Secrets in The Ashes

Chapter 17

The silence is almost deafening. Lauren grips my hand tightly and I squeeze hers back.

"So what do we do?" Issy asks, frowning.

"We get out of here, idiot." I snap. Issy glares as does Mateo. Cleo moves from beside Mateo to beside me.

"We're gonna have to use our fists to get out of here. Then re group and think of a plan." Cleo suggests. I nod.

"I agree with Cleo, we gotta get out and re group." Lauren says, nodding.

"Me too." I grin. Mateo shakes his head.

"Attack while in their base. It'll be harder to get back in, dimwit." Mateo growls and Issy nods.

"That's basically signing your death certificate! We have no powers, no weapons and we don't have the numbers we need." Cleo yells, glaring at Mateo. Awkward.

"I agree with Mateo. We gotta attack while we are in. Then we waste energy going back in again." Issy says. Savvy and Bradie sit in silence, watching us go back and forth.

"Savvy, Bradie, what do you think?" I ask, turning towards them. Bradie looks at the roof in thought.

"I'm with Willy on this one, re group and then think of a plan." Bradie nods, grinning and moving towards Lauren, Cleo and me.

"4 to 2." Lauren grins tauntingly. Issy glares at her.

"In case you haven't noticed, Savvy is still here." Mateo sneers.

"And we'll still win. But by all means, try desperately." I smirk and Mateo tenses. We all turn to Savvy, who sits there blushing at the floor. "Savvy, what do you think?" She sighs. Then pulls up her head, her eyes distant.

"Re group, assess the situation." She mumbles, not seeming to be there. Lauren grips and glares at Issy. Mateo curses under his breath and Bradie whoops. Cleo purses her lips and frowns and Mateo, both anger and sadness plastered on her face.

"Well, that was easy." I smirk and Mateo lurches forward and punches me in the jaw. I fall over the table and land on the floor, caught off guard. Pain flowers from the right side of my jaw. I jump up quickly to see Cleo slapping Mateo and him lurching back.

"Save your energy and anger for the guards, dimwits!" Bradie screams. I rub my jaw and see a red, hand-shaped mark covering Mateo's right cheek. Cleo glares at him with tears in her eyes. We all stand, tension prickling the air. Lauren moves to the front of the group, me not far behind. She tries the door, but it is locked.

"Is there anything we can break it open with?" Cleo whispers. Bradie walks to the back corner of the room and grabs one of the small tables that looks like it was meant to have surgical instruments on it. We make a part for him as he picks up the table. He charges, fast and hard, and smashes into the door handle. After a few tries, the door handle makes a crunching noise, and the door swings open. Two guards stand outside the door holding things that look like long cattle prods. Bradie slams into the wall on the opposite side and distracts them just long enough for me and Mateo to attack then. I slam into one guard, who looks like a woman. She falls to the ground and drops her weapon. It slides along the ground and she flips onto her back. I kneel down on her stomach, making her gag. I punch her in the side of the head, sending her unconscious. I stand and join the rest of the group as they start to jog down the hallways.

"How do we know what route to take?" Savvy asks, breathless.

"I know where to go." I puff and push to the front. As i pass Mateo he hisses 'traitor'. I stick out my leg, making him stumble but not fall. I make it to the front and we go down hallways. Left, right, right. All is well, until a blaring alarm sounds and deep red lights flash. Savvy falters and slows. I grip her forearm.

"Keep running!" I scream. At the next turn we take, 5 guards run towards us, weapons raised. Bolts of electricity zaps between the two jagged metal bars. Lauren and I slam into the first. I duck the first guards weapon and manage to knock it out his hands. But another guard comes from behind, and digs the electric pulse into my lower back. I scream and twist away from it. The pain suddenly leaves and I turn to see Cleo beating the shit out of the guard. I turn my attention back to the guard infant of me. I sprint at him and knock him to the ground. I pin his arms and legs down and start punching him in the face. Blood pours from his nose and mouth. Then, with sudden strength, he rolls over, sending me below him. His rough hands find my throat, and start to press. I suck in breaths, but soon I can't breath. I claw at his hands, lungs burning. I see a metal pipe come down on his head and see Savvy standing there proudly. I cough and stand, welcoming the sweet taste of air. She runs off and continues to bash the falling guards. By the time I've caught my breath, we are on the move one more. I can the burn on my lower back, sizzling into my skin. I heave in a breath and turn right.

"This is the last stretch. Be prepared, there's gonna be a shit tonne of guards." I yell. Adrenaline rushes through my veins. I want to fight. I want to run. I need to. 15 guards pour from the left hand corridor, which leads to the exit. I scream a battle cry, and hear others join me. The two groups crash into each other, zapping and screaming filling the air. I punch one guard until unconscious, but then two guards pick me up and pin me against the wall. I scream as pressure increases on my burn, and kick and punch in all directions. One guard puts pressure on my throat, making it hard to breath but not enough to choke. The second guard punches me in the stomach, driving all breath out of me. I gasp and manage to kick the male attacker in the groin. He groans and crumples, distracting the second. I turn quickly and twist his arm. He screams and drops me, but pursues me as soon as I let go of his arm. He jumps on me, sending me to the ground. I feel the back of my head smack the ground, making the room spin. I feel the small trickle of blood down my neck as the guard tries to reach his weapon. I flip, sending us rolling over and over, ever second the other having the advantage over the other. We slam into the wall, his body pressed against it. I grab his neck and slam his head against the wall several times, blood coming from it. I stand back when his body goes limp. I look around, catching my breath. Everyone else is finishing off their last opponent. But around 5 guards stand in a small circle. I frown but don't move, my mind frozen. Then scream. Horrible, piercing, pained screams. Now, I react. I lurch forward and tackle the closest guard. I get another burn on my should, but that only fuels my rage. I wrap my hands around the guards throat until her face goes blue and her body goes limp. The screams pierce the air, sending shivers down my spine. I hear zaps and laughter. I turn around to see the last guard being tackled by Lauren. A body lies burnt, bloody, scarred and limp. I walk over, breathing quickly. My heart pounds in my ears. Cleo joins me, as does Bradie and Savvy. Lauren runs to join us, a moan escaping the broken guard. She grips my hand with such strength I didn't think was possible. The body is dead. Easily. As the blood and scarred face comes into view, a strangled cry escapes from Lauren. Blood pours from open sores and Mateo walks up slowly. Lauren turn into me and I hug her tightly. It's Issy.