Chapter 190 Into the sea
>>Seraphina
One thug, dressed in dark clothes, slipped from behind a large boulder, his footsteps silent on the wet ground. He moved with predatory intent, a knife glinting in his hand. Another appeared from the dense foliage, crouching low, eyes fixed on Azef as he slowly drew a long, wicked blade from his belt.
On the far side, closer to the sea, a third figure emerged from the shadows of a crumbling wall. This one carried a heavy club, its menacing shape barely visible in the dim light. He advanced carefully, using the crashing waves to mask his approach.
My breath caught in my throat as I watched a fourth thug, lean and agile, climb down from a nearby ledge. He moved in the shadows, his footsteps barely disturbing the ground beneath him. His eyes glinted with malice as he approached, a garrote wire held taut in his hands.
"Azef! Look out!" I screamed, my voice raw with panic, but the wind snatched my words away, leaving only a faint echo. I did hope it reached him though.
Azef paused, his body tensing as he sensed the danger. He didn’t turn immediately; instead, he inhaled the air deeply, his movements measured and deliberate. His eyes, sharp and alert with which he scanned the surroundings, taking in the approaching threats.
The thug with the knife lunged first, aiming for Azef’s back. In a fluid motion, Azef spun around, his hand darting to his side to retrieve a concealed weapon. The blade flashed as he deflected the attack, the sound of metal clashing drowned out by the storm.
The second thug, emboldened by his comrade's move, charged forward with his blade. Azef sidestepped gracefully, using the thug's momentum against him, sending him sprawling into the mud. The third thug with the club saw his opportunity and swung his weapon with brutal force. Azef ducked, the club whistling through the air above him, and countered with a swift kick that sent the thug reeling.
The fourth thug, the one with the garrote wire, circled around, trying to get behind Azef. But Azef was ready. He moved with the precision of a seasoned fighter, anticipating the attack. As the garrote wire came dangerously close to his neck, Azef caught it in his hand, yanking the thug forward and delivering a powerful elbow to his face.
I watched in awe and fear as Azef fought off the attackers with a skill and intensity that seemed almost superhuman.
But then again, he is a superhuman in a way since he does have a human form… Or is that not right?
He moved like a shadow, blending with the storm, each movement calculated and lethal. The thugs, despite their numbers and initial advantage, were no match for him.
My heart raced as the battle unfolded below me, the rain-soaked ground turning into a battleground.
When it looked like Azef would win, the situation took a turn for the worse. The sound of engines revving cut through the stormy air.
???
I looked in the distance and my heart sank as I saw a few cars pull up to the scene.
Oh no!
Doors swung open, and more thugs dressed in black poured out, their numbers swelling rapidly.
The new arrivals moved with speed, converging on Azef from all sides. They were a formidable force, their faces hidden behind masks, their movements synchronized and precise. My heart hammered in my chest as I watched them encircle Azef, closing in on him.
The worst part of it all was that this new batch came with guns
I shook my head in denial.
No, no, no
This can’t get any worse!
“Having fun?” Somi yelled, catching our attention, “You won’t be getting away this time.” She was sitting in the car furthest from us with the window rolled down.
Azef's stance shifted subtly, his eyes scanning the increasing number of assailants with a mixture of determination and concern. He was outnumbered, the odds stacked against him, but he didn't falter. He braced himself for the onslaught, his muscles tensed and ready for the fight ahead.
The thugs advanced in unison, their footsteps echoing ominously against the backdrop of the storm. They wielded an assortment of weapons—knives, clubs, and most of all firearms—each one a deadly threat in the hands of these seasoned criminals.
With a sudden burst of aggression, the thugs launched their attack, descending upon Azef with a ferocity that was terrifying to behold. They struck from all directions, their blows raining down on him with relentless force.
Azef fought back with everything he had. He dodged and weaved, parrying their strikes with lightning-fast reflexes. But for every thug he incapacitated, two more seemed to take their place, their numbers overwhelming even his considerable skill.
My heart hammered in my chest.
He can’t win this one. I gulped. The men coming onto him are a separate thing, the ones with guns have circles around him. Even if he wins the fist fight they’re going to shoot him!
He was fighting two when another came and shattered a bottle on his head.
I watched in horror as Azef was pushed back, his defenses starting to falter under the relentless assault. The thugs closed in, their attacks growing more frenzied with each passing moment.
"Azef! Watch out!" I screamed. I felt helpless, suspended above the fray, unable to do anything but bear witness to the violence unfolding below.
Blood seeped down his head, the shard stuck to his skull as he faltered for a moment. The red liquid made its way down to his eyes.
Oh no…
“Azef!!!” I screamed his name, “Get away!!!” I yelled so hard I felt my throat get dry, “RUN!!!! RUN AWAY!!!!” I was so loud, even the wild wind couldn’t stop it.
I had no idea what was going through his head but I could tell that even if Azef isn’t human, fighting against so many people is insane. He’s going to grow tired and start taking more serious hits.
And he realized that too.
The thugs were armed, With the odds stacked against him and the thugs closing in, Azef made a split-second decision
He took a good look around, then propelled himself forward, his muscles tensing as he dashed towards me.
!!??
What is he doing? Why is he running in my direction?! There’s no escape here!
Each stride brought him closer, his determination evident in every movement. I watched with bated breath, my heart pounding in my chest as he closed the distance between us.
“Don’t let him get away!” Somi yelled from inside the car.
The wind whipped at my hair, the roar of the sea drowning out all other sound while the wire made me swing. The thugs were closing in fast, their shadows looming over me like a specter of impending doom. But Azef's gaze remained locked on me, unwavering and resolute.
As he reached me, he jumped towards me, the same time as I swung towards him. I reached out desperately, my fingers stretching towards him in a silent plea for salvation. For a fleeting moment, our hands brushed against each other, a brief touch that sparked hope amidst the chaos.
But before I could grasp his hand, the thugs lunged forward, their hands grabbing at him with savage intent.
Azef's response was swift and decisive. With a fierce growl, he kicked him away and jumped towards me again.
This time his jump was higher. He reached me feet, and with his werewolf claws he tore through the wire that bound me to the crane with startling ease. The wire snapped under his strength, freeing me from my precarious perch.
I closed my eyes in fear.
“You won’t get away with this Azef!!” I heard somi yell, “I know you live in the forest!” I paused, “And I’ve found you.”
In one fluid motion, Azef caught me in his arms, his embrace strong and steady.
Surprisingly, even though I was so hurt because of him, I felt so safe in his arms.
“Brace yourself,” He said next to my ear, and I knew it was because he had planned to fall in the water. He held me tightly as we plummeted towards the churning sea below.
Time seemed to slow as we fell, the world around us reduced to a blur of motion and sensation.
The wind rushed past us, whipping at our faces as we descended into the icy embrace of the ocean. I clung to Azef, my heart racing with a potent mix of fear and certain death
As we plunged into the depths, the world above faded away, replaced by the eerie silence of the underwater realm. The water enveloped us in its cold embrace, the pressure mounting with each passing second. I held my breath tightly, trying my best to not let any water in.
But Azef wasn't done yet. With a powerful kick, he propelled us deeper into the abyss, away from the danger above.
Once we were in the water, I couldn’t see anything, not ever the surface. Everything was dark but Azef probably had a better hold of things than me.
That’s when I felt something vibrate next to me. It was small and passed by us in a jiffy
!!??
Gun fire made its way in. The bullets pierced through the water trying to reach us. I had my face up, I was looking at the surface and I couldn’t barely make out the men coming to the border and shooting down at us.
We plunged into the darkness below, our bodies cutting through the water to get away