The Cindered (Anti)Hero || Book 1

Chapter 12 - The Escape

"Oh, moons, indeed," Soot grinned awfully. "How will the fearless ragtag group escape the law now?"

Comet growled, pulling out her dagger. "Prepare to be permanently injured." She lunged, attempting to stab Soot. Soot chuckled, dodging her attack and flipping her over, the dagger bouncing out of her hand. "Predictable." Angel grabbed the dagger, sneaking away.

Jacques lunged, trying to stab Soot in the tail with his stinger. Soot kicked him away, still keeping Comet pinned. "Now, what shall I do with you all? Do I kill you lot now, or wait to execute you all when I finish what I started all those years ago?"

Suddenly, a guard screamed. Soot turned around to see a guard with a forearm cut off. Another screamed, who had been bitten in the neck. The third was sweating heavily. Soot growled. "Who the hell is attacking all my guards?!" Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he fell to the side, revealing Angel holding up the dull end of Comet's dagger.

Comet got up. "Angel, you sneaky SeaWing!" She smiled, patting her on her head and grabbing the dagger back. She glared at the third guard, who ran away in fear. She checked the guards' pockets, taking the keys and trying them on both Cinder's and Ronin's cells. Finally, one managed to work, freeing them.

Comet hugged Cinder. "Cinder! You scared me half to death when you sent these kids to me!" Cinder laughed, avoiding hugging Comet back. "I'm just glad to see you again." That made Comet's chest erupt in bubbles. "I'm glad to see you too!" she quickly responded.

Ronin walked up to Comet and Cinder slowly, sitting patiently. Comet saw him and backed away. Ronin slowly approached Cinder, then jumped on her and hugged her. She growled lowly, but accepted it. Angel came running, hugging Cinder as well. 

After a moment, she pushed them off. "Enough'a this sap, let's get out'a here." Comet nodded, letting Angel climb back on her. They all gathered themselves, then ran out quickly. They managed to sneak past the guards, finding a secret tunnel. When they got out, Cinder spoke. "I know a cave we can hide in f'er the meantime. I've got a few things I need to do before we travel far distances."

They followed Cinder to an old cave, settling in. Most of them were lying down, except Cinder, who sat up. She cleared her throat. "What you 4 did was..suicide. Honestly, I'm surprised we all made it out alive, and that she even made it here." She pointed to Comet. "Ms. Lazy Flier."

Comet snorted. "Am not!" Cinder huffed. "Anyways, what I'm tryna say is thank you. Especially Ronin. You may be stupid, but it's for a good cause." Ronin smiled awkwardly.

"As a reward," Cinder continued, "as a thank you, I'd like to offer a sample of m'ah blood for a cure." Ronin gasped, overwhelmed with emotion. A cure? he thought, as if it were only something he could wish for. A cure?! the Infected voice laughed. You know it won't work, Ronin.

"You don't know that," he whispered to himself bitterly. He looked back up at Cinder. "Really? You're willing to do that?"

"Do you not want me to?" She laughed. Ronin shook his head. "No, I would like if you did." Cinder nodded. "Say the word and I'll pull out an arrow.

Angel chimed in. "I got this, too!" She held up a vile of scarlet liquid. "What's that?" Comet asked.

"A sample of Soot's blood I stole," she grinned. Cinder smiled. "I like her." They all laughed.

Comet mixed a sample of Cinder's blood with Soot's, mixed with some herbs and other things. The vile turned into an opaque red as she handed it to Ronin. He took a deep breath and drank it, down to the last drop. "Oh, it's actually not that bad."

Comet laughed. "Course it ain't, I made it." Ronin smiled "It's late," he observed, looking out to the cace entrance. Comet nodded. "I'd suggest you lot get to sleep." Ronin, Angel, and Jacques all nodded, cuddling up and falling asleep.