The Only Exception

Part #7

After a while I take Nai and Bridget up to the attic room where I find Mitzi curled up on the kitchen floor with a plate of food on the counter. I chuckle and push her with my foot into her makeshift bed on the floor. I flick the sheets onto her body and gently place Nai and Bridget under the comforter and climb in next to them. With Bridget sandwiched between us I pull Nai closer and snuggle them close to myself. In three days we're going to get out of here. It'll be easy too since just outside this building they're going to hold a meeting and the council and president will be there. I know it's risky but the people here hate them too and if we free the captives we'll have more than enough people to overpower and assassinate them. I'm sure Nai, being the sweet being he is, will want to object at first, but then see how much good it will do us all and agree with this plan. Although we would have to make sure Bridget stays hidden somewhere so she can't get hurt. Perhaps I could strap her to my back. Me being the strongest i could protect her easily, although Nai is the fastest and can hear extremely well. Maybe he could protect her better than i could. Even Mitzi would be great at protecting her, she has the smarts and experience with small children. As i start to think about plans Bridget stirs between us. Not wanting to wake Nai i gently pick her up and take her into the kitchen. She rubs the sleep from her eyes and seems to register that I'm not Nai. Her eyes get teary and she looks like she's about to break down and scream. Before i can do something to calm her she screams for Nai and starts to struggle in my grasp.

"Nai!" Bridget beats on my chest with her tiny fists and i hear Nai get up in a hurry. He's not fully awake because when he attempts to grab the knife on the counter he completely misses and points nothing at me. Mitzi appears behind him and glares at us with bloodshot eyes. She's not fully awake either because she pulls her fist back and releases it just missing Nai's head completely missing me. She steps forward and pulls her fist back again, i duck and take Nai and Bridget down with me. Bridget full on breaks down and Nai and Mitzi fully wake up enough to be in actual reality. Mitzi grunts then laughs as she sees my expression of fear. Nai laughs a bit as well and gets up. I get up as well with Bridget still crying in my arms. "Sweetie there is nothing to be afraid of. Gareki would never hurt you." Nai reassures her and pats her head slightly. She stops crying and looks up at me with a soft yet serious expression and tear stained cheeks. I put a hand under her for support and use my free hand to wipe the stains from her cheeks. She smiles and uses her tiny hands to grasp mine and hold it to her cheek. I lean down to kiss her forehead and then playfully throw Nai and her over my shoulder like sacks of potatoes. They both giggle and fake being hurt. "Please don't hurt us anymore! We don't deserve this!" Nai said barely able to control the angelic smile that graced his features. "Pwease let us go!" I stumble into the bedroom and throw them onto the bed only to jump and land on top of both of them. "Never!" I quietly scream and can hear both of them giggling uncontrollably and trying to get away. I roll off of them and pull them both close. After a couple minutes they settle down and finally fall asleep. I watch the slow steady rise and fall of their chests before sleep overtakes me as well.