Shards

Chapter 80 - Rescue Part 1

Mouse is getting fresh horses for us, Crow told Key. Cover your face and follow me.

Seconds later, two figures dressed in black emerged from the shadows.

"Who goes there?" asked an Elite.

The dark figures ignored him.

Ghost, hold your breath, thirty seconds, said Crow calmly as he threw tiny objects at the Elites' feet and backed away. White gas hissed out at the explosions engulfing the unsuspecting guards. Within seconds, they started coughing and collapsed to the ground. The gas soon cleared allowing the two Shards to reach Ghost.

You can breathe now. Don't worry. They're not dead.

Key's eyes widen. Strong sleeping gas. One two breaths and a man would be knocked out for a few hours. He would regain consciousness with a bad headache, courtesy of Xian.

The two Shards worked on Ghost's chains quickly and silently. Key picked expertly at the Five's ankles whilst Crow freed his neck. Flecks of blood fell to the ground as the Six removed the heavy iron collar. Ghost sighed in relief.

They left his hands for last.

Suddenly, Ghost cocked his head alertly. He heard Lord Wen's panicked cry in the banquet hall. Despite his growing discomfort after Lady Shuang's birthday noodles, the greedy lord had continued to indulge in the feast. Growing breathing difficulties was brushed off to the heat of numerous braziers, the delicious hot food and steaming soups. It was too late when his heavy breathing culminated to suffocation.

The Five exhaled in satisfaction as he heard Lord Wen's terrible struggle to hold onto life. Shouts of confusion told the story of furniture breaking, food flying and drink spilling freely as the gluttonous Lord Wen went into anaphylactic shock.

He heard the Target struggle violently, gasping loudly, desperately for a long while before he finally expired with a mighty groan.

Then the guests started screaming.

Ghost closed his eyes and he felt his whole body and mind relax. It was done. His final mission was complete. Lord Wen was dead. Finally, he could rest. It was over. Thank God it worked.

"Hey!!" hissed Crow. "Stay with me. Keep your eyes open!!"

"Ghost! Don't die on me! We're almost done!"

The Five was pulled back to consciousness with a slap. He opened his eyes to Crow's urgent stare.

"I said, stay with me. That's an order!" barked the Six in a low voice.

Ghost groaned but nodded.

Just then, soldiers filed into the courtyard. The two Shards stiffened.

"Damn it!!" muttered Crow. "Key, free Ghost. I'll stall them. Get him to Mouse and leave!!"

"But ..." stammered Key. Leaving Crow here would mean his death.

"The mission is to save Ghost. He's the Target. Do it," announced Crow as he relinquished Ghost's bloody hand. He did not waste anymore time but stood up pulling out his double blades.

Shards were expendable but each mission was a contract which built and maintained the Dark Sect. It was final and absolute. Contract? Ghost a Target? That meant extracting Ghost was a paid mission. Someone had paid for Ghost's extraction to make it a formal contract, one that the Dark Sect must see through. Key did not ask who the contractor was, nor the price involved. A normal Shard extraction meant getting the Shard out dead or alive, but a paid mission meant getting Ghost out alive. Without another word, the Three started working on the cold lock on Ghost's other foot.