Chapter thirteen: Back to Square One
The demon grinned a cruel, merciless grin. "You're coming with us," he growled. His thick grey fingers grabbed Allayne by the arm.
"No!" she screamed. "Let me go!"
The demon silenced her screaming by hitting her over the head. "Hey!" Lauryn shouted before she was similarly knocked out.
By now, Bryan knew better than to speak. Instead, he made himself as small as possible by sitting curled up in a corner of the roof. The little person who had talked to Lauryn was standing now and drawing her weapon. "Let them go," she commanded the demon and his three comrades, pointing her gun at them.
The demon holding the girls held Allayne like a shield. "I don't care about the others," the demon snarled. "And you can't hit me without hitting the girl first."
The helmeted person put her gun back. Then she ran over to Bryan and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him to his feet. "C'mon," she said. "We're going back to LEP HQ."
"Leave with the boy, Captain," another three said. "We'll handle the demons."
Slinging Bryan over her shoulder, she jumped over the edge of the roof. Bryan covered his eyes with his hands. Climbing down the wall of a 50 story building is one thing, but climbing down the building on the back of someone two feet shorter than you is another. Before he knew it, he was dropped on his backside into a swivel chair.
The little person took off the helmet. "Ok, boy," the little person said crossing her arms, "talk. Are you one of Lauryn's friends?"
"Yes," Bryan said. "Wait, you're female."
"What's so special about that?"
"Nothing, just…I assumed you were male."
"That's what everyone says. What's your name, mud boy?"
"Bryan."
For the first time, the officer smiled. "Bryan," she repeated. "Nice to meet you. My name's Holly. Holly Short."
"Hello. Where are we?"
"You're in Police Plaza. You have been for the last few hours."
"Could you explain what's going on here?"
"Actually, I'm trying to figure that out myself. But I know something. Commander Sool, the gnome who captured you, is trying to hold you for hostage for a ton and a half of gold while she helps the demons get revenge on your friend's cousin and me."
"I see."
"You do? Usually humans start questioning their sanity when they find out about us."
"No, I wouldn't. I'm just the kind of person who doesn't question their sanity. Of course, I wouldn't say the same for my friend, Allayne."
Gradually, Allayne regained consciousness. "Oh man," she groaned rubbing her aching head. She opened her eyes and looked around. She was in the same dark ceiling-less pit she had just escaped from. "Lauryn?" she said. "Are you there?"
"Yeah," came the soft reply. "I'm here."
Allayne scooted over to where the voice came from. She found Lauryn sitting cross-legged on the floor. "Can you please tell me what's going on?"
Lauryn looked at her. "Tell you what's going on? How can I tell you what's going on? I don't even know the time of day."
Allayne seated herself next to her frustrated friend. "Well, sorry for asking. I just wanted to see if you knew anything."
Lauryn remained silent. "You know," Allayne went on, "those grey-skinned things don't seem very smart. Maybe we could ask them." Lauryn was silent. "Then if we know what's going on, maybe we could find a way to escape." Silence. "Then when we escape from here, we could find a way back home." Lauryn remained silent. "Your friends in the black suits will save us…right?"
Moments passed. "I don't know."
Sorry about the lack of humor in this one. The funnyness (heehee! Funnyness) will come back…hopefully…