Running With the Wave

Chapter 52

Era:

The sudden glare of light from the opening door makes my eyes scream after the hours of darkness. I uncurl my stiff body from Hunter's sleeping form and squint at the figure in the doorway. I don't who the person is, but I can tell that they're not armed. I narrow my eyes. That isn't right; the only people who should be opening the door are the ones that will take Hunter and I to be executed, and those Keepers will be armed for sure.

"What the..." I mutter.

The person strides briskly into the room and grabs me by the wrist.

"Wake up Hunter, now!" he orders me, his eyes flicking around nervously.

I wrench my wrist back, angry. Just who does this man think he is, coming in here unarmed and grabbing my arm?

"Who the hell are you?" I spit at him, crossing my arms.

"Please, we have to hurry..." he looks at me pleadingly.

"Who. Are. You?" My eyes narrow even further.

He sighs and his eyes flicker back to the door then back at me. He seems to hesitate before he answers me.

"My name is Deeth. I'm one of the Authorities, but after what the others have done to my father... Well, let's just say I started to look around me and I realized all the terrible things the Authorities have been doing. The women are only one of many things... The men, they've been mistreated almost as much. But we have to hurry now: sooner or later they're going to realize I'm not at the meeting then see the open door and piece the two together. Hopefully we'll be long gone before that."

I stare at Deeth in disbelief.

"We can't just leave! What about all the other women?" I demand fiercely.

"I'm not sure there is anything we can do to help them." Deeth says truthfully, refusing to look me in the way.

"No, Era's right. We have to try."

I turn around to see Hunter standing behind me, barely any sleep left in his eyes.

"Look, kids. I'm not armed, and neither are you. Era's badly hurt, she can't really do anything. We don't stand a chance!" Deeth snaps.

"If we can just get to the control room, we can shut off all the guns in the building and open the cell doors. The only guns that will be able to be used are ones that are brought in after I pull the switch. If we do that, the Keepers will be helpless. They're not trained in hand to hand combat, but I think both you and I, Deeth, are strong enough to do it. The difference is that we have a purpose that we'll do anything for and they don't, and that makes us all the stronger." Hunter retorts.

Deeth seems to think about this for a bit, then nods slowly.

"That could work... But Era would have to stay here."

"What? No!" I protest.

"Era-" Hunter begins.

"No! I won't know what's happening, I won't be able to help and you... You..." My voice trembles.

"Shhh..." Hunter hushes me gently, wrapping his arms around me, "The truth is, love, that you will only hold us back because of your leg... I promise I won't leave you here, I'll come back for you."

"But, what..." I take a deep breath, "What if you don't come back?"

"Then we're all dead anyways." Deeth answers bitterly.

I run over their answers through my mind, then nod reluctantly.

"Okay, but come back soon." I touch Hunter's cheek affectionately.

"As soon as I can, love." He kisses me gently.

Deeth and Hunter get up and walk out of the cell, closing it enough that it looks closed but open enough that I'd still be able to get. Which is exactly what I do, once I'm sure they're gone. I never had any intention of staying here while they throw their lives on the line.