For those unfamiliar with the workings of District 8: Megan's weakness is fire, which can seriously impede her powers.
Disclaimer: All rights to their respective owners.
Chapter 11
Double Heist
So far, so good.
Miri and Harry had made it to the designated spot where the code was kept, without any problem. Now, with Arthur standing watch, they were determined to finish the plan.
Unfortunately, the plan took a lot of patience that Harry seemed to lack.
He went to move, and Miri was forced to place her hand on his shoulder.
"Not yet," she whispered, wishing Harry could quarry-speak.
Harry sighed. "You're right. My legs are just starting to hurt."
"We'll move soon," Miri replied. "I promise."
So far, so good.
Minus the security alarms, that was.
"It wasn't me!" David argued. "I promise!"
Megan looked doubtful, but neither of them had time to argue. Megan grabbed David's arm and yanked him against the wall. She closed her eyes, summoning another universe to cover their tracks.
"Did you get the information?" Megan whispered.
David nodded. "Now all we need to do is get out of here."
Alarms blared.
Arthur sunk lower into the corner he was hiding in, hoping Miri and Harry hadn't been caught. If they had, he needed to know, and know now.
"What's happening?" Someone yelled.
"Someone broke into control center b!" Someone replied. The alarms shut off. "We are to remain extra alert for anyone trying to break into here."
Well, that's not good.
"Well, that's not good," David muttered, darting back to their hiding spot.
"None if this is good, knees," Megan replied.
David nodded. "But that is extra not good."
Megan peeped around the corner and cursed. "They're calling reinforcements. You're right. That's not good."
"And we're stuck like a hand in a candy jar."
Megan smiled. "And how do you get your hand out of a glass jar?"
"You break it."
"We have a problem," Arthur said, crouching down next to Miri and Harry.
"What?" Miri asked.
"David and Megan set off some sort of alarm," Arthur replied. "And now everyone's being super diligent. We need to find someplace to hide, and now."
Painfully slowly, the three of them crept through the corridor and down the emergency stairs.
"Here," Arthur said, gesturing to a small area off to the side of the stairs. "This doesn't look used, and no one takes the stairs anyways. We should be safe here for a while."
"Great," Harry muttered. "More waiting."
Megan closed her eyes and concentrated.
"I think I have something," Megan decided. She took a deep breath. "But we'll have to get out soon."
"Let's go."
David and Megan ran for the door, David leading Megan as she concentrated.
More alarms, these different. David caught a whiff of smoke as they ran, and slowly others joined them as they headed for the exit.
David and Megan plowed through the door and through the reinforcements, never once being questioned. Until they were down the street, and two peacekeepers cornered them.
"I don't remember you two working in that building," one said.
"We just started yesterday," Megan lied.
"Right before the games?" The other peacekeeper asked.
"They didn't have any choice but to hire new people," David lied. "After so many people were... you know."
The guards nodded.
"Of course," One guard said.
"We'll still have to question you," the other said. "Please, come with us."
Megan and David exchanged looks. Better to escape now or risk getting trapped?
"We'll gladly come with you," Megan decided. "I promise our-" she coughed "our full support" cough "I'm sorry, I must've gotten a lungful of smoke or something."
She doubled over, and David reached to grab her. If the fire had gotten to her-
"Are you okay?" One of the guards asked.
"I'm fine," Megan breathed out. The guard reached to help her.
Suddenly, the smoke seemed to thicken.
Quicker than lightning, Megan reached out and grabbed the peacemaker's wrist. She twisted it around and shoved the guy into the other guy.
"The smoke should cover our escape," Megan said. "Lets go!"
They were being followed, but David didn't let that concern him.
They plowed through the doors to what looked like an abandoned shop and hid behind a counter. Slowly, the shop filled up with clothes. A person materialized, humming to herself as she sorted through the clothes.
"I don't know how long I can keep this up," Megan admitted.
"You're doing great," David replied.
Two peacekeepers came to investigate, and an owner who Megan summoned came to give them some harsh words.
When the peacekeepers left, Megan dropped the illusion.
She gave David a smile. "Just like the old days."
"Just like the old days," David agreed. He looked around the shop, but with the sun setting, smoke, and the lack of any electricity in this part of the building, he couldn't see anything.
"I really want my mobile," David sighed.
"I know, knees," Megan replied. And then she frowned. "Wait, I think..."
Megan held out her hand and David's old mobile appeared.
"Now that is going to be useful," David commented. "I wonder if any of the other tributes could use that."
Megan smiled. "I bet they could."
At last, we're in the part of the story where things happen.
