THE KEY (book one)

|twenty-seven|

Pitch black, alone, in between REM and being aware; sleeping paralysis. A faint smell of intoxicating smoke fills my nostrils.
"Erra!" I can hear Levi yell my name in the distance but I can't respond, I can't move.
"Erra!" My name is yelled out into the air again, but I still can't move a muscle. Footsteps rush up the stairs and into where ever I am.
"Erra get up we need to go!" He shakes my body vigorously in hopes to get me up. My heart races trying to pry my hands off the bed.
"Wake up it's Robots!" Without another thought my body jolts up and I scream.
"W-What? W-what's going on?" My eyes scan over the whole room before landing on Levi.
"How did I get back home?"
"They knocked us out and brought us back here. Erra we need to go, the fire is spreading and Robots are slaughtering everyone." His voice is shaking .
"Damn it." I mumble getting up and walking out of my room.
"Luke and Phoebe are down stairs." I don't respond and make my way down the steps.
"Erra here!" Phoebe shouts tossing me a gun.
"We need to go now." Luke demands. The distant screaming of civilians fill my ears and the smell of smoke grows.
"No." I blurt tucking the gun away in the back of my pants.
"No?" Levi questions.
"Where are we gonna go we can't just run!"
"Okay then where do you propose we go?" Luke butts in loading his weapons.
"The Pexagon." I mumble with hesitation. Everyone stays silent and exchanges looks.
"The Keys, the whole saving the cities, keeping on the lights. It was all one big lie. They were just pieces of one big Key, that's why they were sticking together." I explain tying my shoe laces.
"My father took part in stealing The pieces with The Vipers to stop all of this."
"But didn't he get killed by one?" Phoebe questions.
"Yea Ramon Claw Edith's brother, my dads brother, he was adopted into the family."
"Wait So what are-" Luke starts but I cut him off.
"Yes The Keys are what's causing this and I just turned them in." With that an explosion goes off, shaking my complex.
"So what do you suggest we do?" Phoebe asks.
"We go to the Pexagon and shut it down before anyone else dies."
It takes a moment for them to take it in but they do and we make our way towards the door.
"Erra wait." Levi stops me.
"What is it?" He pulls a small note out of his pocket and hands it over to me.
"It's from your mother. She wants you to meet up with her."
Errana I know this may all be very confusing. I need you to understand that nothing will be the same. When you will find me in the North city, crystal lakes. I'll explain everything then.
I stare down at the note in disbelief. So she did know this was going to happen.
"You alright?" Levi questions lifting my chin. I stare at him trying to find the words but I can't.
"Let's go." Is the only thing that comes out. I make my way out the front door and into my own personal hell. Maybe even worse than hell. Bright deadly fire begins to metastasize from main city to the south. The screams of innocence staining the air and stabbing my heart.
"Guys let's go!" Luke yells over the noice halfway down the stairs with Phoebe. Levi and I quickly follow behind as fast as possible.
People sprint running pass or bumping into us to were they think safe is.
"We need a mobile!" I shout over the gun shots.
"Alright stick together follow me." Levi says and we comply. The deeper we get into the city the more hell like it becomes. Dead bodies lay lifeless on the ground, smoke suffocates the air making it hard to see and breathe, but I haven't seen a Robot yet. Another bomb goes off rumbling the ground.
"Come on, keep moving!" I shout trying my best to keep up as well.
"Here." Levi stops to a mobile and shatters the glass.
"Wait get down!" Phoebe shouts ducking behind the mobile.
"What is it?" I ask ducking down with her. She shushes me and looks to the side. There they are, three Robots with guns twice the size of mine. Their computerized faces glow red to show that they're on.
"We're gonna die." Luke blurts out, his eyes are wide with fear and jaw slightly dropped.
"Get down they're scanning the premises." I demand, yanking him back down.
"A good idea would be nice by now." Phoebe groans pulling out her gun.
I look over to Levi who's staring blankly at the ground.
Luke might be right.
