The Rune Smith

Chapter 23- Reimagined

Alia pulled away from Alex's grip.

She hadn't expected Alex to be on board, but she couldn't help but feel a tinge of betrayal.

"It really doesn't matter, okay? None of that matters. What's done is done."

Alia casted a glance at Mutine. He had migrated to a far corner of the room and was talking to one of the scientists. He was scheming something, she could tell. But he wasn't paying attention to them. That was good.

"We need a way out. An escape."

Alex crossed her arms, her brows furrowed.

"I don't know, maybe you could just ask for an escape. You and this man seem pretty friendly."

There was an underlying mocking tone in Alex's words, which Alia ignored.

"This man gave me two options; Death or life. I obviously chose life. He somehow figured out a way to drain magic and force it into me- he stole my sister's magic at her deathbed and gave it to me. It's safe to say I am not doing this for him. Not really."

Alex huffed.

"Okay. Say I choose to believe you. If what you're saying is true, how do you plan on escaping?

?"

"I have a plan. I totally have a plan. I just don't have all the pieces. Namely Luca."

Alia most definitely did not have a plan. But Alex hadn't seen through her lies, so that was good.

Maybe.

"But you don't even know if he's alive. Hinging a plan on someone dead automatically makes it a terrible plan."

In all honesty, Alia didn't have enough information to make a plan. But she could do a little improv and finesse a plan where there wasn't one. She just needed to know where Luca was. From what Mutine had told her, it was simple to figure out the he might need Luca.

Which meant it was likely that Luca was alive.

The wheels in Alia's head began turning, slowly churning out a segment of a plan.

And the first element was probably going to be a foolish one.

"What now?!" Alia called to Mutine. "I don't want to just stand or sit around this room for a while doing nothing."

Alex yanked Alia to her.

"What are you doing?"

It was odd seeing the Commander with her grey skin and dark grey hair. Even though it hadn't caught Alia off guard before, it had now. Alia almost lost track of what she was trying to do. But she just managed to pull herself together.

"I know there's a certain amount of trust lacking between us, but I need just a little bit more slack. Please."

Alex gave a slight nod.

Alia called to Mutine again, trying to egg him on.

"Hello? I asked a question."

She didn't know what she expected. Maybe he would notice what she was trying to do (not that she even knew). She definitely should have used more tact. But the last thing she had expected was something resembling a positive response.

"And what exactly do you suggest we do? There's a little bit of time before we have somewhere we need to be, so make a suggestion."

Alia must have had a look of confusion on her face, because he added something to his anecdote.

"I honestly and truly want to have a good relationship with you."

He gestured slightly to Alex.

"And your wonderful Commander as well. While she may not have a use to me, you obviously like her company. Not to mention the fact that I likely traumatized you after having her killed, knowing full well that you'd be able to remedy that situation."

Alia didn't believe that one bit. And she didn't like what he had said either. It made it seem like she wanted to work with him.

"So make a suggestion and I'll see what I can do."

Alia couldn't believe her ears. Did she hear what she thought she heard. She glanced over at Alex for guidance. The Commander looked just as confused as her. Alex's confusion was proof that Alia had heard right.

Alia met eyes with Mutine. His eyes were cold; an icy blue that chilled her right to the core.

"I want to see Luca."

Mutine smiled.

"Done."

Hope filled Alia.

"So Luca is alive?"

Mutine stride over to the door. Alia cringed as she watched him casually step over the dead guard.

He turned back to the still living soldier, who almost seemed to be cowering under Mutine's gaze. The soldier didn't want to die, that much was clear.

"Lock the prisoner up." Mutine motioned to Alex.

A cry of outrage bellowed from Alex.

"What?!"

The soldier drew a rune, casting it. It burned a sunset orange in the air. The same color appeared around Alex's wrists, binding the together.

Mutine smiled at Alia.

"You may be easy to manage because of your lack of strength, but your friend certainly doesn't lack power even without magic."

The door opened and the remaining soldier escorted Alia through it, this time without the jabs. The gun was instead pointed at Alex, not that she would be able to do much. Probably at Mutine's instruction.

The door closed behind them- Mutine was ahead, leading them away from the uncomfortably familiar room. Alia hoped she would never see it ever again.

The halls all looked the same and Alia could barely keep track of the lefts and rights. This underground place was truly a maze. If she wandered off on her own she would never have been able to find her way back.

The trip was very short, and this door was simple; just a handle and a basic outline. Mutine removed a key from somewhere in his jacket, inserting it delicately into the keyhole.

The door opened with a click and they were inside.

The room was dim, dark enough that Alia had no idea how big it was.

It was very similar to the original room Alia had woken up in.

Alia let out a gasp.

The only source of light in the room was a tank, larger than any of the other tanks. It was meant to be long term; Alia doubted Mutine thought any of the people drained of magic would last long.

Inside of it was the grey figure of the only boy Alia had ever loved.

"Luca," Alia breathed.