Designed Humans

Chapter Seventeen : Altair

"Meet me on the West Coast! If I don't arrive in 8 hours, leave!," I heard you.

The woods and boulders fell down inside and blocked our way out. The passage was so dark, we could hardly see our own feet. Skye's hand was wrapped in mine, tight enough to not let go until we're outside. It was filled with different bugs that I'm so not used to, nor is Skye. If only we had some light.

I touch the walls, wearing the beating heart that's trying to jump out of my chest. We followed the walls yet the fear of the tiny little creatures was comparable to the humanoids. The vibrating ground was the proof that we need to go through with it, whether there are bugs or not. I can hear their skittles and snickering noises throughout the way, we can always avoid them. There might even be poisonous bugs in here; this is the worst place anybody can get stuck in without any lights.

We follow the walls, slowly taking one step at a time before Skye lost her footing and tripped. I touched the ground and found a small lever fixed in the ground. I've got two options, either leave it the way it is or cause some trouble by pulling it. I'd like to cause some trouble by pulling it, and pulled it as bright lights shined leaving us blind for a few seconds until our eyes adjusted to the blinding lights.

The path was lit with LED lights as if it was still being used by someone, I felt relief spread with my blood in my veins. Skye sits down with her injured knee folded and blowing over it. I tear out the sleeve of my shirt and tie it on her wound to stop it from bleeding or getting infected. The bugs all swarmed around the lights leaving us on our own. We followed the scent in the passage; the scent because it might lead us outside sooner or maybe we just wanted to believe we weren't really stuck and that there is a way out.

"You want a ride?," I asked Skye.

"Nah, I can walk on my own," she gets up, standing on her legs but clearly she can't, her legs trembled like a toddler who just learned to walk.

"Come on?," I say.

"No, I said I can--," she bit her tongue because I lifted her up on my back. Both her legs on either side of my waist, her hands hesitating to wrap around my neck. Her heart beats increased two folds.

"It's fine. Everybody needs help. Nobody can make it all alone by themselves. Even the most successful people in the world have had their parents teach them the basic A to Z," I said trying to give her an example to make her feel less awkward and comfortable but I fail drastically as I feel her arms moving across my shoulders to my chest and locking her hands together, setting her head at the nape of my neck and feel her intense heat radiating off her face. Way to go, jerk. She silently abided by my orders.

"Hey"

"Yeah?," I replied still walking while her legs were wrapped up around me like her hands.

"You won't drop me, right?," She asks in such a baby voice that it's hard to resist the urge to reply to the question she asked that doubts my strength.

"No, I won't. But if you want me to drop you, I gladly will," I reply giving up the resistance and teasing her, "Oh and don't hit me. I might actually drop you then."

"Jerk."

"Yeah, yeah."

I soon hear the trees and the sound of its leaves, calling us, inviting us outside. I put Skye down hoping her wound is healed by now. She removed the cloth and her knee was as good as new. Amazing how they created us to be so convenient. We speadily walk outside only to see a river that flows underneath us. A small rock falls down as I hold Skye's hand before she slips down with it.

"I can't swim," she looks at me.

"Close your eyes and dive, I'll be there to help you," I whisper before diving in first. The fall was large, nearly similar to jumping off from a tenth floor of the facility structure. The splashing sound was deafening as I quickly regain my balance and swim upwards to the surface.

"Skye! Jump!," I called. I swim towards the rock and keep my ear on it, they found this route and advancing very quickly. She needs to be quick.

"But--," I cut her off.

"They found this route! Just jump!," I yelled and without a second thought she jumped. I won't let her down as I hold my breath and swim deeper down before I hear her dive in. I hold her waist and swim underneath the passage. There's a huge boulder under the passage which might block their sight from us.

She breathes heavily until she stablizes her balance and holds the rock. Her clothes soaking wet, her bluish yet dark hair flowed down her back, one of her hands rubbing her eyes that have a shade of light blue and gray in them. Her skin as pale as a sick person due to the cold water. The sky was filled with stars and moonlight, dimly lighting the place under the huge boulder. The waters reflecting what was in the sky, skimmering it with a layer of shiny surface. She shivers due to the cold, so do I.

Bright lights shine from above us, searching the area to spot us. The light trails us in the river.

"Hold your breath"

***
A/N :
The lights shined on them like spotlights for divas?

Did that scare ya? Haha.

What do you think happens next?

- Kenerelda