The Forgotten Secret

Chapter 27

 "Shh!" I hear Damien hiss from upfront, as we come to a stop. "We are here." I stand on my toes, staining to see past Blake's broad frame. Zabrinä was right, Blake had to stoop down the whole time, his shoulders brushing the top of the tunnel. My head had been level with the tunnel for most of the time, but towards the end I had to crouch. Damien, on the other hand, is barely five foot seven, so he walked with ease.

I hear more than see Damien turn around and I squeeze Blake's hand. Its time.

"This is as far as I go." He whispers, "From here wait till the group of slaves come through, and then follow Zabrinä's instructions. Mitch will be waiting on the train. Good luck." Damien squeezes past us and silently goes back the way we came. I watch the dark outline of his short frame until he is completely swallowed by darkness.

Blake inches forward, still holding my hand, and I follow. He comes to the edge of the tunnel and peaks out, whilst remaining in shadow. Again, I try to see over him, to no avail.

I lean forwards and lift my mouth up to Blake's ear, careful not to tip his balance. "Blake." I whisper, "What do you see?"

Instead of answering Blake turns towards me, so that my mouth is to his shoulder, and inches back. He gestures for me to stand in front. Smiling, I do, and Blake stands right behind me, resting his chin on my hood. I lean forward and look out, and stop in surprise. This exit is half-hidden by a tall column, which throws the doorway into darkness. Beyond is a large, circular room with a platform at one end and another doorway at the other end. Above a single light shines down above the platform, where a sleek, silver-lined, hover-board bullet train rests. Three guards stand at the foot of the platform and two at the entrance into the room, all five loaded with semi-automatic rifles and strapped with spare ammunition. The guards at the doorway start moving forwards, and for a horrible moment I thought they were moving towards us, when they stop and turn around.

Then I hear it. The sounds of hundreds of footsteps. They trickle in slowly at first, one women, then a man, then two more women, followed by a couple with a baby. The baby whimpers in his mother's arms and the mother silently sobs into her baby's hair. The father limps beside them, shoulders stooped in defeat and eyes on the floor.

I stare at each person that exists that doorway, more alarmed and horrified by each figure. They are all dirty and malnourished, some hurt and others openly weeping. More than that, their eyes are haunted and defeated, showing helplessness and fatigue. Men, women, children, the elderly and the maimed, all united in slavery and poverty.

"Kyra," Blake murmurs into my ear, bringing me back to the task at hand. "We need to make our move. But the three guards at the front are watching like hawks." I glance at the guards, and silently curse. We'll never make it without being seen.

Suddenly one catches my eye and I jump in fright, ready to run when he alerts the others. He opens his mouth and... winks. I do a double take, unsure of what is happening, when he moves towards a male slave near the front of the line, and pushes him out of the line. The progression stops and the other two guards walk towards this man as well. I lean forward to see what is happening, and it looks like the guards are searching the slave.

"He's making a distraction." I breathe and feel Blake tense behind me, ready to move. We have to move now, before the guards turn back. The two guards that were at the back move forward as well, and I am practically hear time slipping away. There is a gap between an older woman and a young boy just ahead.

I glance up at Blake and see him looking at the same spot. He nods.

"On three." I whisper. "One." We turn onto our sides, facing forwards.