This is me

Chapter six

The trio's footsteps echoed off the walls, loud and unnerving. "Are we sure about this?" William asked as they continued, the Captain ahead of them, and Vanessa nodded, both her hands travelling to the two hilts absent-mindedly. "She should be another five minutes ahead. If she is there, we may finally be able to protect her and clear her name." The Captain said loudly, his voice startling Vanessa, who seemed to gulp down her fear, as she kept moving. "There," the Captain said after a few more minutes, pointing at a low light ahead, which showed a large oval-looking room. In the centre of the room was a tomb, the stone slightly cracked and the words on the lid clear. Next to the tomb, pushing at the lid of the tomb was Jennifer. "Jennifer," Vanessa said, stepping forwards, and in an instant, Jennifer had activated her hilts, holding the blue weapons high as the three slowly approached. "How did you find me?" she asked as the Captain stepped forwards, and he slowly slipped his revolver back into its holster.

"We don't have a lot of time, Jennifer, but you need to come with us. We are not arresting you. We want to help in clearing your name." Jennifer's eyes widened, and she lowered her weapons. "We don't have much time," William said, looking at the corridor they had just come through, and suddenly dove to the ground as a double-ended hilt passed over his head, swinging through the air and disappearing back down the corridor. Will span himself to his feet and Jennifer passed him one of her weapons. William span it through the air, liking how light it felt, and put himself into a defensive stance as four Inquisitors in white robes entered the large room, double-ended staffs raised. "Well, how disturbing," the Captain said as several armoured soldiers also ran into the room. "I take it you can both take on the Inquisitors while William and I deal with the soldiers?" the Captain asked, and both girls nodded. The four Inquisitors stepped towards the two girls, and Vanessa readied both her weapons.

Jennifer gripped her single sword in both hands, and the Inquisitors finally charged forwards. Jennifer ran to meet two of them while the other two ran at Vanessa. Jennifer leapt over on Inquisitor, landing in between both warriors and blocking a blow from the Inquisitor before her. Jennifer kept herself concentrated as she span the sword over her shoulder, deflecting two blows and spinning side as the second Inquisitor lashed at her. Both raised their weapons, the tips connecting and slashed down at Jennifer. Jennifer raised her own sword, catching both weapons against her own, and then swung her sword upwards. She dropped to her knees as a sword passed over her head, spinning on the spot, and felt her outstretched sword rip through something solid. Jennifer flipped through the air, landing lightly on her feet and turning to see the first Inquisitor double over, and then hit the ground with a loud crack. Blood hissed against Jennifer's hot, glowing weapon, and the second Inquisitor advanced, spinning his double-ended staff to be a blur.

Meanwhile, Vanessa had already decapitated two soldiers and stabbed an Inquisitor, the fourth advancing on her. Vanessa span both her blades through the air, leaping aside to avoid a slash and colliding blades against the Inquisitor. Both slashes, jabbed and span around each other, a burst of white appearing every time their blades met until Vanessa finally managed to leap over the Inquisitor and stab him through the back. The Inquisitor arched his back as he crumpled to the ground, and Vanessa threw her blade at Jennifer, who caught it and slashed both against the Inquisitor. Blood spilled as the Inquisitor fell to his knees, and his torso hit the ground, completely separated from his legs. "We need to go!" Vanessa yelled, taking her blade from William and pulling Jennifer along as the Captain and Will both followed. They met no one else along the corridor, and minutes later, they were in a wide tunnel, part of the underground system. "Come on," the Captain said, leading them to the right and running, water splashing up every time his boots hit a puddle.

The turned to the left, into another tunnel, and skidded to a halt, two Inquisitors blocking the way with their staffs raised and ignited. The Captain led them swiftly the other way, continuing down the main tunnel as the Inquisitors chased after them. "We need to get Jennifer out of here!" the Captain shouted as they ran on, and William nodded, taking charge and leading them to the right, where the tunnel ended in dim daylight. "Keep going, we'll hold them off!" the Captain shouted, and William tossed Jennifer's second sword back to her. Jennifer caught it as she ran, and out the corner of her eye, she watched as William withdrew a small pocketknife from his back pocket, he and the Captain facing down the two Inquisitors. Jennifer and Vanessa managed to climb a low stonewall and roll onto a narrow street. People passed quickly, glancing at them for a few seconds before continuing with their day as the sky grew darker. "Come on!" Vanessa shouted, pulling Jennifer fully to her feet and they both took off down the street.