New World Order: Cori

Cori II

THE PLAN:

To his credit, he has friends in high places. We're given backpack's of supplies and taken to an underground bunker that leads through to Philadelphia. A wide tunnel, dimly light, and somewhat frightening. I'm not a fan of enclosed spaces, especially one where the escape options are limited. I'm beyond annoyed that we have to walk it, but the good news is that, we're not alone. Other refugees are making the walk into Philadelphia, where transportation waits to shuttle us to our final destination. Apparently there's some type of resistance, and I want to be a part of it.

I can feel Quinlan's change in mood, turning he scans the crowd behind us. "What is it?" I ask. Stopping, the people continue on around us. Straining my eyes in the semi dark, I see him making his way towards us. "Red". What the hell is he doing in here? Upon seeing us, he smiles in greeting. "I see that i'm not the only one who missed their flight." He says. "Did the others make it out?" Quinlan asks. "I think they did, I lingered to long and the General made alternate arrangements.

The mention of the General knowing of this place doesn't sit right with me. Quinlan's a reader of minds, and if anything's amiss with the "rockem sockem" redhead, he would know. He joins us on our journey through the tunnel. River's left me with a kiss and a i'll see you on the other side. He's gone ahead to make sure that everything is as it should be. The journey's long and taxing. Camping out in the tunnel, "Red" allows me to rest beside him, using his arm as a pillow. Upon waking, I stretch to get the kinks out of my neck and shoulders. Checking my watch, it's five in the morning. Searching my backpack, I locate some Hygienic products, and freshen up as best I can.

The others still sound asleep, it dawns on me that Quinlan's not here. I know better than to go wandering around in a darkened, dank tunnel by myself, and common sense screams "stay with the group"! But i'm not one, to listen to the voice of reason at times.

Making my way further down, I hear it. The unmistakable sound of feeding. Shit... Removing my sword, I peer into the darkness before shining my flashlight. Two of them, Quinlan and another feeding on a human. Their meal interrupted, i'm watching them as they watch me. A woman on her knees, small strangled gasps of breath, eyes bulged and staring at me. An arm extends, in a plea for help.

This is no business of mines, I know that they have to feed. Backing away slowly, I make my way back to the group. Red appears out of nowhere, and I instinctively swing my sword. "Whoa..." He says, dodging my strike. "Can you not do that, you scared the shit out of me." I say, catching my breath. "You may want to keep that sword sheathed, if you're the skittish type."

"We're in a creepy tunnel, of course I'm jumpy."

"What are you doing wandering around by yourself anyways?"

"Thats none of your business, but if you must know, I had to pee."

"You might want to use the "buddy system", even for restroom breaks. I don't like this one way in, one way out business."

"Yeah, I don't like it either..." I say, continuing on towards the group. "But hey, we have "the born" to keep us safe." He says.

"You've seen them in here?" I ask, my curiosity peaked. I would think that they'd keep a low profile. "No, I assumed that they'd be in here, since Quinlan's here."

Yeah... uh... no. Something's definitely not right about this one. "Oh, well I haven't seen them, but i'd definitely feel better about the whole situation if they were in here." I say, my pace increasing. Unexpectedly I'm roughly pushed up against the wall from behind. "Why are you protecting them?" His body pressed up against mines, he has me pinned. "I don't know what you're talking about." I say, vehemently.

"Someone other than Quinlan's feeding in here, there's too many bodies. Now, are they in here or... He's abruptly pulled away from me and airborne, slamming into the wall.
Quinlan's has him in a death grip, choking him. A group sluggishly rambles by, ignoring us. Red is literally turning red. Grasping at Quinlan's arm, his head's promptly smashed against the ground. "Stop, you're going to kill him." My words come to late, the sound of his windpipe being crushed is sickening.

"What the hell!" I exclaim, as he struggles to take in air. His face turning blue, I turn away from him. "He's an informant for the General, coming out of the tunnel we're to be intercepted." He says, watching Red expire. "We can always go back." I state.

"They're not interested in you and the other's, they want my brother's and I.

"I know, but aren't I a part of the team?"

"You would only slow us down, keep with one of the groups and..."

"And what?" I probe.

"I wish you well on your new journey."

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED:

Quinlan's left me to my own devices, and I've linked up with a group. We've made it to the final stages of the journey, i'm tired, dirty and worried about Quinlan. The upside to all this is that River's waiting for me. Greeting him with a hug, he pulls back from me. "We need to get you to a bath, and quickly." He says.

"You try walking from New York to Philadelphia and see how you smell." I say, smiling. His lips meeting mines, my heart flutters. I'm too tired and dirty to act upon my need for him. Not to mention, this isn't the time or the place. Our embrace is interrupted by gunfire and screams. Leading me out of the tunnel, we take in the scene. It's evening and soldiers are shooting at the people exiting the tunnel. The convoy set up to transport us to our destinations, have been commandeered. People have scattered in all directions, River and I head towards the nearby woods.

"We need a vehicle, we won't last on foot." He says. Looking past him, I can make out Quinlan and his crew taking out the soldiers. "We have to help them." I say, watching as some of the people take up arms in the melee. "Come on." Guiding me through the edge of the woods, we're closer to the enemy. "We'll have the advantage here, but we don't have enough amunition." He says, removing his weapon.

Following suit, I remove mines. "Let's make it count then." I say, getting into position. "On my mark." He states. The soldiers are out in the open, expecting the people to be unarmed. "We'll target the ones, aiming for the born."

Scanning the chaos, I've located one of them. Watching the soldiers, I spot one taking shots at him. Taking aim I shoot, hitting him in the shoulder. I get return fire just as quickly. "Shooter in the woods!" I hear as we take cover from the return shots. "I told you on my mark!" Yells, River.

"You were taking to long!"

"Good shot though, I call it you shoot them."

"Got it."

Peeking out from behind a tree, a few shots are fired in his direction. "Let me." I say, taking a look from my post behind a tree. Seeing Quinlan, he attacks a soldier, while another fires shots at him. He's quick to dodge them, and I take the shooter out with a shot. But have to make a swift retreat, to not get shot myself.

River takes aim and lets loose a couple of shots. Their fire drawn to him, I get ready to take aim, when I see a shadow. "Cori!" I hear a gun shot, and then I see a blinding white light, before darkness