CHAPTER FIVE
Continuing to run through various alleys of the city streets, the Prince and Kaileena made as many turns as they could to lose their pursuers. But guard sand dogs weren't so easily fooled by their evasion tactics, remaining a persistent threat which made the current situation all the more nerve-wracking.
Spying some construction blocks near a wall up ahead, the Prince let Kaileena in on his plan as he quickly gave her a push upward in the time they had before the sand dogs would make a lunge for them, the Prince performing an upper wallrun on the blocks as Kaileena managed to catch his hand and pull him up to join her while the sand dogs continued to let out monstrous barks in futility.
Running and jumping across various rooftops, the Prince and Kaileena managed to finally lose a good majority of the guards among the maze-like structures, killing a few of the stragglers with stealthy cunning as they gave themselves some time to catch their breath as the sun began to set in the distance and turn the sky to dusk.
Deciding to set up a temporary hideout in a destroyed but relatively stable tower, they climbed to the top for some fresh air as the gigantically majestic Babel Tower continued to be displayed amongst the lower streets below with flames enduring across many areas.
'Are you alright, my Prince?' Kaileena inquired. 'Your physical wounds may have been healed. But from what I could overhear in that torture room, you seemed to be fighting the greatest battle of your life.'
'You wouldn't know the half of it,' the Prince stated. 'I endured unspeakable pain in there and could feel myself being changed... slowly but surely, into a monster.'
'But you didn't and you are all the better for it,' Kaileena said in a comforting tone, as the Prince tried his best at a reassuring facial expression while she placed a hand on his left shoulder. 'Let time run its course. Perhaps an opportunity will arise when we can destroy that imposter and may yet save this city from the brink.'
'No,' the Prince said in a reserved but desperate tone. 'There must be another way. With every moment that passes, my people are either getting captured, slaughtered or forcibly transformed into monsters to further empower my other self's formidable army. You know full well that I refuse to accept this situation lying down.'
Kaileena did a simple nod with her head in understanding as the Prince continued, 'I will not lose you. I promise I'll come back.'
'And just what do you intend to do without me by your side?' Kaileena said as she pointed in the direction of the Babel Tower. 'Walk straight in the front door of that tower and hoping for the best? We barely escaped from the Prison alive together, so how will tackling this alone improve your chances?'
'I don't know,' the Prince said in frustration. 'But if that shadow has my family and friends in his grasp, I at least want to make sure that someone I love is safe and not another pawn in his twisted game.'
'I admire your honesty Prince,' Kaileena stated in a respectful tone. 'But we both know that leaving me to fend for myself isn't a better idea either. Look around. Guards are wandering the streets below searching for us and the city continues to burn to the ground while we argue on the best course of action. So like it or not, I'm with you to the end Prince.'
The Prince let out a sigh in defeat. 'Very well then. Best we rest up while we still have the chance and reserve our energies on more pressing matters.'
Kaileena agreed in kind as they both headed back down into the inside of the destroyed tower, using leftover sandbags and carpets as makeshift pillows and sheets, temporarily escaping from the stress of their current situation as they both drifted off to sleep.