~The Lost
Written by Jared H. Waclaw
Started October 7, 2014

 Their vision was blurry was they came back from unconsciousness, their hands pushing up from the ground. They tried to shake the grogginess from their mind as they hesitantly moved their feet to stand. As their sight cleared, they barely noticed the flames licking at their feet, all they saw was an exit. As their legs stumbled to the smoky threshold, they leaned against nearby wall. Instant regret filled them as the wall began to burn their arm and side immensely.
 They veered away quickly closer to the opening, they only thought of escape from the hell they were walking through. As their mind became more clairvoyant they turned around to see flames race across the floor toward them. Sudden panic struck and they moved their weak legs faster.
 They looked down their burning feet, just skin touched the scorched floor. As the pain from the sight of their melting flesh struck, they fell to the floor. The burning ground beneath them started to boil their flesh. Tears streamed down their face as they pain became to unbearable to move.
 They began to concentrate on not feeling the searing sensations coursing over their skin and muscles. It worked for a moment only, as they went to move to crawl, the fiery truth around sunk in once again. They stopped moving immediately, trying to focus again as the smoke began to fill their lungs.
 Adrenaline started to pulse through their blood. Concentrating even harder on the flow of adrenaline, they started to move once again. They pain of their flesh minimal as they crawled to the exit they had started for.

When they reached the exit they heard a voice shouting a singular phrase over and over, “We found a survivor!”

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“So, you think we’ll get of this alive?” A woman asked aloud to the man crouching next to her.

He smirked, “Doubt it.”

She gave a mock laugh, “Wanna try anyway?”

He rested his head against the wall and gave sigh, “Sure.”

She cocked her pistol with a sad smile, “Good.”

He cocked his gun in return, “If we do make it, I’ll buy the first round.”

She grinned and stood behind their makeshift shelter, “I’ll hold you to that.”

He smiled, “I would expect you to.” he stood up next to her.

They held their backs to one another as she spoke, “Okay, before we do this, one thing, the ones on the left are mine.”

He laughed lightly, “I won’t steal them this time, promise.” His smile fell, “On three…One…Two…”

In unison they yelled, “Three!”

 They broke out their hiding spot and rushed forward, their bullets hitting each target. She snaked her way forward, dodging the bullets that were being fired at her. He took large steps forward, taking aim and shooting each one of their enemies before they landed a shot on him. As their clips emptied they each rolled toward each other. Their movements fluid and seemingly choreographed as they rolled next to one another, and reloaded the other’s gun as they met.
 They each came out of their roll with a full clip and a steady aim. As they let off round after round into their assailants, they could not dodge every incoming bullet. She had taken one to the leg, greatly debilitating her agility. He had taken two to the shoulder, luckily for him though, it was his non-dominant arm. As they each stopped firing, they looked to each other and smirked as no more bullets fired.

She chuckled, “Looks like the first round is on you.”

He smirked, “Let’s get of here before a chopper shows up first.”

She walked over to him, “Deal.” she walked past him and began to jog away from the scene of their crime.

 He ran shortly after her. Their lungs burned as they ran for miles away from their murder scene. Surrounded by the outlying forest they stopped and rested against a tree.

In gasping breaths he spoke, “Ya’ know, we didn’t have to run so far.”

She laughed with struggled breaths, “True. Just have to be sure though.”

He laid down on the soft dirt beneath them, “That is also true.”

She smirked, “At least we keep up our cardio.” She paused to take a deep breath, “Wouldn’t have made very far otherwise.”

He coughed as he tried to inhale, “I should stop smoking.”

She laughed at his coughing fit, “Bad mistake there. Especially in our line of work.”

He smirked as he held back another cough, “I doubt,” He coughed hard before he spoke, “you could call stealing and killing ‘work’”

She pointed at him, “Hey! We’re good at what we do. It’s hard work though.”

He laughed through a cough, “It’s not hard if you’re good at.” He sat up, “and for some reason, we’re really good at it.”

She smiled, “If we weren’t we’d be dead.”

He pointed to her leg, “I can’t believe you ran with a bullet in your leg.”

She looked down at the wound, “I’m surprised I haven’t bled out yet.”

He grinned, “We’ll know how they find us though, they’ll follow you’re blood trail right to us!”

She moved to shove him, “I’m not the one with blood dripping down my arm.”

