The Abstraction Chronicles: The Abstract

Chapter 11: Our Deaf Friend

You would think that after running from the other scouts, Dwellers, giant birds, and our minds that we would be entitled to a break. That wouldn't be the case here. Unfortunately, the Abstract had a little more in store for us at this point. Walking through the wormhole I walk into Cynthia who has frozen midstride knocking me to the ground.

"Hey! What are you...?" I start to say, looking over her shoulder I see Saxley staring at us wide-eyed. It's a bit difficult to tell it was him, he's fully decked out in military armor. He's wearing heavy metallic body armor and on his chest, there's a Key emblem with what looks like a riot mask.

"WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE!?" He walks over frantically, his armor

clinking as he walks. "THE WHOLE CITY IS LOOKING FOR THE TWO OF YOU!" Waving her arms, Cynthia makes an ear yanking gesture. His mouth in return goes "Oh!" and he messes with his hearing aids in the helmet.

"Saxley! It's great to see you here, but could you perhaps tell us where we are?" Cynthia asks calmly. Looking around it looks like a barren wasteland. Dead grass litters the field around us, charred sand tops the surrounding hills, and the sky is blocked out by a grey cloud of ever- present ash.

"I don't know. I overheard Farin and that masked man call this place the UnderDwelling?"

"Wait! Farin was talking with Vinieus?" I interject.

"It was weird. I went to talk to him at the scout tower and he didn't see me come in. He was talking about the first Key being stolen and how it was all going according to plan. From what I overheard Vinieus gave Farin a specific location within the Abstract and told him to capture you both here." With Cynthia and I exchanging worried glances Saxley adds, "He selected a group of scouts and I was one of them. The rest of us are getting ready for a siege since we heard of Dwellers amassing outside of the city. Then he opened a wormhole from the drill field using his Mark instead of his Key. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Where's Thaddeus?" Cynthia asks.

"No one knows. Farin said he was investigating something, but he didn't tell us anything

else."

"I don't like the sound of that," I say getting up. "Also, what are you wearing?"

"This what Farin had created for war with the Dwellers. Supposedly, it can repel Dweller attacks and protect us in Dweller corrupted zones. I just prefer bashing Dwellers with my shield."

"Saxley, who are you talking to?" A voice echoes from his helmet.

Making a scared face he responds casually, "To myself sir, I'm just bored and figured talking to myself would help."

After a few seconds of waiting the voice says, "Wait there, I'm dispatching a team to your position. I'll have no one in my charge acting like a child."

"Yes sir," Saxley responds grumbling. Pressing a button on his helmet he says, "Hide quick! If the other scouts, see you they'll try and capture you both!"

"Saxley, what are you doing? You're supposed to be apprehending them." Looking over a group of three scouts wearing similar armor were approaching.

"Yes, well I've learned that they aren't who we're looking for. So, they can pass." He adds with a slight smile.

"Is that so?" The leader of the group says, his face not visible due to the tint of the helmet. "Even so, I'm going to have to ask if you'll come with us. Farin will decide whether these individuals will be allowed to continue their travels."