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Chapter 13

The gun fired, smoke billowing into the air. Otto, always fast to react, pushed Rick to the floor behind a sofa and ducked, rolling closer to the girl. She fired again, the gun bucking in her hand, the bullet lodging deep into the wall behind them. Otto peered around his own couch and saw that the girl was struggling with the weapon; it had jammed. Using the distraction to his advantage he leapt up and gripped her wrist. But she wasn't giving in that easily. The gun fired again and the bullet grazed his arm. He ignored it and pushed her back against the wall, wrestling the gun from her grasp. She kneed him and he groaned slumping to the floor, the memory of his brief tustle with Wing all too clear.

The gun skittered across the floor and she dived for it. But Rick placed his foot on top and she changed course, crashing into his middle. They both tumbled to the floor, the girl clawing at the boy's face.

Otto turned onto his hands and knees, taking deep breaths and picked the gun up. He cocked it, the sound reverbrating around the room. Suddenly the two stopped and the girl slowly raised her hands. Rick rolled away and stood up, dusting himself down. Some of the cuts on his bare back had opened and he gasped.

"Who are you?" Otto asked, wincing as he stood up.

"My name is Alianna. Who are you?" She retorted.

"Doesn't matter. Why are you here?" Rick asked, brushing his hair out of the way.

"Because I live here. Now answer my question..." She continued, standing up.

"You live here?" The two boys said, simultaneously.

"Yes with my dad..." Alianna explained.

"And he is...?" Otto asked, gun still rasied.

"Alexander Nero of course. Now who are you and why are you here?" She asked again, hands on hips.

"Alexander Nero? Is he related to Nero by any chance?" Rick asked, confused.

"Who's Nero?" The girl said, frowning.

"Doesn't matter. You're coming with us." He continued, grabbing her arm.

"Why?" Alianna asked, her eyes widening in fear. She tried to pull her arm away but his grip was too strong and the gun persuaded her not to lash out at him.

"We might need a hostage." Rick said with a smile. His brother rolled his eyes but followed them to the door all the same, weapon raised.

They quietly opened the door and peered down the length of the corridor. It was empty. Then they quietly slipped out of the room, Rick placing his hand over the girl's mouth. She tried to bite him so he wrapped his arm around her neck instead.

Together the trio walked down the passageway. Otto froze and pulled the others to a stop as he heard footsteps running towards them. There wasn't enough time to hide. Three people came pounding around the corner, abruptly stopping as they saw the small group.

Rick and Otto exchanged a glance, grinning. Standing breathless before them was Wing, Shelby and Laura.

Nero turned the corner, breathing deeply. So far he hadn't come across any guards, which was strange. He'd expected to come up against a full assault team not empty corridors.

A door suddenly opened up ahead and he gripped his gun tighter, gulping. A foot walked through the door, followed by expensive cream clothing. A face turned to survey the passageway. A pair of eyes widened in recognition as they alighted on the man stood there.

"Alex!" Nero shouted, his finger automatically pulling the trigger. His brother ducked and spun around, his blond hair glinting, as he ran. The bullet bounced harmlessly off the wall.

Heart pounding, Nero chased after him, sliding around corners and firing his weapon at the few guards he came across. His brother was always out of reach though, flying around a bend just as the man entered the corridor.

Nero turned yet another corner and glimpsed his brother ascending a flight of stairs. He ran after him, jumping the steps two at a time and crashing through the double doors at the top.

The man paused. He wasn't underground anymore.

Nero found himself on the edge of the entrance hall to the mansion, floor to ceiling windows, displaying an impressive lawn out front. He glanced around at the sweeping staircase and the crystal chandelier above him, glittering. There were ingravings all around the walls and statues in every corner. For a moment, he was in awe.

Then suddenly there was a swish and he spun around, his gun connecting with the sharp edge of a sword. He jumped back, the weapon clattering to the ground and drew the katana at his belt.

"Well well big brother. Just like old times." Alex said, a sneer on his face.

"What happened to you?" Nero asked, frowning.

"What happened to me? Like you give a damn!" The blond man shouted. He charged forward, the sword edge glinting and slashed.