He smiled fondly at her, “Right, it’s down your leg, right to the ground.”

She shook her head with a grin, “Anyway, how much were you able to take?”

He deadpanned as he realized something vital, “I forgot the bag.”

She gaped at him, “Please tell me you’re kidding.” He shook his head in response, “Really, Peter? Granted it wasn’t our biggest job, but still! There was at least 75k in that bag.”

He held a guilty expression, “I know. I know. Don‘t worry, Helena, we‘ll make it up soon.”

“God damn it Peter,” She said exhausted.

“How bout we get ourselves patched up and make another run.” He suggested to her.

“Peter…It’s hard work no matter how good you are,” she said.

“How bout something small, like…a jewelry store,” he responded

“Ugh, fine,” She said exasperated, “let’s get fixed up first though like you said.”

“Sounds good,” He stood, “Which way is the closest supermarket?”

“That way.” She pointed south.

“Okay, let’s go,” he said as he started to walk.

_---_--_--_-___-_----

 Ian stood on the edge of the building, overlooking the skyline of the city. Ian took in a deep breath and closed his eyes, reveling in the feeling. It was cold out, and Ian opted to not wear a shirt, he wanted to feel the element on his skin. He smile slowly grew on his face and he spread his arms out wide.
 He heard footsteps behind him.

“Still escaping to the roof I see.” a deep voice spoke.

Ian spoke with a grin, “I can’t get enough of this.”

“Enough of what?” The man spoke.

“The feeling of being so close.” Ian turned his head to look at the man behind him, “So close to the Reaper.”

The man gave a small chuckle, “What’s it like? The feeling I mean.”

Ian stepped away from the edge and toward the man, “Like relief. The feeling of having no worries anymore. To be reminded that we are not invincible, no matter how hard we try to think we are.”

“I have never forgotten about our mortality.” The spoke with a slight frown.

Ian smiled sadly, “We haven’t, others have though.”

The man looked past Ian, “Can I join you?”

Ian’s smile perked up, “Of course, friend.”

 They walked to the edge of the skyscraper and stood mere inches from the drop. The man looked down warily. He righted himself quickly, and looked forward.

“When does the feeling hit?” The man asked curiously.

“When you’re not waiting for it, but searching for it.” Ian stated flatly with his eyes closed.

“That’s deep.” The man retorted.

“Not every psychopath is shallow my dear, Russell,” Ian paused to face him, “Some of us are quite aware of our lack of conscience.”

“I try not to think about it too much.” Russell stated honestly.

“Although, you’d think knowing that, that we’d gain one.” Ian sighed, “Apparently not though.”

“It’s a funny thing,” He paused at Ian’s confused expression, “Not having a conscience and dealing with people who do.”

“That’s when blood get’s spilled,” Ian said leaning forward.

“Why are we different?” Russell asked.

Ian hummed in thought before speaking, “Our job requires us to be.”

Russell was quiet for a moment before he spoke, “Being a mercenary hardly justifies it though.”

Ian smiled, “It makes us good at it though.”

Russell smirked, “True.” Russell looked down again, “How far is the drop from here?”

Ian looked up in thought, “It’s about 100 stories before you hit the pavement.”

Russell laughed, “Think I’ll make it.”

“Not likely,” Ian said, “But, would you like to find out?”

Russell laughed, “On the count of three?”

Ian smiled, “On the count of two.”

Russell enjoyed the game, “How about one?”

Ian’s smile grew wide, “How about now!” Ian shouted and grabbed Russell’s arm.

 Ian jumped tugging Russell along with him. Neither one yelled in fear or watched the ground get closer. Just holding a smile as they descended past windows. Ian gripped Russell’s arm tighter as the force grew heavier as they fell.
 Suddenly, they met the pavement of the road. Their bodies smacking onto the asphalt with tremendous force. A crater formed around them as the two men lay in the rubble of the road. Ian’s face looking at Russell’s.
 Ian blinked slowly as he saw Russell’s chest just move slightly. A smile grew on Ian’s face as he saw the continuous movement of Russell’s rising and falling chest.
 
Russell blinked several times before speaking, “Ow.” He said with much difficulty.

“We could be dead.” Ian said, his smile plastered on his face.

“How did we survive?” Russell asked with a shaky voice.

“We’re different, remember?” Ian said.

