STAY (Completed)

Chapter 21

GRIFFIN

After a much insisted on Shiro's part, long rest, I found myself once again in the same questioning room although this time I was free.

I stared at the chipped faded baby blue mug in my hands filled with filtered water. It was my third and we hadn't even started talking yet.

"So what where you doing out there all alone?" Shiro asked sitting across from me. Axca was present, but Zethrid and Ezor's whereabouts remained to be unseen.

"Shiro, Keith-" I paused as images of Matt bloodied and bruised crossed my mind.

He would do the same to Keith.

"Keith was captured by Lotor." I managed to say.

The clear pain on Shiro's face broke my heart. He staggered a step before falling into the vacant seat before him.

"He-he's-", He swallowed hard. His dark eyes wide in shock.

"He's been trapped there for close to a week now. I was camped outside of their base when I had to move out. After being found again I moved again and now I am here." I sighed.

"There didn't seem a plausible way to get inside without being captured. Their gates are heavily watched and heavily armed. It would take a small army to get us in there. To do so quietly would be a suicide mission." I explained.

Shiro rubbed a hand over his face and released a hefty sigh.

"Jesus." He muttered running his hand through his hair.

"I'm sorry." I meant it for a lot of things. For hurting his brother, and turning my back on him. For losing his brother and being helpless to get him back knowing he was being tormented. I was useless. Pathetic.

"It's not your fault. The only thing we need to focus on now is getting into contact with the survivors at Garrison and combining forces to take down Lotor and free everyone he captured." Shiro spoke up. Beside him Axca nodded in agreement.

"You know about the survivors at Garrison? How come you haven't gone back for them? A lot of people were looking for you. Keith was looking for you." I snapped.

"I know it sounds terrible, but I haven't gone back because after I was taken Lotor experimented on me." Shiro gestured to where his arm was missing.

"I learned that something in my blood prevents me from changing into one of the undead when bitten or scratched.

I've been using this to my advantage searching for more survivors out in the streets creating this resistance.

I haven't returned to Garrison because my crew needs me here. I have Axca, Zethrid and Ezor working for me under the pretense that they work for Lotor. I need to be here in case something goes wrong." Shiro explained.

Though I didn't completely agree with his decision I could understand why it would be important for him to remain hidden until Lotor and his army were wiped out.

"Wait, could they get us access inside?" I raised my brows toward Axca.

"In theory." She shrugged.

"We haven't really been past the gate. Lotor only sends us out to clean up after his first squad. The people who found you the first time." Axca pointed out.

"How does he contact you?" I asked.

"With a talkie." Axca quirked a brow curious as to what I was getting at.

"Where does he think you are all of the time?"

"Some of his troops have a post in the city's center. We come and go as we please to keep up appearances, but Lotor believes we are there or out patrolling." Axca explained.