I can see something, shadows, but they don't see me. I don't want to move, they are not nice shadows I'm sure.
"What do you mean she's not here?" It's her! Where are we?
"She seems to have evaded our search, it is only a matter of time." That voice makes me want to run the other way, I have heard it in the nightmares before, he is one of them.
"We don't have time! If she is still alive, it means that I have to keep a guard up and I really can't be bothered." She is pacing, her feet echoing. That means that she has to be walking on concrete in a cavernous space. And if she is in a large space, the others will be too.
"It seems that your programming leaves something to be desired in that case." Is he being sarcastic? Sentient they may be, but with a sense of humour? It doesn't matter, they are directly below me. There doesn't seem to be a way down.
"Dammit, I can't find a way in." He sounds like he's near me, as though he is looking at them. Don't move, just listen and breath softly.
"Oh stop trying to be funny, I want this one dead next, you can do it."
"Are you sure? He is the only decent hacker out of them all…"
"What do I want with him? He's got a sweetheart and is for some reason unsusceptible to me. Beside, I haven't any use for him, we all know that a Zion-born can't get into the dream world, and who else would save this wretch?" She must be talking about…
"Samson." That's the other voice again, he knows my crew. Who is he? It doesn't matter, I have to find a way to get to them and stop this mess before it's too late.
"Any last requests?" There is a muffled reply, and the crack of flesh on flesh. "How dare you imply that I couldn't satisfy you? You deserve this you pathetic waste of space." Stop the screaming of the bullets, stop the screaming of my big brother, stop it stop it, stop it, stop… Oh my gods, someone has caught me!
"Shhh, keep it down, they're Agents, if they find us, we're done for." It's him, the one who knows Samson too. I can just see him out of the corner of my eye; he seems as worried as I am.
"Such a shame, I'll miss him too. Let's go." They're moving, I have to find a way to them, I'll bite this guy if he doesn't let me go in a second.
"Ok, I figure you're here to rescue someone too, so let's work as a team and save them all. I am not going to let that witch hurt her." He is so angry, I can almost feel sorry for him, but this guy is still trapping me. I nod and he releases me slowly.
"Got a plan hot-shot?" I sound snappish I know, but he scared me.
"No, and it's Arcane by the way."
"Herse." I reply, looking at the walls.
"You know Maralah." I nod; she is my best friend after all. "The witch has her."
"She has the complete crew of the Shadow."
"Mercury too?" He sounds as horrified as I want to be.
"I can only presume so."
"Who has she got still?"
"Everyone bar the captain and Samson."
"She killed the captain?"
"Of course, he defended me." He is silent and we have to get moving, there is something moving down the tunnel systems that we're in.
"Let's go." His voice is hard and cold and I am very glad that I am on his side this time, although he might find some reason to get rid of me should I prove to be a liability. But that doesn't matter, what matters now is that I can hear Mercury, just softly, he's singing, and I can probably get to him if I believe I can. I look at this new person, they say they want to find my friend and I will believe them. He looks like a red anyway. Something is moving up ahead, we had better be very still, the recess! I point and he follows me, the space is small but I prefer to be stuck in here that outside. There is a grinding of metal on metal and a thing moves past quickly. I have only seen sentinels on rare occasions, but if I didn't know better I would swear it was one.
"Jesus Christ." So, obviously, does he. The darkness hasn't abated and I don't think it will. But we have to wait; I put my hand out to stop him moving forward. And just as well, that thing is back, but this time it's looking for us.
"It's a search program." I whisper in the cold, he frowns for a moment but then he nods and we push at the walls, the one near me gives a little. I move my head to indicate that and we hurry through the gap. And not a moment too soon, the thing is in the gap, I don't think it can find us, but we have to move. Steady is the best way to go, guided by the song still on the lips of Mercury.
A/N: Thanks for being patient! Moving house is not much fun and it takes a lot of time. But here is the next chapter!
AbsolutelyNoSolciting: The dreams are pretty real, which is what I want. But don't be too concerned for Herse, she's a tough cookie for all she's been through and there is no way she is going to let Helen get away with this. And now she has help. I wonder where he came from? Hope you like.
LiMiYa: Fate has some plans in mind, after all, she is Fate. But yes, things are looking up for Herse, as long as she can find the strength to keep going. Thanks for the review!