9 Infusion

My mouth drops widely at the detachment of my right hand. My throat vibrates intensely without rest as I yell in anguish. 

My vision blurs at the pain creeping up onto my senses. It is too great for me to endure. Distracting my focus away from keeping composure. 

The right wheel of the wheelchair was cut off. Trombe dived to the floor and used itself as a cushion, softening my fall before fading away. 

"Ack…, " I curl my body into a ball while pressing the gash of my hand-less wrist with the other. Tears spilling out from the edges of my eyes. 

"A hand for an eye, hmm… that doesn't correct, does it?" Hollow murmurs before approaching. Her footsteps sound close to me. 

Something rubbery hit my stomach causing me to flinch in pain. I presume its Hollow stepping on my body. 

The need to vomit swells up my gullet but nothing comes out, as I have not eaten anything. 

"Don't you find it funny too? Because I do, come on, laugh!" She shouted before chortling. Taking her time trampling me on the ground with a few more stomps. 

Slamming her sole on me each time I was about to reply as the floor shakes. Gurgling on my own words underneath the non-stop pain. 

Fed up with her underlying mocking words, I mustered the strength to tilt my head and spat on her. Causing her to stop. 

"That's great, just splendid. This reminds me of our wonderful time together rocking the battlefield, " She growls under her tone, with no hints of annoyance behind her voice. While somewhat sound happy about it?

This woman is weird, and she takes an awkward turn in this fight. I thought Luka was the most frightening until I met Hollow. Her eccentric behaviour is hard to wrap my head around with. 

"Remember, you said this to me once… 'an eye, for an eye', " she whispered with heavy breaths. Even if she is currently invisible, I could certainly tell that she feels bothered.

If my memory serves right, this is some form of kink. By my current standards, it is an odd one at that. 

I could feel a strong kick on my torso. The strength is enough to knock my light body away and slammed against the wall.

Not wasting any chance, I take the sound waves from the impact into my body. Even though Trombe is not manifested, this ability of mine can still be activated but it feels weaker. 

Hollow lifts my body in the air by the neck. Pinning me on the metal wall as I could feel the heat of her breaths on my shoulder. 

"Do you know… how painful it was getting pummeled on the ground by you in the war?" She questions while whispering to my ear. Earning a painful cry from me after she gave a punch on the cheek. 

The heat from her breathes intensifies as she moves onto my neck. 

"It felt delectable. A form of my guilty pleasure, " She glee before punching my other cheek. 

"And so, I like to introduce it to you!" She gushed and I could feel something sharp plunged into my torso. Right at my heart. 

I gasp with all of my breaths exhaled. Squirming under her hand as she hangs me higher. My limbs flinching in pain and weakness. 

Hollow cancels her invisibility and reveals herself. Locking her hectic gaze with mine. 

"Your right eye…, " She whispers. 

"If only you… more paid attention, " A smile crossed my face. As I took off my dead facade. 

"Wai-, " I gave her no chance to react as my fist fused with Trombe's arm was already connected to her ear. 

It only cost a few stamina to manifest Trombe's left arm. And, it's doable with a low constant rate of heartbeats but weaker in strength. Unlike the full manifestation. 

I guess it is true that people could learn and apply when under pressure, especially when their life is threatened. 

My left fist infused with Trombe's own, strike against her left ear. Catching her off guard. 

The sound waves I applied on myself earlier vibrates my arm with great intensity. Which is sure to mess up with Hollow's mind and hearing senses. 

Furthermore, the intense friction under the vibration wound up Hollow's side of the head. Which is evident from the bleed under my left fist. 

Hollow was knocked to the side and released the knife. She quickly picks herself up before hugging herself. 

After that, my buttocks fell to the ground. I opened the left side of my jacket which was given by Luka. Revealing my folded severed hand underneath which took most of the knife blade length, "I took a few insurances before acting dead, and counter. As simple as that if you ask. "

"That felt…, " Hollow touched her bleeding head before hugging herself with her other arm. Her face was flushed as she looked down on the floor while breathing heavier than before. 

"Good! You should have finished me there, but you didn't…, " She giggles before pulling out a knife from her boots. The sharp edge slightly shining in my direction. 

"I would if I can, but I have more time in my hands, or rather a hand since I only have one now, " I said before shaking off my bad joke. 

"Nice try, but, turning the table with your current state seems impossible, no?" She questions with a playful frown as if she is mocking me. 

"You'll see… lights out, " I said before throwing the knife from my severed hand towards the only fluorescent light of the kitchen and breaks it.

The room darkens, with no other sources to provide light. Leaving both of us to rely on our other senses. 

"Before, you're invisible. Now, it's my turn, " I fume with confidence. The plan in my head is perfect. Which I had drawn mentally from the start of this fight. And no, I did not come up with it in the middle of it. Maybe, I do not remember. 

"You were more of the silent man in the past. But, I wouldn't complain about this version of you, " She commented. 

"But are you sure? It's more like, both of us are invisible now, " She added. 

"Have you heard of echolocation?" I answered with a smirk. Earning no more answers from her. Successfully in shutting her yapping mouth. 

Either she is invisible or not now. I could locate her with sound waves. The realisation that I could do more than wielding it after I notice specific frequencies as the fight progresses. So, I will use that to my advantage. 

I take the chance to take off my jacket and wrapped it around my wounded wrist. The thickness of the cloth manages to stop most of the bleed as I could feel the rate of heartbeats gradually increase, slowly. 

My mind is back on track, becoming steady like it was once before. 

After several seconds, I concentrate on drawing out Trombe's figure. Only the upper half of it to reduce the burden I have to bear. 

I clapped my hands together and kept on track on the sound waves travelling through the air. At my North, bits of it came back earlier than the other parts. Which I concluded that is Hollow's current position and her footsteps confirm my deduction further. 

Even though I cannot walk, but, I can roll myself. So, I did and moved towards Hollow and felt her legs with my back. 

"Trombe!" I roared as the familiar aura envelops my whole being. I illuminate in the dark while Trombe rapidly manifests with a spin and uses the momentum to connect its vibrating fist with Hollow's chin. Earning a moan instead of a grunt.