Chapter 27
phoenix the 1st: Kai can't help them that much at the moment. They need someone higher in status.
Cat in the web: Happy ending indeed. Life never has a happy ending, though you have to wish it did. ;)
Castles in the Sky: I'll have to get back to writing Into the Light. Been a while since I worked on that. Into the Light of course being the follow up to this one. Only two in this series. :p
Disengage: It's okay not to say anything. Gives me nothing to reply to. ;)
chibi drigger: I updated!
Bloody Mary: Mental images can be good. And yes, Bryan reads a lot. Very educational material those books. :p
Jay Kamiya: In many ways Bryan is worse than Tala. ;)
Fire4Ice: I have! I have! I have!
russle: Pity Ian and Spencer aren't a couple, but it gives me room to move. ;)
eyriess: There are fics I look forward to updating too... just wish they would... --
KuronekoHikage: I have msn. And my time is Melbourne time by the way. What's our time difference? And very observant with the lemons! leaves offering for hentai gods
Lady Snowblossom: What I have problems with is the whole proportion thing. How the heck would Ian and Spencer...?
Lullaby Lily: Welcome! And good eye with the "I love you" thing. Seems some people have overlooked that fact. It'll be interesting to see the outcome of it. ;)
umi n secylia: Problem being there is no moon out tonight. :p
Ashla: Bryan is the boss all right. Doubt Tala realises it yet, but.
TigerTerror: Wow. Somebodies sucking up at the moment. Keep it coming. :p
Story is going to start moving fast from now on.
Disclaimer: See first page
As the sun burst into the sky, Ian's eyes cracked open. He yawned, stretching, blinking as he took in the unfamiliar surrounds before laughing softly. Spencer stirred, Ian jabbing him in the chest before the elder boy opened his own eyes, frowning. Ian grinned at him, Spencer looking around and smiling back, their eyes turning toward the other two members of the group.
As the light fell upon them, Tala's clear blue eyes cracked open. He glanced down at the still sleeping Bryan, a mischievous smile playing across his face. He moved his hand, slowly creeping it toward a destination.
He jumped and gave a short bark of pain, withdrawing it quickly.
Bryan pushed himself up, opening his eyes and glaring at him. "You just don't give up, do you Wolf?"
Tala returned the glare, shaking his hand as the pain from where Bryan had whacked him slowly began to fade. "Admit it, Falcon, you enjoy playing hard to get."
"No secret."
Ian and Spencer exchanged a quick look as Bryan stretched, cracking his neck. Bryan looked toward them, one eyebrow raised and causing them to shift beneath his gaze, Spencer beginning to fold up his blanket as Tala tossed the other toward Ian.
They set about having their breakfast, Tala looking up and taking in the sky, noting that it looked to be another fine day.
Ian sipped his drink. "So what's the plan, Captain?"
Tala glanced at Bryan, before returning his attention to the younger. "We'll go all day. We'll shove some food in our pockets for around midday and stop briefly to eat. We won't stop until the sun sets."
Bryan frowned. "You planning to get to Moscow tomorrow?"
Tala nodded. "If we took the main road we could get there by this afternoon, but by going this way it'll take us longer. That, and I want to give us some extra time, some extra daylight, when we do hit Moscow."
Ian looked confused, but Spencer caught on. "You think Boris will be waiting?"
Tala nodded. "I do."
"Probably with half of the Abbey guards," Bryan muttered. "With fully loaded weapons, waiting at the doors to the BBA centre."
Ian blinked. "But the BBA won't let them."
"BBA can't stop them," Tala replied. "Russia is Biovolt's country. All Boris need say is that some whack job he was looking after has escaped and they need to detain him."
Ian sniggered, gesturing at Bryan. "Some whack job did escape."
"Some whack job is going to punch your oversize nose in in a moment," Bryan's glare slid onto him, causing Ian to sink down a little.
Tala reached out and patted Bryan's arm soothingly, then looked up toward the sky before checking his watch. "Let's prepare. The sooner we leave the better."
