Birthright: A Phoenix is Born

Intervention

Kumar

"We need to get to the stairs." Muttered Koju, waving outlandishly to a passing employee. "According to my Pe-Mi, the most likely place to keep a hostage is the basement area"

I struggled to keep up. Each step of mine equated three-quarters of his. Adding the guy's attire, inspired by someone trying to save Amazon with maths resulted in confused and hesitant Kumar.

"You mean zere's a chance they're not here?" I hissed.

"You knew the consequences of this plan before agreeing."

I nodded, a metallic taste erupting in my mouth while jittery hands worsened. As we approached a crossroads, the large emblem of Mercer Tex covering the intersection became visible. A cold burnished M, its last leg crossed suppled with a T and X. A voice in Koju's khaki shorts murmured "Left." That's when the sirens blared, an ear splitting screech disrupted my thoughts. Shouts to turn around accompanied the crunch of boots. We stared at one another for a moment before the realisation of our situation set in.

Run.

We paced across the corridor, overthrowing unfortunate staffers in our way. Yet the further we ran, the heavier my legs became.  And the stronger the itch in my palms. I clenched, cursing this envelopment of fear. Fear? Thoughts of my life under the fear of Muna and Fiq entered. The blackness, doubt and paranoia. Yet now it was different.

This wasn't fear.

This was worry.

They need more time.

I stopped dead in my tracks, Koju the first to realise turned seething rage from his eyes. Alas, I held my gaze.

"Damian and Koju get to the stairway, I'll lead the guards away. If you're going down I will lead them upwards."

Koju's cheek relaxed then nodded. He pulled at Damian's arm but it didn't take much to get him to follow. The change of remorse to gratitude told me he knew our predicament as well as me.

They turned the left corner as I faced my first opponent. A bearded pale man, man boobs jiggling and visible through a tight-fitting security uniform. Somehow he managed to break to the head of the group, his baton making a downward arc aimed at me. The sidestep was rudimentary. As was clipping him with a leg from behind and thrust to the girth of his stomach. His collapse sent waves across his large frame. Enraged, the incoming guards hastened but not before I grabbed the man's arm. And twisted until it snapped.

His shriek echoed off the walls. Honing the attention of all on me alone.

"Ops." I shouted to the furious and vengeful faces of his colleagues. " Guess I can't control my own strength sometimes. But we do have to admit, Bob is a bit accident-prone."

My words twisted their facial features. When they settled, goosebumps across my body were ready to burst.

"Get him." They yelled in unison.

Power surged into my legs as I bolted right, chased down by a pack of murderous guards and irked employees.

You better make the most of this time Damian.

That thought was my second biggest worry. The first, a wide smile plastered across my face.