A/N: Manchester, and Esmerelda belong to Mad James, a friend of mine on Discord. A brief warning of some violence, and death. Anyway, on with the story!
The three humans ran as fast, and as far as their legs could carry them. Once they reached a clearing in the woodlands, Ethan felt like he couldn't run any longer. He tripped over a tree root, and fell, but couldn't find the strength to get back up.
"Wait! Can we just.. Take a break?" Ethan panted. Evan immediately came to a stop, and rolled his eyes. He should have known better than to let the two younger children tag along. They were only slowing him down in his path to freedom.
"Fine.. We can set up camp for the night here, I guess." Evan grumbled softly before looking back at the two children. Alison managed to help Ethan get back on his feet. It was obvious he wasn't going to get very far with them tagging along. Honestly, he could care less about what happens to the two younger children at this point. Nothing was going to stop him on his path to freedom at last.
He sat down at the roots of a tree, and looked up at the canopy. It had been years since he was able to breathe some fresh air, and be out in the open. The forest itself was quiet, with the exception of the crickets chirping on the crisp breeze. He looked over at the two children, who were resting at the tree opposite of him. He knew what he had to do. He wasn't about to let two children get in the way of his journey to freedom.
It didn't take long at all for the children to fall asleep under the tree they were resting underneath. Evan quietly stood up, and immediately made a break for it. He could care less if the two children died out here in the wilderness. As long as he was free, he could care less about anything or anyone else in the world. The noise woke up the two children, and they looked over to see Evan racing away from them and towards the underbrush. Alison frowned before standing up, and racing after him with Ethan.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" She snapped. She knew she shouldn't have trusted him. Sure, he helped them escape, but they would be left out in unfamiliar territory, and completely defenseless against any predators in the area. Evan laughed, and glanced back at them.
"Away from you two, losers!" Evan picked up the pace, sprinting towards the underbrush where he was sure to lose them. However, his hopes were quickly replaced with sheer horror as both him, and the two children saw a huge sky blue sea serpent like beast leap over the great log, cutting off Evan's path of escape. The red, blue, white, and silver markings on it's fin that ran down it's entire length combined with the vibrant coloration, and bright eye color of the beast made it all too clear who it was. It was Electra.
Somehow he had managed to figure out what had happened, and where they were headed. Evan screamed, and immediately tried to turn the opposite direction, and run, only to be snatched up in the beast's jaws, and swallowed whole in one quick gulp. Electra turned his attention towards the two children, his eyes filled with hatred, and rage. He released a great roar that shook the ground, and the trees. Ethan, and Alison were helpless against him. They knew they didn't stand a chance against him, and running would be useless. The best they could do was brace for the inevitable end.
Electra bunched his muscles, and lunged for them, eager to rip the runaways apart. An unfamiliar roar caught the attention of both the two children, and Electra. A huge manticore like beast leaps out from the underbrush from behind the two children, and stood over the children, using it's one body to shield them.
The two children were able to recognize the coloration of the beast. It was Wrench. She must have followed Electra here to them. Wrench growled deep in her chest, showing off huge fangs, and stood her ground against her ruler.
"They're just children, Electra! They're just scared!" Wrench snarled. Electra growled deep in his chest. It was enough to shake the ground beneath them, but even then, Wrench stood her ground, knowing Electra wouldn't dare to attack her.
"I don't care! You know runaways are to be executed on sight!" Electra snapped. Wrench bunched her muscles, ready to lunge, and attack if Electra tried to do any harm to the two children that were cowering underneath her.
"You're better than this! They've been through enough! They're just scared, and alone!" Wrench snarled as one last warning. She had decided if Electra even tried to lay a claw on them, she would not hesitate to attack him. Finally, Electra backed down. He growled deep in his chest in defeat.
"Fine! My deal with Manchester is ruined anyway." Electra grumbled the last part as he transformed back into his humanoid form. Wrench carefully stepped back away from the children, and transformed back into her humanoid form as well. She doesn't take her eyes off of Electra for one second.
Electra snarled, and grabbed Ethan, and Alison in a vice grip by the hair, and dragged them back to the fortress with Wrench trailing behind him. He was sure he could find a suitable punishment for them. The two children kicked, and screamed with all their might. They were doing everything in their power to try to not return to that Hell hole of a city.
Wrench was using all her willpower to not snatch up the two children away from Electra, and to take them somewhere safe. She couldn't betray her engine, her king. It pained her to see the two children so terrified, and to hear them screaming in pain as Electra yanked their hair if they tried to make a break for it.
…
By the time they returned to the platform, Manchester was already being consoled by Volta. It was likely that his other components had also contacted Esmerelda, Manchster's wife, and mate. She seemed to be the only one to truly calm the steamer down. Electra growled deep in his chest, and threw the two children down at Manchester's wheels.
