Salvation 2035

Chapter 24- Secrets

『Abel』

     The car screeches to a halt.

     "Abel, hand me my bag," Tsuki requests. I promptly follow through. He roots around a bit and pulls out some glasses and a beanie. After unbuckling his seat belt, he zips up his jacket.

     "What are you doing?" I inquire vaguely.

     "I'm going to check if anybody followed us. Patch up Keisha's wound," he opens the door. "I'm gonna open up that car over there. Get all of our stuff in there and if I'm not back in ten minutes, leave."

     "I'll get it started," Keisha also leaves our vehicle as well, taking a few bags with her.

     "Keisha, you just got shot!" I get out of the backseat to chase after her. Tsuki unlocks the other car in the meantime.

     "Relax, I was just waiting to get in here," she hops into the back seat. "But before you help me, get the other bags."

     "Are you sure you'll be alright?" I head back to the rental and first grab my bag, which has medical supplies. I briefly glance around for Tsuki, but he's already left.

     "Yeah, it just nicked my arm. All it got was skin," she explains. "Still, I appreciate the concern."

     "That's my job," I grab the last of our stuff. I quickly check my watch to see that about a minute has passed since Tsuki took off.

『Tsuki』

     I find a stairwell and take it up to the ground level. Looking from the window of the door, I peer around to see a few of the cars go by. Good, it looks like they have no idea where we are. The question is whether or not they'll check this garage.

     I wonder if any old fugitive would get this kind of treatment as well. The thing is, these aren't police vehicles, even though it would make perfect sense for the situation. Why wouldn't Cromwell just get them to do it rather than whoever these people are? She wouldn't even have to go over her sob story about how I owe her money or whatever since the reason to chase us down is completely legitimate. I guess there's the argument over the fact that police are regular people who are bound by the limits of their job, whereas these freelancers can sort of do whatever. I dunno.

     I step out of the stairwell and decide to walk through the garage to see if there's anybody suspicious loitering. It doesn't seem like too much is going on.

     "Hey, Akatsuki."

     I quickly turn around and punch the person behind me in the gut.

     "Yo, what the hell!" he exclaims. "Are those brass knuckles? Man, you really don't play around."

      "...Nick." I should have known he'd be lurking around. After all, he doesn't seem like the type that would just let Keisha go and live her life, despite the stern talking-to she gave him. I never took a good look at him, but under the bright lights of this garage, I think he might have a parent who was from a place similar to my parents. I've only seen a world map once or twice, so I wouldn't be able to name that country.

     "I guess I should explain why I'm here," he starts.

     "You really should." I remain in my fighting stance.

     "At first, I didn't know who the hell that Cromwell lady was or what her business was with you; I was just mad that Keisha left and was looking for a way to get her to come back home," he explains. "But once I learned what Cromwell did... I knew I couldn't be selfish anymore."