Chapter 177 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 06:30:29 08/30/08 Sat
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-4-70.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.4.70
Subject: Chapter 177
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons - continued" on 05:02:56 08/10/08 Sun

Chapter 177

Hoping that her frail reply had given her some respite from Steven�s persistent questioning Nikita lowered her head, her chin resting on her chest. Although exhausted, she dug deep within herself for more hidden strength while at the same time bracing herself for what she was about to do.

Steven Ma was confident that their hostage would answer his question; however, although he inched closer to Nikita, he was wary of her too. He�d seen what she had done to Andy Koo and stayed his distance somewhat. Even though Nikita looked like a spent force, he didn�t trust her. Keeping his gaze on her suspended from the rafters, Steven singled to Eddie to have the hose ready just in case Nikita decided to try anything like the last time.

Nodding in understanding, Eddie turned on the value and water gushed out of the hose onto the floor beneath Nikita�s feet. Steven moved closer. A purposeful gleam appeared in his eyes knowing that finally this woman was about to crack. At last he had the upper hand and his sarcasm was obvious.

�You were saying?�

Raising her head, Nikita eyed him with contempt. In the split second that their eyes met, Steven realised that Nikita was not submissive at all. She lashed out at him again with her feet.

Noticing what their hostage had done to his colleague, Eddie Yip doused her in a gush of cold water causing Nikita to lose her grip and set her in a tail spin with the force of the spray.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Michael�s shadow ominously fell across the observation window as he saw what was happening below. Without a second�s hesitation he burst through the window shattering fragments of glass shards every which way.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Suddenly without warning there was an almighty crash.

Nikita looked up.

�Michael,� she whispered.

Relief.

He was here.

Steven and Eddie were startled by the noise and they too turned at the sound of the glass shattering. What appeared to be some kind of apparition had crashed down through the overhead observation window. Shooting at them with guns in both hands the man menacingly floated down as glass fragments, like a halo of light, showered all around him. They raised their guns to return fire but were no match for Michael�s deadly aim. Steven was shot with a direct hit to the heart. He fell to the ground with a thud, his eyes wide with shock and with his gun still lodged in his hand. Eddie had no hope of returning fire. He was caught in Michael�s rampaged crossfire as another rapid round of shots felled him immediately after Steven.

Nikita glanced down at the two bodies that lay below her feet.

Bending his knees Michael fell to the floor landing steadily as his feet touched the ground. With guns poised for any other assailant who might appear, he casually stood up. His eyes were focused on the woman he loved strung up like a piece of meat at an abattoir. Michael did not take his eyes off of Nikita for one second. Moving closer and closer to her, he casually stowed his guns away back in his holsters in his jacket.

However, each step towards her was agony especially seeing what the triad had done to her.

Oh, my god ... Nikita ... what the hell have they done to you?

Michael�s breath caught in his throat as he looked at Nikita hanging suspended from the ceiling. He couldn�t help glancing towards her and at the damage that the triad�s torture techniques had done to her. His heart hardened with the contempt he felt for them and their methods. There was no escape from his feelings. Loathing for the triad and revenge for what they had done were paramount in his thoughts.

As he walked closer and closer, his eyes refused to sever their gaze.

Nikita looked traumatised, distressed and deathly pale. She was alive ... but only just. It only took one look at her to cause a gamut of emotions to rush through his body. Michael�s heart clenched in pain with thoughts of what Nikita had suffered at the hands of the vindictive triad. He inhaled deeply swallowing back the bile that had risen in the back of his throat. It was impossible to stop the feelings that he couldn�t control ... or deny. If only he could have changed places with her. He would have done anything humanly possible and more for Nikita to have avoided the suffering that she had endured.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Nikita raised her head to look at him with a tremulous smile on her teary face.

Michael could see the shock in the back of her eyes. Holding Nikita�s gaze with his own, he came closer reassuring her that she was safe at last. His heart thumped erratically against his ribs until at last he stood directly in front of her. He studied Nikita's face intently. His eyes traversed every inch of her features. Her hair was ragged, soaked and dripping in matted tendrils across her beautiful face. Her skin was covered in welts and was laced with black and blue bruises like she had gone fifteen rounds in a boxing match.

