Imperfection

Imperfection Chapter 15

I claw at the hand around my mouth, pinching and scratching as it yanks me quickly through the dark hall with no regard for my comfort or safety. I'm trying to sink to the ground, to reach out towards Aurum, but I'm being pulled too fast and he's too far. It's getting darker in the shadows. I realize now that the gate that had been ever so slowly opening as I pushed the card in is closing. I hear yelling in the distance. The Fortis are calling out for me, angry and confused. To them, I have just disappeared into the shadows of the gate and they are furious at their own foolishness.

Someone fires a gun. The hand slips off my mouth and fingers circle around my wrist, pulling me with brutal force.

"Run," A gravely voice hisses.

"Aurum-" I choke out, fear laced in my labored breathing.

"Shut up!" The voice growls as more shots are fired.

In the darkness, I look back to see the silhouette of man, burly and tough. His skin flashes brown in the faded light and his kinky black hair is spun into dreads. I look past him briefly, to see Aurum glancing back at me, his eyes fearful as the Fortis step in front of him to shoot at us.

As the gate seals off the last bit of light, I stop in my tracks, looking back at where I had last seen Aurum.

This may be the last time I ever see him.

"Why the hell did you stop running?" The man running with me barks. "Keep moving, unless you wanna die!"

Gulping down my uncertainty, I run with him, unsure of who he is or where we may be going. All I have to motivate me are Valor's words.

"Just get the hell away from the Base. Where ever you end up is probably 100 times better than your life here."

We run together, occasionally looking back to see if the soldiers had opened the gate and were coming for us. They haven't. They must presume that I am running out to my death and though I don't know where I am going, I am confident that I will do my best to survive.

We run and run and run until the asphalt beneath our feet fades away like the setting sun and becomes crumbling red dirt. Dust begins to float around, rising to our eyes with each step. The dim, dank tunnel brightens with moonlight as we approach the outside.

"Stay down," He whispers sharply, crouching down to the ground.

I crouch as well, stretching my neck out to see what is on the outside.

The exit of the tunnel is surrounded by large black vans. The vans are identical, indistinguishable.

The man turns to me and pulls a handgun from his waistband. "Heard you were pretty good at this stuff,"

Biting my lip, I reach for the gun.

"Alright," the man says, loading his own gun. "Can I trust you to guard my back?"

I pause, and then nod frantically, exhaling nervously.

"Ready?"

I'm shaking. My legs feel like snow, cold and slushy, melting beneath me.

"Hey! I said, are you ready?"

"Yeah," I stammer.

He shoves me ahead of him, quickly pushing his spine against mine.

The sound of a gunshot ripples through the air, echoing through the empty shadows outside the tunnel.

A whimper escapes my lip. Biting down my nerves, I adjust my grip on the handle, preparing myself to shoot.

"Get ready to run and fire," he barks at me through clenched teeth.

I'm too nervous to respond. Grunting, he nudges me forward, hard enough for me to almost fall onto my knees.

In a brief second of shock, I look around to see him breaking into a run and firing at the windows of one of the black vans.

I prepared to follow him, but as another gun shot rings, my legs are locked in place. With the last but of energy I have in myself, I bolt after him, gazing back at the other vans to see if there were any more shots.

Fortis guards step out of the vans.

I audibly moan every curse word I have ever learnt and raise my gun towards them.

As a response, they deploy their significantly larger guns.

A man steps in front of them, signaling for them to lower their guns. They obey, surprisingly lowering their guns into a position that can still be viewed as dangerous. The man squints at me, as if he is trying to register who I am. Even as I run further and further away from him, I can see the recognition flood over his face. He grins a wicked grin and before he can yell to his men to open fire, another gun shot rings through the air.

The man drops to the ground, a bloody gash in his forehead. My hands are trembling more than they ever have. My heart is pounding a volatile rhythm and my ears are howling a painful high pitch.

A tear rolls down my cheek as I slowly release my finger from the trigger.

I

Am

A murderer.

The same sick, twisted equivalent to the Alpha who shot Walker without reason.

I fall to my knees, burying my face in my hands and pushing my forehead to the dust. I hear yelling, screaming, gunshots but I just stay huddled on the ground.

A strong hand pulls me up and drags me into a van. Someone is yelling at me, cursing at me, squeezing my shoulders. But I can't feel. I can't hear. I am numb, icy and empty. My vision is blurred with hot tears and I can't stop shaking. My lungs are fire, my tongue is sand, my skin is iced rubber.

"I can't..." I croak, reaching up with trembling fingers. "Please..."

A soft groan escapes my throat and I am pulled out of consciousness and into the hollow darkness.