An Act of Chivalry (Sander Sides)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The wheels squealed as the motorcycle took a sharp turn. Thomas held on tight, the back wheel flaring upward in order to compensate for the sideways force. I didn't blame the guy. My purple bangs swung to the side, following the wind before my back tire bounced against the asphalt. 

We were here.

The building moved quietly, but efficiently. Like a breath, the water went in and out, brandishing a soft reddish pinkish hue as it flowed. The hue would fade as it went, making the liquid appear normal before running out of the glass tube and parting down different exits. The building stood tall, I think five stories. It was grey and no working cars filled the parking lot. Our engine was the only one to roar, the other vehicles off on a small plot of land nearby, burning until their ashes mad ashes themselves.

My weight shifted to the side and I kicked out a stand. Thomas was the first one off, tossing his leg over and unbuckling his helmet as he went. I got off the bike soon after. Snatching the helmet from Thomas and hanging it until further notice.

 "Think this is it?" I quizzed. I didn't want to admit to my anxiety, but the silence that screamed made this a difficult task. I let my jacket sleeves fall and squeezed them in the palms of my hands as I waited for a response.

"It sure is ominous enough." The mentor clicked his tongue. "Those pipes seem to be evidence though. Probably the source of whatever the hecks blended in those water pipes."

"Yup." 

"Virgil?" Now it was Thomas's turn to question. I glanced over, gripping my jacket sleeves with a tad more force. "Your shaking, calm down." I just nodded in response. A sigh escaped his list and he reached over to give me a hug. The hug wasn't long, it wasn't in protection, it was in reassurance.

I patted his back a bit awkwardly before pulling away. "Let's go slap a bitc-"

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" A scream blasted through the walls, making both of us jump.

I pulled out my gun and cocked it, "That was Roman, shit."

"Time to move." 

-----

We bolted, not entering the front door, but instead rounding to its side. We weren't stupid enough to take the front entrance. I skidded to a stop on the muddy path before the door. The gun clicked from my side and in one quick motion pulled the trigger. The silent pistol rung out and the lock holding the door clattered to the ground.

Virgil, who was chasing after me, raced past me and kicked the door open. The emo paused momentarily, eyes darting around the room before he waved me in. "All clear," he muttered, I nodded in acknowledgment. 

"There's a red light down the hall, how much do you wanna bet that's a camera?"

"Not much, that'd be too easy." With that said, I stepped into the dark hallway, Virge following at my heels. The first floor seemed empty the first time around...and the second. So we repeated what we did earlier, breaking into the stairway and making our way upward. It was the second floor that gave us problems. 

Upon opening the door evident cries broke through the silence. This room was cold and I almost wished Virgil could copy his jacket and hand one to me. Virgil also sensed the chill of the building, shifting his left foot with unease.

"Rom-" I slapped a hand over Vee's mouth, making his urgent shouts dim to an illegible mumble. 

"We need to stay quiet. Don't panic, we'll find him." My hand dropped to my side and Virgil sagged. Another cry echoed through the building and I pinpointed its direction. The noise wavering through a blue light down the hall. We followed.

Tap, tap, tap, tap, I think a needle dropped but I wasn't sure. The silence was slowly killing Virgil, but the hero wouldn't show it any time soon.

The blue light shined across the hall and onto the parallel wall. Virgil was ahead of me, stepping over a door that was clearly blown from our direction. The room was truly blue; water shining above neon blue hues that cascaded over the room. The room was larger than expected; no surprise they had to blow the door open, this place held much significance.  

This was the pump center; no doubt that the sewage center was on the floor above. That means that whatever was fucking with the water, was coming from here. It was like a river, two small rivers that passed through the open sections on the side of the room. The steady stream was almost peaceful. Almost being the keyword.

A red also trained through the room, offsetting the peaceful blue and replacing it with something an insomniac would despise. "Well ain't this just peachy," Virgil mumbled. I hummed in response.

"That-whatever that is is probably the source."

"...You'd be correct."

-----

I jumped, whirling around and aiming my pistol towards anything that moved. The barrel found Roman, and Romans eyes traced the floor. He was a sight for sore eyes. He looked exhausted, arm lazily holding a sword as if it'd let go any minute. The hero's eyes weren't yellow but instead were red and puffy; probably from crying. Red and purple covered over any confidence he had. He was bloody, bruised, and tired. 

"Ro-Roman?" I croaked, unable to tear my eyes away from the train wreck. In the end, it was Thomas who made the first move; setting down any instinct other than Patton's fatherly imprint. We both rushed to help him, me keeping him upright and Thomas checking the entrance behind the prince and making sure they weren't being followed.

"What happened to you? where did you come from, we didn't see you in the hall?"

The hero opened his eyes, a tug at the corners of his mouth indicating he wanted to smile. "You're not the only person who can hide in the shadows. Plus, adrenaline's a doll. Really have to give it to her."

"...Okay?" I glanced at Thomas, who just shrugged in response. "Do you think your chestnut brain can tell us how to stop the water flow?"

Thomas rolled his eyes but the hero just smiled. The smile was lazy, and the only words I heard were "the fourth floor," before the prince passed out. We were once again on our own.