"We need to get this mobile started. Levi start it and we'll cover you." I explain loading my gun.
"We?" Luke questions.
"Yes get ready. Levi say when."
"Go now!" He yells and with that we stand and begin shooting.
"Now were definitely gonna die." Luke repeats.
"Shut up!" Phoebe and I shout in unison.
The Robots begin shooting back without remorse.
"Levi!" I groan, he's taking so long. At least that's how it feels.
"Get in, get in!" Without hesitating we all quickly climb in, and he starts the engine.
"Okay let's go!" Phoebe yells, she's terrified. Levi steps on the gas and we pull off.
"So h-how exactly are we going shut it down?" He asks gripping onto the wheel.
"I don't know, this kinda just... I don't know." I try to think of something but nothing comes to mind. I'm going to have to improvise, which might not end well.
"When I walked in, there wasn't anyone inside beside her and her guard." I mention hopping it might help.
"Yeah and the four guards we had to fight with... and lost." Luke explains reloading his gun.
"She's going to have back up regardless. We just need to find a way to destroy The Key completely." Levi explains.
I'm finding it harder to breath as we get closer to The Pexagon.
The Pexagons lights are completely red now, creating an uneasy Ora.
"We're gonna be fine." Levi reassures looking at me through the rear view mirror. I want to believe him but there is a high chance that we can all die tonight if we don't play our cards right. Levi parks the mobile at least a block away from The Pexagon and quickly loads his gun.
"We don't have a plan but we need to stick together. Getting out of here isn't one hundred percent guaranteed, but just keep your eyes open and guns loaded." Levi demands, it doesn't make me feels any better. Without waiting for a response he quickly gets out of the Mobile. It takes a moment but we follow behind him as he walks towards The Pexagon.
"Levi wait!" I yell pulling him back and an explosion goes off right in front of us. I turn and find a way around it.
"Guys do you see that blue light shining in there?" Phoebe questions pointing at The Pexagon. Looking through every floor I spot it. A bright blue light shining through what seems to be Edith's office.
"Yea... that's her office." I mention.
"That must be The Key then."
We begin to run now, trying to stay out of sight.
"Erra get down!" Phoebe shouts. I do and she fires the gun shots over my head, shooting down two Robots.
"Okay we need to find a side door. There're guards at the front for sure." I mention as the entrance is clear now. Taking caution we make a right turn and head over to the side of the building.
"Wait." Luke holds his hand out.
"There's a guard." Ducking behind a small wall he takes his aim and pulls the trigger, getting the male guard in the arm.
"Okay come on." I say running towards the side door. Luke shoots the guard once again getting him in the chest.
"The door is locked." Phoebe states examining the key pad. Before I can even think of anything Levi shoots the key pad unlocking the door.
Kicking it open, he steps aside allowing us to walk in.
"Follow me." I demand running up the stairs. The emergency lights are the only things that shine from the ceiling, and they're barely providing light. Arriving at the door that holds our fate I stop and take a second. I don't know what's going to be behind this door, and that's what frightens me the most, the unknown. Never in my seventeen years did I think I'd be in this position, but here I am finishing what my father started. My hand begins to sweat around the knob of the door as I twist it to open.
"Just open it." Phoebe harshly whispers. Without another thought I swing the door open. Here in a dark room shines The Key, bright and blue and fully pieced together. There seems to be a force under it that keeps it levitated. We all take our time walking into the vacant room. Somethings off she wouldn't just leave The Key alone.
"It's a set up!" Levi yells and white bright lights turn on.
"Hold your fire!" A guard yells as we hold up our weapons.
Edith walks in with a proud smirk.
"You're sick!" I begin about to charge towards her, but Levi holds me back.
"Good boy." She chuckles. Levi looks at her in disgust but slowly lowers his gun.
"So I assume you're here to shut down The Key correct?"
"That shouldn't even be a question." I spit out. She lets out a soft chuckle and walks over to her desk. There's something off about her right now.