"Those little shits jumped out in front of me! Where the Hell is the third one?!" Manchester snarled, absolutely furious at the two children. Ethan, and Alison immediately clung to each other. It was probably the most they could do at the moment. They were surrounded. There was no way out this time, and Wrench, and Volta were unable to help them.
"I've already dealt with him. He won't be a problem anymore." Electra pins Ethan down on the floor with his skate, making the child cry out in pain. Alison couldn't stand the sight of her brother getting hurt any longer.
"Stop! Please!" Alison sobbed. She couldn't tell if she was crying from pain, or from the fact that it was likely the end of the road for them. Manchester snarled, and immediately whipped around to face her.
"You two don't deserve mercy.. To think I was going to trade up this freight train for you two… and that little brat.." Manchester bares his long, and sharp canines as thick black smoke billows from his nostrils, and between his teeth. His brown eyes glowed with rage, and malice. However, after a few moments, he seems to calm, as if thinking.
"Although, killing you two would be the easy way out for you two…" Manchester almost smirks as if he got an idea. "Why not send them to Greaseball? I'm sure he would enjoy them.."
Manchester knew that diesel is likely to enjoy the two children. After all, might as well feed the diesel before heading over there for the next train to put the diesel in a better mood. Electra smirked, and grabbed Alison by the collar of her shirt before chuckling softly.
"Manchester, you're a genius! Why put them up for auction when Greaseball is willing to take slaves regardless of age. It's unlikely they would be bought by someone in an auction anyway." He watched in satisfaction as Alison struggled to escape his vice-like grip. He knew Greaseball was practically guaranteed to take the children, regardless if he was able to see them or not. He used his computer to reach out to Purse, who was in his suite in the fortress.
Contact Greaseball, and tell him I have two slaves that he may be interested in. Tell him they are young, and that I believe he may find them to be rather delectable. Electra dropped Alison onto the floor, and looked off in the direction where the entrance to the fortress through the tunnel was located. Almost immediately, he felt the familiar presence of the money truck in his computer, and in his very being.
Yes, Master. Right away. I'll also ready a train for the Shadow District for them to be transported on(i). Purse withdrew from the connection, presumably to do as he was told.
"Electra! Manchester! You're both better than this At least try to forgive the children! They are scared, and alone! You must understand that!" Wrench practically begged the two engines to let the two children live, and stay in the city. Manchester growls deep in his chest in agitation as he glared at her.
"They're still vermin to me. Besides, both me, and(i) Electra agreed to it." Manchester scoffed, and rolled his eyes. Once he made his decision, there was no turning back. The children were doomed. Electra grabbed Ethan, and Alison before looking back at Manchester.
"I'll offer you my best slaves. They will be lined up in front of the bunkers. Volta, and Wrench will make sure they will be ready to be presented." Electra looked at the two components. Volta, and Wrench bowed before heading out for the bunkers. Wrench almost seemed reluctant to leave the two children alone with the two engines, but she had to obey Electra's orders. She reluctantly followed Volta out of the fortress.
Electra dragged the two children behind him by their hair. Once again, the two children were kicking, and screaming in an effort to escape his grasp, but to no avail. He dragged them back into his throne room before slamming them down on the floor, and ordering several guards to make sure the two children wouldn't try anything again.
Unfortunately, for the two children, Joule was among them. It was as if they couldn't escape her no matter where they tried to run, or hide to. Whereas Purse escorted Manchester out of the fortress, and towards the bunkers so he could have his pick of the slaves.
Alison held Ethan close, not wanting to take her sight off of him, and Joule for one second. Joule smiled a wolfish grin, and leaned in close to them, baring her long, and sharp canines just inches from their faces. She lets out a dark chuckle. Alison swore she could feel the hot breath of the dynamite truck on the back of her neck.
"Greaseball is going to love you two! He's going to rip you apart piece by piece, and it's all because you two were foolish enough to anger Electra!" Joule laughed, and raised a hand to lay one last blow before they were to be loaded onto the freight train. Krupp was quick to respond, and immediately grabbed Joule by the arm. Joule snarled, and glared at him. Krupp only returned the cold glare behind his sunglasses.
"Greaseball would want them to arrive uninjured. He does not want his newest slaves to be rendered useless before they even get there." Krupp growled softly. Joule immediately yanked her arm away, and averted her gaze.
Krupp wasn't willing to tell the two children the awful fate that would await the two children in the Shadow District. It would only frighten them even more. The least he can do is to provide them with at least a little bit of comfort before they are to be loaded onto the freight train to be sent to the Shadow District. All he could do was hope Greaseball would spare the two children.