Fallen Chapter Four- Battle at the Plaza Part II

Sohai was lying on his back, the shadow snapping at his neck. Thus far, he had managed to keep the jaws from closing around his throat, but the shadow seemed to be growing stronger, and he Cohan knew he wouldn't be able to hold it at bay much longer. Frowning, he looked around for anything that may help the two of them in their battle. He felt a vibrating in his pocket, and yanked it out with a blur of motion, his hand moved so fast. Within a fraction of a second, he was pressing a button and speaking into it. "Go," he said. "I have a shadow down here; it's currenly attacking Sohai. He's holding at bay, but I have to do something. This one is different. Repeat, this one is different. I think we need backup. Repeat, we need backup. Do you copy?" he asked into the device, his narrowed eyes watching the shadow and his partner the whole while. "Do you read me?" he asked again when there was no answer. Frowning once more, he shook his head. "Can you hear me?" then came the 'affirmitive' from the voice at the other end, and he sighed heavily. "I have to go; get me backup down here immediately!" and then he pressed a button, ending the trasmission. Pocketing the device, he raced forward, toward Sohai and the shadow. Grabbing a part of the shadow, he yanked at it and thrust it off of his partner. "Leave him alone!" he called as the shadow flew through the air, colliding with the far wall and landing on a table. The shadow rolled off of the table and was in front of him before he knew what was happening. "What...?" he whispered, amazed. How had the shadow moved so fast? Yes, this shadow was definitely different, and it worried him. The shadow smirked and suddenly Cohan was thrown back by a powerful force, though the shadow had hardly moved. Flying through the air, he hit the table hard and then hit the ground on his stomach. Groaning, he rolled over onto his back, managing to get up to his knees. Breathing heavily, he only sensed the shadow too late, when he was hit in the side and sent sliding across the floor, where his head collided with the bottom of a booth. Clenching his eyes tightly closed, he felt a coldness surround him. The shadow was coming for him; it wanted him dead. Struggling away, he managed to crawl to his knees and then he managed to get to his feet. The shadow lashed out with him with a suddenly clawed hand, and he jumped back. The claws caught the front of his shirt and ripped through, mere centimeters from his chest. This shadow was faster, more powerful than the rest he had faced.

"Cohan!" Sohai cried as Cohan was hit and with a claw and was then hit with a kick to the chest. Once again he was sent through the air, where he landed on the ground, staring up at the ceiling as he lay on his back. He felt his mind shutting down, his vision starting to fade. Groaning, he tried to awaken himself, but before he could do anything, he was hit again, and sent rolling. Coming to a stop, he just lay there, motionless. "Cohan!" Sohai cried again, and raced forward, pushing the shadow from behind and making it smack into the wall it was currently standing by. "Leave him alone!" Kneeling down next to the static form, he glared at the shadow. "Stay away, damn it!" he looked around and grabbed a chair, tossing it at the shadow. The shadow hadn't been expecting it, and was knocked to the ground by it, the chair breaking into shards as it landed on the shadow. "Cohan?" he asked quietly, reaching a hand out to gently grasp his partner's shoulder. "Are you with me?" When there was no response, he feared he had been too late, that somehow that damned shadow had killed him. Then Cohan gave a slightly groan, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "Cohan, hey? Are you with me buddy?" Cohan's eyes opened and looked at him for a moment, seemingly blank, but then they brightened in recognition.

"Hey..." mumbled Cohan. He sighed and murmured, "That bastard got me..." Sohai smiled and nodded his head. "He got me..."

"Yeah," whispered Sohai. "He did, but you're okay." with that, he pulled Cohan to his feet and grabbed his shoulders to steady him as the other male began to stumble back to the ground. "Easy there," he mumbled. "Are you okay?"

Cohan nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. I want payback."

Sohai laughed and nodded. "Yeah, I bet you do," and then he was hit from behind, hit hard in the head. His body jerked slightly, and then he went down hard, where he landed on his stomach and didn't make a move or sound after his yelp of surprise. Cohan could only stare in disbelief.

"...Sohai?" he whispered. "Sohai, are you okay?" His partner didn't answer, and the fear within him grew. With a snarl of rage, he turned on the shadow and lunged at it, tackling it to the ground where he pinned it there. "Damn you!" he growled, punching it in the face again and again, not allowing it time to open its mouth. "I've had enough of you!" he pounded the shadow's head into the ground, waiting for it to black out. "Go back where you came from!" the shadow suddenly shoved him off of it and rose to its feet. Cohan jumped to his feet as well, and glared at it. "Leave," he ordered.

The shadow gave a malignant laugh and then lunged at him, pushing him into the wall where it then began to choke him. Struggling, he couldn't get away. The shadow was too strong; far stronger than any he had ever faced before. Unable to breathe, he raised his hands to grasp the shadow's hands, trying to pull them off of him. The shadow laughed and shook its head. "No," he shadow said with a twisted smirk, pointy fangs showing through. "I was sent to be rid of you, Cohan. Yes, I know of you. And your partner, Sohai. He is finished; now it is your turn." and the hands tightened around his throat.

Cohan's eyes widened. 'Sohai...' he thought to himself, and then closed his eyes. "Y...Y...You bastard..." he choked out, unable to draw in a breath. The shadow chuckled and began to raise him up the wall. His feet dangling against the side of the wall, he was helpless. The shadow was too strong. Focusing his strength, his will, he tried to draw out his power. 'Please,' he thought. 'Please I have to get away...Sohai...I have to help him, please...' He heard something begin to move, and opened his eyes. The chair! It was moving! Smirking, he focused his thoughts on the chair. 'Move,' he silently pleaded. 'Hit him, please,' and then the chair suddenly flew through the air, colliding with the shadow. Instead of letting go, the shadow was knocked to the ground, taking Cohan with him. The hands on his throat loosened, and he struggling out of the shadow's grasp and to his feet, gasping for the breath that he so badly needed. Growling beneath his heavy breaths, he shoved the shadow into the wall, grasping his pocket knife tightly as he drew it from its case on his belt. Holding it to the shadow's throat, he hesitated. The shadow shoved him away and he fell backward onto his butt.

Towering over him, he was kicked roughly in the head, and the world spun. Pain was forced into his body as he was beaten as he fell onto his back, and then everything went black for him.