The Partner

Chapter 17: The New Age

Arthur came back with a large roll of white bandages.

Arthur continually looked back at the entrance, as he helped us wrap the bandages around our... stubbed arms.

I tied a bandage around my shoulder to act as a sling, and hold my arm.

Alexander grabbed the knife from the bloody floor and looked at it.

Arthur shook his head.

"We need to get you to a doctor... both of you..."

Alexander nodded his head.

"Do you have someone in mind?"

Arthur nodded his head.

"Yeah... there's this doctor further into the slums... but who knows what's happening outside. The police force... their gone, and that means..."

Alexander looked at me.

"That means Valarians are going to be killed."

That's right... without the police force, there isn't anyone to prevent the human rebels from attacking the city, and the way they view us... the way they view Valarians... they aren't going to just leave us alone.

I grabbed Arthurs mask from off of the ground and looked at it.

"I've been wearing gas-masks often lately... a while longer can't hurt..."

I put the mask over my face as it sealed behind my head.

Alexander smiled.

"The mask should ward off suspicion..."

I nodded.

"Where to...?"

Arthur looked at the entrance.

"We head to the slums..."

Alexander stood up, the knife in his hands.

"Alright... let's go then."

Arthur looked at the knife in Alexander's hand.

"Why do you still have that...?"

Alexander looked at the knife.

"This knife... let's just say its special... and its imperative if we are to show everyone the truth."

Alexander slid the knife into his bloody robe.

Arthur turned around and looked toward the exit.

I looked at my severed arm, bandaged around a stump.

My stomach swirled as memories flooded into my mind...

I can't believe I let my arm be cut off... but it was necessary...

We walked in carefully out of the room and into a narrow hallway leading to a stairway.

Arthur looked both ways before he continued to walk to the stairs.

Alexander breathed in silently.

"I'm sorry Joshua... I keep saying it... but no matter how many times I do... I feel as if it will never make up for what's happened to you. I understand... if you want to stop here. The world as it is has already been challenged... and I don't know what's to happen... but you still have the chance to leave and make a better life for yourself, away from this place."

I looked at my arm again.

My stomach churned, but I held myself from throwing up.

"N-no... I can't just give up here... I need to know the truth..."