Previously.....

Mark's POV.

Lily turned to me. "GO!" I stood and stumbled back, seeing Alex run up with a murderous glare at her daughter. I gripped Lily's gun and ran to the tent where Jay was asleep. I shook him vigorously.

"M-Mark? He opened his eyes, confused and innocent. How did we ever let such a child in on this death mission?! "We have to go, Jay....now!" I pulled him up and together we ran to where the truck was parked.

I pulled at the door handle only to find it was locked. "Going somewhere?" A voice purred behind us....

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I spun around, pulling Jay behind me. Quinton stood smirking. The keys to the truck dangling from his long, slender fingers. "Looking for this Mark?" I blinked. So he knew.... "I-it's Matthew....My name is Matthew." I tried to act innocent.

He cackled. "You think I'm stupid? Houston's told me everything! You were here to be killed. That's why he chose you. Lily's mom and Uncle are going to kill her, and the rest...." He looked up as if pondering the chances. "Houston has another man on the job. Let me tell you, teenage love id very easy to work with. Especially with a cocky, young, hot-headed girl." 

Quinton's smirk rested on Jay. He got the message loud and clear. "A-Amber? You've set someone on my sister?!" I grabbed the 17-year old around his torso as he attempted to attack the 6'1 boy in front of us. 

He wouldn't stand a chance. Quinton held up his hand and snapped his fingers. The two other Viper rookies appeared at his side. "I'll ask again since you losers are apparently deaf," Quinton stressed out the last word like it was poison off a blade. 

"Going somewhere?" 

My hand was already behind my back, gripping the Beretta 92fs Lily had given me. I had put in in the waistband of my pants, covered by my t-shirt. "You know, Mark," Quinton held out his left hand to the side. The boy on his right placed a desert eagle in his palm. "I was beginning to like you. We could have been best chums when we escalated ranks. But then, I find out, you are a spy. That hurt, Mark."

He loaded the gun and cocked it. The loud click sounded through the atmosphere. I pushed Jay behind my back again. Quinton smirked. "How protective you are, Mark. The boy is nothing to you. Not family, not even a-" "He is a close friend, Quinton." I interrupted. "If you had done your research for your master, Houston like a good little doggy, then you would know a bit more about us."

A slight twitch of his lower right eyelid indicated that my jeer hit a nerve. An idea suddenly struck me.  "You must feel so much security being under that phycho's wing." Jay's hand on my arm tightened. I patted his back, unnoticed by Quinton, signalling for him to stay quiet.

"Shut up....." Quinton growled. To be honest, I was terrified. But this was important. I took a deep breath and put on my best; laid back, sarcastic, nothing-scares-me face. "Houston tells you to do this, you obey. He commands you to do that, you comply. If not...." I smirk more. "Then you've been a bad boy. And the crate is where you go..."  

I noticed with pride and succession as his knuckles grew white as his fists clenched tight. His nails digging into his palms, drawing blood. "Shut up!" He pointed the desert eagle at my head and shot. 

Smirking, I ducked, pulling Jay with me. Making Quinton upset had dazed his focused. The tree behind us was hit with a 'ping!' I  whipped out the gun from behind my back and fired three times. The first bullet hit Quinton in the wrist in which he was holding the gun. 

With a shriek, he dropped it and cradled his hand to his chest. The second bullet hit The girl on his left in the leg, making her yelp and collapse. The third skinned the boy on his right's right rib. He clutched at his side, but glared at me, clearly alright to run at us.

I ran at him and grabbed the back of his neck, kneeing him in the face. He fell back, clutching at his now bloody nose. Jay collected the keys as I kicked the gun away from him. "The truck!" I shouted as the girl jumped on my back, holding me in a head lock, threatening to break my neck.

Jay's eyes were filled with fear, but the adrenaline kicked in as he dashed for the GMC that was parked not far from the road. I turned and elbowed the girl in the face, and I ducked once more from a flying kick from the boy. 

Quinton willed himself to stalk over to his gun and retrieve it. I turned but not quick enough. I howled in pain as the lead bullet pierced my thigh. 

My knee hit the ground as I lost balance. Not so tough now are we, 'Matt'?" Quinton lifted his foot and brought it hard against my back. I crumpled to the ground, coughing and pushing myself up as best I could. 

"Bastard...." I spat through blood, as The girl landed a kick in my jaw. Blood spilt from my mouth as I coughed again. Quinton smirked from above me. "Had Enough, Livingston?" His boot clashed with my shoulder, making me wince and let out a small whimper. 

The boy who was with him grabbed my collar and wrenched me up. I glared face to face with Quinton. "I don't care what that jerk, Houston told you," I spat. "But I'm not surrendering, or telling you anything."

The girl smirked, glancing at Quinton, who smirked back evilly. "Oh, he doesn't need any info from you, peasant." Quinton's eyes glowed with an evil I could only imagine. I used to think the kids training at Viper thought it was 'the best thing for them', or they were brainwashed. 

But I now realised. They weren't forced to do anything. They chose it. Quinton pressed the gun to my forehead. "So he doesn't need you. Which means....." His evil grin grew wider so he looked like the Joker. "I can kill you myself..."

Honk! Honk!!!!

I whipped my head over my shoulder to see the truck barrelling towards us. Jay had saved the day! He screeched to a stop as Quinton and his allies leapt back, the buff boy releasing me. I grabbed onto the door handle and wrenched it open, pulling myself in, shutting the door behind me. 

"You ok?!" Jay turned in the driver seat and inspected me with worried eyes. "Drive!" I ordered, my voice gurgling with blood. Jay turned and obeyed, putting the pedal the metal, as he skidded out of the forest and onto the main road. 

I leaned back as the gunshots and angry shouts faded into the distance. "You don't look so good..." Jay lowered the speed as he pulled into the freeway, glancing back at me via the rear view mirror. 

I could only groan in response, I pulled my shirt over my head and did my best to use it to stop the bleeding in my thigh. The pain was near unbearable. But I guess that's what happens with the first time being shot. 

I sighed and leaned my head back, as I tried to relax and not to use up too much energy. "Thanks....." I murmured softly under my breath. Jay looked at me again. "Huh?" He asked. "you saved my life...." I closed my eyes and relaxed my breathing. "Thank you..." 

Jay's POV.

I watched him in the mirror. He was beaten up, and weak. I had to get him to a hospital and fast. I couldn't save him on my own. Also the more people, the less Viper would bother us. Or so I hoped. His voice was soft and weak, but sincere. 

I smiled. Knowing Lily had been right telling me, I may be scrawny, but I had brains and was not useless. A smile tugged at my lips. "You're welcome, Mark." 

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