Zèro

Chapter 6

"Oh, monsters are scared," said Lettie.
"That's why they're monsters."
― Neil Gaiman

Zenon stared at Caylus' back, contemplating whether he could be trusted at all. The group was moving slowly in a dark pathway. Zenon's gaze drifted to a weak and barely conscious Bladex in Caylus' arms. She then shifted her gaze towards Azura who was quietly walking beside her and had not spoken for a while now.
"Azura? Where is he taking us?" She whispered.
Azura looked at her. "I don't know, but I think we can trust him." She said, smiling softly.
"...and how exactly do you know how trustworthy he really is? In the past few weeks, I have never seen you talk or even run into him before."
Azura looked at Caylus walking ahead. "Yeah, we are not close but what choice do we have?" Zenon seemed to finally begin to understand.
"And I feel it is better to be with more people right now. Who knows when the officers might find us and kill us?" Azura added.
"I guess you're right, but I still think Caylus can't be trusted." Zenon said.

Suddenly, Caylus stopped in front of a door. He looked back, sweat dripping down his face because of having carried Bladex around all this time. "This way girls." He said as he opened the door. On entering inside, the group found themselves in a small room with huge shelves that had various medicines, towels, caretaker uniforms etc. "This is one of the storage rooms that hasn't been touched by the caretakers for a long time. You should be safe in here for a while." He said as he placed Bladex against a wall slowly. "He turned around and wiped his face.
"Okay, Azura, You and I are going to go and get some help while Zenon can stay here and take care of Bladex." The girls nodded. Zenon proceeded to sit next to Bladex. Just as Caylus and Azura were about to leave, Zenon called out to them.
"Um guys, I think it'd be better to get some food too because Bladex looks too weak right now." They nodded and walked out.

Now, it was just Caylus and Azura. "So where exactly can we get any kind of help from?" Azura questioned.
"Hmm, someone actually owes me a favour. And I think he is the only one who can help us get somewhere safe for the time being until we figure out how to get out of this place." Caylus explained as he guided Azura through a path she had never seen before.
"Wait. What do you mean until we figure out how to get out?"
Caylus looked her in the eye. "Azura, you of all people should have realised it by now. This place is no longer willing to protect us. In fact, the tables have turned. They want to kill us. We will die if we stay here any longer." He said calmly. "And you think we will do just fine outside? Do you even remember what the real world is like? I don't, but what I do know is that we are not safe in any way. We will just be locked up again and treated like animals." Caylus softly patted Azura's head.
"Death is inevitable and people like us don't even have a proper life to begin with. So why don't we at least taste freedom and true living even if it just for a day and die instead of dying and being forgotten forever in this hell hole." He explained.
"Isn't the reason you and me are here in this situation right now because the world you want to escape to was a hell of its own?" She asked.
"At least you are not alone. You have other specials." She explained as they resumed walking.

"I wasn't alone out there too, you know." He said as they entered a huge room. Azura gave him a questioning look and opened her mouth to say something before she saw a figure standing with his back facing towards them.
"Stay here." Caylus breathed as he walked up to the mysterious figure. Since they were at a distance from her, Azura could not exactly hear them properly but she decided to listen to Caylus and stood rooted to her spot, eyes fixated on the two guys in front of her.

Caylus ran up to the guy and put his arm next around his neck. "Hey buddy! Been a long time" He said as he smiled at the guy. "What do you want, Caylus? And who is the chick? You plan to blow my cover!?" The guy responded.
"Oh no! I would never. I actually need your help. Remember you owed me a favour after the last time?" Caylus explained.
"Wow, I was just being modest and said that. I never thought or even dreamt that the mighty Caylus would come crawling to me for help." The guy snickered. "Tell me, Caylus, you're not as strong anymore right?" He mocked as he lightly punched Caylus.
"Hmm, why don't you see for yourself." Caylus snickered as he pinned the guy to the floor and the two were soon rolling about on the floor, in a playful fight. Azura was first surprised but then she realised that the two were exchanging some words amidst the tussle. She, however, could not hear a single word.