The Red Doves

Chapter XXIV

- Alan! Catch me!

Suziky jumped off, one meter away from the floor made of metal. Her feet first felt the hard solid surface before leaving it. Then, in a quick moment, two short arms caught her and dropped her slowly on the ground. Suziky laughed of big joy.

- Let's do that again! It was awesome! she shouted.

- Ok! Go up, I'll catch you again! said Alan with a big smile on his face.

Suziky climbed in the big castle for kids and walked to where she was a minute ago. Then, she jumped, once again, and Alan caught her.

- Ok, turn! screamed the young girl of 7 years old.

- You're silly! I'm way to heavy for you, answered the young boy, who was 9.

- Come on, Al, just once!

- Ok but catch me.

- I will, I'm strong! said Suziky, lifting her left arm up to prove her friend she had muscles.

Tiny ones though. Alan climbed up with the rope and got down of a step to be at the same place Suziky was before.

- Ready? screamed Alan.

- Yea! Jump! shouted back Suziky.

The little guy jumped off and Suziky caught him with the strength she had. They ended up on the ground, Suziky on her back and Alan on her stomach. As they looked at each other, they both started laughing.

- Suziky, you were supposed to catch me, not to fall with me after catching me, Alan started, still laughing while getting off his friend to sit on the sand.

- Still, I got to catch you! That means I'm strong! exclaimed Suziky, happy of her feat.

- Yes, but I'm stronger than you! said Alan, sticking his tongue out to her.

- One day, I'll be able to catch you, kept going Suziky, sitting on the sand too.

- And I will always catch you.

- That means you'll stay with me forever, right? asked the little girl.

- I pinky promise, answered Alan, holding his pinky finger out.

- I pinky promise that I'll catch you one day, said Suziky, holding her pinky finger with his.

. . .

The woman was hanging above the gap, her right arm into Alan's hands. She was looking down and could feel the sweet falling from her forehead.

- Suzy, don't look down! said Alan with a loud voice. It will just make it worse.

Suziky looked back up. Alan kept grabbing her with his two hands and was also scared. They were both scared. Suziky attempted to put her left hand on the side of the big hole, but the arm Alan was gripping on started to slide. Suziky got destabilized, same for Alan.
Suziky tried a second time, but instead of putting her arm to the side, she lifted it to Alan and he grabbed her hand with his right one.

- At 3, get your feet on the wall and push up! Ok?

Suziky nodded and prepared herself, her feet as close as possible of the rocky wall. Alan took a breath and started counting.

- One! Two! Three!

At the third shout, Suziky pushed herself up with her feet while Alan was pulling her to him. With both of them, the young woman had enough strength to climb back on the surface and, from the fear, fell on Alan. This one's back hit the ground and Suziky was now on his stomach, her eyes closed.
Alan moved Suziky slowly and hugged her tight.

- You're good. It's over, he started whispering to her so she could calm down. I got you now.

Suziky let him do. She kept her face in his chest. Alan was holding her close, stroking her hair slowly, like a father would do to its child. They stayed like this until Suziky's breathing came back to normal. When both were sure to be calm, they backed away from each other. Alan brought his hand to Suziky's cheek and wiped a tear rolling down her cheek, which she didn't notice.
The young man stood up and held a hand to the girl, helping her up. Then, like none of this happened, they both continued their way to the door.

. . .

The hall of the base was long but not enough large two walk to side by side. Alan decided to go first, his phone out to have some light, and Suziky was following behind. The ground was now made of big flat rocks and made it look like it was actually a floor. The walls were also made of rock, but it was actually the mountain : they were literally in the mountain.
The two childhood friends were walking in silence. The only noise they could hear were the sound of their boots clapping on the rocky surface. Their breaths were so silent that we could think they weren't breathing at all. They walked like this for a quick minute.
Further, the tight hall opened in a big circular room. At first, it looked like a big cave with the walls made of stone and the ground made of the same flat rocks then the hall. But after looking around for a moment, a big flash shined and they both covered their eyes, surprised.
When they moved their arms away from their view, the room's lights were all on and we could see clearly the grey walls covered of paintings, the floor made of marble, the statues of weird mans all over the room and a lot of engines of all kinds here and there. Standing in the middle of the gigantic floor covered of sculpted symbols, a man – mostly a teen – was staring at them, his blue and red eyes.

- I am surprised that you got in alive. Without injuries would be impossible but I see that the girl has bleeding knees.

Suziky didn't say a thing. Alan stayed silent as well. The guy looked at them from head to toes, then turned around to pour some water in two glasses.

- Would you like some water? It's not everyday that I get visitors. I bet with the young Nick ten days of cleaning that she would fall.

- How do you know I almost fell? asked Suziky.

- Dear, started the guy, do you even know who you are talking to?

- We know who you are, said Alan. You and your high level of new sophisticated technology.

The teenager took a sip of water in one of the glass and put it down on the table next to him. He opened his arm wide open.

- Welcome in my secret laboratory, where all the new technology is searched, created and tested. I'm the most intelligent scientist the world ever known, Parker Rosovsky.