Tumbling Down

Chiaki was making her way through the lobby. The barrage of tank fire had stopped, but that was when she saw something even more concerning.

Through the windows, she saw the tank charging straight toward the building at full speed.

Chiaki jumped behind cover, a knocked over table, as the tank crashed through the walls, shaking the building down to its foundation.

Her only mission right now was to protect Chairman Konishi, but she had to at least try and gauge her enemy first.

“Gabriel.” Chiaki whispered as she swiped her phone, summoning her demon. “Aperire.”

With Gabriel’s ability, she could see people through objects. It also improved her hearing. Using it, she’d be able to find out at least something about these terrorists before bolting.

She saw two figures move around inside. It didn’t take long for one to pop open the top of the tank and start climbing out.

“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that for.” It was Ritsu Watari. He looked down inside the tank. “How many stragglers do you think there are?”

“At least a couple,” Riko Watari said. “It’ll be a cinch to finish them off, though. And don’t forget, we’re here for Konishi.”

Ritsu smirked as he stepped out of the tank. “How could I ever forget that!?”

Their main target was Chairman Konishi.

Chiaki had to hurry. Slowly, she tried to step away, but her foot hit a piece of debris, knocking it over.

Ritsu’s eyes immediately shot over to her location, and while he couldn’t see her, he didn’t hesitate.

“Arisaka!” Ritsu called out as he swiped his phone, an assault rifle inexplicably appearing in his hand.

Immediately, he aimed and fired.

Dodging the bullets, Chiaki fled from cover, running into a nearby hallway.

“Looks like we’ve got at least one to deal with…” Ritsu unloaded his empty magazine.

“You could use some more tact, Ritsu.” Riko popped her head out of the tank before handing him some kind of grenade. “Here, just drew it.”

Taking it, Ritsu smirked. “Much obliged.”

***

Naoki couldn’t do anything but tap his foot and stare out the window as the taxi drove through town.

This was the fastest way to get to SSU HQ, but he couldn’t waste even a second right now.

His mind raced, all he could think about was the attack, Chiaki, and what Akemi had said…

“Get ready, we’re almost there,” the taxi driver said, his eyes staying on the road.

The taxi came to an abrupt stop.

Without even looking, Naoki jumped out, but he stopped as his eyes fell on the building.

Not only did it look like it came out of a war documentary, but there was something else…

The building was on fire.

***

Grunting from the pain, Chiaki ran through the halls.

A bullet had clipped her, but she’d be fine.

Escaping would be simple. She was able to keep track of them easily with Aperire, and the only thing that mattered was getting out with Chairman Konishi.

Looking in all directions, she tracked her pursuers. They seemed to know the layout of the building well and it looked like they were preparing a pincer attack along the quickest route to the Chairman’s office.

Chiaki smirked as she ground to a halt. Two could play at that game.

***

Ritsu was holding a Japanese made shotgun and hiding behind a corner, ready to nail Chiaki as soon as she ran by.

Riko was standing across from him, busily sketching something in her notebook.

However, it had been longer than expected, and they still hadn’t even heard her…

“Damn it.” Ritsu gripped his weapon tighter. “Do you think she went another way?”

“Probably.” Riko winced as he messed up her drawing. Looking up to sigh, she saw the gleam of Gabriel’s arrow. “Ritsu! Get down!”

Immediately, they both hit the floor, Gabriel’s arrow whizzing less than an inch above Ritsu’s head.

Chiaki had run by from the other side, sending only a single arrow. It was almost like a drive-by.

“Damn it!” Ritsu jumped back onto his feet, running after her.

As he turned the corner, he called out, “Arisaka!” His weapon transformed back into an assault rifle as he shot down the hall.

But Chiaki barely made it away as the first rounds landed.

“This girl’s really slippery…” Ritsu lowered his gun.

“This might be harder than we thought.” Riko had started on another drawing. “Shall we go with plan B?”

Ritsu smirked, grabbing the grenade Riko had given him earlier. “Might as well.”

***

Chiaki had finally made it to the Chairman’s office. Ritsu and Riko hadn’t followed her, but she could tell they were up to something.

Regardless, she had reached her objective.

She slammed open the door. “Chairman Konishi!”

He was unconscious in the middle of the floor, only covered by some light debris.

Kneeling next to him, Chiaki shook him. “Chairman Konishi!”

“Ugh…?” His eyes slowly opened.

“Thank goodness you’re alive! Can you stand?”

“I-I think so…”

Slowly, Chiaki helped him to his feet.

“Come with me, we’ll go out the back fire exit.”

“O-okay…” He coughed.

The Chairman wasn’t in great shape. His injuries were relatively minor, but the situation had left him shaken. His steps were slow and his constitution was shaky.

But Chiaki had to make sure he made it out of this alive.

They eventually reached the fire exit, but Chiaki immediately noticed something concerning…

“Is that…smoke?” She saw it coming through the door. Opening it, her worst fear was realized. There was practically an inferno burning inside.

Surely it must’ve been those two, but that left her with less options.

She checked the next fire exit, same thing, and then the stairwell, and then the maintenance stairs…

Every exit had been blocked off, and worse, the fire was growing.

“Damn it!” She cried out as she realized their plan.

They were funneling her to the main lobby, the last available exit.

This wouldn’t be an easy battle.