Two |Abduction|
As I stood before the large blast doors, one of the very few if any Archali tech still used as basic safety and building regulations, I breathed in and out in an almost futile attempt to calm my nerves. I know, sad. I can snipe a wanted bounty from over 30 meters away, steeled and focused as I pull the trigger, so why can't I get a grip on this ever-rising blite, and paralyzing psychosis at walking through this God damned door.
I tried to steel my cold mask of calm by holding up my pistol as if ready to fire but to no avail. Why, my thoughts screamed What's with this dread? Just get a grip damn it! My head was swirling with a mix of disdain and confusion. I thought I may have even turned and punched a hole in the disturbingly ornate wall of lies, had the sound of my commlink not contorted my mind's focus.
It was Iain, thank God, I ducked into an empty hallway before answering, "Iain what happened," my voice as hard and cold as the Vesgar Arachnid's made of, there's only one reason Iain would attempt to contact me right now, somethings wrong. "Ok so you know those guys who you pissed off the other day," he asked quizzically and rushed, Iain was running from something or someone, with my scythe rifle.
"You're gonna have to be more specific than that dumbass," I said a little annoyed, but grateful for something to focus my brain, "I do that quite a lot, and I swear if a single scratch on you know what, whoever's chasing you will be the least of your problems," I continued as heard footsteps approaching too fast to be anything good.
"Zem, how did your parents let you answer me?" Iain asked in a concerned tone, he must have heard the sounds of rushing soldiers through the comm. This'll be fun to explain, I thought sarcastically, Damn it, Iain! my subconscious yelled at him. One of the soldiers spotted me and started walking over, I cut the comm as he reached me.
"Ma'am, what're you doing?" he asked a confused expression on his face. That's right I'm supposed to be in the meeting hall, discussing what thing I own to make illegal next, not standing in an empty hallway threatening my wrist. "Oh thought I saw something go down this way, you know living out there," I said motioning towards the doors leading outside, "Always have to watch your back," I continued my voice even, my face masked in the steel expression that eluded me a monuments ago. The guard sighed, "How many times do we have to tell you, Ms. Reyes, if you see something alert one of the guards," he said a little condescending, but it didn't phase me a bit.
"Now then, let me escort you to your seat for the meeting miss," The guard said reaching for my arm, almost on instinct I ducked out of the way, making the soldier lose his balance as he fell to the floor. My commlink had been going off for the entirety of that encounter.
I took off running down the hall I was in, this one with more photographed lies, to an alternate exit because ain't no way in hell I'm getting out the front door. Thankfully I know this place as well as the Brim district, where most of the Black Market deals are located, and coincidentally where Iain and I live, or as it's known, Ragonor's Haven. As I ran more guards started to flood the hall, but The Capitol Guard is rarely needed, and my dad does have any facilities to keep the men ready and prepared for anything. So as you can imagine they couldn't keep up the speed acquired by running from gangs and other smaller syndicates every day.
I got to an intersection and banked a hard left. I ran a little farther before finally answering my comm, "WHAT THE HELL ZEM," Iain yelled frantically and a little pissed, I threw my hand over the speaker on my wrist so the guards wouldn't hear. I took a right turn and was halfway down the hall before I removed my hand, to which I received a, "Are you even listening to me Zem?" from Iain.
"Look I'm kinda trying to find a way out of this frugally luxurious shit hole at the moment, and you yelling is gonna get me caught, so please shut the hell up," I said aggravation laced my words but I kept my voice even and calm. I was maybe about three feet from the exit when I heard the sound of gunfire through the comm and not pistols, illegal ones. Iain my head was growing frantic, No, no.
"Iain, Iain, Please are you alright," I said my emotions betraying a rational thought as I slowed my pace wait for a reply. Please be okay, I thought desperate for an answer, as I stood at the precipice of freedom, the soldiers were gradually closing in, but I couldn't move I had to know, I had to make sure Iain was alive.
"Oh, it seems you do have a heart Ms. Cold-hearted sniper," Iain finally said sarcastically, and I was seething as I bolted out the door. " I can't believe you, you jackass," screamed as I sprinted to where my motorcycle was a block away. "I thought you were hurt or dead, " my voice calmer but I've never been as good at hiding my worry from Iain. "Me? When you said 'get caught' I thought they were sending you to the Brim." Iain said, and unlike me, he wasn't as good at hiding the emotions in his words.
By now I reached my bike and was on my way back to Ragonor's Haven where I'll meet Iain, get Arachind back and go home. I was well on the way to Iain when a siren that could bring my mom out from the grave blared from above me. Shit, I thought, the only reason my dad turns on the damn warning cry is to alert the public of what he deems a threat.
"Attention citizens of Nosaroc, I have been informed that an assailant has infiltrated the Capitol Building and it is my belief that they have abducted my daughter Zemira. If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of this criminal you will be rewarded handsomely. Additional information is being forwarded to every citizen over the age of fifteen." My father thinks I've been kidnapped. Come on, give me some credit, I thought as kept moving, Iain's gonna love this. Maybe?