HIVE: Inheritance: Chapter Ten
Otto's blood ran cold, and Nero protectively moved in from of him.
"Surely Number One," Doctor Nero said carefully, "You can't kill your own son!?"
"I'm not going to," was the only reply. Otto whipped round to see the familiar four guards enter the room. One was holding a vicious looking metal club, the rest had their bare hands. Nero was refusing to budge from Otto, sternly eyeing up his assailants.
Suddenly, the club man dashed forwards and swiped at Nero. Using his natural instinct the headmaster ducked, then swiped the legs from under the guard. Otto noticed with concern that Nero was wincing-Raven usually did the physical work for him. Where was Raven and the others?
But the man Nero had taken down got up silently, and before Otto could warn him Nero was out cold. He stared at his headmaster, unconscious on the floor, rage running through him. His laughing father didn't help, and anger overpowered him. Otto stared at the guards while he connected to the electricity circuits and the main computer. His powers tended to only function when he was angry or facing certain death. This filled both categories. Switch it off, switch it off. Otto found the right link, and closed it with a simple thought. All the buildings lights went off, and everything was silent. I've done it! Otto thought, they can't find me in the dark, now I can escape!
"Switch the emergency power on," Number One screamed. Red lights went on, casting an evil glow over an annoyed Number One, disappointed Otto, unconscious Nero and four eager guards. "Kill him!"
Otto's heart raced as two guards charged at him, sending him hard onto the ground. Pain arced up Otto's back, and he whimpered. Can't give up now! Otto thought firmly. He bucked, and shook himself free. Hands tried to grab him as Otto sprinted to the double doors, adrenaline and fear powering him across the floor.
"Lock the doors!" Number One yelled. A red button flashed on the huge double doors, and as Otto hit them they held firm. Wincing as he crushed his wrist, Otto gasped when a guard raced at him. Otto fell to the right, and the man crashed into the doors. He crippled to the ground.
Turning to face the inevitable, Otto clutched the wall as the three other guards charged. Squeezing his eyes shut, all he could hear was his rapid breathing and the sound of their pounding footsteps. So this is how it all ends, Otto thought, I wonder if I'll go to Heaven or Hell?
Luckily, Otto would never have to decide as the glass doors next to him smashed. Otto was showered in glass as three familiar figures stepped in: Raven, Shelby and Wing. They each charged at the three guards, and were soon locked into single combat. Otto watched in awe as Raven repeatedly aimed kicks at a guard, who kept on stumbling back. Wing was pressing his guard against a wall, and Shelby was darting in and out of her guard's grasp, punching him now and again.
Remembering Nero, Otto hurried over to him. He was lying in a bedraggled heap, a huge red bump on his forehead where the bat had hit him.
"Sir, Nero? Wake up!" Otto cried, shaking Nero's shoulders. The headmaster groaned, and looked at Otto.
"Thanks," he mumbled, staring blearily at Raven and the two students. "Where's Miss Brand?" Otto frowned, then shrugged.
"Probably programming the helicopter, let's go!"
A dark shadow loomed over Otto and Nero. Otto looked up just in time to meet a punch in the face. His head snapped back and blood trickled from his nose.
"If my guards can't kill you, then I'll kill you myself!" Number One yelled like a madman. Otto get up but Number One grabbed his ankles and dragged him towards the doors, (which was now pieces of glass scattered on the floor.) Nobody noticed Otto struggle as he was lifted up, or Nero as he called for help.
Soon Number One and Otto were gone.
Otto punched Number One in the face, but he only gripped him tighter. Struggling to breath and opting for desperate measures, Otto bit his hard. When his teeth made contact with cold flesh Otto was dropped. Cries of outrage erupted from Number One as Otto scrabbled to his feet and raced through the dark tunnel towards the entrance cavern.
As soon as Otto entered the dark tunnel he could hear his father's pounding footsteps behind him. Everything was pitch black, and whenever Otto stumbled pain would erupt through his thigh. He couldn't see anything, and the ground was dangerously rocky. Heart pounding, scared out of his life, Otto raced through the engulfing darkness. The tunnels sides seemed to be closing in on him, and Otto's vision swam. As he started to slow down from exhaustion he realised that Number One was catching up. Breathing heavily, Otto stubbed his toe on a hidden rock and fell.
Without warning steely hands clamped down on Otto waist. Number One.
"Got you!" he laughed maniacally. Eyes half closed, Otto felt himself dragged along the tunnel floor. He felt every rock, every sharp edge, every grain of dirt as it coated his face. Otto's hair turned brown, and his chest was dotted with cuts and stabs. Not entirely concious, Otto recognised the helicopter as they went past it.
"Laura," he moaned, his voice nothing more than a croak.
Number One was dragging him towards a hollow in the rock which Otto hadn't noticed on the way in. The sound of rushing water got louder as they entered the damp hollow. It opened out onto a raging river, water smashing against it's rocky imprisonment. It would surely drown anyone who entered it.
"Now it's time to say our goodbyes Otto!" Number One said, smiling into Otto's tired face. "I'll make sure that someone good inherits GLOVE." Helpless, Otto was lifted to his feet. Dazed, he only just managed not to fall backwards into the dark water behind him.
"Why kill your own son?" Otto croaked, all his willpower drained out of him. There was no trace of sympathy on Number One's face.
"It's for the benefit of GLOVE."
Number One shoved Otto backwards.
"Noooo!" A fast moving red shape grabbed Otto and pulled him away from the river. Then the shape smashed into Number One, who, caught off guard, fell into the river. The red shape went with him. It took a moment for Otto's confused brain to realise that the red shape wasn't a shape at all, it was Laura. Jumping to his feet, Otto raced to the waters edge, searching for any sign of Laura. There: a delicate pink hand was clutching a small rock by Otto. He immediately grabbed the hand and pulled.
Inch by inch, a gasping Laura emerged from the dark water. Tears fell from her eyes as she dragged herself onto the floor, shaking uncontrollably. Otto and Laura hugged each other. Two survivors, seeking for comfort in the lonely, dark cave by a vicious dark river.
They hugged for what seemed like forever, when they heard footsteps and Raven, Nero, Shelby and Wing emerged into the cave. (Nero hobbling.) Laura and Otto quickly broke apart, their cheeks burning with embarrassment. Raven, Nero and Wing looked uncomfortable, but of course Shelby was smiling with delight.
"So cute, are you two officially-?"
"Shut up Shelby," Wing said sternly. Raven searched the rivers surface.
"Number One?"
"Dead," Otto looked Raven straight in the eye, showing her that he nor Laura had no regrets. She inclined her head and headed for the main cavern.
"We need to get out of here," Nero said, making sure his students followed Raven before he went last.