Author's Note: SORRY for the late update. Thanks for sticking with my story guys. You are the best. Thank you for the reviews guys!
Twenty-Six
Chloe POV
I'd like to say I was surprised, but well, you can't expect everyone that's Mai to be on the same side. Alek balled his hands into fists.
"Where do we go?" he asked. He's trying to hide his anger, but it's clear as day on his face. I glanced down the corridors to see if I can locate any stray Mai. Saving everyone else is my first priority. This entire battle is to preserve my kind and the humans, and somehow bring them all together.
"Most of the Mai are being evacuated down there," Jasmine pointed to the corridor to our left. "At the training room and the Order are entering through the other end."
I nodded. "Hopefully Sam will be able to get everyone out while we fight."
I let my hearing range outward, hearing the sound of boots tapping against the tiled floors as the enemy advanced. I counted the rhythm of the steps, each out of place with one another but belonging to a single person, I counted up to twelve when Alek shook my shoulder.
"I don't like this but we're going to need to split up," he said.
"No!" Jasmine protested. "When has splitting up ever gotten us anywhere good?"
"It's the only way to cover more ground-"
"Alek if we split up something might happen to one of us. Chloe got kidnapped last time!"
"GUYS!" I snapped. "Jasmine's right, Alek. It's not a good idea to split up; we work better as a team anyways."
"Sure take her side," he muttered. I glared at him.
"Do not pick a fight with me right now."
As the people serving the Order approached I felt my adrenaline begin to rise. My heart began to pound. I could feel all my strength coursing through my veins, waiting for me to make use of it. I was waiting to use it, too. It felt nice knowing that I was going to use my power for the right purpose. I hurried ahead of the rest, ducking behind an open door and waiting.
"Check all the rooms!" A voice ordered. Alek slipped in beside me, followed by Jasmine. I put my finger to my lips. I watched as one of the members of the Order entered the room. I should've waited but I acted without thinking. I threw myself against the enemy knocking us both to the ground. The gun he held skirted away from us. I managed to pin him down.
"Get off me, Bitch!"
I heard the sound of a gun locking near the door. I yanked the guy to his feet, my fingers wrapped around his windpipes and my claws extended. Three Order members burst through the door.
"Move and he dies," I said. They froze in place.
"Shoot them!" the guy was screaming. I could feel Alek and Jasmine standing behind me. "Shoot them now!"
"I wouldn't," I warned. "Your friend here will be the one to taste your bullets if you decide to pull the trigger."
I noticed a door to the left of them. It creaked open and Sam peeked out of it. He motioned for us into the room. We had one shot at this and we just had to make it count. They hesitated and that was all the time I needed. I threw my hostage in their direction momentarily startling them and then bolted for the door Sam was behind. Jasmine got through first, then Alek, the sound of a shot rang out and I felt fire in the arm. A startled cry left my lips as I slipped through the door. I slammed it shut and used whatever furniture I could find to barricade the door. Alek was helping me. It'll hold them for a few minutes. When we finished, my arm was screaming in protest making me dizzy. I held my right hand to my left arm and as I pulled it away, my hand was covered in crimson.
"Chloe!" Alek's voice was right beside me. I heard the sound of ripping fabric and then Alek's hand was wrapping a piece of his shirt around my bicep.
"I'm fine," I hissed out. The bullet stung, I shuddered to think about digging it out before I could heal. "Sam? Jasmine?"
"They're below us," Alek said. I looked up at him. He motioned his head toward the ground at the far end of the room, where an entrance hole to the tunnel was.
"A secret passage way?"
Alek smiled.
"Best thing about this place. This one will take us directly to the training room. We'd better hurry."
I nodded. Alek helped me down first. I dropped down, sliding through the vent. I landed on my feet, behind some shelves. Alek plopped down beside me in two seconds. Sam and Jasmine were waiting for us. The room to the training room was locked with bolts and chains. Sam and Jasmine had grave looks on their faces.
"What happened?" I demanded.
"The Order captured a handful of Mai," Sam mumbled. I headed toward the door, ready to rip everything off but Sam caught my arm.
"No, Chloe. Don't. There's nothing you can do. They're right outside that door."
"Let go of me!"
"Alek," Sam said. I felt Alek's arms wrap around me. I struggled against him. But I couldn't escape unless I was to hurt him. I stumped on his feet. He grunted but didn't release his hold.
"Let me go, Alek."
"No."
"Get out of here," Sam ordered. "Leave and fight another day."
"Sam-"
"Chloe, go. We've set up the last defense system we had. We need you guys to go."
"What defense system?" Jasmine asked. She was already at the entrance of the escape hatch. Sam held up a small remote.
"A bomb?" Alek asked. "You guys set up a bomb?"
"Yes. So we've got to leave now or we're all doomed."
"Hello guys," a new voice announced. We all whirled to see Alex step out of the shadows. He was wearing one of the Orders uniform. He held a gun in his hand. Alek was prepared to lunge at him but I wrapped my arms around his, preventing him.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. He didn't answer. He just smiled.
"I've been waiting for you guys." He paused. "The Order is waiting to meet you, Uniter."
"You little-" Alek started but was cut off.
"Alex!" a voice called from the radio at his belt. "Report!"
He kept his eyes trained on me. I silently begged him not to give us away. He picked up his radio.
"There's no one here," he reported. "They're all gone."
"Thank you," I mouthed.
"Go," he said. He tucked his radio back and held out his hand for the detonator. "I'll give you two minutes. Get as far away as you can from here."
"How do we know we can trust you?" Jasmine demanded. "All you've done is stab us in the back."
"Then don't. Get away from here and hit the button. Go! They'll storm in here in three minutes just to make sure I'm not lying."
I heard the sound of the trapped Mai being tortured and my senses dulled. The power coursing through my veins faded and I was left with a numb feeling in my body. Everything around me happened like a dream. I saw everyone nod and then Alek pulled me down the corridor. In front of me wasn't the tunnel we were escaping through. It was a royal room filled with gold and rubies. I was surrounded by people but I was also watching my friends. Sam pushed the button. The sound of an explosion was heard. Alek pulled me to him.
"Let's go home," Jasmine said. But I didn't respond. I couldn't. I was pulled fully into my own world inside my mind. In front of me was the all the past Mai that had ever died. I wondered if my parents were among them. And Alek's. I saw Baset in front of me, her cat eyes staring straight into mine and I bowed in greeting.
You have done well, dearest Chloe.
No. I'm failing at every chance I get. I can't even keep my own kind alive.
Victory is not going to be achieved easily, young one.
There is only one thing to do, Baset. They crossed the line. This means war. We have to fight.
Do what you must. You have my blessing. End the hardship. No more of my children shall suffer. Make me proud, Baset told me. I will protect you, my Uniter.
This isn't over, I promised. The next time we meet again I won't be so merciful. All this hating is going to end. I will make sure of it.
And if it means lives will be lost in order to achieve peace between my kind and humans, so be it. I'm prepared to make that sacrifice.
Review. And the last chapter will be an epilogue. I was thinking about a sequel. Tell me what you think about this chapter and my idea.