The One Who's Fallen

Chapter 126

We don't encounter any guards along the main hallway we were in. So instead continuing straight, we decide to zigzag so hopefully the Maunon won't be able to tell where we came from. It's like an extra layer of protection for Lincoln, Octavia, and Raven's location.

Lexa and I keep track of where we are, using the fact that we memorized the map to this place to our advantage. We check in every couple of turns to make sure neither of us are lost and both of us know where we are in case we get split up or something.

It isn't until about ten minutes after leaving the others that we encounter our first guard. Raven was right, their security sucks. Though I would bet they're not used to "savages" being loose in their hallways.

The guard is a young man, his inform oversized enough to be baggy as he slumps against the wall, seeming bored by his lookout job. Well, it's about to get a lot more interesting.

Lexa and I sneak up behind him, our swords drawn. We exchange a look and have a quick silent conversation before nodding at each other. We'll try to knock him out and if that doesn't work, we'll fight him. Lexa hits him in the back of the head with the hilt of her sword. He crumples to the ground, unconscious.

We sheathe out swords in order to be able to drag him around. We pull him to the side of the hallway under the illusion of trying to "hide" him but we're not really. If we were, the Maunon would never find him. This young guard is bait. Lexa doesn't move to step away, looking down at him with a pensive expression.

"I hate when children get caught up in war." She murmurs.

I move so I'm standing beside her and place a hand on her shoulder. She leans into the touch.

"He's about the same age as you, Lexa." I point out softly.

Lexa purses her lips, her eyes sad. "Maybe so, but I was born for this. He was not."

I don't really know how to respond to that, so I don't. I slide my hand down her arm until I can hold her hand. I rest my head on her shoulder and she relaxes slightly. We both jump when the guard's radio crackles. Lexa and I pull apart and unsheathe our swords as someone's voice comes out.

"Hey pipsqueak, come in." There's silence for a moment. "Pipsqueak. Come on, man. I don't want to deal with this again. Come in, pipsqueak." Another pause. "Dude you better not be asleep on the job again. I covered your ass so it wouldn't be kicked by Cage but I won't do it again. Pipsqueak, come on wake up." A pause. "Crap. You're not asleep, are you? Was there a riot? Did one of those savage sympathizers mess you up? Okay, I'm sending some guards to you. Hang in there, buddy."

"Let's go." I whisper to Lexa. "It would be suspicious if we were just hanging out here, waiting to be caught."

Lexa nods and we jog down a few hallways, keeping close but not too close. We hear some boots hitting the ground, fast enough for the people to be running or jogging.

"Yeah, this is Smitty to Command." A woman says. "Pipsqueak is unconscious, but I don't think it was one of the sympathizers. They aren't exactly the violent type. And the precision indicates a medical or a military background. My gut tells me it wasn't one of us?"

"You think there are savages loose?" The control guy's shaky voice comes through.

"Yeah, but don't sound the alarm until we find further evidence." The radio clicks. "Be on your guard, boys." 

"Yes ma'am." A man says, sounding sarcastic.

Looks like sexism survived the apocalypse down here. It certainly explains why their boss is a guy and why the big boss is an old white guy. I can't wait to knock these idiots down a peg or two.

Boot steps come closer and we turn around like we're headed down the hallway away from them. We start walking slowly, our swords drawn.

"Hey!" A man shouts from behind us, making us freeze. He speaks quieter to the others next to him. "Chill, it's just a couple of chicks. No worries."

Lexa and I exchange a look and turn around to face them.

The woman gasps. "Crap. Oh shit. Those are..." She picks up her walkie talkie. "Houston, we have a problem. Like a really big one. The savage leader is here with her girlfriend."

"They're what?" The guy squeaks out. "Dude, you better not be messing with me."

"I don't kid around about stuff like this." The woman snaps. "Sound the alarm. Now!"

The woman reattaches her walkie talkie to her uniform and raises her gun so it's pointed at us.

"Are they really...?" The sexist guy asks.

"Yes they are. Idiot. Didn't you look at the pictures Cage handed out?"

"... No."

The woman mutters explicit words about "overconfident men that think they're above everything."

She gestures with her gun at us. "Drop your weapons!"

"You drop yours." I reply, twirling my swords.

The woman swallows and blinks rapidly but holds her ground. The sexist man beside her however, is quite literally shaking in his boots.

"Drop it or I'll shoot!" She threatens, her voice wavering slightly with fear.

I sheathe my swords but Lexa keeps a hold of hers. The woman eyes me warily as I reach for my belt. Her eyes widen but it's too late for her to do anything. I use the handgun Raven found for me and shoot the gun out of her hands.

The woman yelps and drops the weapon, clutching her now injured hand. The jolt of the gun as it was shot probably broke some of her fingers.

"Nice shot," Lexa murmurs beside me.

"It was, wasn't it?" I say proudly, pulling out my swords again.

We advance on our terrified enemies just as the alarm starts blaring.

Whoo, intense chapter! Next chapter, more fighting! And that poor lady, having to deal with the sexist guy. I have to say, it's really nice to be able to finish this chapter when I did. Because today I have late stay at school. Also, it's my 18th birthday :) It's already going better than last year when I had to take the SAT on my birthday... I did good though! Maybe they felt sorry for me or something. Anyway! Thank you all for reading and for your lovely comments! Stay awesome!