The Runaway

Chapter 9

Valerie threw herself under her chair, pulling Robyn and Mabel down to the ground with her. Bullets whizzed overhead, screams intermixing with the shouts of the Security personnel that had rappelled into the warehouse.

“Alright, everyone settle. Stay where you are and no one gets hurt. This Institution has been taken into the custody of the Department of Security of the State.” A man stood on the stage, waving his gun at the panicking teenagers to no avail.

The crowd rushed towards the doors, pushing personnel aside in a desperate attempt to flee. Security had not seemed to anticipate such an attack and were quickly overwhelmed. Orders were yelled across the room, mace being sprayed at those who wrestled guns out of hands.

“Out. Now. Come.” She screamed. Valerie grabbed her friends’ arms, yanking them up.

“Hold onto me and get down!” She threw herself into the crowd, shoving, swearing and pulling. Surely they moved through the mob but with some difficulty.

A succession of bullets. Less people to push by.

They squeezed out, Robyn crying as she clutched Mabel.

There were kids running everywhere mixed with Security personnel brandishing tasers and batons. They were swept along with the escapees towards the gates that had been thrown wide open.

Valerie twisted painfully, turning back to scream “Tanner!” She got no response from him, just the commotion of screams.

Mabel broke out of the crowd, pulling her friends with her. “We won’t make it- we have to hide! We have to find my mother-“

“No! There’s no time. Just leg it.” Valerie screamed at her, tugging her back towards the entrance.

“Look!” Robyn sobbed. Some kid had gotten their hands on a and thrown it at the chain link fence near forest between two sectors.  The structure was warped and already kids had taken advantage of it, climbing over the twisted metal to escape and yelling when their skin touched the burning material.

Valerie lurched in the direction but was grabbed by the arm by an unmasked guard. She screamed, twisting in his grip. He scrambled to gain purchase with her shoulder. “You are under arrest by the order of the Department of Security of the State-“ Next thing she knew his grip had slackened and he had fallen back onto the grass, a knife protruding from his chest.

Mabel started screaming bloody murder and Robyn threw a hand over her mouth, dragging her towards the fence.

“Get my knife, Valerie!”

 Valerie stood rooted to the spot, watching as the life left his eyes, his leg twitching a few times. He made a rasping noise in the back of his throat before he stopped breathing.

She had never seen someone die before, let alone in front of her own eyes.

“Val! Come!” Robyn screamed at her.

She bent down, gently loosening the knife from his chest and flinching when she heard the squelching noise. She stumbled as she ran, the voice in her head screaming obscenities. Or maybe that was just her confused mind.

The metal was blistering hot to the touch and Mabel started backing away, whimpering protests. “My mother- she’s back there. We’ve got to go find her-“

“No can do. We’re going over Mabel, whether you want to or not.” Robyn screamed. She grabbed Mabel under the arms and grunting, got her feet over the barrier. With a last shove Mabel tumbled into the burning foliage, screaming as she patted out the small flames on her jacket.

Robyn backed up, grabbed her knife off Valerie and ran at the fence, diving over it headfirst and knocking Mabel over.

“Valerie!”

She whipped around to see Cole, limping towards them, his hand on his thigh. He had been shot, no doubt about that. She would have turned back to help him but at that moment a German Sheppard bounded out from behind the mess hall that was now on fire.

With a strangled, “I’m sorry” she clambered over the fence. She shrieked – her hands getting burnt by the metal as she pulled herself over. Robyn dragged her away from the barrier and towards the protection of the trees. Valerie wrenched away in time to see the dog pounce onto Cole, smashing him into the ground. His cries for help grew in pitch and urgency as he thrashed around. The dog had sunk its teeth into his arm.

”Val, leave him. We can’t help. Leave him.” Robyn sobbed, turning so that they faced away into the night.

She’s right, you know. You had your chance.

With tears streaming down her face, Valerie sprinted as best as she could with them into the forest and into the neighbouring sector. Every time she moved her hands she sent a sharp spike of pain up her arms. The wind of her burning hands was harsh and she had to grit her teeth to stop from screaming, eyes watering. She just pushed through the pain, trying to remember how to breathe.

***

They stopped for a breather at the border of the Gluttony sector, ducking behind a crumbly-looking chapel. Mabel instantly broke away, sliding down the wall to sit with a hand pressed to her mouth, choking on her sobs. Robyn sat down by her side, looking grim and not saying anything,

Valerie stared down at her blistered hands, feeling oddly numb.

Better get some water on that, hon. Maybe some cream too.

Valerie shook her head, blowing gently on her hands and crouching with her friends in silence. Before she knew it, she too was crying.  She felt beyond lost, no leader, no Tanner, no one to look up to – nothing. She was in charge now. As the eldest it was her duty. Her life had spun completely out of control.

“Oh my- Children. I was looking for Father-” An older woman with stark white hair with a pink streak and wearing too much eye shadow stepped around the corner and upon seeing them, seemed to want to back away.

“Wait, please.” Valerie croaked.

The woman stopped, dithering. Finally she stepped forward, shucking off her holey coat and throwing it at their feet. “The church takes in orphans- just wait until the morning.”

‘No-wait. Please. We need help-“Robyn winced, standing. She must have sprained her ankle. “We need medical attention, urgently”

The woman grimaced, worrying her lip between her teeth.”I presume you’re from the Institute. Escapees?” Two of them nodded.

She sighed. “You’re lucky that news travels fast around this place. Come on then. Can you walk?”

Valerie climbed to her feet, pulling Robyn and Mabel up. “We can manage. Thank you.”

The woman let her breath leave her lips, shaking her head. “I’m crazy sometimes- I swear. Hurry up, before someone else discovers you.”

“We can’t really pay you back, but I’m sure that once we get on our feet we can find some way of payment- My name’s-“

The woman made a noise and waved her away. “No, no. Better to not know each other’s names. Easier to lay low like that. No payment needed. I’m fine with it as long as you clear out by tomorrow.”

Robyn managed a weak smile. She helped a distraught Mabel up, wrapping the coat around her shoulders.

“Let’s go.”