The Prison of Luna

Scarlet

"Do you have any idea where the laboratories are."

"I do actually. Follow me..."

Scarlet traced Wolf's outline with her eyes. From his spiked hair to his curled fingers, curled like claws. He stalked forward, sometimes crouching on all fours or tilting his head up to sniff the air.

He was so much like a wolf.

"Wait." Wolf stopped her, not turning. "This way." They took a sharp right, and came to a hallway lined with doors. The air smelled sterile, and Scarlet knew they were in the right place.

"I'm not sure where the antidote is."

"We'll split up -"

"No," Wolf said quickly, interrupting her. Scarlet raised an eyebrow to him. "I mean, the antidote is heavily guarded so... we should stay together." Scarlet's smirk broadened.

"Relax, worrywart. If I find it, I'll call you." Wolf's brow knit tighter. "I can take care of myself." Wolf sucked in a breath, and let it out slowly, nodding.

"You're right."

"Break it up lovebirds," they heard a voice behind them, dripping with sarcasm. "You've found it." Wolf and Scarlet spun round. Several guards stood there, and, to Scarlet's horror, a Lunar thaumaturge. But, not just any thaumaturge, Jael.

He was adorned in, not a red, or the second tier thaumaturge uniform, but a white one, a first tier.

Scarlet looked to her side, where Wolf's mouth was agape.

"You should be grateful to my Queen," he said nonchalantly, as if they were discussing nothing more than what to have for lunch. "I wanted to kill you straight away, but she spared you, kept you as pets, if you will. Let's finished what she started, shall we?" He didn't move an inch, his smirk spreading to his eyes.

Hands suddenly clasped around Scarlet's arms, and she seized up with fear. A blood curdling growl sent shivers up her spine.

"Wolfy," Jael quipped, his hands in his bell-shaped sleeves. "Kill your girl friend, won't you? Then you and I will have a little chat." Jael then walked passed them down the hall, leaving the guards to watch. Wolf growled again, and Scarlet squirmed uncomfortably in his grip.

"Wolf!" She spun in his hold. He seemed a bit surprised for a moment, but his eyes spiraled back into wolf-like madness soon after. She gripped his shoulders, and he gripped her's.

"Wolf, this isn't what you are. Stop." Wolf only growled, his emerald eyes glinting like firelight. Scarlet said nothing more, and rested her forehead onto his. Behind them, a guard scoffed, but she didn't hear it over the pounding of her heart in her ears. She released her white-knuckled grip from one of his shoulders, and pressed her palm to his chest. His own heartbeat was wild, pounding against his sternum like a base drum. She closed her eyes.

Wolf's breathing was ragged, like sandpaper against sandpaper. It slowed, as did his heartbeat. "This isn't you, this isn't you," Scarlet chanted, her eyes shut tight.

She felt a hot, frustrated tear leak from her eyes, and she didn't bother to swipe it. Something warm clasped around her wrist, where her hand was to his chest.

"Scarlet..." Wolf breathed by her ear, and she almost gasped in relief. "Get the antidote." He pulled away.

The guards behind them still hadn't moved, and were watching with obvious amusement. The collective look was drastically changed to shock and horror when Wolf jerked himself from Scarlet's grip and lunged for them. Some of her fiery red curls blocked her view of the fight, but that was not her mission. She scampered to the nearest door and wrenched it open. Empty. Another. Empty. Finally, she reached the third door, and in a small shaft of cheap light stood a safe. She clambered to it, fumbling with the combination. After a few failed attempts, she swept the room, looking for anything that might help her open the small metal door. She glanced around, finding a cabinet full of old, metal parts.

She rummaged through it, and found something. It's polished titanium gleamed in the dim light.

Cinder's hand.

She fumbled with it, and she must have accidentally pressed something, because a screwdriver shot out of the forefinger. It started to spin, revealing itself as a drill as well. Scarlet stuffed the rotating metal in the crack in the safe's door. It whirred and clanked unbelievably loud, even over the grunts and snarls from outside. She angled it, and it soon wrenched open, and sure enough, inside sat a refrigerated group of small vials. The shining silver liquid winked at her. She took a couple, stuffed them in her jeans pocket, and ran for the door. She wasn't even sure this was the antidote, but it was worth a shot.

Outside, Wolf was grappling with the last guard. With a final twist, Scarlet heard a grunt, and the guard clanked to the ground, motionless. Wolf slumped, looking completely exhausted. "Come on Wolf," Scarlet coaxed, holding him up underneath his arm and guiding him away from the unconscious guards.

"Sc-Scarlet," Wolf mumbled, but she shushed him, and he fell silent, shuffling beside her.

Scarlet prayed to the stars that they wouldn't find themselves face to face with Jael again. They weren't exactly quiet however, making their way back to the meeting place. Wolf was heavy, and Scarlet had to keep up half his weight. How would they escape if Jacin and Kai were like this as well?

They'd figure something out, all was not lost because all of the men were out of order.

They finally arrived at the meeting place, Scarlet noting the desk and potted plant off to the side, their land mark. She set Wolf down to rest, and she herself sat next to him.

Now they could only wait, and be cautiously optimistic.

A question struck Scarlet, what if Cinder didn't come back?

Scarlet looked to her side, where Wolf was - what was he doing - snoring? Scarlet rolled her eyes even though no one could see. Her eyes slid down to his hand, resting on his knee.

She reached for it, and clasped shaky fingers around it. His hand twitched, and gripped her hand as well, tightening.

Even if Cinder didn't come back, they'd find a way to survive.

They had to.