Lights started to flash in the distance, “They’re coming,” Ian said.

“Can you stand?” Russell asked.

“I hope so. Can you?” Ian inquired.

“Let’s find out,” Russell said as he tried to move his arms to push himself up, “It hurts, but I can stand.”

Ian made way to stand as well, “Goddamn does it hurt, but how bout we try walking?”

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

 They laid on a hospital bed, the discomfort woke them from whatever sleep had taken them. They looked around the room. Concrete walls and medical equipment was all there was. It was a small room, barely enough for three people to stand in with the bed taking up so much space. They looked down at themselves, They saw an I.V. in their arm. They went to take it out, but thought better of it. They looked around their bed for a call button. They sighed in defeat when they found none.

As if on cue, a woman walked in the room, “Hello. How are you feeling?” her voice was commanding, but sweet.

They looked at her for a moment before speaking, “Where are we?”

The woman smiled, “You’re in a medical room, I’m at work.”

They gave her a scrutinizing look, “Where is the medical room?”

“In a warehouse. I’ll get my boss to explain after I check your vitals.” She said warily.

“What happened to us?” They asked curiously as they looked around the bare room absently.

“Nothing happened to me,” She paused to look at their heart monitor, “You were found inside a burning a building.” She gave a sad expression, “It should have killed you,” She said and then perked up at her next statement, “Luckily we found you.”

They gave her a perplexed look in response before speaking, “Us. You found Us.” They paused and looked down their bare arms, “Where are our burns?”

She stared dumbfounded for a moment, “Okay, you healed in a matter of days.” She lingered for a second before talking more, “Burns like you had, would have killed an average human.”

It stared at her with fire before it spoke, “We are not weak like those things.”

She laughed, “Well, you’re one of ‘those  things’, either way, your vitals look fine.” As she went to leave she spoke, “I’ll be getting my boss now.” the door closed behind her.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

 Peter was lounging at a booth at a local diner when Helena came and sat down next to him. He smiled at her as she made herself comfortable.

“So, feel better now that we made up our losses and more?” Peter asked her as he took a bite of his omelet.

“Yeah, I guess so,” she said unsurely.

He raised an eyebrow, “What’s bothering you?”

She handed him a letter, “I got this.”

He set down his fork, “Who’s it from?” He took the letter and opened it.

“It only gives address, but they sound rather serious.” she said as she took his fork and stole a bite of his food while he read.

 While she munched on  Peter’s food, she mused at his expression by the words written on the paper.

“Well, it doesn’t say when, wanna go now?” he asked when he set the paper down.

She gulped her bite of down before she spoke, “I mean…sure. Why not. It’s not like we any big jobs planned.”

He smiled wide at her, “What if the door is locked?”

She rolled her eyes, “Nothing is ever locked.”

He laughed and left money on the table for his bill, “Let’s get at it then.”

 They stood to leave with doubt and curiosity towards their next endeavor. As they got in Peter’s car Helena gave a wary look to Peter who only smiled confidently in return.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

 Ian walked along side Russell in the alleyways of the city. Staying to the shadows, Russell grabbed Ian’s shoulder and turned him to face himself.

“Ian, do you even know where we’re going?” Russell asked with hesitation.

Ian scoffed, “The letter got said to be at the warehouse up ahead.”

Russell sighed, “I feel like it’s a trap.”

Ian laughed, “We can survive anything. We are invincible, remember that fall a couple days ago?”

Russell bowed his head, “Yeah, but what if-”

Ian cut him off, “No ‘what if’s” He turned to look at the warehouse that was a couple hundred yards ahead of them, “We’ll make it. I promise.”

Russell looked up, “If you say so.”

Ian smiled assuredly, “I do. So let’s go.”

_-_-_-_-_-_-___-_-_-_-__--_-_-_-_-_-___-_--_-_-_-

 Peter looked around the warehouse. It was void of anything save for a few couches in a corner arranged to look like a meeting place.

Helena looked to Peter, “I’m guessing we’re meeting at the couches,” she said as she pointed to the couches.

“It appears we’re here.” Peter responded and started to walk over to the array of couches.

