Bound by Metal: The Different One

Problem VI

His eyes darted around the area, noting the pattern in where the search light would shine as well as the distance between them and the patch of trees opposite of the wall they came from. With a good basis of what he was planning on doing, he peeked over to Addie whom was staring at her ankle still, an irritated and pained expression showing on her face. "Don't strain yourself...," he paused for a second thinking of an excuse to be worried about her, "if one of us is caught, then it'll be just as easy to catch the other." Quickly looking back to the trees in the distance, he glanced back towards the light and waited till it passed overhead before making a full sprint towards the spot just to be sure; coming to an abrupt halt as he crouched behind the tree. Okay, looks like I made it...but now I gotta wait for the right timing for Addie to get here too without hurting herself more than she needs to bare. Riko poked his head slightly out from the tree, making eye contact with Addie while the light was still shinning in his peripheral vision. A quick reaction as the light passes over head and he signals her to come out right there, ready to leap out and help if the light traces back over; and to his worries, it did start to scan the area again, closing in on Addie who was trying her best to limp towards Riko. But his worries were soon put to rest as in the last second she put all her energy into leaping towards Riko who opened his arms toward her, collapsing on top of him as the light dimly lit them through the shadow of  the bush.

"Ow...," Riko slowly got up, rubbing the back of his head where it hit the ground the hardest, "that was a bit unexpected...and painful to boot." Addie slowly sat up as well, cringing slightly in pain as she instinctively clutched her ankle and gritted her teeth. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, it was still too obvious that her ankle was injured and the fact that she tried not to make him worry only made him worry more. "Addie, are you hurt?" Riko looked her in the eyes as he spoke, his tone stern and serious. Instantly, she shook her head, "i'm fine...we're almost there. Let's go." She exchanged back the look Riko gave her, trying her best to hide the discomfort she felt as she moved her leg ever so slightly. But it was hard to argue with her when she got like this, and Riko knew this best as he simply sighed in surrender. "Alright, alright," he looked away slightly as he leaned back in his seat, "...then could you kindly get off me so we can go?" She tilted her head slightly as Riko continued to avert his eyes, Addie was sprawled on his lap from the earlier impact as she ran. With a slight reddish color entering her face followed by low mumbling, she simply got up and walked slowly to a nearby tree to lean against. "...Let's just go already," she mumbled a little louder as Riko stood and brushed the dead leaves off his clothes, walking pass her as he patted her back gently.

The rest of the walking was relatively peaceful, although they were still cautious of their surroundings. But the cautiousness was just a necessity since after all they are fugitives and runaways to add to that; otherwise, the journey through the forest part of the island was calming. However, like all good things that happen to them, this one came to a rude end. Riko stopped in his tracks, being thumped lightly from behind as Addie was unfocused in her walking. She stepped back a bit and looked at Riko's back, confused as why he suddenly stopped, even more confused as he held onto her and pushed her against a tree. At first, she thought he was going to pass a move on her and that he was no different than all the other savage men on the island, but at another glance, she saw that his eyes were locked on to something in the distance, darting here and there as he looked deep in thought. There was a guard tower off in the distance, light flickering back and forth from the flash lights of the guards. "Two...Four...Six...Eight. Eight guards at the base of the watch tower and at least two at the top," he whispered his thoughts out loud to Addie as he continued to observe the area for any guards that he missed. But even with the extra recount, there were still the amount of people he observed in the beginning unless more were inside the tower. "Stick to the shadows and don't make a sound. I'll cause a light distraction while you slip around," he turned toward her and smiled amusingly, "think you can manage that?" Addie looked toward him before averting her gaze slightly away from him, "...what if they catch you?" She looked back towards Riko, her expression was worried as she was most likely thinking that the plan could go wrong. But she felt helpless as Riko's eyes still had that ambition gleaming in them, "I can try..." With a slight nod, he pointed toward the right of them, "you circle this way and i'll circle the other way. We'll regroup on the side opposite of where we are now...just be careful of the lights or any guards that come by, alright?" With a quick nod, she crept low and began to do as she was told, sneaking quietly through the lush vegetation that provided her cover, Riko doing the same as well on his side.

Every now and then, he would chuck a rock at the wall of the tower, a loud thump drawing in the nearby guards so as to allow Addie to traverse the landscape much more easily. With his worries about her still lingering within his mind, he peeked out of the bush only to duck back in as a search light surveyed the area in a counter clockwise fashion, the beam heading in Addie's direction. Dammit, watch out for the light Addie, they'll find us for sure! With a drop of sweat rolling down his cheek, he peeked his head out again, looking to see how far she had gone since their departure and spotting her in the distance. With a quick glance behind her, she ducked behind a tree in moment's notice, no sign of her having emerged until the light continued its circle in which case she poked her head out for a second before hiding behind the tree again as a guard jogs by. With a little relief coming over him as he saw no clear image of a person under the light's watch, he chucks one last rock at a tree away from them before sneaking around the guards. Arriving first at the spot he indicated, Riko grew worried as Addie had yet to arrive, the thoughts of her possibly being captured rattling through his mind. However, it was quickly dispersed as she quickly ducked into the same bush along with him. But something seemed wrong about her as she covered her mouth, a short sight of tears welling up in her eyes before she hid her face between her knees. "Addie...," an equally pained and helpless manner shone through Riko as he looked towards the ground, "...just a little more and we can rest for a while. You...still holding up?" She nodded slightly as she wiped her eyes, a hint of fatigue plagued  her expression and the fact that it was unknown when they'll exactly escape wasn't helping her in the slightest. "I'm fine," she muttered, a gleam in her eyes returning as she crawled a few feet before them, moving some bushes out of the way to reveal a tall barbed fence, "how will we get over?"

Riko stood up and looked toward the fence, examining the structure around it rather then the fence itself. The way it's positioned...electric fence probably. Not to mention it's barbed. Then something to not transfer the current, at least, not that much... He glances around and finds an indent in the ground beneath the fence. "Lucky! I thank god for the existence of animals, if only he were to aid us more instead of putting us here." He smiles at Addie before turning his attention to a nearby tree, breaking off a couple of thick branches and using the branch to lift up the fence slightly, enough for someone to squeeze underneath. "Addie, you go first and survey ahead. I'll be right behind you." He watched as she inhaled deeply and carefully crawled under the fence, dirt smearing across her orange suit. She slid out and got to her feet, ignoring the wincing pain; but as she turned back towards Riko, her expression was worried. "Ill be right back. Don't move," she turned and began to limp off before she stopped in her tracks and spun back around to him, "unless the guards find you and threaten to shoot.. Then you can move." She spun back around, pausing for a moment before limping away.After some time had passed, Addie came back and spoke to Riko a bit out of breath. "Its clear but...," she called out as she got closer to him, "Very big." Addie sighed as she got to the fence and grabbed the stick that Riko had used, holding the fence up for him, "Hurry."

Riko nods, about to head under when suddenly he hears the sounds of rustling and shouting from behind him and looks towards Addie. "The guards are coming, they must have realized what happened and are searching around. Go ahead and hide," he grabs the stick from her and quickly throws some dead leaves and dirt in the indent, "I'll find another way." His eyes looked a bit distant but he looked at Addie with a smile. "It'd be good if at least you can leave this place." The rustling grew closer. Riko turns to glance at the direction of the sound and back at Addie, waving before he sped off along the fence. The faint yelling towards him of Addie asking him to come back caused a tight pain in his chest, thoughts rushing through his mind as he ran.

Please be safe, please be safe, please be safe!
Addie please...don't let them catch you...

I'll...I'll find a way to get back to you so just don't...be hurt more than you already are...

Just like how I am.