Sentences/ words that are boldand in italics, are direct thoughts.
Random italic words in a sentence are emphasis.
"Italics with speech marks" signify that what is being said within the speech marks is some distance away.
Bold is Onomatopoeia.
"Bold, italic, and speech marks" signify telepathic speech.
A/N- Not much to go now, last chapter in the past, next one will be in the future after G-Revolution some point. I know the escape plan sucks, but I couldn't think of a more elaborate one.
I own this story, but not much else- except a new watch my parents brought back from France for me.
Chapter 10- Laughter and Tears
The next few days went by slowly. It had taken little more than two hours to come up with an escape plan. They would plant a virus in the computer/security mainframe, in order to steal the money they needed, then they would escape through the tunnel in Tala's room, now dug to a forest outside of the abbey grounds, and outside of the security system.
The guys were really helpful to her. They scrambled to fulfil her every wish, and weren't shy about giving her a friendly hug when they thought she could use one.
Excused from training because Boris wanted to focus on the other boys that lived in the abbey in order to give Voltaire an all round performance at the monthly inspection, Kai and the boys went with her on her job and helped her with the rooms, Kai never leaving her side. Tala also tended to stick with them while the rest spread out to cover more rooms. Tala found he enjoyed the simple work, and was pleased when she told him he had an eye for detail, when straightening cushions and displaying ornamentations.
Ian on the other hand kept tripping over chairs, Bryan seemed to have a knack of breaking expensive antique vases, and Spencer was too heavy handed with the furniture polish, which he used on the windows as well as the furniture.
All of this was most likely due to nerves. Tonight was the night they would finally be free of this place.
That evening when they were done, they packed what little they had to take- a few sets of clothes and some food the chef (who had a liking for Tala, most especially his butt), had given them, (he felt Tala needed some more meat on his bones and regularly provided them with food).
They stashed these bundles under Tala's bed, and left her there. Then the beybladers went to the room with the computers they could access to calculate beyblade statistics. While Tala, Spencer and Ian stayed to upload the virus Tala had written, Kai and Bryan headed to Voltaire's rooms. They knew he was having a meeting with the Russian leader about some beyblade match in a friendlier, less personal part of the abbey.
As Kai had once seen his grandfather do, he pushed in the eyes of a portrait of the old man and waited for it to swing outwards. He waited for the security lights to switch off, signalling that Tala's virus was in effect, then reached in and stuffed handfuls of money in his boots, Bryan following suit.
When they had as much as was comfortable, they put the portrait back where it hung next to the safe meant to mislead people, and walked away from the room, back to Tala's room where the others were waiting for them. Dividing the money between the six of them, they picked up their bundles and looked at each other.
"This is it," Kai said softly, taking her hand and squeezing it. Ever since Voltaire had raped her, everyone had gotten much closer, including her and Kai.
She meant everything to him. She had introduced him to the world of boys and girls, had taught him how to laugh- how to love. He was able to feel for his friends, and was even starting to remember bits of his life as a small child- something that hadn't happened before. Judging by the flashes, he had had a life without the abbey- he hadn't been born in it as his grandfather had said, and he was determined to recover that life.
Tala and the others didn't know about themselves, whether they too, had a family out there somewhere, or whether they had been born there, as like Kai, they had always been told. In any case, they planned to find her and Kai's families, and if they discovered they didn't have one, they'd at least still have the family the six of them created.
That's if their plan was successful, and they got out before the security system was restored, and they didn't come across anyone on their way.
Kai looked at each of his friends in turn, then everyone hugged each other, afterwards, still holding her hand, Kai walked into the tunnel, Tala behind him, then Bryan and Ian, Spencer bringing up the rear.
The tunnel was dark and damp. Often they had to bring out their beyblades to reopen sections that had collapsed. What was holding the roof up was beyond her, and she kept expecting it to fall and bury them all alive. Luckily it didn't. What seemed like hours, but was really only about forty minutes passed before they began to smell fresher air.
Ten minutes later, they were out, and in the woods outside the abbey grounds. Careful to keep quiet, they suppressed cheers and settled for laughing quietly, grinning at each other again.
We made it, she thought, right before a shot rang out. Shocked, she looked around, to see Ian on the floor, bleeding from his thigh.
She glanced quickly at Kai, horror evident in his eyes, and then looked at the others, unsure as what to do.
"Run," Ian gasped, before sliding into unconsciousness.
The next few minutes were a terror filled blur to her, running past tree after tree, hearing barking, shouting, shots, snow hindering every step. All she could think about was how one by one her friends were being stopped. They hadn't planned for this, hadn't even thought that they might be caught, they were too sure of Tala's virus. Obviously someone had figured out something was suspicious and notified Voltaire.
Daring a quick look behind her, she saw that only Tala and Kai followed, the rest had been hit. If she squinted, she could see their bodies lying in the dirt. She hoped they weren't dead.
What she couldn't see, however, were people chasing them anymore, nor could she hear them.
"Kai!" She hissed. "I think they're…" She didn't have time to finish. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, then her legs gave way.
"No!" Kai shouted, dropping down beside her, trying to stem the blood flow. "No, no, no. No! Please don't… please. You can't. There wasn't much time- we didn't have enough time. Stand up… please, please…"
Tala fell to his knees a little way off, and looked at her, mouth slightly open in disbelief.
She couldn't leave him. What could he do? He didn't know how to live out here, he didn't know where to go. And this feeling… It was overwhelming. It felt he was drowning… He couldn't breathe.
"You promised…" he said weakly. "You promised we would find our families- be together. You promised…"
"I'm sorry," she said softly, gasping for what air her damaged lung could provide. "I'm sorry I have to break that promise. But I want you to make a new one."
"Anything," Kai told her, hand cupping her cheek.
"Leave me and run."
Kai's breath hitched, and he closed his eyes.
"Promise me," she asked again.
"I promise." He bent and kissed her gently on her forehead, then her lips. "I promise."
"I love you." She whispered, all she was capable of now.
Kai kissed her again. "I love you, too." He lifted his head and looked into her eyes, then stood up.
Tala came over to hug her one last time, then joined Kai.
She felt peaceful as she looked up at them, her boys. Shifting her gaze to focus on Kai, she smiled. "Remember, sometimes it's okay to cry."
Kai looked down on her, the girl who loved him, and whom he loved in return and allowed a single tear to run down his cheek and drip onto her. The sounds of people were getting nearer. He was surprised they hadn't already come upon them.
Turning, to Tala and nodding, they began to run. They only made it so far before Tala, too was brought down.
"Tala!" Kai cried out.
His red-haired friend looked up at him. "Run, Kai. You promised."
"Tala…"
"Run. I'll hold them off." Clutching his bleeding abdomen briefly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out Wolborg, launching it in the direction of their pursuers.
Kai took the opportunity and ran. He kept on running until he made it through the woods, until he had crossed fields and passed farmhouses. He kept going until he reached some tree-covered hills where he found a cave.
Sinking to the ground, he looked out at the snowy sky. He had never been this cold in his life- not even at the abbey. Kai suspected that the snow didn't account for all of his coldness, but that the loss of his friends was making its presence felt.
Images of them flashed before his eyes. The boys when they were young, receiving their first beyblades at the age of seven, on and on the memories went, until just a few short months before when she had entered their lives and touched all their hearts. He saw her again, as he last had, lying in the snow, red blood contrasting against her pale complexion.
One tear dropped and then another, soon he was rocking, heart wrenching sobs making their way out of his body. He missed them all already, and didn't know whether he'd ever be all right again.
So, did you expect that? Hope it was okay for you guys, review please.