_-_-_--___-___-_-_-_____-_____-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

 They stood out of their bed after the woman took out the I.V. They looked to the door after the woman told them to go to the couches in the main warehouse room. They reached for the handle and left the medical room. As they closed the door behind them they saw the couches in the corner. It raised an suspecting eyebrow as they saw two heads sitting near each other talking. It walked with silence towards the two unwary duo.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“So he said to me,” Peter raised voice to a mock scared tone, “No, please don’t take everything. I have kids.” Peter and Helena laughed at his humor, “So I had to shoot the guy.”

Helena laughed, “He probably didn’t even have kids, just tried to bullshit you so he could he business!” Her laugh spread back to Peter.

“I even looked him up afterwards!” He laughed more, “The mother fucker was a sex addict! He couldn’t keep it in his pants!”

They shared a laugh as Helena looked over Peter and saw a man standing behind him. Her laughter fell quickly, “Hello?”

Peter looked behind him to see the man, “Well, hello, did you send us the letter?”

The man shook his head before speaking, “No.”

Peter shook his head, “Well, were you sent here too?”

The man nodded, “Yes.”

Helena smiled, “Well, have a seat and wait with us. I love meeting new people.”

The man walked around the couch to sit by Peter, “Thank you.”

Peter watched the man, “What’s you’re name?”

The man shook his head, “Our name.” The man looked to Helena, “Our name is…” The man paused as he looked to Peter, Peter had a curious expression, “Why do you look at Us with confusion?” The man asked almost angrily.

Peter sat straighter, “you called yourself ‘Our’ and ‘Us’.”

The man smiled wickedly, “There is more than one in this thing you call ‘human’.” The man looked to Helena again, “Our name is hard to pronounce with this tongue.”:

Helena smiled with hesitation, “What would you like us to call you?”

The man smiled, “Call me…Glass.”

Peter raised an eyebrow, “Why?”

The man responded instantly, “Glass itself, contains many particles of sand if I understand correctly.”

Helena couldn’t stop smiling, “That is right,” She glanced to Peter then back to the man, “So there’s more than one of you in that body?”

The man nodded his head, “Yes.”

Peter thought for a moment, “How bout we call you Jack? Jack of all trades kinda thing. Seems less strange compared to glass. Glass is transparent. You are not.”

The man contemplated for a moment and looked at Helena as he spoke, “That works well. It fits with your human names as well.”

Helena nodded and leaned forward, “It does. Also-”

 Her words were cut off as a loud bang sounded throughout the warehouse. The cushion next to the man, now named Jack, exploded into white fluff. Helena looked to Peter who had his gun already drawn. Helena absent-mindedly pulled hers out and dove behind the couch. Peter took the same action. Jack looked to where the sound had come from. He spotted a man in the rafters, with a very large gun in his hands.
 The man stood and took a step toward the man in the rafters. The man fired a shot into the man’s chest. Seeming to just miss the man’s heart. The man in the rafters loaded another shell as the man still stood. As the man in the rafters looked through his scope, it looked as if the man was concentrating. He wasted no time in pulling the trigger.
 It was slightly too late as the bullet missed and them non the ground started to run to the support beam under him. The man scrambled to get his stuff together as the man under him ascended rather quickly.
 Peter and Helena watched Jack scale the beam with ease toward the man with the rifle. As the watched, they neglected to see if there were others in the building. Suddenly, Peter had a wire around his neck.
 Helena turned and saw Peter getting choked, She swiftly aimed her gun at the man’s head.

“Let him go.” her tone held power. She cocked her gun, “Now.” She lowered her voice, demanding she be listened to.

The man with the didn‘t let go, but instead he looked and saw his partner fall from the rafters with man sliding down the support beam after him.

 Suddenly an arm from the side fleetly disarmed her and cut the wire around Peter’s neck. The arm that disarmed her shoved her away and to the ground with tremendous force, the other arm, pushed Peter p and away from the scene and rapidly shoved the man, who had held the wire, straight down to the ground.

“Stop it.” The voice was commanding and deep, “Right now.”

 Jack looked away from the man on the ground, who had begun to stand, to see who was speaking. Jack saw an averaged size man standing looking around at everybody. Jack ducked his head as if he’d done something wrong. The man he threw to the ground looked to the same man as Jack.

“I didn’t bring you for a death match.” The deep toned man continued to looked around at everybody.

Jack shoved the man next to him away, “Why then!?”

The man’s face was stern, “I need something done that requires all of your…talents.”

