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Chapter 9

Rick was sat back against the far wall, his knees drawn up and his head leant back on the bricks. His mouth felt dry from lack of water and the room kept blurring. He was sweating even though he was cold and the pain from his back wounds had dulled to a constant throb.

There was a thud and the jingle of keys. Then the door was pushed open and someone was thrown in. Rick didn't look over to see who it was. He was staring up at the ceiling, trying to get rid of the dizziness that kept coming over him.

He heard the door close and shut his eyes, breathing deeply. The room was spinning again.

When he opened them, the light looked brighter and his eyes hurt. The boy frowned against the glare and glanced over to the figure who'd been thrown in with him. Whoever it was didn't seem to be breathing.

Reluctantly Rick moved onto his knees and, groaning, crawled over to the person. As he got closer his eyes widened in shock. The boy recognised who it was. Raven.

Her eyes were closed and her skin pale. Veins throbbed blue along the woman's hands and her breathing was shallow.

Rick reached out to check her pulse. His fingers brushed her neck lightly and he flinched back. The boy had been given an electric shock from her skin.

He felt the room begin to spin again and fell onto his side, eyes closing. Behind his eyelids he could see a whole network of crackling electricity against a black backdrop, of all different colours and brightness. They swirled around him and he felt drawn to them.

Then suddenly it seemed as if he was travelling very fast towards an electric tunnel, the walls flashing red. He sped down it for what seemed ages until it disappeared.

What the heck is going on?

Where am I?

Is this a dream?

What happened to Raven?

What's happening to me?

How long have I been here?

Why do I feel sick?

The questions came from him in an unstoppable tide. He felt weightless in the darkness that ensued. Then he realised that his eyes were closed.

Rick cautiously opened them...

"Where are you going?" Darkdoom asked, frowning. He and Nero were stood in the hangar bay, waiting for preparations to be completed. The doors up above hung open, a mellow light flooding the cavern. Beyond it, blue skies stretched away to the horizon.

"I'm going after the shroud I just sent. Otto is on it and communications are down." The man replied.

"So? I'll go then. You need to stay here and look after H.I.V.E." Diabolus continued.

"No you don't understand. I have to go." Nero said, glancing around.

"Why? Why do you have to go?" Darkdoom asked, throwing his arms out wide. "Give me an explanation."

"Because of my brother. I'm going to have to confront him sooner or later. He's my little brother. I can't abandon him." The man said quietly.

"Okay then. I'll stay and watch over H.I.V.E. for you. But it's only temporary. I expect you back as soon as is possible. Understood? I don't want to lose a good friend." Diabolus said with a slight smile.

"Of course. I have no intention of dying believe me." Nero said. They clasped hands briefly and then Darkdoom left, climbing the stairs out of the hangar bay.

That's when Nero noticed the small group of students striding his way. He sighed inwardly and folded his arms as they approached.

"We're coming with you." Shelby said firmly, stopping in front of him.

"And what makes you think that?" The man asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Well you're going to save Otto and you're going to need our help. He's our friend after all." Shelby said smugly.

"Hmm... Let me think. No. I don't need your help." Nero replied.

"Well we're still coming. And you can't stop us." Wing said, threateningly.

"Really? So you've somehow found a way to counteract the effects of a sleeper have you?" The man asked, with a smile. "Look. I know you want to help. But the best thing that you can do right now is stay here and keep yourselves away from danger."

"But...?" Shelby began.

"But nothing. Go back to your accommodation block and stay there." Nero said firmly. He glanced around at them all and then frowned as he saw Laura. She had her eyes closed and was muttering to herself.

"What happened to Raven? What's happening to me? How long have I been here? Why do I feel sick?" The girl continued.

By now Shelby and Wing were also watching, confused. They glanced at each other and then all three of them leaned closer as Laura opened her eyes.

"This is definitely a dream..." She said, her eyes searching.

"Laura?" Nero asked, uncertainly.

"What? Do I look like a girl to you?" She said, spinning around to see if he'd been talking to someone else. The man raised his eyebrow in confusion.

"Are you feeling okay?" Shelby asked.

"No. Of course not. I've been whipped and starved and now I feel really really sick." Laura continued, gulping. "I've never been sick in a dream before."

"Would you like some water?" Wing asked, cautiously.

"Yeah, that would be..." Suddenly the girl winced, gritting her teeth. Then her features relaxed and her eyes went blank.

"Laura?" Shelby said, worried.

Nero frowned and stepped forward, clicking his fingers in front of her face. The girl turned her face, blinking slowly as if from a deep sleep.

"What happened?" She whispered.

"I've never been sick in a dream before." Rick said, clutching his stomach.

"Would you like some water?" Wing asked cautiously. The boy looked taller than the last time he'd seen him.

"Yeah, that would be..." Suddenly he winced. There was a searing pain in his back and the world was spinning again. Then he was sliding down the same red electric tunnel. The lights around him disappeared and his eyes snapped open.

Rick was back in the cell. He was lying on his wounds and they were sending stabs of pain through him. The boy rolled onto his front and the pain eased slightly.

Beside him Raven was moaning softly. He sighed and got up onto his hands and knees. That's when he noticed the bottle of water and plate of bread. He picked up the former and opened it, about to drink. But then he changed his mind, seeing that the assassin needed it more than him. He lifted Raven's head from the floor, gently pouring some of the liquid into her mouth. She licked her lips and he gave her some more before having some himself. This time though he didn't finish it all but kept some just in case. The bread he left untouched.

Then the boy sat back against the wall beside her and tried to get some sleep. He closed his eyes and frowned. The crackling electric tunnnels were still there. Blues, greens, yellows, golds, silvers, blacks if that was possible. He opened his eyes and could still vaguely see them.

"What's wrong with me?" Rick asked himself. Then he had another thought.

"Wait, that was dream right?" He said to the walls around him. Silence greeted the question.