Distractions
His wide angled hand immediately capped over hers, preventing the door from coming ajar. Her eyes cast a flint of aggravation his way. He had provided enough of a distraction for one day.
-A weary, but dedicated aura.
Her eyes flickered.
Two. Closer and closer, but not a word spoken among them. Patrolmen.
Nameless.
She seemed to freeze in place, mind escaped with her agility. To the locker? To the darkness?
Wait.
Their heels echoed in the large chamber, down the halls, past the door (she had paused her breathing), and continued on, undisturbed. Simply, patrolling. She took notice of her stiffened shoulders only when he sighed, hand slipping away. It left a sudden chill; she ignored it. Her other hand lingered on the flat of the metal.
"These dopey ears are good for somethin', I guess. Hard to miss even the tiniest sounds."
Pressing her ear against the door, she heard nothing but the pulse of her own heartbeat. Not quite as useful, but useful all the same.
"Those dopey ears keep you on alert at all times. Utilize that. We need all the help we can get."
Her shoulder pressed against the door, turning the handle ever so slightly, hoping the pressure of her guidance would lead it with silence. Pulling it proved difficult when handling it ever so gently, though once the picks had slid over the metal catch, she merely slipped her fingers through the gap, pulling it open with ease. Her hand held out, knuckles pressed against his chest.
She sensed...no one. Good.
Her fingers slipped along his upper arm, pulling him forward into the hallway and with a stored breath, she clicked the door shut with ample cushion. Not even a clink. Her fingers slipped down along the cool threshold, a bit of relief settling within her. Not the best start, but it was a start, nonetheless.
"Now what?"
Her eyes widened as she spun on her heel, finger angrily shoved against her lips.
"Could you be any louder?" she hissed, eyes darting between both halls. He seemed unaffected, rubbing along his nose.
"No one here, Rae. Remember?" he pointed casually to his left ear, tucking the other hand into his pocket. The frustration building within her dispersed quicker than she could realize, brows knitting. She needed to remain calm and collected. If they were going to get anywhere besides returned to their own cells within a matter of minutes, they needed a fully formulated plan. One they could place their trust in. Logical and obtainable with a possible back up if necessary.
But where to start? Where were the others being held within the building...and how many? What were their needs and abilities? Were they dangerous to all...or only to the nameless? And where would they escape from? She had been brought in by ship. That much she could remember.
That meant there was an access point to docks of some sort. A cargo area perhaps. It was a thought.
"I was delivered here by ship. If we can find the port in this area, we'll at least have access to some way away from here." she reasoned, eyes darting back down the way they had come. They had shambled up countless steps to get to this area...they would have to detour down again. Carefully this time. Mind the cameras. Stick to the shadows. Calm and collected.
"It's an island. There's nowhere to go."
Her eyes closed for a moment, deep breath.
"I'm aware. But I'm willing to take the risk. Unless you're attune to the hospitality of this place..." her voice held a flat note, watching his ears twitch in irritation, "If you want your freedom, you'll have to fight for it. You deserve your freedom, Garfield. We all do."
His brows knit. A quick, but firm nod in agreement.
"We–"
She froze for a moment, eying her right side, but relaxed when he shook his head, eyes unblinking, pupils darting in thought. "Just wood settling." he replied quietly, following her slow stride.
"We have to head back down. Maybe even lower than that. The size of this place is more than capable of housing a few ships. There may be an access point to it from within the building. But," she paused her step, glancing back at him.
"I need you to listen out for anything...anyone. We need to find an escape route...but we can't afford to miss anyone on the way. I won't let these people have the satisfaction."
Bending his thumb along his chest, Garfield offered a slight grin, "I'm your guy." In a shifted blur, his ears expanded longer and longer as the rest of him shrunk in stature, a case of fuzz replacing any of all smooth skin. Thin membrane encased between his fingers, a stout tail protruding behind him. And with a sloppy flop, the big-eared bat managed to hold steady in the air, beady eyes blinking firmly to assess his coordination, though his ears twitched to and fro, utilizing them sharply.
Her thumb rubbed along her lip in thought. A good idea, but his flight pattern would most likely trigger some motion sensor since his practice of flight wasn't entirely up to snuff. Her hand reached out, tapping her upper arm. "Here. Just hang on to me. Can't have you flying sporadically like that. Stealth is key."
Plopping onto her hand, he haphazardly clambered up her sleeve, hooking his thumbs gently into a bit of pinched cloth. Her eyes caressed the little creature, the pants having dissolved into the form he had chosen, however, the specialized muzzle had shrunk with him, barring his tiny fangs in place.
You deserve your freedom, Garfield.
Her violet eyes pulled away, back down the hall.
Everyone deserved their freedom.
