Secrets in The Ashes

Chapter 18

I gag at not only the sight, but the smell. The smell of burning flesh is not something you can forget. Mateo and Bradie have hard looks on their faces as Lauren clings to me, Cleo vomiting against the wall. Bradie catches my eyes and nods. I nod back and drag Lauren away from the increasing loud footsteps. Cleo follows us as we pass and Lauren pulls away as we run out of the door. We sprint once out in the open, shouts from behind. Soon, gunshots start to ring out all around us. We duck low to avoid being hit.

"There! Hide in there!" Mateo yells, pointing at a looming multi-story building. The top half is crumbling, but the bottom half looks stable enough. We run faster than I ever thought imaginable, and soon make it into the crumbling 'safety' of the skyscraper. Finding a large wooden pallet, we shove it against the door and lean against it, catching our breath. Helicopter sounds soon deafen over the top of us. I move to the smashed window and stick my head out. I get a quick glance at the large helicopter before shots fire in my direction. Grinning, I pull my head back inside.

"Why are you grinning, idiot? Trying to get yourself killed?" Mateo snarls, panting the words out. I glare at him before saying what I saw.

"A helicopter. Saw one." I grin. Mateo rolls his eyes, though everyone else looks intrigued.

"So what?" Mateo says, resting a hand on his hip.

"It's one of ours."

After about an hour, the Shadow Men retreat and the helicopter lands. Armed men rush into the crumbling building, surrounding us with a human shield. Captain Steam proudly walks in towards us. He stops in front of us and grins, clearly happy with himself. Anger bubbles inside of me, but before I can move Lauren bursts forward and punches him in the jaw. He stumbles back, and one of the gunmen shoot at her. An electric current flows from the nozzle and into her. She crumbles from the 5-second hit. I rush forward and get shot as well. I fall to the ground, pain washing through my body. I can't scream, but I need to. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, the electricity stops and I can move again. I breathe heavily and slowly crawl over to Lauren and scoop her into my arms.

"I want him dead." I spit, but quietly enough that only she hears it. Lauren moves to a sitting position and grips my forearm tightly, steadying herself.

"Let's just listen. For now." she frowns. I nod and we help each other stand. Cleo and Bradie rush to help, but Mateo and Savvy just stand there with blank looks on their faces. Captain Steam clears his throat and begins to talk.

"I thought you would give a warmer welcome than that to your rescuers!" he grins, but when no one laughs, let alone smile, he continues. "I know this has been hard. But only one person dead is a great result! Now, we will take the rest of you back and get ready because we know how to stop the Shadow Men once and for all now with this new information. Come on, before they attack again." he says and turns on his heel. I look at Bradie, then at Lauren and Cleo. They shrug and, leaning heavily against Bradie, I walk out with everyone else following closely behind.

Back in our old prison classroom, Captain Steam updates us with the situation.

"They have a large capsule with all the plans, future, past and present. You need to get it and take it out. DO NOT DESTROY IT. Get it out in one piece and the whole world will be free. Understand?" he barks. We all nod pumped for the challenge. "Good." Captain Steam looks at some of the guards. "Get 'em ready."

We go into separate rooms. A pile of clothes sits on a wooden table in a white room. I get fitted with armour, weapons and supplies. After we are changed we meet again in the middle area where Captain Steam is waiting.

"We'll drop you in directly on top of the room with the capsule. You've got explosives to blow out a wall and escape. As soon as you're in the open activate the invisibility part of your suits and run like your life depends on it, because it does." he orders.

"Apart from saving the world and all, what's in it for us?" I ask, "I mean, you didn't help when we all nearly died. But now when you need something you're all like 'We saved you, do this'." I say. Steam shrugs.

"We have nothing to give you. But, the world will be back in order and humanity will be right again." Steam rubs his eyes. Silence follows.

"Well, that enough for me." Cleo agrees.

"Yeah, same." Savvy whispers.

"But I want to lay low for the rest of my life." Lauren points out.

"Me too." I mumble and grab her hand.

"Then it's agreed!" Steam grinned and we get led out to the chopper.