Chapter 13
By shadows/of/flame
OMG! I have so neglected this, well, I've been sick - sorry!
Rape is mentioned in this chapter, just a warning.
Erol cackled. He was, overall, very very pleased with himself.
He had caught Keiras stupid friend, and warped him so badly with dark eco so the young, innocent boy was no longer the same, young, caring person he had once been.
He had betrayed Torn to Praxis, and as a result got him kicked out of the guard - well, Torn left, just before his own execution. AND he had taken over Torns spot as commander.
Oh the sweet nectar that was his revenge.
And lastly - Keira, the female mechanic, the one he was supposed to love.
Love. Hah. What a word. Erol had never used that word truthfully in his life.
He used her, just to get to the top, to get the trophy for all the races. To get publicity by having an unbeatable reputation on the track because of his illegally enhanced hovers no one but her knew about, for being crazy and wild.
She used to always be there, ready with the winners big kiss.
Always.
He walked over to the window, and gazed out over the city - the city that would soon be his if he tried hard enough.
"ALERT! ALERT! The dark eco subject has escaped from prison! Alert! Alert!"
"Dammit!" Erol swore as he grabbed his gun, racing down the stairs.
The renegade had escaped.
And now there would be trouble.
0o0o0
Tess and Keira were dining out for lunch, but Keira felt so dirty and untrue, that she couldn't bear to eat.
"Come on! Food will make you feel much better!" Tess urged, shoving a plate at Keira.
"I was just raped Tess." Keira said hollowly, the usual twinkle in her eyes replaced with a dull look. "I don't think food is high on my priority list right now."
Tess reached over and placed a hand on her friends arm, knowing trying to reassure her wouldn't work at all.
The trauma of rape was not one that would go away in a matter of minutes, days, or weeks. The blonde knew that all she could do was try to help Keira through this tough time.
"I have a better idea - how about we go and see the Shadow? He might know something about this, and what to do."
Keira nodded ever so slowly after a while, and allowed Tess to lead her out of the cafe, not even bothering to pay the bill.
"HEY! Get them, they didn't pay!"
Tess spun around, almost ripping off Keiras arm.
"Dammit! I've stuffed up big time!" Tess cried, making Keira run faster.
"We can't get to the Underground now - we'll have to hide somewhere until the Krimzon Guard leave us alone."
Keira was too dizzy and disorientated to care - she just let Tess drag her around, her feet thumping against the cracked concrete.
After a while of running aimlessly through the streets trying to shake off the KG, they seemed to have succeeded, and Tess stopped slowly, trying not to rip off Keiras arm again.
"We're here. The Undergrounds just around the corner, come on."
The two girls started walking towards the door, but were stopped by a sleazy old man. Tess whipped out her gun and stuck it in the mans face, and he backed off, soon leaving them alone.
"Stupid beggars..." Tess muttered, putting the gun away, but Keira couldn't help but feel pity for the old man.
She had been like that when she first came to Haven City - begging for a place to stay, willing to cling to anyone to survive.
Even Erol, and Krew as she had before she met Erol.
0o0o0
He didn't honestly know if Torn would retain his memory or not.
All he could do was sit, and wait anxiously for signs of life from the injured rebel, checking every so often to see if a pulse was present.
The Shadow could not help but wonder what had happened to Keira - did Erol have her? Was she safe?
A guilty feeling started burning in the pit of his stomach, as he discovered Torn had a fever. Great. Just great.
The door slid open, and Tess bowled into the room, Keira dragging behind her.
"SHADOW!" Tess yelled, plonking down in the nearest seat and breathing heavily, trying to catch her breath.
The Shadow whipped his head around slowly, and almost died of relief as he saw Tess and a collapsed Keira slumped on the chairs surrounding the War Table.
"BE QUIET!" he hissed, taking Torns hand and feeling for a pulse.
Tess soon saw why, and a hand flew up to her mouth. Keiras vision blurred, she didn't hear what the other two were saying as she fell into a fitful doze.
"What happened?" Tess gasped as she saw Torn lying crumpled under the sheets, asweat starting to cover his brow.
"He was hit in the head with a brick. Hes got minor concussion, and a huge headwound. I only hope hes OK, and that he hasn't forgotten who we are when he wakes up."
Tess undid her shinguards, and unlaced her shoes, chucking them in the corner, and preparing for bed.
"Hows Keira going to take it?" The Shadow murmured, looking from Torns pale face to Keiras thankfully oblivious one.
"This news might just take her over the edge." Tess replied, flicking back the covers of the nearest bunk.
As the Shadow gazed questioningly at her, Tess gave him a cryptic glare and replied, "Erol raped her."
A look of horror quickly replaced the Shadows worried one.
"Hes going to pay."
Now that Jaks out of prison, things can move along! Yay!