Protectors

Chapter 16: If the Stars Align

The echoes of the gun shot rang through the small room, as Amber cried out, lunging toward Rory who lay upon the ground, each shallow breath causing him to wince in pain as he struggled to keep his eyes open. It wasn't until she reached him that she realized the gunshot hadn't hit him, but Cora, who was lying motionless on the ground, blankly staring at the ceiling above. His heart sank, feeling like he had lost her again and this time she wouldn't be coming back.

"Rory." Amber wept, trying to put pressure on the wound that had continued to bleed more during the fight. "Stay with me, please."

He winced, coughing up blood as his eyes became heavy, wanting so badly to give into the darkness. "...Don't." He whispered, voice hoarse as he closed his eyes "Hurts more when you touch."

"No Rory please!" She begged as the tears fell from her eyes. She had just gotten him back, she couldn't lose him now.

He heard her sobs, faintly as the numbness began to spread throughout his body. This couldn't be the end, not before he told her how he felt. His body just felt so heavy...

"We need to move. Now." Christopher said, anxiously watching out the window of the door. "They'll figure out something is wrong soon."

Luke nodded, glancing over at the fallen guards. "Everyone put on a uniform, quickly."

Once they had changed Christopher bend down near Rory, gently checking for a pulse. Feeling his slowing heartbeat beneath his fingertips he gently took his old shirt, wrapping it tightly around Rory's chest before lifting him, earning a small whimper from Rory. "Hold on okay?" We'll get you out of here.

Rory mumbled something that sounded like an agreement before they slipped out of the door. Quickly realizing they had no idea where to go.

"Damn it." Luke whispered frantically, listening and looking down the hallway for signs that they had been detected. "Rory, do you know the way out?"

Rory was barely hanging on to his consciousness, knowing that if he let himself into the darkness there was a very slim chance of him waking up. "Down th...this hall. Right... left, left, right. D...door marked with X." He breathed out, mumbling. "H..Hidden ex..exit."

"Got it." Luke said already beginning to take off down the hallway. "Let's go! Before they find out what happened."

The 4 of them ran down the hallway, careful not to make noise and ducking under doors that had windows. Christopher was careful not to jostle Rory too much, moving with the grace only a dancer could possess.

"This is it!" Amber whispered as they stood in front of the door. A small X carved into the doorframe above. Yanking on the handle she froze. "No no no! It's locked." She began to panic, trying to melt the handle with her abilities as they heard voices from down the hall.

"Use...k..key... key card." Rory mumbled, mustering all the strength he had to pull it from his pocket, a wave of pain crashing over him, knocking the little air he had from his lungs.

"Oh thank God." Amber exclaimed, taking it from him as the voices grew louder. She unlocked the door, pushing it open as an alarm began to sound, piercing through the air at a volume that made them all jump. "Run for it!" She cried, as they ran outdoors, the pitch black night barely lit with stars above. They could hear the guards hot on their heels as they realized in horror they were on the roof, frantically looking around for a way down, seeing only darkness around them. Heart pounding she barely made out the shape of a fire escape, the rickety rusted rails feeling as if they could break with the slightest bit of pressure.

"Let's go, we've got no choice." Luke said, ushering them all quickly towards the fire escape.

"I...I can't see." Faith whispered, trying to look down towards the ground she couldn't see.