Nero countered the blow and tried to get in close to grab the weapon. But his brother hit him in the face with his elbow and he staggered back, a bruise forming under his eye. Alex then swung again and the man ducked under the blow, ramming into the other man's middle. They both tumbled to the floor, but were fast to regain their feet.

"What are going to do? Kill me?" Alex asked, wiping blood from his lip. "Your own brother?"

"If I have to yes." Nero replied, attacking first.

The two blades clashed again, screeching. Alex lashed out with his fist and Nero gripped his arm, kicking him behind the knees. His brother collapsed on the floor, groaning and the older man lifted his weapon, ready to strike the killing blow.

"Don't..."

Nero paused. Then his arms dropped and the katana fell from his fingers. He staggered back, horrified that he'd been about to kill his brother. Alex smiled at the look of fear on the other man's face.

"Couldn't do it could you?" He whispered.

Suddenly, Nero felt an arm grip him around the neck. He struggled against it, lashing out at the person trying to strangle him. The man drove his elbow into their middle as they drew their gun and spun behind them. Alex meanwhile was rising to his feet, and pulling a revolver from his inside pocket.

The guard turned to fire the gun at Nero but he gripped his arm and the bullet soared into the air, hitting the chandelier. Then he knocked the weapon from his assaulter's hand and punched him square in the face. The man dropped like a stone.

Behind them, Alex lifted the revolver and aimed it. His finger squeezed on the trigger.

Suddenly there was a crash and Nero spun around. His eyes widened and his knees buckled. The man dropped to the floor, a cry escaping his lips and tears falling from his eyes.

The chandelier had fallen.

"So you were right?" Otto said, breaking the silence.

"Is that it? I was right." Laura asked, incredulous.

"What? You want an apology? I'm sorry I didn't believe you okay? But seriously after that rubbish about a giant carnivorous plant..." The boy continued.

"That actually happened!" Shelby said. Rick raised his eyebrows at her. "It did! And you! You have no right to possess Wing!"

"Possess Wing?" Otto asked, confused.

"Doesn't matter. I'm sorry Shelby. Oh and sorry Wing. I didn't mean to." Rick apologised.

"That's fine. Can we go now? We've found Otto and I reckon we should get back to the shroud before Nero finds us missing." Wing said, trying to hurry them along.

"Is that the only reason you guys came? To get Otto? That makes me feel great that does." Rick said, sarcastically.

"Yeah well you seem a bit pre - occupied strangling that girl." Shelby said.

"Oh..." Rick suddenly loosened his arm from around Alianna.

"Help!" She screamed. The boy hurriedly placed his hand over her mouth and she bit him. He let go, cursing, his other hand still on her arm. She tried to pull away still screaming. "Help!"

Shelby grit her teeth, annoyed by her girlish screams and slapped her hard across the face. She shut up immediatley.

"Grow up would you? If we wanted to kill you we'd have done so by now and do you really think a bunch of teenagers would do anything to you?"

"Have I ever gotten on the wrong side of Shelby?" Otto asked Laura. She frowned and shrugged.

"Who is she?" The girl asked back.

"My name's Alianna. And who are you guys?" She seemed to have recovered from the shock of the slap.

"Laura. What are you doing here? Were you a captive as well?"

"Was I heck! I live here with my dad Alexander Nero. And you guys are criminals seeing as though you've broken and entered into our home."

"Live underground often do you?" Shelby asked, sarcastically.

"Well yeah. Because of the toxic radiation outside. No - one can live on the suface of this planet anymore. You must be stupid if you don't know that." Alianna replied.

"You're the one who's stupid believing that. We've just come from up above. Do we look sick to you?" Shelby continued. Wing behind her was frowning in concern.

"Well he's got white hair from radiation poisoning..."

"No I don't!" Otto interjected. "I've always had white hair and it's not because of any poisoning. You're dad's been lying to you."

"He wouldn't lie! He wouldn't..."

"Do you know you have an uncle?" Laura asked.

"Yes but he's dead..."

"Not quite." She replied.

"We should really be going..." Wing said again, nervously checking around the corner.

"Yeah you're right." Shelby said, tiredly. She began walking, her boyfriend beside her.

"You can come with us and we'll prove it to you." Laura said. The girl frowned and then hesitantly nodded. Rick let go of her arm.

"Wait! What about Raven?" He said. Everyone suddenly stopped, guilty at having forgotten her.