chapter 7

lily

he ran down the alley way where the girl went, knowing flat out that he was going into the belly of the beast...knowing that this would be hell on earth. "great this kid..is gonna get us both killed" he thought as ran though the alleyway "what is it with me and alleys lately?" he said as he than saw a ripped open fence. The fence was recently destroyed by something, Zack realized that he didn't like who or what made that hole "OK, maybe I should find my way.." the sound of a door opened nearby "around" he snuck to where the door opened as it was the side entrance to a children's apparel store. Zack went inside and saw that the store was somewhat ransacked "hello?" Zack said quietly, trying to not draw attention to himself. As he got to the show room. The room was also thrown around, he heard the sounds of crawling from the underneath the tables. Zack took out his flash light and scanned the area till he found her. The little girl was hiding underneath a corner table. She was no longer wearing the hospital gown from before. She was now where wearing a green and yellow hooded sweatshirt with sun flowers on it. A yellow skirt and brown shoes with green socks. Inside of her long hair was a pin the made him stay up a bit. She held a hand between her and the light. The look of fear on her face when she recognized him. She got up and tried to run away and as she did, Zack grabbed her shoulder "hey hey! Relax, I am not going to hurt you..." the little girl stopped and looked at Zack. Tears fell down her cheeks and than proceed to cry.

"please don't turn me in.." the girl pleaded with Zack, something that she was really scared about. "all they'll do is hurt us again.." Zack looked shocked up at her.

"easy easy, I wont turn you in.." Zack's heart was actually hurting for the girl. Those words actually disarmed lily as she hugged him, the feeling of tears on his neck could be felt. Zack actually didnt mind at this point because what was he gonna say "no thanks"? "my name is Zack, what's yours?"

"lily.." the girl told him with a sense of shyness. She looked at ground, grinding the toes of her shoe into the ground. "i wanted to look pretty, please dont be mad" Zack shook his head at the sad girl.

Zack saw that the girl was indeed harmless, however there was something off about her. Her eyes were a stunning ice white. She was obviously different "where is your mom and dad?" Zack asked the little girl in confusion.

"i..i don't have parents..i am alone" lily said to Zack still looking down "they told me that mama and papa never loved me..."

"who did?" Zack asked as he was appalled, granted he was an orphan himself and the bias was showing, however who on earth would abandon their child in a such a place?"

lily looked at up at him, her tone was of fear "the man in the lab coat" lily went up Zack and whispered in his ear "he never liked any of us" she said that last part really scared. The fear was visible

"listen lily...i understand that you are scared..so I want you to stay with me OK?" Zack asked her as she walked back a bit "look, I know I look scary but..." Zack was interrupted the sounds of glass shattering in a million pieces. The sounds of lily's scream came after as soon as what came through the window was frightening. It was a creature made what appeared to be a man, his limbs were muscular, but his skin was a very primary blue, His upper torso was covered by a metal breast plate. His waist was covered with metal as well. His legs were visible as he was scanning the room with a blue light that was in the middle of his helmet. The creature held in his hand what appeared to be a tactical knife. The sounds of his metallic boots could be heard crunching the glass as he walked in. Zack took lily by the hand and ran outside, running with her as she was following as best as she could as the too got a safe distance away..Zack looked at her and just asked one simple question "what was that?"

"that's my warden, he watches over me...the man in the lab coat made him to protect me...and monitor me" lily told Zack as she was scared for this reason. "we all have one…." she added, implying that whoever was with her is being hunted by these creatures "they were in maintenance..when we escaped"

"no wonder why you run...you must be hungry.." Zack asked her as she nodded "listen, I will protect you..if you stay with me, you will never have to go back" he told the girl, she looked confused at the man who was risking her life for him. "let's go" she nodded, actually trusting him. the Two snuck off knowing the creature was still inside. As the two got a safe distance a sound of a high speed run could be heard from behind them. As soon as Zack turned around..all he saw was a metallic fist hit him in the chest sending him forward into a car. The cry of pain came from Zack as he was trying to get up.

Lily's scream could be heard as she was cornered by the warden.

"lily, come now" the creature demanded in a metallic voice. Lily was scared, she didnt want to leave but than she saw gun bullets be fired at him. The warden turn to Zack who was aiming

"lily! Run!" Zack cried out at as he fired all but two at the warden. However the warden was not done. He charged at Zack and tried to stab him in the gut but Zack actually managed to pulled the knife back. "what the fuck are you?!" lily snuck through the opening of the fence that was nearby.

"protocol 497, you must be destroyed for helping the prisoner" the creature told Zack in a metallic inhumane voice. The knife was getting closer and closer. pieceing Zack's t shirt and making him bleed till something in Zack started to stir. The feeling of water started to roar inside of him like a waterfall smashing against rocks. His strength started to increase as he managed to keep the arm away. With as much quickness as he could, Zack took out his switchblade and stabbed the creature in the neck. The warden screeched in pain he stepped back. As Zack finally gathered himself, aimed at the creature's neck with his gun that he was able to miraculous was able to find.

"never had to do this before but..." he said as he slowly pulled the trigger. The wardens neck came off and fell backwards, the sounds of his corpse was like a heavy machine falling down. Zack just Zack took a couple breathes as he than felt something going off in his head. His head began to pulsate in agonizing torment, his eyes were flickering in and out and out of the blue..he heard a voice go off in his head and talk as he fell on all fours clinching his head

"during his 19th year of existence, the powers inside of him will start to form, everything that I have prepared will actually be put into play"

Zack pulled out a bottle of pills inside of his jacket's hidden pocket. They were red pills that were called "placeobline" after he took two pills dry, everything started to become calm again. He got up and saw lily was gone. "i am glad she got away..now I just have to find her" he was going to get his knife back but he looked at the one that the warden had. It it was bigger, thicker and actually had what appeared to be a carrying case on the creatures waist. Zack took the case and the knife..leaving the switchblade behind "this is better anyway.."

he looked at the hole where she must of crawled through and he saw that he could just climb over it. As he did all he saw was the warden's dead corpse and the head. He walked off, hoping she was near by