Alone in a Busy World

Chapter Eighteen

I think we set some sort of silent alarm off because as we round a corner I have to skid to a stop whilst the others bump into my back. I can see about twenty odd guards in the next corridor standing outside each room. Some are dressed fully in red, others in white. All of them have helmets with a black glass, hiding their eyes.

I don't think Nutty was concentrating much on what was going on because she can't stop running. She collides with the back of Mark who pushes everyone on top of me. Unfortunately the armed guards seem to have noticed.

I toss the pistols to Mark and Jewel and hand Nutty two knives. Her eyes are wild and fierce, I thought Mark was intimidating but I can see a cold malice in her eyes and she's baying for blood.

I don't bother to use my bow and arrows, the guards have thick gear on, my arrows would only graze them at the most. A hoarse cry escapes my throat and I'm charging with the others in a 'v' shape behind me. The next few seconds are a blur of confusion as the guards hesitate to fire. We're on top of the first few in no time at all and I don't think their comrades want to harm them.

Nutty is in a frenzy as she slashes at the slit under the helmet of one and he crumples to his feet. The life drained completely from him. I admire her courage, but I don't want to harm these people. After all, they only do it for a job; they don't know who they're helping. I tackle the man I'm fighting to the ground.

Mark and Jewel are standing over two of the guards, threatening to kill them if they move. Spirit is growling at another who's cowering by the wall and Misty and Storm are holding another at ransom.

I slowly stand, dragging the guy I'm fighting onto his feet. I hold my knife to his throat which gets the attention of the advancing mob. I'll let them all go free as long as they don't follow us, if they move to get us I'll kill this guy and others will follow. My change in tone makes me feel sick so I'm glad when Mark takes charge, shooing everyone down the corridor whilst Spirit makes sure that no one goes to harm us.

After releasing the guy I was holding, and hearing him running away with a short whimper, we start off again. I shoot into the lead but I take another detour into a tech room and 'borrow' a few iWatches, which I pass around the group. As Nutty is really good with technology, she programmes each one to be like mine. She was so fidgety and nervous when I first saw her, that I didn't think she'd ever be able to do something like that, but that teaches me for jumping to conclusions.

I'm glad I took the detour because it also means that I don't have to be in the lead, and I can have a casual conversation with Jewel. Mark is leading whilst helping Nutty and the wolves are taking up the rear. My conversation with Jewel starts fairly awkwardly.

So...um, how long have you been here?

All my life really, but it's only the past few years that they've been enforcing tests on me.

Oh, I'm sorry about that...I used to live here permanently. I had a twin called Al, they wanted us both to be able to transform into wolves. Al was the only one who could but we both had wings too. They went too far trying to make him transform...he died, they never told me and I refused to do their tests because I didn't know where he was. They muddled my memories and sent me into the wilderness where I wandered for days until I was accepted by a wolf pack; hence the wolves accompanying us.

I'm sorry about your brother, doesn't sound much different to my situation. Only they threatened that if I refused to transform for them that they would kill me anyway. I think this organisation is getting worse. From what I heard one of the people who set it up died recently though.

Do you know which one?

Female I think...I don't know her name.

Don't hate me for it but my parents were the people who set this up, my mother wasn't too bad, but my father forced her. I think it's a shame he's still alive really.

Awkward silence follows and I'm starting to think I've blown the idea of being really close to Jewel until I hear her speak again:

I suppose 'that sucks' doesn't really cover that does it?

Well, um, I suppose not.

We turn into a small room with some sofas and crash out for a few seconds, we've been running hard and I don't think Nutty likes it. She's whimpering a little as Mark and Jewel have a conversation. I gently go over to her and she looks up with tears in her eyes. I don't know why she's so hurt but I offer her some nuts, which apparently she loves.

Nutty gives one look at them and, without much thought, scoffs them down. I give her some more which she eats slower and eventually I'm sitting with Nutty's head in my lap and sharing walnuts with her. Her eyes sparkle and a smile spreads across her face. I've made a friend.