Warfang [(Book One)]

Chapter Thirty-seven

Cramped, hot, and smelly. I scrunched my nose as I crawled through the vents, the crazed voices of the white coats beneath me. I have to be close by now, I thought as I approached yet another grate. I peered down, holding my hair out of my eyes, into the dark. And there I saw it. The machine. And sure enough, Emily was inside.

"Alright. Here I go." I popped the grate out of its holdings and let it drop, lowering myself so I hung from the vent, dropping down almost silently into the room, my bare feet slapping the tile.

I looked around quickly, assuring there wasn't any guards and crept towards the machine, the humming the only sound in the dark room. As I approached the machine I saw a control panel to the right. I made my way to it, analyzing all the flashing buttons and switches.
It's like flying an airplane! Easy peasy.
I took a deep breath and flipped up a button cover, punching the large button beneath. With a loud beep, the hum grew to a booming thump, and shut off.

See? Told ya. Easy as pie.
Turns out the thumping wasn't the machine. With a loud bang, the door exploded open, two massive soldiers thundering in.

"Protect Seraphim!" They both chanted, their rifle barrels spinning up.

Seraphim? They mean Emily? I glanced behind me then back to them, raising my hands in mock surrender.
"Hey guys! I was just um.. Looking for the bathroom?"

They stared at me coldly and my grin dropped. Uh-oh.
Bullets ripped from the guns tearing up the floor. "Shit!" I jumped vertically, grabbing the vent and swinging myself towards them, launching myself off. "Incoming!" I swung my legs forward throwing all my weight into a drop kick.
The big guy, I'll call them Joe and Moe, anyway, Moe grabbed my legs, dropping his rifle and swinging me around like a wet towel. He let me go and I launched across the room like a rag doll, smacking into the glass tube with a loud crack. I shook my head, quickly getting to my feet.
"So no direct approach huh? Is it too late to apologize?"

"Yeah. It's too late." Joe laughed through his mask and fired at me again, but Moe slapped his rifle down.
"Watch your fire!" He said, grabbing his collar and pointing. "You almost hit Seraphim!"

"Oh gee, sorry!" Joe said idiotically.

"Let me know when you guys are done with your little pow-wow. I'm not going anywhere." I sighed summoning my sword. Let's end this. I dashed across the room, before they even had a chance to turn, my blade sliced clean through them, like a hot knife through butter. With a twist and a flick of the wrist, the wall got a new paint job, and my blade glimmered in the low ambience.

I turned around, readying my sword. "Okay, if the buttons don't work, maybe this will!" I jumped at the tube, slashing down. My blade struck the glass, digging into it. "Yes!" I pulled it loose and struck again. "Almost!" As I raised it one last time, the tube lit up with brilliant light, throwing me to the ground, covering my eyes.
"What the hell?" I rubbed my eyes and looked away. "Must be some kind of magical reaction.. I can't risk breaking it. Dammit!" I punched the floor.

Neo. I have to find Neo. He has to be in the next room.

I ran to the doorway, peeking into the empty hall and sprinted down to the next large door. I banged on the door.

"Who is it?" A voice called from inside.
"Room service!" I replied.
"Room service? I didn't order room service?" The voice got closer as the door opened just enough to reveal a surprised face.
"Cash or credit?" I asked as I punched him in the head, knocking him out cold.
"Neo?!" I called out, running into the room. "Neo!" I called again, turning and hurrying down the hall.

"Nate! In here!" My friend's voice echoed down the corridor and I followed it to the source, finding him locked in a room, strapped to a table. "Hurry up man! These straps are terrible." He struggled against them as I cut through the bars, kicking my way in.

"Glad you're still alive." I laughed cutting his bonds.

"Yeah me too dude." He replied, stepping down and rubbing his wrists. "Where's Cole? Is he okay?" He asked, running over to the wall and peeking around.

"Yeah he's fine. Locked up somewhere close." I said, following suit, my sword ready.

"Alright." He looked at me, his silver eyes bright. "Let's go."