Things are starting to heat up, action and drama is on its way, just a corner away. These few more chapter will be focused around building this up so be alert and be aware. Enjoy!

Chapter 9: Breakout

Andratas

A flash of silver and it was all over. Blood dripped from her paws as her claws retracted from the throat of the guard. He had no time to react, no time to defend, not even any time to scream or beg like he tried to force me to. I didn't wish for that vengeance, but the fury in her eyes… One that could only be described as so inexplicably angry, that the heat of fury radiated from her eyes and a burning sense of vengeance felt trembling through the ground.

"Emilia…" I stuttered before collapsing. Before I hit the ground, she rushed to support my falling shoulders. My eyes were starting to close and my world was going blank for the hundredth time.

"Don't."

That single word. So powerful it instantly reinvigorated me, gave me strength. She wouldn't want to see me like this, weak and powerless. I struggled to stand on my own, yet my eyes were wide open once more, my paws starting to stand straight and rigidly. The great sensation of strength flowing back into my muscles gave me hope as I looked back at the cells.

Schion and Melody were shocked, mouths gaping wide and open, quite weird in the case of Schion. They were confused, shocked! Why was Emilia here? I asked the same question too? How?

"How? Why are you here?" Melody finally managed to stutter out, shaking off she shell-shocked look.

"Let's just say I had to look out for you idiots. You know, to make sure you don't go doing stupid things," She smiled cockily, winking at me. Suddenly it all made sense. The earpiece!

Melody continued to yowl out in surprise, questioning her, "But you'll get caught!"

Emilia scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Not like I won't anyways, you'll attract a lot of attention to me one way or the other, after all I was standing guard at the exit of the escape tunnel."

"Ahh…"

"Never mind that. Let's get you guys out," I cut them off, directing their attention to the cells, "we have a lot of ground to cover."

The three of them nodded and I turned to stare into the cells, finally realising that all of this was happening under their view. The five others in that cell had mostly retreated to the back left corner of the cell, opposite of me, opposite of her…

They were afraid of a Perfected, rightfully so…

However, one of them, a young kit, no older than perhaps seven, was the first to pipe up, "Are, are wu trying to rescwue us?"

His childish slur quite clear in his voice. Seeing this sight once again strengthened my resolve, my will to fight. This was something I had to do, not just for me or Shelly, but for all these poor kits and all these ill-treated souls.

"Yes."

There was no doubt in my voice, no hesitation. Strength returned to my throat as fervently as it reached my paws and now unsheathed claws. What devils the Sirens are, imprisoning, torturing, these young, innocent souls. It's time for some justice, perhaps not payback, perhaps this minor incident won't even fly under the Sirens snout. But what I do know, this event will stir us, all the people lost to the world into a state of perpetual awareness. Everyone else will see, they will see us. They will take notice of this act of rebellion! A spark of flames against the crashing tsunami that is the Sirens. We will fight!

Emilia didn't even bother using the key, she struck the bars with her claws. In an instant, the stignium bars were uprooted and struck free, creating a nice gap to squeeze out through. First Schion and Melody, quickly diving through the gap before the more tentative steps of the long-imprisoned cats, taking their first step of freedom in a long extent of time.

"We're free!" They sang, praising us.

"Quickly, follow us! We've got to free everyone we can!" I whispered to them, commanding them.

We quickly set to action, striking down bars, opening the grille gates. The floor was soon to be liberated, but there were many more, and we wouldn't be as lucky as to not be spotted. Already tens of cats were clustered in a group, perhaps even massing to a hundred. There has to be a faster way!

"There is," Emilia sighed, uncertainty lingering in her voice, "In the main office, down on the first floor, there is an automatic release. It's used for meal times and such. Of course, it'll be difficult and dange…"

"I'll do it," I offered immediately, cutting her off. My seriousness must have resonated deep within Emilia, cause she didn't protest, just nodded at me in silence, knowing my mind would not be changed.

