The World Of Steam

45

I stopped by a heavy metal door and pulled down the large handle, opening it. I had been journeying through the tank long enough, I had to have made it to the end by now. There were enough bodies strewn about the moving town. If I did not have the adrenaline fuelling me plus the help from The Black Mark, I would surely be dead. I guess I had to thank them for that at least. My brain was still contemplating how it was still alive after all of the traumatic events that it had been through. Logically speaking, it didn't make sense. Meanwhile, I just prayed that I did not happen to take a wrong turn and end up back to where I had started. There was no time to waste with rescue missions. Who knew what Knox could have been doing to Jennix? In fact, I did not want to know. The rusted hinges squeaked loudly, blatantly announcing my entrance, and the door swung open slowly, revealing what it withheld from me. I instantly aimed at my enemy, my finger practically touching the trigger. My nerves itched, not being able to wait any longer, just wanting to fire the rifle and end Knox's life. This war had to end with the council's defeat. I did not think that I could take much more of the fight. If I did not seize the chance that I was so graciously handed, then the madness would claim me. Just one more life to take and it would all be over. Just one more man to kill and the city could rest. The psychopathic demigod would trouble them no longer. "Let her go." I sternly demanded, giving my enemy no warm welcome.

"Or what?" Knox asked me nonchalantly, blowing away my threat like it was a dandelion. He held Jennix in an armlock, his mouth still covered in dried blood. "You're going to shoot me? If you do that, you might just end up shooting your lady friend here. I hear that the poison in your darts is quite a painful experience. If I were you, I wouldn't risk it."

Karzen suddenly stepped out from behind his cover and fired his gun. A dart flew out, hitting Knox near the shoulder, just missing his neck. He cried out, letting Jennix go and seethed as he quickly drew the dart out before it had a chance to inject its poison. He dropped it to the floor. Jennix ran over to me, standing behind me.

"Alright." Knox panted, quickly getting used to the biting pain in his small wound. "Go ahead. Leave. Just be grateful that I am letting you live."

"No." Karzen told him. "You're not getting off that easily." He pulled the trigger of his second gun, but was too slow as Knox jumped down an open tube. The bullet ricocheted off the metal wall. Knox slid down the tube, his manic laugh echoing through the iron. Before Karzen had a chance to pursue him, the hatch closed up and locked itself with a dull clunk.

We exited the tank and looked at the desolate, devastated space around us, torn apart piece by piece by the war. If someone had awoken from their coma right now, they would have thought that the end times had arrived. And they would be correct.

"Where do you think he could be?" Karzen asked me.

"I do not know. I may be smart, but I don't have all the answers."

Jennix patted herself down and looked at me in horror. "I don't have the cure anymore."

Before Karzen could launch into a rant of curses, a hatch in the tank crashed down onto the ground and a steam car sped out. A hatch in the car opened and out popped Knox in his blood stained suit. He laughed in triumph as he waved the cure about in his hand. As if by a miracle, another steam car drove up to us. It skidded slightly as the driver slammed his foot onto the brake. A door opened up.

"Get in!" The Black Mark driver yelled to us. Without one hesitation, I jumped in and so did Jennix. The driver put his foot down and proceeded to pursue after Knox. Karzen stared at both cars as they left his sights and sighed, shaking his head.

"I can get the cure." Jennix said as the car sped its way through the battlefield.

"I won't let you." I refused. "It's too dangerous."

She looked at me and shook her head. "I wasn't asking." She looked over to the driver. "Get alongside Knox!" She ordered. Without hesitating, the driver did as he was told and soon had caught up with him. He carried out the order and Jennix opened the door. Having timed her thoughts perfectly, she launched herself onto the car. Without wasting time, she opened the door and climbed inside. Knox snapped his head towards her.

"You little bitch!" He yelled at her. Jennix delivered a fist to his face and proceeded to scuffle. The car drove over a bump and they were both lifted up into the air, smashing their heads into the roof. Collapsing back down onto the floor, Jennix delivered an elbow to his chest, seizing a small chance. Knox coughed and went to punch at her, but there was little space for an effective attack. Jennix easily moved her head out of the way, making Knox punch the car's wall. He snarled in pain and then suddenly grabbed her. "Fine then! Let's do this together!"

I watched in horror as Knox jumped out of the car, sending them both tumbling to the ground. Before I could give him an order, the driver left them both in the dust. Both of them got up and Jennix went to fight him, but he drew a gun out, pointing it mere metres from her face. Having no choice, she retreated, praying that he didn't decide to shoot her in the back. Smiling, Knox lowered his weapon. He reached into his suit, taking out the vial that contained the cure. He laughed, celebrating.