Chapter 34: Released

Breathless, David rushed down the long corridor. It was difficult as the rest of Vega pushed passed him, streaming in the opposite direction. He paused to lean against the wall for a moment and catch his breath. He wasn't sure if what he was about to do really was the right play. His hands were still trembling as they had been since the sirens began. This city…his city was under duress. And he had let the devil in, invited her to take over the whole damn settlement.

Chastising himself again, he shook his head as he attempted to remain calm. Ultimately, nothing was going to make much of difference if he didn't move. So he started sliding against the wall, trying to remain inconspicuous while the soldiers rushed by and the sirens wailed on.

~~~**D**~~~

The cell had been cold and dank. Just as Alex remembered it. The sirens were deafening, echoing through the prison walls and reverberating into his chest. The guards immediately disappeared and left the prisoners to fend for themselves. Alex knew that those sirens meant war. And angels.

He needed to find Noma and get out of Vega before he got pulled into the middle of it. As if the Chosen One could disappear from an all-out war that he was already in the middle of? He scoffed at his own ridiculous thought, pausing in the middle of his pacing. He had tried to unlock the gates on his own, using whatever bizarre powers he had at the moment, but they wouldn't work on command and he instead ended up frustrated and exhausted.

Pacing seemed to be the one thing he could do, as he thought about his situation. Most likely Noma would be taken to the same facility that Gabriel had been placed in. Which didn't bode well for Noma.

"It seems the supposed Chosen One has found himself in a rough spot. Yet again." A familiar voice echoed through the cell, making Alex pause mid pace. He turned to find David standing by the cell door, peering in through the small barred opening.

Alex rushed over to the door and asked, "What's happening out there? Who is attacking Vega?"

David gave him his typical smug look, not quite responding and then disappeared from view. Frustrated, Alex yelled after him, "Gabriel's army is coming and you have no idea what you're doing! You have no idea what you're up against!"

A moment went by, leaving Alex clenching his fists and trying hard to concentrate on the lock once more, hoping that whatever was going on with his body's powers would finally unlock the damn contraption. He groaned when nothing happened and then let out a yell of frustration as he threw his hands in the air and turned away.

Something clicked and then the door opened on its own.

Alex's heart stopped for a moment, wondering how he had been able to do that. And then David Whele stepped into the vacant doorway. "Are you going to stay in here all day, or does the Chosen One need an invitation to leave his prison cell?" he said in that condescending way of his.

Almost yelping with joy, Alex pushed passed him, pausing only to clap him on the shoulder as a manner of thanks before moving through the prison halls. David quickly followed after him, mildly out of breath. "Where are you going to go?"

Alex didn't answer at first, checking for more soldiers, only to find the hallways empty. "Everyone must be at the walls," he said more to himself.

"I can show you a way out of the city," David offered, which made Alex pause and turn to him.

The blonde-haired man grabbed the older one by the collar of his shirt and shoved him roughly against the wall. "What do you gain out of helping me? I can't imagine you'd do anything out of the goodness of your heart!"

David stammered, showing real fear in his eyes which Alex found unnerving. "I only ask that I come with you when you leave. I can be useful to you."

Alex glared at him. "Useful? Doubtful."

David stared at the Chosen One. He seemed genuinely broken as he whispered, "Please, Alex."

Alex shoved the man backwards and kept silent, ignoring David's unanswered plea. He slipped out through the door and started down an empty corridor.

David exclaimed, "Wait! You can't get out that way! The whole city is on lockdown."

"I need to find Noma," Alex responded and continued to jog down the long corridor. David reluctantly trailed behind him, wondering if he'd be better off disappearing on his own.

~~~**D**~~~

The restraints weren't exactly painful, but the constant hum of the electric field around her was starting to grate on her nerves. Noma sat inside the middle of the containment ball that oddly reminded her of a big soccer ball. Or perhaps more like one of those round plastic balls that pets were often placed inside of in order to roam about their master's rooms. She had a flash of what humans were like back before the angels descended on the Earth.

Her wings were aching to come out, to be stretched, but the strange harness on her chest was confining, giving her a little electric buzz anytime her shoulders twitched and the threat of wings was imminent. It was exhausting.

