Goddess In Training

Chapter 10- Ruza

Ears ringing.

Crashing.

Yelling.

Screaming.

Every sound was dull to my ears. It almost seemed peaceful. I could feel my limp body hanging from the rail. I didn't want to move. My blurry vision darkened.

There wasn't a care in the world. Nothing seemed to matter.

Wouldn't it just be easier to give up here? There was no way we could win this war...why try? My eyes closed and the distant noises became nearly silent. That's when I had the vision.

I saw Ruby with her tousled red hair smiling at me, but her eyes were closed. "Hello Berlin."

She laid a hand on my shoulder, "You'd better not be giving up on me."

I looked away, "But I'm already dead aren't I?"

Ruby shook her head, "Not yet. But you will be if you don't wake up soon." She looked up as though she heard someone, smiled and nodded her head in agreement.

"You must keep hope sister..." Ruby held my hand gingerly. "No matter what happens don't lose hope. Ever!"

I looked back up at Ruby, but her figure was beginning to fade. "Wait Ruby! Wait! Where are you?! I need to find you!!"

Ruby smiled sadly. "Don't you see? I'm already gone..."

The last of her faded away in a breath of air, "It's time to wake up now sister."

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I was awakened by the distant voice of someone I knew.

Hope...Ruby wanted me to have hope.

I tuned in my ears to sound of this voice and peered intently through the blur. My vision cleared enough to make out the lines of Dylan's face and I cried. I wanted to kiss him right there! He took a sharp object to the ropes binding my wrists and cut them free.

How badly I wanted to collapse and give up...but something inside me sparked. I threw my arms around Dylan's neck and he swept me up, beginning to run. My head lolled against his sweaty neck. I could hear the splashing many feet. My military trained mind began making observations.

1. Lots of feet means Dylan freed others. This is good.

2. If those footsteps are making "splashing noises"... Not so good.

I pulled my head up enough to peer over Dylans' shoulder and the sight was explained simply in one word. Death. The black water was rapidly filling the base, enveloping everything below in a curtain of gory murk. Already, hundreds of bodies floated lifelessly in the water. Shrieks worthy of the worst horror movies echoed through the cavern and the cold chill of certain death hung in the air.

"Wait...the others... we can't....just..."

"We have to." Dylan interjected, "They're already doomed to die Berlin, while we have a small chance."

I didn't have the strength to protest.

The roaring water continued to grow louder and the screams became fewer.

"Berlin? Do you know of any other way out of here than the main tunnels?"

Slowly, I processed what Dylan had said and began rummaging through my muddled thoughts.

Secret... Another passage...Tunnel... A way out... Blueprints... Map... Underground Garden... Hatch... Metal.

I nodded stupidly and managed to spit out the words, "Garden....Hatch...Northwest corner..."