"It's beautiful isn't it, the screams of those people. The best part is that it's going to be all on you." She's smiling leaning on her desk. A heavy weight hits my chest. This is all my fault. If only I thought faster.
"Yea a bunch of teens making robots to kill people, because that's so believable. I'm gonna turn it off before anyone else dies." Rage that's all I feel. I can pull this trigger now and end her.
"Go for it, you and your little team will have to go through mine  first."
"Don't underestimate me."
"Oh I never did...it's just times ticking." She taps her com mockingly, and her men surround The Key ready to kill.
"Erra." Levi hisses and I look his way. He glances down at the poison dagger in his hand and puts it in mine.
"We accept your challenge." I say and with that the gun fire starts.
So far out of six men one is down.
"Luke duck!" I shout firing pulling the trigger, two down. He thanks me with his eyes and continues on. Phoebe screams in pain and I look over to see her on the ground dragging her body. Firing more shots I get a guard in the shoulder before running to Phoebe. She's injured, shot straight in her thigh.
"Hey, hey! Stay with me!" I shout slapping her face. She's bleeding excessively creating a small puddle around her.
"Hey!" I shout again noticing her eyes closing. Before I can tear a piece of my shirt to stop her bleeding, I'm yanked back by the collar of my shirt.
"Hey!" I yell kicking my legs every which way. Grabbing the dagger I don't hesitate and forcefully stab it into the guards leg. He let's go automatically, falling and groaning in pain. "Levi!" I yell. He looks at me then at Phoebe, and runs to her rescue. The only thing I focus on is The Key, is in the open and free. Dashing towards it, ready to take it down. A bullet brushes against my arm and I groan grabbing it in pain. The gun goes off again but goes pass me.
Running out of bullets the guard stares blankly then holds up his fist.
Dropping my gun I hold mine up as well.
"Yes fight me like a man." I say charging towards him. One hit in the throat to throw him off, and one on his temple. Before I can get another hit in he gets me straight on the cheek, then in the ear causing me to stubble back. Not giving up I take in a deep breath holding my ringing ear and I pull out my blade again. His eyes slightly widen but he comes charging anyway. Before he can get my face again I duck and slice his stomach, with that he falls straight to the ground. Pulling my gun back out I make my way to The Key in hopes to not get stopped again. But before I can aim to shoot it up Luke jumps in the way.
"Luke what the hell are you doing move!" I demand but he doesn't budge, so I shift over but he does the same.
"Don't do this Erra." He speaks loud enough for me to hear.
"You've gone mad, now move before I shoot you too!"
"You wouldn't do-" Before he can finish the sentence I shoot at the floor around him.
"Move!"
"Erra you understand this doesn't change anything she'll just strike again but worse!"
"Yes and we'll fight again and harder!" I shoot again and he finally moves.
"I enjoyed your little game Edith." I finish shooting The Key straight in its core. Its light slowly flickers off and it collapses shattering into tiny fragments. I look at Edith who seems to be very quiet for a moment like this. She begins to glitch then slowly fades; hologram.
"Pathetic." I mumble shooting The Key again just in case.
"Did we win?" Phoebe manages to ask through all the pain. I look at Levi who holds her in his arms, and I chuckle. Walking over to the window I look over to observe and see that the Robots are now shut down completely, but also amongst them lost lives.
"Yea somewhat." I mumble.
"We need to move out right now." Levi explains helping Phoebe to her feet.
I look around for Luke but he's no where in sight.
"He left." Levi growls. I don't know how to feel but at this moment I don't care. I need to leave and find my mother.
Walking back outside I tap on my com and send a picture of where I'll be to Eli. Although he might've been hired I still want to see him, make sure he's safe.
"Do you think you'll make it?" Levi questions Phoebe.
"Without a doubt." She groans trying to sound as positive as possible, and with that we begin to run. And we'll keep running, we'll keep running as fast as our legs can take us. Keep running until we find a new home. We're not sure if wherever we stop will be promising or unharmed but we can hope.
(Running with the wolves )
By: AURORA