Helena looked up at the man who had shoved her down, “Our so called ‘talents’ get people killed.”

“All but one of you, yes.” The man looked to Helena.

Peter stared daggers at the man, “Who?”

“The one you just named, Jack,” He said.

Jack looked to man with a raised eyebrow, “Can I kill this one?” Jack pointed to the man he shoved.

“No. Ian will prove vital, just as Russell will,” The man smiled, “Helena and Peter are quite in sync during combat,” He pinched the bridge of nose, “today wasn’t an ideal example, but I didn’t expect the meeting to start off like this.”

Ian looked to the man near him, “I’m guessing this is Jack,” Ian scoffed, “The man with incredible climbing abilities.”

Jack started to step towards Ian before getting  yelled at, “Jack, don’t you dare!”

Jack turned to the man, “And who are you to say otherwise, stupid human!”

“Eathan, and I would appreciate it if you all could, at the very least, be civil in presence.” Eathan walked toward Jack, “I can kill all of you right now if I want to.”

Helena stood quickly and shouted, “Then do it!”

Eathan took several large quick steps toward her, “As you wish.”

As quick as he had reached Helena, Peter was at his throat with a knife,, “Don’t you even think abo-”

 Eathan instantly knocked the knife out of Peter’s hand, turned on his heel fluidly and shoved a palm into Peter’s chest, disrupting Peter’s breathing. Helena was just as quick to act. She twisted around Eathan and wrapped an arm around his throat. Without breaking his stride of movement he flipped Helena over his shoulder and slammed her to the ground, knocking the air from her lungs.

He stood between the two thieves and looked to the other still standing three, “You seen how well they work together? And you see how easily I took them down.” He smiled, “All I’m asking is that you do one task for me.”

Ian raised an eyebrow, “What?”

Eathan smirked, “Straight to the task! I like that!” He laughed lightly, “I need you to take out several diplomats.”

Russell scoffed, “How much you payin’ us?”

Eathan gave him a perplexed look, “I didn’t expect to pay any of you.”

Ian spoke up, “Well, that’s how I make my living.” Ian looked to Russell, “C’mon, let’s get out of here,” he gestured to Eathan, “This fool ain’t payin us.”

Eathan raised his hand, “Wait! I give you anything, except money.”

Helena gave a disbelieving look, “That’s the only thing we need.”

Peter butted in, “Like really, what could you give us?”

Eathan smiled, “A clean record. The ability to walk into any city or country you please without worry.”

Russell scoffed again, “Me and Ian already do that.”

Helena laughed, “Same with Peter and I.”

Jack spoke up, “We have no record amongst humans.”

Eathan stared at Jack, “I don’t know what you are, but you’ve been here long enough that the military has been looking for you since records started becoming a thing amongst us ‘humans’.”

Jack looked down, “All I remember is the fire.”

Ian laughed, “So what can you give us, that’s valuable to a bunch of psychos?”

Eathan frowned, “Well, money isn’t something I have.” He sighed, “What do you all want?”

Peter smiled wide, “Bullet armor.”

Helena grinned at Peter, “Is that all you want , Peter?” She gestured to Eathan, “He’s asking us what we really want, think a bit harder.”

Eathan held a frown, “I have a feeling I’m going to go into debt.”

Russell smirked, “Damn right. And if you’re already thinking about that, go into debt giving us enough money to never worry again.”

Ian shoved Russell’s arm, “What would we do for then? I’m not about to be bored.”

Russell smiled, “What makes you think we would stop?”

Peter spoke up, “I agree with the psychos over there,” He pointed a thumb at the male duo, “If you’re already thinking about debt, give us money doing it.”

Helena grinned, “I personally don’t care about money, I want several new guns.”

Jack looked up, “I want answers.”

Eathan pinched the bridge of his nose, “Very well, I will go into debt since most of you only want money.”

Jack walked over to Peter and Helena, “I’ll go wherever you two go.”

Helena gave a soft smile, “You got it.”

Peter held a perplexed expression, “Why us two?”

Jack looked down at his bleeding chest, “You didn’t shoot me.”

Peter clasped a hand on Jack’s shoulder, “Fair enough.”

Ian looked over to Eathan, “So, where-”

Russell finished Ian’s sentence, “-Are we headed first?”
Eathan smiled brightly at the sudden cooperation, “Syria.”