Before Another War

Chapter Forty-Six

This time Raf didn't hesitate. He rushed through the door, following close behind Nadia. Cornelius however, planned to simply walk in, making good use of his new face. He stayed a few minutes behind them and watched as they dashed in.

Nadia stopped dead, not knowing where to go. The pair of them stood in a tight hallway, leading off into several rooms.

'I know where they are,' Raf whispered, taking the lead.

However, as the began to move, one of the doors along the hall started to creak open. They froze. A few feet in front of them, a bulbous man stepped out into the hallway. He hadn't seen them yet. Nadia crouched down and took the Egia into her hand. It had been risky just bringing it here, but Nadia couldn't leave them there to die. Unfortunately, this was when Raf began to panic. She's going to get use both killed.

He began to pull against her sleeve, but Nadia ignored him and tried to remember what Butch had told her. She'd seen him do it once before. She focused on the ball, telling it what to do. A plume of red appeared in the centre like ink dropped in water. In one swift motion, Nadia placed on the floor and rolled it along the corridor. With any luck, it would latch onto the closest energy source it found. She hid around the corner, pulling Raf with her.

From behind the wall, he heard a faint popping sound and someone hitting the floor. The effect had been instantaneous. Raf glanced around the corner to see that the man had fallen onto his knees, one hand clutching his chest. Somehow, he knew it was safe to approach. After a few moments, the man fell to the floor, lying on his front. His mouth hung open, and his eyes were vacant.

'What did you do to him?' Raf breathed, unable to take his gaze away.

'I told you we'd be alright,' Nadia said, casually picking up the Egia and dropping it into her pocket.

'But how? The ball?'

She shrugged. 'I think it can suck the energy out of people,' Nadia explained, although she wasn't entirely sure how it worked either. Butch would know.

Raf struggled to believe what he was hearing. His vision began to weaken and he felt like dropping to the ground.

'Come on,' Nadia told him, snapping Raf out of his trance. 'Take me to them.'

Slowly, and while trying not to stare at the dead man, Raf took her to the top of the stairs. Just a few minutes ago he'd been dragged up them — now he was willingly going back.

They took one step at a time, not wanting to make any noise. But, as he descended, the queasiness in the stomach grew. Something's going to go wrong.

Luckily, none of Cyrille men were down there and Raf ran over to Alex, still feeling dizzy. Placing his fingers on her wrist, he could feel a faint pulse. Raf breathed a sigh of relief, but she still didn't look right. Her skin had taken on a pallor and there were dark rings around her eyes. Alex hadn't come round, and she was still, too still.

Kirk, sat in the corner, had started to struggle desperately with his bonds as they came in, thinking he was finally going to be rescued. He'd been stuck in the dark, not knowing who or what was down there with him. Nadia went over the Kirk and produced a small penknife from her pocket. She sawed away at the rope and swiftly ripped the tape from his mouth.

'Nadia?' Kirk said, his lips burning. 'I-'

'Shh, no time,' she replied, placing a finger to his lip. As soon as Kirk was free, Nadia went over to Raf, who was still sat with Alex. They needed to leave quickly. It had been a risk for her to return, especially with the Egia, but they were only in this situation because of her, and she couldn't bare leaving Alex to die.