Seeing her suffer like this was tearing him apart but the relief at finding Nikita alive was overwhelming. His body�s reaction to her overpowered him causing Michael to be aware of the hot rush of awareness at her nearness. Something he had tried to suppress time and time again refused to be denied. He fully acknowledged that his feelings for Nikita were more than just a painful white-hot desire ... he loved her deeply and unconditionally. This overwhelming love for her seared his heart.

Nikita looked at him. Shock registered on her face at seeing Michael materialise before her eyes but when their eyes met, time stood still. She stared back at him in disbelief. Michael�s eyes connected and held with hers as Nikita searched his face, caressing his features while making sure that what she was seeing was real. Her beautiful blue eyes reassured him that she was okay despite what she looked like.

Michael saw the relief that was centred there and love radiated in eyes that lingered on his form. Reciprocating, his verdant eyes bared his soul to Nikita at having found her at last.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Bending down Michael gently lifted Nikita up holding her from behind her legs.

�Arrrghhhhh!� she moaned as his hands nearly touched her sore ribs. Her head lolled backwards as he raised Nikita�s arms so that she could unhook her wrist bonds from the overhead hook holding the chains on the beam. Nikita closed her eyes and placed her hand on Michael�s shoulder as her body weight was finally released from her shackles.

Ever so gently, Michael guided her broken and bruised body back down his own. He moved closer and gently drew her towards him. Nikita�s arms latched about his neck. The connection of her torso to his was cathartic. He was so thankful that at long last he�d been able to find her alive. Michael�s eyes caressed every inch Nikita�s face then her body with his eyes assessing her demeanour. He couldn�t seem to take them from her. Although didn�t want to look away, he wanted to see what damage the triad�s torture techniques had done to his beautiful, brave Nikita, and at the same time he wanted to make sure that she was okay. His eyes caressed her.

Nikita�s throaty words brought his eyes back to her face. �Michael ... I�m okay.�

She tightened her arm on his shoulder for balance as he gently lowered her to the ground. Her legs felt like jelly, she could hardly stand, but Michael supported Nikita�s weight and held her a moment, looking at her with concern. He continued to caress her face. Nikita�s head leaned forward. Michael saw the outward bruises, but what of those within? The evidence of her interrogators� brutality was written all over her beautiful face. Her eyes were glazed ... she was teary eyed but not with the pain of her body but with the sheer elation of having him here. Michael had come for her as she knew he would.

When her face fell towards his shoulder, Michael captured it in his hands. He held her battered face within the palms of his hands while his thumb slowly and repeatedly caressed Nikita�s cheek over and over. His fingers gently stroked behind her ears reassuring her that he was here and that she was safe at last. Nikita looked at him with half lidded eyes and caressed his green eyes with glassy eyed emotion. Michael raised his right hand and traced over her face with fingertips that were as soft as silk stroking her gently. He couldn�t stop touching her ... caressing her ... loving her for her bravery and for her doggedness in the face of aversion.

The triad would pay dearly for what they had done to Nikita.

Placing his arm around Nikita, Michael protectively pulled her body flush to his own so that she could feel safe and secure. Her eyes looked at him stroking his face in return. Michael unfastened her cuffs removing the chains from around her wrists ... one at a time. She fell forward exhausted and spent. He cradled her body gently to his own knowing that Nikita was in great pain.

�I thought Karen was my friend,� she uttered.

�Shhh! ... It doesn�t matter now ... you�re safe ... I�m here.�

However her concern for him was Nikita�s only thought. �Michael ...Oh you should have had backup. You had no way of knowing if I was going to be all right. What if this room was full of triad members? Hmmm? You wouldn't have made it out of here.�

Her words filled his heart with joy and his reply was just as poignant. �If you weren't alive, it wouldn't have mattered.�

Nikita opened her eyes and lovingly caressed his features once again as Michael�s reply found a home in her heart too.

Hurriedly pulling the remaining chains away from her, Michael flung them away in disgust. Although his arm was around her waist, Nikita was unable to stand alone. Her feet would not cooperate and she nearly stumbled but he held her tightly refusing to let her fall. Then placing his arm around her waist Michael bent down and lifted her up. Nikita�s arms automatically wound around his shoulders and she held on tight.

Quickly they made their exit from the torture room as Michael carried her upstairs and away from her place of torture and incarceration. He wanted to get Nikita as far away from the monastery as possible ... away from the triad and back to Section One and to Medical, for the sooner she began the healing process the better.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Play on text from ... Friend and TITB

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