The Knights Pet

Chapter 30

A aggravated grunt escaped Pets lips as she rammed her shoulder into the metal door once again. It didn't give, obviously, but the panic that had overtaken her thoughts wouldn't allow her to come to this realization. It had been 2 days. 2 days of being trapped between those 4 walls. 2 days of being left alone with her tormenting thoughts. The only thing keeping her from losing her mind was the thought that the knights would find her. But 2 days was too long, and she couldn't take it anymore. "OPEN" she screamed, the sound echoing off the concrete around her. Harder, again and again until the pain was just too much to bear. She turned, trying to think, trying to come up with another strategy, another way to free herself.

She didn't hesitate, her fingers digging into the crack of the door, into the gap in the wall, into the metal of the air vent. She clawed and pulled and twisted until her fingers bled, but she wouldn't stop. She couldn't. She had to get out. She pressed her feet against the wall and pried the metal away from the vent with all of her strength and finally after a few minutes of struggling, the metal groaned and gave way to her attack. Pet stilled, waiting, listening. No alarms. Good.

Suddenly the sound of approaching footsteps filled her ears. She quickly shoved the cover back against the opening, trying her best to make it appear undisturbed. She pressed herself against the farthest wall from the door, wishing more than anything that she could just disappear into it completely. The soft hiss of the door opening made her jump even though she knew it was coming. In walked a girl not much younger than herself, jet black hair and crystal blue eyes that appeared almost kind. In her hands she held a tray.

This was the 6th meal they had attempted to bring Pet. She had refused each and every one of them, terrified that the food would be poisoned or that she would be beaten for taking it. "Hi" the dark haired girl chimed, much too friendly for someone speaking to a hostage. Pet did not reply. When the girl tried to approach, Pet coiled, the feeling of being cornered making her instincts flair like wild fire. The girl tilted her head, giving Pet a sympathetic look. "You don't have to be afraid. We're the good guy." Pet almost wanted to laugh at this, but instead she shook her head, hard.

"No" she responded simply, her eyes locked on the girls every movement, sharp gaze fixated on her hands. "No you're not." The strangers brow knitted together in confusion. It was clear that she was under the impression the marks all over Pets face, the blood that was now dried and crusted against her skin, was somehow the first orders doing, the knights doing. "Your people," Pet growled, gesturing to her injuries. "They beat me. My knights never do that. Kylo never does that." This sentiment seemed to caught the girl off guard, and then a look of realization took over.

Her eyes fell to the tray in her hands and she nodded. "Elock, right?" She questioned in a knowing tone, as if it wasn't really a question. Pet nodded slightly. The girl moved and set the tray down, a sigh escaping her. "Elock is... he has a temper. We aren't all like that. That's not what we are about." Pet side eyed her, a sound of disbelief her only response. The girl sighed once more before making her way back to the door. She paused just outside, giving Pet one last sorry look. "If you need me, my name is Nova."

Pet watched the door close, listened to the sound of boots against metal until the footsteps faded fully into the distance, and then back to the vent she went. She ripped the metal away, accessing the opening. It wasn't very big, most people likely wouldn't have fit inside, but she could, she was sure of it. Taking one last look around her cell she climbed inside. The vent was bigger on the inside, not by much but enough to give her room to crawl. She took off, pausing anytime the metal beneath her creaked to loudly, stopping every few meters to listen, trying to find the right direction.

Her muscles ached and her fingers screamed in agony, but she didn't care. She refused to stop, the thought of being locked in that cell for even one more minute enough to give her the strength to continue. After what felt like hours of navigating she saw another metal vent cover. Light poured into it. Sunlight. A way out, finally. She tried to push the cover out with her hands but couldn't. She turned herself, pressing her feet against it and her back to the metal behind her and kicked. She kicked over and over until finally the cover bent and snapped on one side, leaving a space just big enough for her to squeeze herself out.

Dirt, vegetation, and beyond that a forest. She had done it, she had freed herself. She was so happy she could have kissed the ground, but there was not time. She examined her surroundings, crouched incase she were to spot any resistance personnel. Luckily there didn't seem to be anyone around. She stood, searching for which way she should run, but before she was able to make up her mind, an oh so familiar sound cut through the air. A hum. She knew that sound. Her eyes moved to the sky, and there in the distance just cutting its way through the atmosphere was the thing she had been longing to see since the moment she woke up in that cell.

The Night Buzzard.

She didn't think anymore, she took off sprinting, knowing they would have to find a clearing in the forest to not be spotted by the enemy. She was determined to making it to them despite her body begging her to stop. Her bare feet thudded against dirt, leaves, sticks, thorns. She didn't care. She shoved her way past trees, through thorny brush, her feet catching tree roots that threatened to topple her to the ground. Her breathing was uneven, her chest heaving with the effort it took to keep herself up.

I can not stop. I must keep running.

Every once in a while she would glance behind her, terrified that the soldiers would notice she was gone and coming looking for her, chasing after her, but every time she looked back there was no one in sight. Her lungs burned, her ribs ached, her face throbbed, but she pushed on. The sound of the ship seemed to be growing closer and closer. Just a bit farther. Just a little longer. She pushed on.

Finally after an eternity of running the black metal of her saving grace came into view, the trees thinning as she approached the clearing that she had been looking for. She didn't slow, she wouldn't, not until she saw them.

The ramp of the ship lowered and 7 monster clad in black stepped into view. She wanted to cry at the sight of them, she was right, she knew they would come for her. She used the last of her strength the make it 20 feet or so from the edge of the ramp before her legs no longer had the strength to go on. Her knees buckled beneath her and she fell onto them, hard. Her body collapsing in a heap on the ground and a sob escaped her chest, but she didn't care. She had found them.

The edges of her vision began to blur as the thundering sound of boots against metal, and then against earth took over her senses. She felt herself being picked up and pressed tightly to someone's warm broad chest. She coughed, it was horse and painful but all she cared about was that they were near once again. "Took. To. Long." She panted, and that was the last thing she was able to get out before darkness engulfed her fully.