Schion remained silent as well, acknowledging that I wished to do it. Only Melody had any protest against my decision, eyes widening, she stormed up to me, "No way! You're not going to risk your life for all of us!"

"No," I put a paw to her snout, silencing her, "This isn't just about all of you."

My eyes squinted in concentration, trying to memorise the layout of the complex, "This is also about Shelly. And I'll gladly sacrifice my life for that!"

Melody's eyes remained widened, but she understood. She brushed past my fur, whispering good luck, before joining the rest.

"I'll try stealthily bringing them to the entrance of the tunnel, once you reach the main warden office, you might find him there, hopefully not though, but if you do…" Emilia broke off, eyes glazing into the distance before refocusing on me, "Once you release them, they'll know. You might as well use the P.A to detail the others where to go. We'll…"

She coughed, eyes slightly welling in the possibilities. My heart too dropped at the possibilities, but I had already made up my mind, my resolve was sturdy and even if not, I was quite stubborn…

"We'll meet you at the entrance," She finished, flinching back from me, not wanting to look me in the eye.

I had made my way down several flights of stairs. The descent was less tiring than the ascent but it felt rather the same with my muscles still aching and my burst of strength slowly fading away. My adrenaline had all but disappeared, all I wanted was have this all over and have a nice rest on some moss. Still, I snaked my way down intertwining and intersecting hallways and corridors. My mental map of the complex blurred, all but a few wisps of it still in my whole mind.

Emilia had promised she would take them down to the western wall, facing where we came in from. She would do this once I had released the other prisoners, taking advantage of the distraction and allowing her and the others to move stealthily with the herd of prisoners flocking to there.

Still, I had to find my way to the office…

Mentally grimacing was the last thing I needed. Shaking my head I calmed down, trying hard to remember my way around. The stairwell was at the back of the complex facing opposite of the way we came in so… Argh! This is too difficult!

I growled, scratching directly at the dusty walls next to me. Big mistake. I pile of dust instantly fell upon me, burying me in something I was prone to sneezing from.

Achoo!

The whole wall reverberated with dust, mountains of it tumbling down from the wall like an avalanche. When was this place last dusted?!

After my sneezing fit was over, I was quite surprised to see no guards coming to apprehend me. It felt eerie, too silent…

I looked up towards the wall once more, my eyes widening at my accidental discovery. Old, worn-down wooden boards, presumably signs, that directed me to every major place on the floor.

Nice!

Staring up at it, I smiled, a sigh of relief slowly making its way through my body. According to the sign, the office was just in front of me, I just had to make my through a few short turns and I'll be there.

Perfect!

Purring, I weaved my ways through a few tight, dank turns. It was dusty, dark and filled with a toxic scent, but I made my way to an stignium grille door, a keyhole present in it. Above it, a slowly decaying sign read, 'Warden's Office'.

Well I hope this works…

Click.

I turned the key which I had from the dead guard, shuddering at the memory of his desecrated body beyond familiarity, and twisted it against the lock.

It was tough and resisted turning, probably rotten and rusty from years of usage, but eventually, it yielded, slowly opening the door with a sharp echoing sound, reverberating throughout the dark passageways.

I made my way in cautiously. A dim light flared from a wax candle, slowly melting away on a pristine desk seemingly still in use and cared for. Around me, cabinets filled with files littered the walls, gently tucked in, organised neatly. A painting was hooked onto the walls of a black tom with white spots clad in stignium armour. I had no idea who he was, perhaps the warden but I didn't know.

Then I saw it. Striking red, a button on the desk caught my attention. The release button, on the side of it, a similar but smaller button lay. The P.A!

I made my way to it, clambering my way up on to the soft, comfortable chair tucked into the desk. The button lay there, just within my paws. It was there! Right there! I just had to press the release, then the P.A, everyone will be free!

"What are you doing in my office!" A low snarl came from in front of me.

