Put back together

16. Run for your live

1910 words to make up for the last chapter!

Warning: Swearing, mention of leg being cut off, fear of dying and semi graphic description of a monster.

"Really?", both Roman and Patton scrambled over to Logan as quick as they could.

The thick book Logan was holding in his lap was opened on a - as far as Patton could tell - random page. On the left there was thin text, the lines crammed together like the author had tried to get as much as physically possible onto one page. On the right was a detailed drawing surrounded with more writing.

"What does it say?", Roman asked suddenly full of energy.

Logan cleared his throat.

"It's called the-"

A shrill piercing sound cut through the air.
Patton pressed his hands over his ears but it barely muffled the noise.

"What the hell is that?!", Roman yelled.

"The alarm system! Someone is attacking us!," Logan shot up clutching the book tho his chest and pressing his free hand over his ears. "You need to leave! Now!"

"What? Why?", Patton was pulled to his feet by Roman.

"Because you were chased by rebels on your way here! Who else would attack us right now?!," the librarian yelled. "I can get you a head start but you need to go!"

He lead them deeper into the mountain - or at least away from the lift- through a door and suddenly they were in a stone staircase.

"Why aren't we taking the lift?", Roman asked but didn't hesitate to follow Logan down. "And where are we going anyway?!"

"The lifts are most likely full with others going up! And if you want to have a chance to get anywhere you'll need your horses!"

"We left our only horse on the path up to the library! How are we supposed to get there now?"

Logan was breathing heavily by now, not used to running. Patton wasn't much better off and he was sure he would have fallen behind if Roman wasn't still holding his sleeve and pulling him along.

"Your horse was brought to the stables! That's where we're going!"

Logan came to a stumbled halt next to a door  and pushed it open.

Patton's lungs were burning. A he gasped for air. It was warm and tasted of animals, hay and straw.

"I don't know which one your saddle is", Logan panted and vaguely gestured towards a small door at the end of the large room.
Roman hurried over and disappeared for a moment before coming back out with the saddle in his arm and the reins in one hand.

There weren't many horses in the stables. Patton saw four, not counting Elysian. Most of the space was taken up by goats, a few donkeys and a sheep with a new born, separated from the others for safety.

All of the animals were nervous.

Down here Patton couldn't hear the alarm but he was sure they could. Or they could feel the fear in the air.

The baker felt a bit useless watching Roman get Elysian ready and Logan help if only barely. On the other hand it gave him a moment to catch his breath.
Besides, he didn't know jack about horses. Cows, donkeys and geese were more his field of expertise.

"Okay, were do we get out of here?", Roman asked startling Patton slightly. He hadn't realised that they were done already.

"This way! You'll have to ride towards the Cursed Islands since the bridges to Terona were destroyed and you can't just go back! So just keep left!," Logan lead them through an arch and to a gate. With obvious difficult he turned a big wooden wheel and the gate began to open. "It- It'll close behind you on it's own. I can't hold it for long so hurry!"