They did not speak as they each took a piece of meat and some bread and biscuits, shoving them into their pockets before putting their packs back on, each now in possession of a drink bottle. Once they were ready, Tala stood and moved from the rocks, careful not to let his feet slide out from under him as he crossed some loose stones.
He paused at the edge, regaining his bearings; the last thing he needed to do was lead them back to the Abbey. He looked toward their destination, glancing back as the others joined him and taking in Bryan's limp. He raised an eyebrow, Bryan waving it off. Tala nodded, signalling the go ahead, the group once more on the move.
They settled into a steady jog, the icy wind nipping at their bare skin before exertion began to warm them. There was no need for the haste of the day before, the Abbey no longer seeming a threat. They were in the lull of the storm: they had conquered the first part, the actual escape. Now they need do is complete it, as they would not be free of Boris's wrath until the doors of the BBA centre slammed closed behind them.
There was no sound other than the steady rhythm of their steps as they wove a twisted path through the forest, birds singing overheard. As the day continued, Tala found himself fighting a wave of nausea, a firm reminder that he had still not recovered from the days locked up and being tortured in the darkness. He ignored it, blinking back the fuzziness of his vision. He must move. Rest would come later.
Bryan was fairing no better. His wound had at first been nothing more than a dull throb, but steadily it had increased, now feeling as if someone had poured acid into his leg, the burning sensation spreading like a wildfire as sweat plastered his hair to his face. He gritted his teeth, his own nausea threatening to overcome him, but he fought it back.
As the sun reached the peak of the sky, they slowed, dropping into a sitting position as they drank, eating the food they had set aside earlier that day. Ian and Spencer looked upon their comrades with worry, Ian questioning them about their health, but neither Tala nor Bryan answered, instead focusing on the trek ahead.
Once their meal was finished and they were satisfied that it had settled enough, they were on the move once more. Spencer suggested slowing their tempo, but Tala had taken up the same pace of that morning. Every step brought them closer to their ultimate freedom, every metre moving them toward a new beginning.
As the sun dropped from the sky ever so slowly, Tala still did not allow them to stop. Only when darkness began to creep into the woods did he slow, searching out somewhere to rest for the night. Ian spotted the fallen tree and pointed it out, the group moving toward it. Sure enough, when the tree had fallen it had taken down others, creating a sheltered nook between them large enough for the four of them to crawl into.
It was cramped, but the four exhausted bladers did not care. Tala reached into his bag and divvied out the food, Ian and Spencer pulling the blankets from their own packs and setting them down. Bryan shifted, pulling back his cloak and gazing down toward his thigh, sighing as he spotted the crimson stain. Tala glanced to the side, eyes widening.
"Bryan, you're bleeding."
"No shit." Bryan looked up. "Stiches probably came undone. It was only a rough patch job anyhow."
Ian leant over to look. "Maybe you should–"
"Ain't nothin' to do, kid." Bryan dropped his cloak back around him, taking the food Tala offered him. "Deal with it tomorrow once we reach the BBA centre."
They ate in silence, Ian stifling a yawn as darkness fall. "What I wouldn't give for a hot meal."
They others muttered their agreement, finishing though their bodies wanted more. Tala had rationed the food, allowing only so much for each leg of their journey, and it was just barely enough to keep them going.
Ian crawled into Spencer's lap, falling asleep almost instantly as Spencer drew the blankets around them. Tala reached out and drew Bryan to him, Bryan not fighting as he lay back against Tala's chest, for once not finding it hard to slip into a dreamless sleep, Tala pulled the blanket tighter around them, resting his head against Bryan's and joining his friends in slumber.
Another day gone, and they're not fairing well. Will they make it to Moscow? Or will they collapse?
Got a question for you all. I've completed writing this story, but I'm currently working on Into the Light, which is the sequel to this fic. What I'm asking is do you think I should hook Spencer and Ian up, thought Spence is 19 and Ian is 12. Just put at the end of your review: 'Answer - Yes/No'. Of course, change your answer to suit your response. So what do you think?