Oh no…

I looked up slowly, and to my horror, there stood a cat strikingly resembling the painting behind me.

"I…"

The black cat growled, cutting me off before leaping at me, his eyes betraying his intent to kill me.

"You think you'll release the prisoners would you!" He pinned me against the wall, painting overhead, "You think you can be a hero! A champion of the people!"

He slammed me across the room onto the now locked grille door, there was no escape from this…

"I have spent my entire life, devoted to this cause, dedicated to the imprisonment and removing of imperfects! Low life's!" He snarled, claws flashing, glinting with a bluish metal, ziene…

"I won't let some little imperfect with nothing tarnish my reputation!"

He leapt at me and I reacted as quick as I could, strafing towards the left. His claws managed to just graze my shoulders as he smashed into the door, unfazed by it. His claws lashed out striking my hind legs as I let out a yowl of pain. Ziene was different from stignium or agnium, it was artificially created to be able to cause as much pain and damage as possible with the ability to tear through all other metals. And bones…

I leapt out of the way, stinging pain coursing through my body as the warden, presumably, glared at me, "You won't get away from this. You will be 576th kill!"

My eyes widened as he leapt at me once again, jaws widened for a killing blow. I tumbled away, avoiding his teeth but not his claws as he tripped me over, causing me to slam into his desk. His killing strike had given me a chance to see his teeth, reinforced with stignium, the first time I have ever seen that…

The warden cut my thoughts off as he shook his head from the rubble of the cabinets he had just smashed into. I shook, how could I even knock him out if even cabinet's slamming on top of him didn't faze him…

My eyes flicked towards the flames of the candles, hanging trepidatiously off the corner of the desk. I smiled, a plan formulating in my head. I feigned exhaustion and defeat my eyes flicking down at his paws my claws unsheathed. It wasn't so far fetch, he was clad in protective armour, undamaged and reinforced with the Sirens best technology, I could fool him to believe that I had given up.

The warden smiled, his teeth glinting, the flames of the candle showing on his teeth, "Smart of you to give up. You would have only suffered more before your death!"

He howled propelling himself at me, his charge aiming at a fatal blow. At the last moment, my eyes flicked towards the flames, the reflection of the fire showing in my eyes. The warden's eyes widened in understanding, but it was too late to stop his momentum. I leapt on top of him as I knocked the candle on top of him. Hot, melted wax and embers flared on his fur, cinders jumped into his eyes and burns started forming across his body as he screamed in agony. His armour could do little against the flaring heat of the flames, melting through his armour and onto his skin.

Luckily I had jumped off him. His reckless charge had left him stunned against the wall as the flames engulfed him. It may not kill him, but it would definitely disfigure and scar him for the rest of his life, disabling him. He had fell into unconsciousness, the pain knocking him out. Charred, barbequed scent wafted in the air. Ignoring it, I padded back onto the chair, ashes across the table. The flames were gone, all but a few cinders jumping from his charred fur and burnt through skin. I closed my eyes, as hard as I tried, the image wouldn't leave my mind for a long time from now, if ever.

But I had a job to do…

I slammed the button despite the exhaustion in my paws. A pause… Before a buzzer sounded, alarms ringing across the complex. Well, they'll know now…

I hold onto the P.A ready to tell the mass of confused prisoners the proposed plan.

"Attention all prisoners! This is an emergency escape plan!" My voice boomed across the complex.

Well they'll definitely know now…

"We are breaking you out! Make your way to the western facing wall as soon as possible!"

I released the button and sighed, but there was no time to rest, they would be coming soon and mayhem was going to break loose. I had to make my way to the wall as well, as fast as I could, lest I get caught.

I leapt to the grille door. I had lost the key during the previous fight so opening the door with that luxury was not an option. However, the warden had slammed into the door, leaving a sizable dent in it. It was rotten and old, possibly to the point where I could break it with my reinforced claws.

