Numerical Apocalypse

fifteen

A girl with messily braided brown hair was crouched in the middle of a glass-encased cell, chest heaving. A prominent 8 shone over her head.

She didn't react to us entering the room.

I started to call Lena's name, but Theo pulled me back with a finger pressed to his lips.

Theo pointed to the closed door on the other side of the room and mouthed a word:

Jack.

I nodded slowly, then gestured to the lock on Lena's cell.

Theo returned the nod, then pointed from me to the door.

I gave him a thumbs up and crossed the room.

Jack was inside the small room, hunched over a computer. The blue light illuminated his 16.

Empty cans and chip bags littered the floor.

I stood on tiptoe, trying to see the screen of his computer.

A clang from behind me made me jump.

A metal droid emerged from the wall, the wooden panel sliding closed behind it.

Theo looked up from fiddling with the lock, his deep blue eyes flashing.

"What is that?" I whispered, edging closer to the cell.

He narrowed his eyes. "Some sort of test droid."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the metal humanoid stiffly raised one of its arms and fired a shot at Lena.

Her green eyes flashed as she raised her head.

The next moment, Lena stood on the other side of the cell, behind the droid.

She aimed a kick at its torso, but was too slow. The droid turned and struck her in the shoulder.

Lena slumped over, visibly gritting her teeth. I could see the exhaustion worn into her face.

Theo dashed back over to the lock and attacked it with renewed vigor. "If I get this open, can you take out the droid?"

An orb of lightning formed in my palm, startling me. I felt surprisingly confident. "Yes."

A scraping sound from the other room made us both turn.

Almost without thinking, I shot the orb of lightning at the door handle as Jack grabbed it.

I saw him fly across the room through the small window in the door. "Hurry."

"I'm trying my best." Theo's eyebrows were scrunched so hard it looked painful.

I saw Jack get up from the floor, fists clenched and eyes blazing.

All at once, the door opened, then the gate to Lena's cell opened.

My friend gasped, dropping her defenses.

Jack rushed towards Theo just as the droid knocked Lena down.

My vision blurred. I barely registered Lena's crumpled form and Jack threatening Theo before I felt a buzz in my palms.

Then I could see clearly, and aimed lightning bolts towards Jack and the droid.

The metal creature was flung against the wall, away from Lena. Jack, however, stood his ground.

I closed the distance between myself and Jack, who had a gun pressed to Theo's side.

"Let him go." I narrowed my eyes.

The traitorous leader chuckled. "Nice try. Stop the lightning first."