Life After Champion

Day

We both freeze, paralyzed with fear. No no no no. We can't get caught now, not when we're so close.

Anden glances over at me, unsure of what to do, then looks back at the door, straining to hear. The footsteps are getting closer and the loud voices become more distinct. I can barely make out snippets of what they're saying. They don't sound happy.

"...Yeah. The Boss went out to check in on our 'new guest' only to find that he was missing and Jackson and his team were out cold in the parking lot. He's guessing that Day helped him escape. Now we've got to find the little rat along with the Elector. He said to search every room before..."

I stop listening as Anden turns his gaze towards me, fear filling his eyes. "What do we do?" He mouths.

Right now, that's what I'd like to know too.

A layer of sweat starts to coat the palms of my hands as I rack my brain for logical ideas that would get us out of here safely. I glance down at June's still form and my eyes lock on the pained expression etched into her face. It causes my thoughts to swirl as I wonder and regret all that's she's probably been through. I have to get her out of here. I can't lose her. Not again.

The sounds of the people growing ever closer to us in the halls rips me out of my thoughts and I focus yet again on the task at hand. I hear doors being slammed open not too far away. We don't have much time. I decide to propose an idea.

I turn my gaze to Anden. "Ok," I whisper, "They're searching each room they come across. The next time we hear them burst into another room, we'll quickly and very quietly leave the room and go down the hallway and make our way around the corner. We'll find our way from there until your back up gets here. We have to be efficient. We don't know how much time we'll have before they come out to search the next room, but it won't be very long, that's for sure. I don't know if it'll work, but it's the best thing I can think of at the moment and I would rather risk it than just wait like sitting ducks for them to find us. Understand what we need to do?"

Anden looks just as unsure as I do, but he seems to get that we don't really have another choice. He nods then gestures towards June. "What will we do with her? We can't just leave her here."

I sigh. We have to be careful with her but we don't have much of a choice. "We'll take her with us. We just have to be careful. I don't want her to get hurt any more than she already has." The words sting my throat as I say them and I again feel that never ending feeling of guilt and regret.

He nods again and we both place our ears against the door, listening ...

Waiting for the perfect timing...

I nearly jump when I hear a door not too far away slam open. I hold my finger up to Anden, signaling for him to wait a moment; we have to give them time to enter the room so they're not in the halls when we come out. After a few long seconds drag by, I silently pull open the door. When I confirm that the coast is clear outside, I very carefully slide an arm around June's back and another under her knees and pick her up, her head bobbing lifelessly against my pounding chest.

Time seems to go in slow motion as I stealthily exit the room with Anden at my side. The bright lights in the hall hum with electricity and temporarily blind me after coming out from the dark enclosure in which I was just in. I try my best to keep my steps light and soundless as I shuffle away in the opposite direction of the incoming danger. Now is not the time for me to slip up. I need to carefully calculate all my decisions from here on out to even stand a chance. I need to think like June. I have to consider every possibility and can't let my emotions get the best of me. Not here. Not now.

The hall seems to be growing longer before my very eyes, preventing me more and more from getting to safety. For every step I take, three more are added. I know it's all in my head but I can't clear my mind and focus.

I look back down at June's slumped figure in my arms. Seeing how badly she needs me, how much I need her even, it gives me a new strength. She helps clear the fog clouding my mind, just like she always has...

I turn my gaze upwards again. My illusions disappear and I can tell we're almost to the end of the hall. A plan slowly starts to form in my head as we close the distance between us and our destination. We're one step closer.

I go to sigh out in relief as we turn the corner, but my victory is short lived. The blood drains from my face and Anden gasps beside me, his skin going pale as he notices it too. In front of us we find several armed men with guns pointed straight at us.

The person leading the group looks almost...amused... As he calmly says in an icy tone, "I'm glad you could finally join us..." An evil grin stretched across his face as he takes a step forward and snaps his fingers. "Bring them," is all he says before he leaves and the multitude of people with him swarm around us.

We're trapped.

A/n: Ummmmm how do I put this...? Haha yeah... I'M SO SORRY IT'S TAKEN ME SO INCREDIBLY LONG TO UPDATE. I'm now on summer break so I'm hoping I'll be able to update way more frequently. It's also taking me forever to come up with good ideas for this story so that's why it's not that good. I'm also trying to decide if June should live or not...Hmmmm...I guess we'll find out soon! Sorry again for the crazy long wait and I hope you think this chapter is halfway decent!