The Scarman Enigma

[|Scarecrow|]

Starwood Hotel, Landing Platform Terminal, Floor 75

Marcus barely heard the gunshot. The world around him had become muted, as if he were perceiving it through thick glass. His vision was rapidly tunnelling when the Tyrant suddenly released his grip. The thick, oppressive arm of his alternate self melted away from around his neck, allowing his beleaguered throat to finally open. He greedily sucked in the air around him, coughing and spluttering as he fell forward, onto his hands and knees. He heard a heavy clunk from behind. With immense difficulty, he peered back over his shoulder. He saw that the Tyrant had fallen flat on his back, deathly still, and with a faint trace of smoke rising from his chest. Marcus coughed and wretched as his wracked esophagus tried to direct oxygen to his lungs. He heaved and groaned as he turned around, scanning the environment around him through watery eyes. His vision was returning to him, as were the aural details of his predicament. The clattering of further gunfire could be heard somewhere off to his right, and the unmistakable crack and zip of a rail pistol sounded much closer.

“Robert?” Marcus croaked, turning in the direction of the rail pistol. He had heard his friend calling his name, but under the pressure of the Tyrant’s grasp, he had lost the ability to properly judge what was real and what was not. “Robert-”
Marcus tried to push himself in the direction of the sound of the rail pistol but trailed off as his eyes fell on the desperate sight of Victoria Wade, prone on the floor before him.
“Oh- no…” The scene provoked an almost primal energy within him. “No- no, no, no!”
Despite his injuries and reduces senses, he darted across the floor toward her, a raw panic bubbling up within him.

By now, Victoria was deeply unconscious. Marcus cradled her head in his hands as he came to rest beside her. The injuries to her face were severe. She was covered in dried blood, all from numerous cuts and lacerations, and she had an alarming swelling on her right cheek and again around her left eye socket. However, despite it all, she wore an almost peaceful expression. Marcus cupped her face in his hands and almost fell on top of her, tears openly spilling from his eyes.
“No, no!” He sobbed, “Don’t go! Don’t leave me!”
He scanned her face for any movement or sign of life. Her mouth was open slightly, beneath her badly broken nose. Marcus quickly looked down at her chest, watching with bated breath. It took a few long seconds, but her ribcage finally rose and fell as she took in a tiny lungful of air. Marcus lowered his ear to her mouth and listened. It was faint, and there was a rattle to it, but she was breathing.
“Come on Victoria,” Marcus once again took her head in his hands. “I can’t lose you.”
Her warped, damaged features slowly faded as his mind replaced them with his memory of her. Her strawberry blonde bob fanned out on the floor behind her, and her lightly freckled cheeks dimpled as she smiled back up at him.
“I love you.”
The tears ran freely as he kissed her.

“Scarecrow!” The sound of Merlow calling urgently behind him brought him sharply back to reality. He smelled the iron tang of blood and saw that his tears had mixed with the red stains on Victoria’s face. He turned, wincing at the pain, and raised a hand toward his friend.
“I need a medic!”
“With me Marcus!” Merlow had broken free of his cover and was sprinting toward the ferry terminals. “We can’t let Sayne escape.”
Jadyn. The girl!
Marcus looked back down at Victoria. Nothing had changed, but she was losing blood. If a medic didn’t tend to her quickly, she’d fade.
“I need a medic!” Marcus shouted at the top of his lungs. His voice was cracked and sore.
More gunfire sounded from Merlow’s direction. Marcus looked up to see Sayne Jadyn dragging the girl Heather toward one of the ferries, firing his pistol blindly back at Merlow with his free hand.
Merlow had ducked down low and was returning fire. “I need you Scarecrow!”
Marcus gently moved some of Victoria’s matted hair away from her eye. “Stay alive. I’ll be back for you.”

Marcus hauled himself to his feet. He quickly scanned the area around him. Scattered groups were still fighting, elongating the bitter conflict between the Freedom Fighters and the Black Flag, but the end would soon be upon them. Marcus knew that his priority now needed to be the girl, Heather Scarman. She was the biggest victim. His greatest responsibility. Gathering all the energy he could muster, Marcus set off after Merlow, leaving Victoria lying still on the tiles.

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| S C A R E C R O W |

"See you space cowboy..."