OMG (I only use that for dramatic purposes by the way)! It's been a while. I still have no idea what I'm talking about, and I still don't have enough assets to ever own anything, like ever.

In case anyone is wondering, I do plan on finishing this at some point. But probably not for a while cause school is a soul sucking butt nugget, and because NaNoWriMo is almost here. Yay!

No Light, No Light: Part 3

"Would you leave me,

If I told you what I've done?

And would you me,

If I told you what I've become?

'Cause it's so easy,

To say it to a crowd

But it's so hard, my love,

To say it to you out loud

No light, no light in your bright blue eyes

I never knew daylight could be so violent

A revelation in the light of day,

You can't choose what stays and what fades away

And I'd do anything to make you stay

No light, no light

No light

Tell me what you want me to say"

"Gillian?" Emily called out for her. They'd only stopped for a second, just enough time for her to catch her breath. She'd still been standing when Emily went ahead to see what the trail was like, or what the trail they were making was like. The only upside she could see was the sky was finally lightening, it'd be easier to maneuver, which also made it easier for them to be spotted.

Fear gripped her chest as she strained to hear the older woman's reply. "Gillian, where are you?" Emily's cry was loud and panicky. Louder than it should have been, she realized, but rational thought slipped out the window as fear invaded her senses.

It'd been a long night so far, and the day didn't seem like it was going to get any better. Hurrying back to the last place she'd seen Gillian, Emily's foot slid off a loose rock, and hit the ground sideways. "Son of a…" She didn't finish her cruse, a rustle of the underbrush pulled her attention. "Who's there?"

"Em, what happened?"

Head whipping around, Emily quickly scanned for the voice she was looking for. She sounded close, and tired. Gritting her teeth, Emily hobbled a little further until she was startled by movement to her right. Jumping as a hand reached out and grabbed her, Emily cursed yanking her arm away.

"Jesus Christ, Gillian! You scared the hell out of me."

"Sorry, I –" She trailed off as the half-panicked looked finally registered in her sluggish brain. Wanting to reach out and comfort Emily, Gillian felt the urge to apologize for not being somewhere Emily would've been able to easily spot her. She had just needed something to lean against, and the backside of the tree currently behind her had been the closest thing. The apology would have to wait; she didn't have the energy at the moment.

Managing a somewhat controlled descent, she hit the ground and leaned back. Closing her eyes, she heard Emily drop her bag and unzip it. She knew what was coming.

The few moments of blissful silence was interrupted as she felt herself being tapped on the arm with that damn bottle. "You need to drink some, Gill." Ignoring her, Gillian continued to breathe slowly, trying to quell her queasy stomach.

Emily tapped her again with slightly more force. "Come on, you have to drink something. You're bleeding; it'll help replace some fluids."

Gillian realized that she was only trying to help, but she was having a hard time excepting that fact presently. Her stomach already felt like a cannonball had taken up residents, and all she really wanted to do was burrow into her bed and never get back up. She would be content to live out the rest of her days in the safety of her blankets.

Pitifully, she attempted to push Emily's offending limb away, but the damn thing stubbornly stayed put. Sighing, she gave up, and took the half empty bottle; her hand, and it, dropping to the ground. Just looking at it made her gag. It was only a matter of time before everything came back up anyway.

Later she'd swear her heart stopped for a moment before it tried to rip its way out of her chest when she heard it: a soft rustle of bushes, faint, but heavy footsteps.

"Here kitty, kitty, kitty." It was hushed like there was still a good distance between them.

These men were just toying with them, she knew. They could have caught them hours ago if they'd wanted too, but they were apparently enjoying the chase. They'd caught up countless times only to fall back, and they'd been yo-yoing between the two all night.

This time was different though. They'd called out to them; they hadn't any time before, only gotten louder in their approach before backing off again. She thought, maybe, they were letting them know the game was over now. There would be no escape this time.

Emily stole the bottle from her still stunned hand, and shoved it back in the bag. Swing it over her shoulder, she stood. Grabbing Gillian's hand, Emily pulled her up too. Starting off, she stopped when there was a tug on her arm. She tried again to no avail, her ward refusing to budge. "What are you doing? We gotta go," a slight hysteria laced through her voice at Gillian's silent protest.

Giving another semi-hard yank, Emily understood the sad look she was on the receiving end of. She sniffed, dropping the cold hand from hers. "I'm not leaving you. I'm not."

Gillian shook her head, swallowing hard. With a shaking hand, she tucked chuck of blood matted hair back, just needing a second to fully resign herself to what she was doing. Taking a deep breath, she winced placing her hands on Emily's shoulders and looked her in the eye. "You are. You have too. Get to the road, find help. You have to do it, I can't."

She could hear their mutterings back and forth now, it wouldn't be long now. Emily tried to pull her along, her eyes glossed over. "No, no, no, no, no… I'm not – I can't leave you. We can make it… we can… w – come with me please!"

A wistful smile graced her battered features. Gillian pulled Emily in as tightly as she could, and squeezed as hard her angry side allowed.

"Olly, olly, oxen free, come out, come out, wherever you are."

The playful calls only made bruised woman's hold tighter. "I love you so much." Pushing Emily back to arms length, Gillian wiped at the watery escapee running down her face with one hand, and held Emily away from her with the other. Ignoring Emily's quiet objections and tears, Gillian turned her around, and let her hands fall. "Go." When Emily refused to move, Gillian shoved her away with all the power she could muster. "Go!"

It was an order, and one she would obey because she respected the older woman too much not to. Emily's ears caught the sound of crunching leaf litter and snapping twigs. Giving Gillian one last once over, she turned and ran.

Watching until Emily disappeared into the trees; she leaned against the coarse bark and slid down until she was firmly planted on the ground. God, she felt sick. Nerves, blood loss, and broken pieces could do that. She figured if she could time it just right, she might be able to hit a pair of shoes. The thought made her chuckle, then wince, and drop her head forward trying to breathe back the gray tinge at the edge of her sight.

The footsteps were close, so close. There was only a step or two between her limited line of sight and her chasers' – now captures' feet. As she sat listening to the steady breathing of the two men, she could feel her aching muscles tense, waiting for whatever was next.

"What do we have here? A little sitting duck."

The partner took a step closer, and knelled down. "Look at all that blood." Reaching out with the end of his weapon, he gave her a slight shove, and sighed dramatically when she didn't react. "They're not much fun like this. Not much fight left in 'em."