had aimed high by the looks of it and the buckshot didn’t even come close to her as she lay on the ground. Sergio wasn’t so lucky; it tore into him and he dropped to his knees a moment later.
Now it was over. This time, it was the end.
Akeno let her arms drop and began to push herself away from him, crawling backwards with hands and feet. She could taste fresh blood in her mouth; her own, from her lip or her nose, and maybe a little of Sergio’s as well. Hard to tell. There was a lot of both, more of the latter.
She stood up and wiped a hand across her upper lip; it stung and stained the back of her red glove a darker shade of the same colour. Looking down she saw Sergio looking back at her; dying, eyes blank, but still barely alive. Her hand touched the outside of her pocket again, feeling the spare harpoons through the fabric of her trousers. Her fingers wrapped around one and she pulled it free slowly before letting her hand drop again to hold it loosely at her side. She adjusted her hold on it, tightened her grip, so that the sharp tip was pointing down. She moved her thumb so it was placed over the blunt end of the spear, so it wouldn’t slide when it met resistance.
Akeno raised her hand.
Hesitated.
Took a deep breath.
And plunged it into Sergio’s neck.
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More pain.
He fell to the surface of the dock, resting on his right side.. Sergio was no longer able to put enough thought into things to know if it had been an attempt to get away from the pain in his neck, or just a natural reaction of Akeno pushing him combined with gravity.
It didn't matter.
A guttural choking sound left his lips.
His left leg twitched.
Sergio didn't see anything anymore.
He didn't move again.
SB02: SERGIO GALLO: DECEASED
He fell to the surface of the dock, resting on his right side.. Sergio was no longer able to put enough thought into things to know if it had been an attempt to get away from the pain in his neck, or just a natural reaction of Akeno pushing him combined with gravity.
It didn't matter.
A guttural choking sound left his lips.
His left leg twitched.
Sergio didn't see anything anymore.
He didn't move again.
SB02: SERGIO GALLO: DECEASED
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Ivan slapped two new shells into tenga, the last of those that he'd tucked loosely into his pocket. He gently closed her, shifted the lever to lock it into place. Once she was secure, he raced forwards, tugging Sergio onto his back, shotgun pointed at the other boy's face.
Sergio didn't move, didn't so much as breathe when Ivan pressed a hand against his chest, his throat. Idly, he was reminded of the croak of a swinging rope, a foot gently tapping him.
Ivan blinked, and he was standing closer to Akeno, offering her a torn up shirt - his old white tank top - as a makeshift handkerchief to wipe the... Sergio off of her. His back was to the lens of one of the cameras, hiding his facial expression - a wide, gentle smile. Tenga dangled from one shoulder, lightly tapping against his hip.
"Close one," he said, voice pitched low.
Sergio didn't move, didn't so much as breathe when Ivan pressed a hand against his chest, his throat. Idly, he was reminded of the croak of a swinging rope, a foot gently tapping him.
Ivan blinked, and he was standing closer to Akeno, offering her a torn up shirt - his old white tank top - as a makeshift handkerchief to wipe the... Sergio off of her. His back was to the lens of one of the cameras, hiding his facial expression - a wide, gentle smile. Tenga dangled from one shoulder, lightly tapping against his hip.
"Close one," he said, voice pitched low.