Meanwhile, her once friend, Ethan stood just outside of her prison, ignoring her as if she were his biggest foe. The two other soldiers remained motionless, ignoring her as well as each other. Independent silent sentries.

At first Noma tried to speak to Ethan, but the look on his face gave her pause. He looked hurt and betrayed by her presence. She tried to convince him that she was still the same person, just… a little more winged. And older. Much older. It was the same look Alex had given her when he had found out. Only Alex had gotten over it while Ethan clearly hadn't. His hatred for angels was palpable.

She sat with her knees bent and her hands resting lightly on them, trying hard to meditate and keep calm. Since the sirens began, her entire body had tensed and it was difficult to relax. Gabriel must be close, which didn't bode well for anyone. Perhaps Alex could escape before it came to that.

"Don't come any closer!" Ethan's shocked voice accompanied the click of several rifles readying to be fired.

Noma turned to find Alex standing not far from Ethan, his hands fully splayed out. David Whele stood in the background, his own hands out in surrender. She stood as quickly as the contraption on her torso would allow. "Alex!" she said out of breath, the electric current zinged through her as her shoulders involuntarily shrugged, tricking the device into thinking her wings would release. "What are you doing here? You should go!"

"I'm not leaving you here!" Alex called out.

Ethan stared at Alex, conflicted. His rifle was aimed at his friend's chest. "You shouldn't be here, Alex!"

"You know this is wrong, Ethan." Alex took a step forward but the other two soldiers were now moving closer, both rifles also trained on him.

"So you're really the Chosen One?" Ethan asked.

Alex looked pained. "Let me just take her out of here. I know how you feel about angels."

"You were my friend and you couldn't tell me?" Ethan asked.

"Stop moving!" one of the soldiers said, shifting focus to David who had moved closer.

"Everyone needs to calm down," David said. "We're here on Arika's official orders. You are to release her into our custody."

"What?" Ethan shook his. "That can't be. Why would she release Alex?"

"Because I'm on your side," Alex said, as he moved closer to Ethan.

The two soldiers looked at each other, weighing his words.

"Do you want to keep Arika waiting?" David asked, feeling impatient as his dread continued to ratchet up with every passing moment.

Ethan studied Alex's face and then lowered his rifle. "Come on guys, you heard them. Time to release her."

He turned around just in time to find one of the soldiers changing aim, pointing a rifle at him. Ethan's quick reflexes kicked into gear, instantly disarming the soldier. He turned to find the other soldier on the floor unconscious and Alex stepping away from the prone body. His friend quickly moved to the main control box for Noma's prison ball.

"How do you release her?" Alex asked, a bit frantic.

Ethan wondered if he was making the right choice as he flipped off the panel safety and put in the correct release code. "Please tell me Arika really did release you and I'm not actually helping you escape your prison with an angel?" he said hurriedly.

Alex gave him a look and went to the door as it opened.

Ethan sighed and then gave into the situation. Alex had been his friend, never hurt him in the past and had always been there for him during hard times. And Noma… well Noma's secret was a major betrayal. But Arika's quiet takeover had not gone unnoticed by the inhabitants of Vega, nor was it taken lightly. Ethan had made a pact a while ago that if the opportunity presented itself, he would find a way to thwart Arika and her brood, or discover a way out of Vega.

"How do I get this thing off of her?" Alex said, pulling Noma forward and out of the round contraption.

"We need to switch off the current and then take the screws off," Ethan said, without looking at Noma's face.

They worked quickly, with David constantly looking over his shoulder, keeping an eye out for any incoming soldiers. His hands trembled as he took a deep breath. "We need to leave."

Noma felt the pressure lifted from her shoulder blades as soon as she was free from the contraption. And then suddenly she felt herself being pulled into a tight embrace as Alex held her close. He kissed her cheek and just as quickly, released her.

"That's sweet. Mind if we move it along?" David said with disdain.

The whole room shook all of a sudden as an explosion rocked the building. David glanced up at the ceiling, checking for cracks as he held his breath. Turning back to the rest of them, he urged, "Now!"

Alex and Noma exchanged quick looks before they both picked up rifles from the unconscious soldiers lying nearby. Ethan remained silent as he grabbed his and led the way out to the nearest exit.