I'd just like to thank everyone who supported me with this story, and all the new subscribers are greatly appreciated! I'm slowly making the chapters longer, so there's more of my goodness at one time. Just for you. (; Enjoy!
By the way, italics represent a third-person view in this chapter. Unless it's Axel thinking... You'll enjoy it for sure! :3
The Flight of the Eco Freak
Erol was fidgeting the entire way up to the Stadium. He looked worried and excited and enthralled all at the same time, which was slightly scary from my seventeen year old point of view. There was no way that he was just hanging out around the Stadium for hours without trying to accomplish something with Keira. Although, it was also quite funny. He was acting like a tripping druggie, which was absolutely hilarious. Hilarious to the point where I was roaring with laughter on the inside, and the restraint I was excercising forced me to tear up.
"Erol, are you going to be okay?" I asked, trying to hide the laughter in my voice. The way he looked toward me wasn't helping me calm down. It seemed like a mixture of pain and anxiety, with a little fear thrown in, all covered up by a fake serenity.
"Y-yes, of course Axel. Why the hell wouldn't I be?" Trying to pick up his usual smooth-talking manner, he sauntered up to the garages where the mechanics practiced their trade. He slowly and with an obvious forced calm made his way to the left, where I assumed Keira was working.
"Just don't pee yourself! I didn't bring your extra uniform!" I called after him, only to have him turn around, face red with anger and embarassment, and shout back.
"Must you do this in public?" He shook his head, the ginger hair that was always styled back waving at me as he did so. "Come with me. I didn't bring you so you could just stand out here!" he barked. Jeez, pushy. Cool your jets, I thought as he slowed to wait for me.
Erol walked slowly up to the closed curtain in the first garage on the left. He nervously tried to loosen up, and pulled it back.
"Hello Keira," he said saucily. A girl with bluish-green hair and purple capris standing over a workbench almost dropped her oversized wrench, jumping about three feet into the air.
"Oh! Erol!" Keira bent to pick up her wrench and came back up redder than Erol's hair. "I wasn't expecting you to come here..." She quickly glanced at her workbench and panicked, throwing a sheet over whatever it was that she was working on. I immediately grew wary of her, not knowing what kind of person she was.
"I didn't really give you any reason to, now did I?" He was saying the wrong things in the wrong ways. Keira was taken aback and was obviously flustered.
"Well no... I suppose not..." she said with unsureness in her voice. I had a good feeling about her being able to help me out of the Baron's corrupt "police" force.
I looked at Erol and he simply looked embarassed. He turned and glared at me for a split second, then proceeded to leave without another word, leaving me behind with the mechanic. I struggled to find a way out without going toward Erol or the rest of the population.
"Can I help you with something?" I was startled by the sudden voice penetrating my ears. I looked at Keira with a slightly sheepish expression.
"I'm Axel... Sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier." She waved her hand in dismissal, basically saying that there was nothing to worry about. "I've got to get away from the KG, Keira.. Can you help me?" A look of sympathy and sadness crossed her face.
"Actually, yes I can. But you have to promise to keep this a secret! Nobody outside of the Underground knows about this..." She lifted up a large tile off the floor to reveal a hidden, paved passageway. I was amazed.
"Where does it go?" I asked. This was so new to me, I'd never tried to escape from INSIDE the KG before.
"To the Underground hideout in the Slums. Hurry, or Erol will come back and see you!" I thanked her with a two fingered salute, and slid down the opening. Just as the cover slid back on, I heard Erol's voice from above. I didn't stay long enough to hear what was being said though. I'd already started running down the tunnel, which was tall enough to support just about any height.
I was finally free.
Erol walked back into the garage, slightly bothered.
"Keira, have you seen Axel?" he asked quickly and harshly. Insulted, Keira replied in the same tone.
"No Erol. I saw him walk out behind you, that's all." She crossed her arms firmly, an annoyed look on her face.
"Damn it! I wasn't supposed to let him out of my sight!" Erol shouted. He turned about face, and ran straight out of the garage. Keira smiled and looked toward her floor, where she had just replaced a tile from it.
Erol ran out into the common area and looked around.
"AXEL!" He was screaming at the top of his lungs, but he saw no sign of Axel's long black hair.
Axel was gone.
