Hollow Veins

Chapter Fourty Four; C13OW6

Jaden stretched. The tunnel was chilly in the early morning. Everyone was pulling on  jackets and hoodies. "What time is it?" Ren asked. Jasper checked his watch. "Six o'clock." He looked over at Max, who seemed to be the only energetic one. "Do you know how long it's gonna take?" Max looked at him. "I've been up and down this stretch a lot. I thought memorizing a few routes was a good idea. I'm pretty sure we could be there today." There were some hopeful looks shared. Jasper nodded. "We know roughly how far, but it's good to know when." Max watched him suspiciously for a minute. "What's the code?" He raised his eyebrows. "You know about that?" Max nodded. Jaden glanced between the two of them. "What is she talking about?" Jasper looked at him. "It's a code I was given so they can make sure we've actually been permitted to get in. They'll ask my name, then they'll ask for the code." Max nodded again. "What is it? I just wanna be sure that you're not gonna do what the last guy did. He wouldn't tell me and abandoned me once we got there." Jasper looked at her a moment. "C13OW6." Aaron glanced at him. "Say it backwards, so we know you didn't just make it up." Jasper threw up his hands. "6EO31C." Aaron smirked. "Say it ten times fast." "I am not saying it ten times fast." Aaron gave a mock gasp. "My trust... it's broken." Jasper rolled his eyes. "Your trust is broken?" He said skeptically. Aaron nodded sadly. Jasper huffed a slight laugh. Alice stifled her laugh. Max smiled. Jasper gestured ahead. "Let's go."

Max ended up walking next to Ari. The latter spoke, "Today, huh?" Max looked at her. "Yeah. I hope you guys aren't lying, you seem nice." Ari nodded. "Same. But we aren't lying. We're not like... whoever he is. The guy who used you to get there." "Tony." Ari jumped at the name. "What?" "Tony. That was his name." Max said. "Oh, I knew someone named Tony. What was his last name?" "Welter." Ari flinched and looked at her. "Wavy dark hair, pale-ish, brown eyes?" Max nodded slowly. She knew him? Ari looked away. "That's... creepy." "I know, right? How did you know him?" Max said. Ari spoke cautiously, "He was my neighbor and also went to my school. He had a habit of... well using me. I, uh kinda liked him and was pretty... gullible. And when this whole Infection thing started... he, uh... pretty much stole my house and kicked me out." "Idiot." Ari glanced at the others. Max looked at her. "Don't worry. I won't mention it and if it comes up, we'll say it was your old neighbor." Ari smiled. "Thanks." They continued on quietly for several minutes. "I kinda hope we see him, now. I've got some things I wanna say." Max smirked. Ari shivered a little. She hated people who could mess with her emotions.

Alice was having trouble getting her stomach under control. Her emotions felt like a tornado. Every event added more pressure to her mind. Guilt was eating her up. Despite Jasper's reassurance, she knew it couldn't be brushed off her mind so easily. She remembered his expression when she'd first seen him. At the time, Alice had only been focused on her anger. Even later she'd only been confused on how he'd ended up there. But now she remembered how relieved he'd looked. Then how bewildered Jasper had been when she hit him. Alice glanced at him. He looked a little preoccupied with his own thoughts. He still looked upset and a little apprehensive. "You ok?" Jasper looked up. "Huh? Uh, fine. I mean, considering... everything." "We're all kinda... messed up, I guess." He gave a slight smirk. "What on earth would give you that idea?" She rolled her eyes. "Fine we're all on the magic school bus and you're Ms. Frizzle." He attempted to fluff his hair. "I don't exactly have her hair capacity but I'll take it." Alice laughed, "Or the brain capacity, apparently." "Hey," He said in a mock whine. "Just pretend like we're preschoolers instead of teenagers with advanced knowledge about how to kill people." "Well that's my personality anyways, so that shouldn't be too hard." They both laughed. Suddenly Jasper stopped. The passage ended in a t intersection. Metal rungs reflected the light faintly. Jasper turned to Max. "Hey, do you remember anything about the terrain up there?" He gestured at the Valt like door above the rungs. Max shrugged. "It was just rocky, dead grass and the mountains. They're pretty much just a thin ridge. There's a good distance between them and the city. It's surrounded by huge walls and guard towers. The entrance is smack in between. That's about it." Jasper nodded and looked up. "You guys ready?"

The fresh air and sunlight was startling. Prince inhaled and adjusted his gaze on the rung. He pushed the door all the way open. There were dents in it which made him wonder how ofter it had been forced open when locked. He glanced back down at the others, then pushed himself up. Prince glanced around. It was just how Max had described it. He still didn't quite trust that girl. But he supposed there wasn't any real way for to betray them without getting killed. Prince hoped Ari remembered the code just in case something happened to Jasper, because he sure as heck didn't. "All clear!"  There was a grunt behind him. At the same time, a cloud went over the sun, darkening the sky. Prince felt slightly apprehensive. Alice's face appeared and Prince helped her up. She stared at the massive walls. They went on and on, as far as she could see. "Oh." He smirked slightly. Next was Ari. She was pretty light so she ended crashing into him. She glared at him and he laughed. Ari then looked at the
City. "Wow." Prince sighed, then backed from the entrance as Jaden got up. He was glaring so Prince didn't help him. Jaden turned back to the hole. Ren struggled slightly and grabbed his hand. He pulled her up and quickly let go. Aaron was next and seemed like he might hurt the first person to touch his hand. Jasper got up behind him. "Look," Alice called. In the huge front wall a small pair of stone doors opened. Two people stepped out. The doors shut. The people had rifles. And they were pointed... at them.