Among Strangers
"Am I doing something stupid?" She wondered aloud as she followed the trail to the back exit, taking a deep breath before jumping out. There was only a little open space and then several copses of trees--the edge of the school's property.
The red paint attempted to lead her off into the darkness, but she could have tracked Chad without it--she could just sense that he'd been here very recently. She hated herself for pressing into the woods, leaves crumpling and branches snapping beneath her feet. She might as well have been wearing a pink neon sign advertising her location--this was the perfect place for an ambush and she was blindly walking into one.
And yet, she couldn't stop herself. Chad knew something that she had to know, and he knew that she knew that she had to know. Nigel wouldn't approve of her foolishness, but if he needed her protection, she had to make the effort. After all that he'd done for her, she had to try. She owed him that.
"Chad!" She called out, not caring any longer about even an attempt at stealth. He knew she was coming, there wasn't any point. "We're both too old for these games! Just tell me what I need to know and...and maybe I can trade you some information." She sighed. She hated letting the KND down, but if this was the price, she could always make whatever changes necessary to cover up her security breach.
Rachel listened intently for some kind of response, but she wasn't able to hear much then the occasional rustling of leaves--was Chad on the move?
She reached a small opening through the trees where an old, rundown well was found. She wasn't surprised to see Chad there.
She was, however, surprised to see another person. And they seemed to be deep in conversation.
Whatever they were arguing about was lost upon her arrival and they both turned, acknowledging her presence.
Chad's expression seemed shocked and he swirled around, his voice heavy.
"What is she doing here?"
The figure shrugged. "You let her go. That is undesired. So we intervened, laying the breadcrumbs to lead her to us."
Chad's fingers curled into fists. "She refuses to join. She's not yet ready."
This figure, upon Rachel's observation, didn't seem of this world. There was something truly foreign, out of place.
"Who are you? What's going on?!" She demanded.
"You should have listened to me when you had the chance, Rachel." Chad tightened his fists, knowing the situation was about to end badly. "You always did have to be too damned curious! Now you've burned us both!"
"Both? I don't understand anything you're talking about, Chad! All I care about is the truth. I don't know what you intend to do...but I won't sit by and just let you get away with it while there's still fight left in my body. You used to instill that kind of spirit in us, you know."
"This was not part of the scenario. So then, you and she have joined forces to betray us." The Other spoke, although there was something unnatural about the voice, as though it had been run through a computer.
"What?! No, you've got it all wrong! I tried to recruit her but she won't submit to me!"
"Then you have failed in your mission. It seems we may have to forgo our annexation of your local Kids Next Door and settle for our other target."
"Trust me." Chad explained. "The sooner, the better. That annoying runt is a thorn in my side that I need to have removed--permanently."
Rachel was tired of being ignored and having people talk about her as though she wasn't even there. She pressed forward, attempting to reach the clearing, but it was as though there was a barrier preventing her to continue. No flashes of luminescence, no traces of anything in her path. It was as though there was some force that simply prevented her from moving any farther. She howled in frustration as her every attempt to get in was thwarted while Chad and the other figure continued to ignore her completely.
"In that case, this one is of no use to us," the Other revealed what seems to be some kind of hi-tech weapon. "She knows too much. She must be eliminated."
"Wait!" Chad, much to Rachel's surprise, blocked the shot between her and the Other quickly, his glare evident. "It's unnecessary. She doesn't know a thing about us!"
The Other would not listen, it's mechanized voice reverberating as dangerous as it could. "Then you will suffer the consequence of failing your mission." With that, a force from far off knocked Chad off his feet a few yards back.
The Other aimed at Rachel. "You must learn your place."
"I know my place quite well, thank you." Rachel tensed, immediately diving to her left when she saw The Other fire at her. Though it had been too long since she had put them to proper use, the skills she had picked up during her prolonged stint with KND Intelligence came back to her as though she had never left. Never taking her eyes off her adversary, Rachel made certain that all of her movements were both efficient and purposeful, never wasteful or presenting too large of a target. She longed for any kind of weapon to defend herself, even a S.P.L.A.N.K.E.R. would work despite its need for close quarters. She felt vibrant and alive, a new purpose filling her that had been missing for too long. Perhaps a confrontation like this was exactly what she had needed to give her a kick in the dress.
Speaking of which, she had gotten it dreadfully dirty and feared it may have torn. Her mother would be angry at her beyond belief when she got home. All the more reason to channel a bit of misplaced aggression on whoever Chad's dubious partner was. Bracing herself for a desperate gambit, she rushed her attacker, ducking beneath an assault from the energy weapon and landing in a position to deliver a satisfying kick to the torso.
The attacker's hand immediately grabbed her outstretched leg, forcing her to fall on her back. She gasped as her upper back hit the ground.
"You have a strength desired, but it is put towards uselessness," The Other said, twisting her foot a bit. She yelped at the pain. "You don't understand and it is that child-like ignorance that needs to be eradicated in order for you to see the truth. That fool, former two seventy-four, believed in your ability to awaken. He is sadly mistaken."
She tried to kick with her other leg to escape, but it was held at bay due the positioning of her trapped leg. She yelped as she was being dragged towards the old well.
"Let me---let me go!!!" She cried angrily, thrashing wildly.
The Other did not heed her pleas and he lifted her leg up with surprising strength as she was dangled upside down in the air. He prepared to throw her into the well.
A great fear seized her and her cries became screams. Anyone, can anyone hear her?!
She flew for a moment, but knew she'll fall a good distance into the well and braced herself.
"Stop!!"
She did not, however, expect Chad to throw himself into the line of fire, catching her just before she toppled over the well. He grunted and another unseen force hit them to finish the close job. They tumbled over the edge, their screams echoing throughout the journey.
They fell a good distance as she predicted and they landed with a sickening thud onto muddy ground, Chad's body softening her landing.
She blacked out from sheer panic.
