Republic of Tactics

Republic of Tactics: Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Outside of the building, people were racing on the street. What is happening? I don't hear any gunshots or explosions. The alarm quiets outside.

"What's happening?" I ask Olden.

"I don't know, He responds, "c'mon over here." He says. There's a ladder leading to the roof of the building where Olden runs to. I follow him, climbing the ladder behind him. On the roof of the two story building, I look out out in the direction the people were coming from. The view up here is better than in the street.

There are flames in the gun-training field. More on the hills overlooking the city.

"Are they bombing or what?" I ask Olden.

"It's the Alphas. You have to find Ellis, there's a chamber in a cave where you have to hide. They're looking for you!" Olden conceded.

"Where are you going?!" I ask. He looks at me.

"I have to convince them you're not here. It's- it's complicated. Go. Just find Ellis and hide in the cave 'till I get you!" Olden instructed and I ran to the ladder, climbed back down to the street with the chaos of people. On the street, I run along with the other people, trying to blend in. I run faster than them. I am soon running in front of the crowd. Running alone in front of them in a small-scale open area. That's when the bombs began to fall. Just like rain. They weren't the big nuclear ones. They were all 'XT-21'. Not huge, but they still do their damage. Its explosion's diameter is about 10 feet. I'm running, sprinting, the bombs falling behind me. On the left, fire burning down houses. Fire and more fire.

I am running in the street, dodging and sidestepping any obstacles or smoke and debris raining down.

Ellis is at city hall, which is a block away. I don't want to look back.

I'm at the main entrance of city hall, I'm about to open the door, but Ellis comes out.

"I saw you coming. Lets go!" He commands. Several soldiers are surrounding me. Determined to assure my safety. We have secretly absconded the city. We come to the gate, where the soldiers manage to open it in the control booth. On the outside of the gate, is the catapult. Parked at the end of the road.

We rapidly walk in the hills, here and there looking back to see if we're being followed. I decide not to look back, back at the flames ripping the city apart.

"They alphas don't know about the battle, so why are they after me?" I ask.

"Apparently, someone sold us out. Spies maybe. They want to make sure you have nothing to do with it." Ellis says.

Olden, is nowhere to be seen. The dull concrete fence surrounding Septimus is struck by a missile. The vibration reaching us. We then start running, over a hill and stopping at a meadow with some strange flowers popping out of the ground. There is a cave like opening on the side of the mound.

"Hurry. You'll stay in here till Olden comes. Understood?" Ellis mandates as I enter the cave. He hands me a flash light and a radio. The inside of the chamber is about five feet tall and eight feet in.

"How long?" I ask Ellis.

"I don't know.... until night fall or even dawn." He says handing me a box. Just like that they leave. Not wanting to be seen and revealing my hiding place. I'm alone. Accompanied by the wilds' melodies. The booms interrupting the sounds. Even though Septimus is in deserted terrain, there's some trees. The cave I'm in is blended in with the ground and bushes. The entrance blocked with large palm branches and some logs. The loneliness makes me agitated. Inside the box Ellis gave me, is fruit and water. I eat the pear and grapes and keep the water for an emergency. I keep fidgeting with the radio, waiting for a call or something. I kept the flashlight off, turning it on only when I forgot I was in here. There were no spiders or creepy crawlers, or else I would stay hidden outside. I hate them, crawling around everywhere.

I peeked through a small opening on the entrance every now and then. Expecting Olden to come running over to me and taking me out of this claustrophobic cell.

Night fell quickly and I couldn't sleep. The bombings ended a little before midnight. Afterwards, I started to doze off, I kept lifting my head up in order to stay awake and alert. I felt very distressed and uptight. Of course, I fell asleep, unaware that I did.

When I opened my eyes, the cave was filled with fog. Cold morning fog. Why didn't I freeze at night? I ask myself. I didn't receive any information on the radio. I got to my spy hole and see the meadow empty. Only for a few birds singing and looking for food. They're clueless about this evil world of mine, and I wish I was a bird.

Concern leads to conclusions. When I was about to adjudge that Olden and the rest were dead, the radio goes on. At first I hear static, then Olden's voice. Relief alleviates my conscious.

"Bovise do you hear me?" He asks.

"Roger that." I say back. There is a short pause.

"Hey I want you to stay there. I'm on my way." He tells me.

"What happened?" I ask, at the same time I don't want to know.

"I'll tell you when I get to you. Trust me, I have quite a story to tell."