Spes Novis

Savior - 14

A hush fell across the room of civilians and soldiers alike as they waited in anticipation. Questions hung in the air and fear perforated through the walls of the vault. Sharp silence sliced across everyone's throats and lips, keeping them from uttering a sound.

Curiously enough, silence had its ways of bringing along an uproar. With each muffled breath came the loud pounding and tic tic ticking of the clock hanging on the far wall. The silence brought out the thunderous pounding of hearts as they tried to remain obsolete. Even Lavender could hear her coursing breath, as loud as a stampede, yet as quiet as a mouse.

The silence altered their perception as they waited. And waited. And waited...

Crash. One lonely voice to shatter the quiet. "How long do we have to hide in here?" Tamara asked in a bare whisper.

A chorus of shushing erupted across the room, sending little Tamara scurrying into Finnikin's arms.

"It's okay to talk a little," Lavender assured. "No one can get into this vault without the passcode." Where had she heard that before? Back at her job in Nix Terra, the vaults had been sealed tightly, yet the D.C.s managed to make their way in.

"How long will we be in here?" someone asked.

A member of the extraction unit responded, "Until the city is safe and secure. We have rations if that takes longer than anticipated."

"What are you 'anticipating?'" Corey inquired.

The soldier replied, "Three to five hours is my guess."

Corey followed that with another question, "And what are the odds they find us in here-"

A beeping sound interrupted Corey and all eyes shot to the door. Green light emitted from a small bulb as the door accepted the passcode.

"Relax," the soldier said to the tense room. "Whoever it is, they have the passcode."

"Justice Proctor had the passcode," Lavender hissed, raising her scythe toward the door. "And look at how safe that was. Arms at the ready."

The door creaked open and a lone, shadowy figure stood in the doorway. The light from the pyromancers and diviners lit up their face, revealing Justice Chavez.

"You have to get out of here," he gasped. "It's not safe here." He stumbled into the room, dragging one leg behind him.

Lavender almost lost it when she saw how messed up he looked, blood caking the side of his face. One of his arms appeared to be dislocated, and his entire leg was a mangled mess.

"Justice Chavez," a soldier asked. "How are you here? The elevator- Where's Justice Statera."

"I was able to slow the elevator before we impacted, but it was still too late. I barely made it out alive. She didn't stand a chance..." Justice Chavez gestured to the door again. "Please, we have to get out of here. The humans..."

"Won't find us here," Lavender replied. "Stay here with us. There's a theurgist who can heal you. Close the door and we'll all be safe."

"I'm telling you," Justice Chavez retorted, voice growing sharper, "it isn't safe." He pushed the door open wider. "Miss Necros, with all due respect, you know nothing about this city."

The soldier responded apologetically, "I'm sorry, Justice Chavez, but we received direct orders to stay in here."

The whirring of the elevator sounded behind Chavez and he glanced over his shoulder. "They're coming. Please, there's no time."

"Get inside the vault!" the soldier commanded. "Justice Chavez!"

The elevator doors opened and a wall of humans poured out, armed to the teeth with guns, knives, and strange metal gauntlets. Their ravenous eyes and horrendous smiles grew closer as they swarmed through the darkness.