Freedom Workers (boyxboy)

Freedom Workers part 5

A/N: Hello, my wonderful wonderful people who, for some unintelligible  reason, still stick with me and read my stories even though I’m the worst updater in the world . You are all amazing and I don’t deserve your support. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Recap:

“Where will we go?”

“Away.”

“But- but Shia…your- your Mam. And your sisters. What if-“

Shia paused in his methodic packing and moved in front of me, calmness radiating from his skin.

“Tem,” he murmured. “I don’t know if I told you, but your eyes are glowing again. The colors are even brighter than they were before.”

I scowled. “I don’t see how that’s relevant-“

“Put this on,” Shia interrupted, tossing me a dark cap. “Pull it low. And Tem, I’m going with you, so don’t waste your breath in trying to convince me not to.”

I caught the cap against my chest, deliberating, then I yanked it down low over my eyes and took the rucksack from Shia.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

“Wait!” I grabbed Shia’s arm.

“What?”

“Take off your shoes,” I knelt and swiftly unlaced my boots, shoving them into the rucksack.

“It’ll make us quieter.”

Shia nodded once, quickly following suit.

Then, with a grace that was surprising for someone of his size, Shia slipped out his bedroom door and crept down the hall. I followed, crouching like a cat against the wall.

We shuffled down the stairwell, and before I knew it, we were outside, huddling behind crates in the alley.

“Shia,” I whispered, “we can’t be caught.”

I saw him smile in the faint moonlight. “Really.”

“I say we head for the Western side. There’s always less Guards there, and I think Rinjen Olls told me once that there’s a hole in the wall, near the Copse.”

Shia nodded. “Then that’s the plan.”

We slipped out of the alley, sticking to the shadows cast by the buildings, our bare feet silent on the grimy cobblestones.

We slipped through the city in this fashion, swift and shadowy as ghosts.

When we reached the Western side, I glanced quickly at Shia, who jerked his head to the left. We stuck close the wall, feeling the grains of the original stone and the smooth slate of the patches. When we reached the Copse, which was a grouping of small crabapple trees, Shia ducked under the low branches to look for the hole. 

I heard him scuffling and a couple of grunts, then he exclaimed, “Tem! I’ve got it!”

“Excellent!” I dove under the bushes, ignoring the scratches the branches left on my cheeks. Shia pulled away a few branches to show a small tunnel, about two feet wide and tall. Inside was dark.

“I don’t know how thick the wall is,” Shia whispered. “Or what’s at the other end.”

I sighed. “It’s our only chance.”

I slid the straps of the knapsack off my shoulders and pushed it into the tunnel ahead of me.

“Stay close,” I murmured to Shia.

“Always.”

I hoisted myself into the tunnel and began to crawl on my hands and knees, pushing the bag in front of me. I heard the scuffle of Shia behind me, which helped calm my hammering heart.

The tunnel was so dark I could feel it, the immense darkness pressing hard on my eyes. My breath came in gasps, and I fought to stay calm.

“Relax Tem,” Shia said quietly. “Focus. We’re almost there.”

I pushed on through the impenetrable darkness, feeling as though it would never end, despite what Shia said.

At long last, I began to see a small pinprick of light.

“Shia! I see the end!”

“Thank Barnabas…” I heard him mutter.

Excited, I crawled faster, the tiny bit of light growing bigger and bigger.

Finally I reached the end. This end of the tunnel was slightly smaller, the edges ragged stone. Cautiously, I poked my head out. We seemed to be surrounded by a large, oval-shaped meadow ringed with a forest on three sides. The moon hung like a round teardrop on the tree line, casting a mellow silvery glow over the clearing.

“How is it?” Shia hissed.

“All fine,” I answered. “I think we’re alone.”

I gave the rucksack one last shove, hearing it fall to the ground with a thump. I followed, jumping the three feet to the ground.

I straightened and picked up my bag to pull out my shoes as Shia stepped gracefully out of the tunnel.

As soon as my boots were laced I straightened and stared out at the trees.

I felt Shia come up next to me and lace his fingers with mine.

“We’re alone,” I said. “We can’t ever go back.”

“I know,” murmured Shia. “I know.”

A/N: I am really not liking this chapter. Sorry guys. My writer’s block is having a relapse L