Chapter Ten
Resurfacing Humanity
The Route Away From Malice
The five of us sat in silence for hours, waiting for something to happen. The suspense was almost worse than what could have been the outcome yet no one dared to even twitch. I hadn't slept for days, nor had I eaten. Aiden had sidled up to me sometime about dusk and he sat at arms length, every so often tilting his head to look at my features. Night came and still no one flinched, let alone talked. Aiden pushed himself closer until our shoulders were touching and I gave in to the gesture and allowed myself to sleep.
Same dream as always.
I can see myself in the middle of a crowd of faceless people. Their shoulders are blurred all the way to their heads.
Except this time it's different.
To my left, I see Aiden. To my right, I see Andrew, Eiji and Melanie. They're silent but smiling. The woman is still crying in the middle; hands permanently shielding her face from me. I can't move but for once I don't feel like I have to. Four pairs of eyes on me, one gaze warmer than the rest.
A ferocious echo shattered my comfort and kidnapped me from my alternate reality. I woke to see a a charred arm, mainly consisting of bone being held together by strips of red tendon and flaking skin protruding through the rusted metal door. It bent and started searching for the handle as Aiden grabbed my hand and told me that we had to leave. I quickly picked up 'Alice and Wonderland' and helped Aiden follow the others out a window. Aiden insisted on me going before him and as I helped him through from the outside, I caught sight of the intruder forcing its way through the broken door. I recognised the uniform she was wearing; her weapons and heavy armour. Her left arm was burned severely and her clothes were blackened. I deduced that the bomb was a small one, positioned in her left palm. She had a glimmer of malice showing in her expression.
The five of us bolted down the alleyway behind the storage room as quickly as four zombies and a half-asleep unknown could. Andrew opened a thick metal cover on the ground and told us to go in.
The sewer hadn't been used in a few decades and was in a surprisingly presentable state. The moat in the centre of the circular corridor was filled with remnants of boneys and rainwater. The curved ceilings were coated with different colours and shades of moss and pulsating shrubs.
Aiden reached out and held my hand as Melanie and Eiji started making their way down the narrow pathway. Andrew jumped in and fixed the cover as the sound of gunshots from afar penetrated our escape route.
"Come on! What are you two standing around fo-"
Andrew caught sight of our entwined hands and grinned. Another emotion surfaced within me. This one from when I experienced a boy's first date. I felt uncomfortable but happy and found it hard to tear my vision away from the floor.
Aiden pulled me gently and we began our purposeful transfer away from my residency.