"Let's go." she uttered quietly, the soles of her feet connecting with the fresh chills of the stone. Connecting with the deep darkness surrounding her. Absorbing the trust the creature latched on had in her. She kept to the edges as always, scanning the area for any potential surprises. None. Perhaps they would run into the most recent disruption of the night. Her eyes peered into the main hall. Left. Right. No one.
Perhaps they were sedated. They would be of no use to anyone with a lack of consciousness. How would she or he be able to help?
No. She couldn't think of delays. She had to focus. If they found whoever, whenever, they would handle it then. The bridge as they arrived. They would cross it or die trying.
They didn't have time for confrontation. Would they consider them allies?
Focus, Rachel. Focus.
She took a short breath, listening for anything, and finding her second nature of doubt a bit silly for the time being. Garfield's ears were genetically altered for amplified subtlety. She had to focus on the traps. Cameras. Sensors. Anything of the sort. It was by miracle that they hadn't sparked an all out manhunt from their last speed venture. The distraction of the other had bought them some quality time. Time to recoup. Time to plan.
Her hand drifted along the icy wall, squinting at the ironwork stairwell they had ran up from. It wasn't the only access point to a landing, only one of the many. Perhaps they would be safer...less noticeable from a corner stairwell.
She clung to the left, passing the opening to the stairwell with a steady step. The tiny bat made no move to argue, ears keeping a firm radar on the area. He knew the area even less than she. He was more than willing to let her call the shots for now. Calm and focused.
Her eyes skimmed along the top of their current floor, only to find security underwhelming compared to their home floor. No cells on this floor. No doors, either.
It seemed the floor utilized the space on the opposite side back from where they had turned, but it hardly mattered to her.
Her neck peered gently, sure to never abandon that which protected her, toes always nestled darkly in what she knew best. But she found the cells, far below. And oddly enough, all empty. She had occupied one...Garfield another. Just how many people were these cells meant to hold? She could sense nothing from below, no cries of mercy, no pleads for life. She hadn't expected them to be as powerful or as loud as the shape shifter's, but she had expected something.
Perhaps it was for the best.
Less lives damaged by the likes of this place.
But it also meant less of an army to fight back.
Another stairwell none too far off.
An army. The lack of one forced them to scurry like rats. Cling to the walls like roaches. Conceal their existence like the unknown projects they were. Unknown to the world.
She had been someone once.
She had been meant for great things. But greatness did not equivocate goodness. Hidden away in the shadows of the world, hidden away from herself.
But they had found her regardless. And now as she pondered the possibilities, she assumed it had only been a matter of time. Those who had sought her, found her. And for what purpose, she could yet to fathom. Picked at a prime, but at a price. They demanded the answers from her mind. The talents of her trade. And she knew even less than they.
Things she could feel, but did not know why.
Things she could do, unexplainable. Unimaginable.
Far beyond the average. Far ahead of the mundane. And yet, she appeared no different than the youth of this planet. No different than the reflection she studied. None more than-
The tiny claws thumbed into her sleeve tugged firmly, the urgency to alert her stride desperate. She froze, head tilting from side to side, but finding nothing. Shadows and not shadows lining the balcony they tread on. Her brows knit for a moment, glancing at the creature latched on, the shift to a much heavier possum throwing her balance significantly. His paw thrust out toward the stairwell ahead of them before flinging himself backward, tail wrapped about her forearm and yanking her with him into the sliver of an alcove within the wall. Barely a hallway, barely an alley, but a firm dead end. Just enough space for her to press her back into as the beam of light skimmed her cheek from the stairwell, heavy boots now thudding their bitter echo into the roof.
Two sets.
Heading toward her.
Nowhere to go.
Her eyes shut tight in sudden panic, unable to think clearly under the immediate pressure. How had she walked so blindly into them? Her teeth grit as her mind clicked to the soul she had foolishly depended on. Twice, he had guided her onto a faulty path, a distraction if any. She had entrusted him with one duty. Why hadn't he warned her sooner? What good were those dopey ears for it he didn't utilize them properly? She pressed her shoulders further into the cool bricks behind her, but it provided nothing more than the thinnest barrier time could ask for.
The boots scratched along the stone, the light bouncing as the steps drew nearer and nearer, her fingers clutching her arms tightly, and with them, trapping the creature in the lock. They weren't going to take her back. She refused. And not alone. This was his fault.
Her chest pounded firmly.
This was his fault.
Her grip nearly smothered.
Was his fault.
Her jaw stiffened, teeth clenched, neck tucked in.
His fault.
And the darkness swallowed her whole.
Author's Note: Felt like updating this a little bit. Got some new ideas to work with. I also really appreciate the kind reviews. I write to relax, so it's nice to know others are enjoying this as well.
