Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Max felt her muscles tense up as she glanced around. "Who's here." Sky just shook her head. She searched the alley frantically…wall…fence…door. Sky looked at it closely..her mind analyzing the situation...The door was open…she hesitated…it seemed too obvious…but there was nowhere else to go. She motioned to Max and stepped inside. It was a warehouse, now one of the many tragedies wiped out by the pulse. Sky's hand brushed against a crate..and she noticed a thick dust had coated her finger tips. The two women slowly entered the large factory as they listened behind them…the skin on their backs crawled with anticipation. Shadows of blue and purple covered them.

Max was silent. She listened as Sky's breath began to quicken its pace…at that she found her both breath mimicking the woman beside her….Suddenly the doors slammed shut, echoing throughout the room. The thuds came from above and behind them. Sky cursed silently. As she slinked into the shadows…instincts beginning to take over…things seemed different…shadows became enemies, sounds became more intense…her eyes scanned the area. She sighed, she had to get Max out….whatever fighting skills the girl possessed it would be no match for someone unstoppable.

Max stood in fighting position. She looked at Sky for a moment. She had to get her out of here. Whoever closed the doors was dangerous...and this time they might not fail at killing both of them. There was more than one foreign presence in the room….it would be difficult to fight them and protect Sky all at once..it would be best to try and slip out…then she turned quickly at the feel of contact on her skin.

Sky placed her hand on Max's arm…she pointed above them…stairs led up to a second level reminiscent of a balcony. Just above was a tiny vent obviously leading into the main ventilation system. Max nodded her head…not bad she thought. Logan had said Sky was once a soldier.

They moved behind a large stack of old crates…both women independent and intent on protecting the other. Max could see clearly…three figures moved in the distance…they were moving at angle, spreading out. She touched Sky's shoulder…hoping her eyes had adjusted by now..she began to move her hands, signaling the direction of their movement..however as she did the habitual movement she realized that Sky wouldn't understand.

The light was dim…but Sky could make out the quick hand gestures..she nodded her head and signaled back. Max again seemed surprised…Sky had studied numerous forms of communication…Max's was a simple military experiment that died out…

They moved quickly slinking quickly behind the crates….the only way to the vent was up the stairs. Sky reached down and took off her shoes…as she felt the ground a nail slid under her fingers..picking it up she flung it off into the corner opposite them. The noise provided a slight distraction and gave her and Max time to make it up the stairs unseen. The vent was above them now within reach…the anticipation was too much..they couldn't stay there forever…Max went up first and carefully pulled the screen away…she launched herself up and slid inside..it was tight…she scooted and extended her hand down to Sky who grasped it tightly..she jumped up and grasped the beginning of the vent but not in time. The men had spotted them now…a gunshot fired and grazed her arm…Sky slumped down her fingers clutching tightly to the lip of the vent as pain shot up he arm. Closing her eyes she pulled herself up and inside. Max helped pull her deeper into the cave of rusted metal. "You alright."

"I'm fine..just go."

"You first.." Max just wanted to get her out of the way…but in truth there was no way for her to switch places…the vent was too small.

"I'm the one with a gun." Sky pulled out it of the purse that still clung frailly across her shoulders…she pulled out the money as well and stuffed it into her bra...the rest was flung out the vent. They crawled quickly. Just as the two women reached the curve they heard the sound of heavy breathing echo through the vent behind them. At least one of the men was crawling after them now. They speeded up, thighs aching, sweaty hands grasping and pushing along the metal ground.

Just when both thought the vent would never end it opened suddenly. There was enough room to stand. "We're in the main pipeline now." Sky whispered. Max nodded. There were several options now..the right..the left….and down." Max motioned to take the right extension but Sky shook her head. She pointed down and before Max could protest she jumped into the larger vent and fell. Max had no choice..she jumped after praying it wouldn't lead to some heating system.

Sky landed first in a heap of dust and dirt that had obviously been a resident for quite some time. Max landed on top of her seconds later pressing Sky deeper into the dirt. They looked at each other dumbfounded. At the sound of voices above them both women quickly gained their composure again. Max looked around…the only way out was a tiny door. She kicked it open and squeezed out. Sky followed and they stood outside the warehouse, clothes torn, chests rising from exhaustion, dirt and dust covering their faces.

"Come on." Max snapped. They ran down the street keeping close to the shadows. They had to make it to her motorcycle…it was only a few blocks down…but both women slowed down...one man now stood in their way. He moved closer..his gun pointed towards Sky. When he reached their proximity Max kicked the weapon out of his hand…he lunged for her but Sky grabbed him from behind and thrust his body onto the pavement. Suddenly a lust took over, borne from her fears and memories….she shot him repeatedly…Max was caught off guard, but quickly grabbed her arm. Moments later the motorcycle sped away….leaving the fallen man writhing in the shadows.

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