Well, here goes nothing…

I slashed down onto the grille. Instantly, pain ruptured through my paws and up my body. A stinging heat of coursing flames passed through my fur. I collapsed onto the floor, grasping my paws, crying out in pain. It was more difficult than Emilia had shown… Eventually, the throbbing subsided. My claws had been ripped and whatever left of it was digging against my paws inside. I stared back at the grille, it was close to breaking, I just needed to claw away a little bit more. Inch by inch, I scissored the bars off, striking the stick of metal onto the ground. I breathed a sigh of relief, now it was time to run.

I made my way through the dark and dank corridors. Despite my previous errors, I made it through twisting and turning corridors to find myself along the eastern atrium of the prison. A flood of prisoners were tumbling down the stairs while many grouped along the wall numbering in the hundreds. I was stuck along the back of the mass, far away from the wall. However, even from back here, I heard drilling and a slight explosion. Was Emilia, blowing up the floor?!

A large rip sounded across the group, reverberating off the walls. I smiled, foolishly believing we would make it out with the tunnel being exposed so soon. It was my mistake for believing that…

"Stop now!"

Yowls sounded across the group as a mass of guards and other soldiers, loyal to the Sirens forced their way through. Combat began stirring and spurs of prisoners and guards fought each other a battle beginning. I crawled my way along the floor as claws, hisses and growls sounded. Even weakened at facing an out-equipped foe, the prisoners gave it an all. With their numerous numbers, we outnumbered them heavily. We just had to make it through…

Suddenly a voice ringed from the crowds of fighting, "Quick! The tunnel's open!"

Melody's voice sprang from the darkness, stirring all to retreat rapidly from the fighting tumbling into the tunnel awaiting whatever was on the other side. I followed the herd as they made their way, shoving against each other, still fending off whatever guards there were. Seeing Melody, I crawled towards them, Schion and Emilia awaiting, guiding the prisoners into the tunnel. It was all over in an instant, with the entire mass swallowed by the dark tunnel. Yet a group of guards followed making their way to the entrance, only to be faced by a few prisoners still diving into the tunnel and us, Emilia, Schion, Melody and I. The four of us facing the guards.

They were worn out, scars across their armour, exhaustion lingering on their faces. The majority of them had their helmets torn from their head and they looked at us, snarls still present.

Seeing us, their eyes sank and they backed off, knowing they were unable to face us. They retreated back into the dark, running off away from us, maybe to call reinforcements? Alerting of the escape? Putting the city on lockdown? I shuddered at these options. We had thought of what to do in the event of these, but neither were pretty and could result in a loss of lives, unnecessary bloodshed.

I sighed, looking down at the floor. Even with all our planning and preparation, a few bodies littered the dirty floor, blood spilling from them. It was saddening, all this death from both sides. But it made me more aware of the Sirens doings. I have to stop them…

"Come on, let's go!" Emilia hissed, the longer we stood there, the more chance of us not getting out.

I nodded, about to dive in, when pawsteps sounded across the floor, reverberating off the walls, causing the whole complex to shake and shudder. Mechanical gears snapped, hinges hissed. A laugh echoed from the darkness as eyes flickered showing malicious red, crimson with bloodlust, devoted to its mission.

No…

"5-13-12-9-1…"

Paws slammed the ground, a glint of perfect ziene flashed within the dark, a smile forming. The figure slowly extended out from the veil of shadows, my worst fears confirmed…

"What ever do you think you're doing…"

A/N: Hohoho! What do you think is going to happen! Who is it! Whatever the case of this cliff-hanger, it was a damn long chapter! Like 3300 words! Wow! Also if you've kept up with my notes, you would have a hint of what was going on. Still, it's always fun to just be in the dark, speculating what is going to happen! If you're wondering what 5131391 is...Just put it into a numeric to alphabet convertor or something... Well, that's about it. Remember, submit OCs you want in the story and see ya!