Our Time Bomb

Chapter Twenty-three ~ Bombs Don't Stop Ticking

Luna's pov ~

"this is so cool!" Chris grins as we ride down the lift into the compound. I am very nervous, but I nod, "It's no wonder no one's ever found this place."

Syra smiles at us, "I've always thought it was cool too."

Casper has still got a sweaty grip on my wrist. Now that we enter the compound, he lets go. The air touches my skin where his hand was, it's cool relief.
I look at him, his face is calm. "Sorry about that."

I study him, he is not that tall, but you can tell he's ripped. Everyone in Shadow Nation seem to have an active lifestyle. His eyes are peculiar, like dark pools of moonless night. A single star manages to twinkle. Perhaps it is a glint of light reflecting from the electric torches.

I glance away and survey my surroundings. It looks like a giant mineshaft except it is well kept and there are no tracks. Polished wooden frames hold the tunnels together. It is a very strange sight. It's clean and organized and the layout is remarkable, but it seems unreal that someone would live down here, nevertheless, a whole colony.

"Welcome to the compound." Syra's light voice is actually quite friendly.

I smile weakly. I am in the Shadow Nation compound...

Chris speaks, (a common occurrence) "So you woke us up in the middle of the night to take us here. Why?"

Syra's father, who had been pretty quiet up to this point responds, "Because you belong with us, and you need our your help, and we need yours."

"We do not need or want your help." I say coldly.

He takes off his hood, "Miss Luna, you may not think so yet, but you will. Trust me, you will want to be with us when we get your mother back. There is no saying what the Loyalists or even the monarchy will do when the heat gets stepped up."

"You're going to get her back? How?"

He smiles at the ground, "this is a good question, I'm not sure yet. No one knows about it yet expect for us. We have... Concerns that some will not take this well."

I frown, getting a little interested now, "are you going to start a war?"

He swallows, "If that is what it takes."

I stiffen, "Then I will have no part in it."

Suddenly a Guard rushes over to us, "Chancellor Sir, a party of Gyardicans are above us now. Just to let you know, I will inform Heir Commander immediately."

"Figures." the older man sighs.

My heart freezes, "Jefferson."

They look at me, "What?"

"Please don't hurt them." I plead, feeling useless.

Syra's face wrinkles, "If they invade our territory, then we will indeed kill them. In fact, it is probably happening now. Tis a pity Erika married that Captain of the Guard, he will not be alive much longer."

I set my eyes on her with a deadly stare, " They are trying to do the right thing, they don't deserve to die!"

Her sneer causes the hair on my arms to stand up. "Oh please honey, you haven't a clue what you're talking about."

"I don't do I?" my shoulders tighten. Suddenly, I go on autopilot and shriek, high kicking Syra in the face as hard as I possibly can.

She stumbles backwards in pain. As she looks up, I kick her again in the ribs. I wonder why no one is stopping me, so I keep going. She dodges before I kick her again, regaining her balance. "And you say you're not Shadow Nation..."

Blood is gushing down her face from her nose. She headlocks me and throws me on the ground.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see people watching. I struggle to get up on my feet, but she kicks me right in the ribs where I kicked her. Pain ripples through me as I fall back down. Desperately I grab her leg as she continues to kick me. I yank when I get ahold of her boot. She falls next to me. I roll over as adrenaline boosts me on top of her. Rapidly, I elbow her in the face. She screams and so do I. Then she rolls over me and pins me down under her. I wrench my body to the side and twist under her. I throw her off and scramble to my feet. So does she.

Suddenly arms enclose around me. Chris. "Luna stop."

I scream.

Syra scowls, wiping blood that is continuing to pour down the front of her.

Casper rushes to her side, "I see she is one of us."

I hear that but say nothing.

Suddenly waves of pain kick in. My ribs ache and my body throbs. I realize what I just did. I lost it. What if they punish me now? Or kill me?

Chris turns me towards him and frowns worriedly, "You okay?"

I shrug, "No, because everything is messed up. Those Gyardicans that are trying to save us are up there probably fighting or running... Or dead right now. And there could be a war, and I am so confused... And..."

"I know." He says, hugging me.

I swallow back tears, both from the pain and the confusion. Plus it's like one or two in the morning.

Syra walks away muttering to Casper, "Give them somewhere to sleep."

He seems reluctant to leave her, but he and the Chancellor take us to a place to rest for the night. I can barely see straight, so I don't know where we went to get there, all I know is that I'm gonna forget everything for the time being and go to sleep.

Erika's pov in a flashback two years ago.
I suppose you want to hear the rest of the story of what happened after that night when Jefferson was attacked by Shadow Nation on our date. It certainly didn't go as planned. He thought they took me with them. Poor guy, he must've felt so awful for leaving me. Nevertheless, things didn't end there, though they should've.

I couldn't forget about him. His beautiful blue eyes haunted me every day after that. I couldn't bear being apart from him. The bad part was that I could not find a way to get back into his life without being suspected. I mean, when someone is taken by Shadow Nation, they don't just escape. He would wonder what happened, and I'd have to lie to him.

Well I was stupid and I did lie to him. Here's how it happened...

One day, perhaps two weeks later, I made the bold choice of coming right to the Guild where he works. Any Shadow Nation in their right mind would've been ashamed of me.

Upon arriving at the courtyard area, a Gyardican approached me with a friendly grin on his face, "Hello Miss, you are the woman who won the Blakesbog Competition with our Captain, correct?"

I nodded sheepishly, "Yeah, uh is he around?"

He glanced about, "No, I think he is out in the village."

"Oh okay, well I understand, do you know exactly where I might find him?"

"Look around the marketplace, other than that, I don't know what to tell you."

I smiled gratefully, "I very much appreciate your help. Goodbye Sir..."

"Kyle," He says, "my name is Kyle, and do have yourself a fine day."