“What do you mean I can’t come in?” I ask the speaker box.
“I told you, I don’t want protection, go back to my mother and tell her I have chosen not to take a cursed and that is final.” Comes the angry reply from her unit inside the building.
“Look, may I call you Mel? Your mother sent her longest standing general in her army to protect you from the hunters. This is not about your cursed, this is about personal safety.”
“I know what this is, it’s nothing personal it’s just for you’re well being. Nobody knows this address so I-”*click* the conversation ends abruptly.
Anyone else might have thought of it as nothing; but, after reading her files I know better. Mel always makes herself heard which means her phone line was cut. This in turn can only mean one thing; I am already too late.
I leave my weapon sheathed for the moment, no hunter is fast enough to catch me off guard anyways. Racing around the back I scan and count the buildings balconies to find her apartment. Fourteen oh six seven there it is. I race to the column and jump up to grab the first balcony. Planting my feet I leap up one floor at a time. Eleven, twelve, fourteen I launch myself over the balcony wall and find out I was right to be concerned. I hate it when I am right.
The scene was the worst case scenario and getting worse by the second. One hunter lay twitching on the floor, she had defended herself which would cost her dearly when the rest overpowered her. Deeper into the apartment amidst the rubble of what used to be a table lay Mel shielding herself from the relentless beating the two remaining hunters were giving her. This would not do at all.
I draw my weapon. With a flick of the wrist my sword unfolds in half becoming a double bladed staff. A shake of the wrist and it extends to full length. I was about to enjoy this beat down.
Smashing through the patio I close the distance to the assailants. In the time it took the glass to fall to the floor I am withing striking distance. I bodily slam into one of the hunters. The hit smashing him through the wall into the common hallway of the building. Now standing where he was I posture to face the only one still standing. Across the shattered debris, the man grins as though satisfied to finally have a real fight on his hand. He swings heavily with his club telegraphing exactly where he was about to strike. This was not a hunter, I had to end this fast. Easily dodging the strike I return to my posture and strike like a rising crane. My strike easily slicing a gory end to the wicked man from bottom to top.
A pang of regret for not taking a moment to know his name strikes me. I knew the names of most people I have killed as a show of respect, though I doubt he deserves that respect anyways.
I pause. Now that I am close I can hear Mel’s laboured breathing and fading heart rate; She is in far worse condition than I thought. Whisking her up in my arms I run through the hole in the wall. A sudden bang rings out and I stumble while sprinting towards the stairwell.
I race down the stairs to the main entrance and leap out of the building. The two teams assigned to this place will either be here momentarily or have been eliminated already. Though I want to think about them and wait for back up, my charge is too important to risk more hunters. I scan the commons for signs of trouble as I rush to my vehicle.
No sign of more hunters or my teams. This is not a good sign. I place Mel into the waiting vehicle as she stirs for the first time in minutes. There is no time to do much but tell her she is safe before rushing around the car and starting it up.
I race into traffic and turn around heading for the waterfront. I bypass the roundabout making a right turn and race down the street. The second roundabout at the foot of citadel hill won’t be as simple. Using it to make the left turn I race past the police station and the metro centre making a left again at the club district. A construction zone gets passed well above the posted speed limit. My normally sharp vision begins to blur.
I swerve around another left turn onto the waterfront roadway barely missing a pedestrian walking past the museum. It is a good thing the sub is close by or the local law will be onto us before we can make our escape. One final right onto a dead end street and a screeching stop at the bottom of a cul de sac. I leap from the car and race to the passenger side.
A rush of pain overwhelms me when I grab the door with my off hand. I fail to muster any strength at all to open it. In time I will heal, but not before those sirens get here. Using my main hand this time I rip the door free of its hinges and pull Mel from the car. Thankfully she has regained enough strength to walk assisted. Walking with her arm in arm we cross the brow of the kid themed tug boat and enter just as the lights of the police light up the area.
“You, you are going to steal Thomas?” she asks weakly.
“By the gods no, this is just a mooring point.” I reply as I point open the hatch hidden in the deck.
Below, a submarine, the newest technology in stealth and speed. Home free without anyone having a clue we are not onboard.
I drop her into the co pilot’s seat and take the seat beside her. The world starts to spin as the loss of blood from my shoulder hits me. ’Bastard hit something serious’ I think to myself. “Computer, Home!” I say out loud.
“Where going to your house? Don’t you think that you’re a target to? Hey, are you still with me?” her voice fades as the world becomes black..
