Ignite

Chapter Eleven - Escape

           

I dropped the pudding cup. I forgot about Ruby Romero completely when people scurried around me screaming about an attack.

I was never told what to do in the event of an attack. No-one quickly briefed me on where the emergency exits were, luckily my friends seemed to know what they were doing.

When I spotted them, I ran towards them and said, 'What's going on?'

Audrey grabbed me by my arm and pulled me with the crowd. 'It's an attack.'

'Yeah, I got that.' I said. 'But who is attacking?'

'I don't know.' Audrey replied, worried. 'I just know that we need to get to safety.'

We were pushed to the end of the corridor by the bustling crowd. At the end was a hidden door, just like at the underground St Marlo's facility. We all packed into the room, shutting the door once everyone was inside.

At the front of the room, a strip made of one-way glass showed the scene outside.

Soldiers draped in black and guns strapped across their backs entered from the ceiling. They all wore identical black jackets with the red V-symbol emblazoned on their left shoulders.

'The Reihn.' I muttered.

The Reihn filed into the dormitories and arenas in search of Premians. Whenever a Reihn found a Premian a gunshot was fired. The Premians in the safe-room were either sobbing or watching with pain at the scene ahead, their eyes drawn to the massacre.

'Ruby.' I said with realisation. I turned to the swarm of people behind me and searched for Scarlett. I spotted her sitting in the corner, anticipation and worry painted her face. I grabbed her shoulder. She looked at me with increased fear, which reminded me of her sister. 'We need to save your sister.'

'How did you – '

'Now is not the time.' I said. 'We need to save her.' Scarlett nodded.

I surged with Scarlett in tow to the front of the crowd.

'What are you doing?' Audrey asked.

'We are going to save innocent people.' I replied.

'Count me in.' Elijah said, unsheathing his sword from practice.

'Me too.' Maya joined.

'Same.' Ava offered.

'Don't leave without me.' Olly smirked.

Audrey grinned. 'Let's do it.'

I was about to turn the door handle when Jamie screamed, 'Wait!' We all turned. 'If you attack these people, I won't guarantee that you will live. I can't put my students in danger.'

'Please, miss.' Maya said. 'We have been training for this. You are putting even more of your students in danger by not letting us help them.'

Jamie thought about this. 'I guess you're right.' She turned to address the crowd. 'Does anyone else want to help?' The majority rose their hands. Then the rest stuck up their hands from peer pressure.

Olly smiled. 'What's the plan?'

'We skewer them like kebabs.' Elijah offered.

'Or not.' I said. 'Instead, we exit in groups. Once one group comes out, they won't expect more. We will take them by surprise.'

'Solid plan.' Elijah said.

We took a moment to divide the Premians into 5 groups and establish when each group would enter to battle. Audrey, Maya, Olly, Ava, Elijah, Scarlett, Jamie and I would exit first, followed by Evan Battson, Lucas Decker, Kyle Neil and Louis Hanson from Dormitory 19, then by Scarlett's friends and others.