|
Post by Enchant on Feb 18, 2008 10:48:38 GMT -5
In the year 2072, mankind had advanced incredibly. A rogue scientist succeeded in breeching the gateway between dimensions. This allowed man to travel back and forth into an alternate world. It wasn't long before he lost control of the portal and inadvertently allowed denizens from the alternate world to travel to earth. Worse yet, the two worlds slowly began to merge. Large dragon flocks appeared over London and NYC and quickly laid waste to them. Earth's military power held them off for awhile, but the rampant and unfocused strikes by the new mythical creatures combined with world wide panic, lead to a complete collapse to most of the world nations. About 3/4 of earth's human population had been wiped out.
Those countries that still had some kind of military force, united and started an elite strike unit, soldiers trained to hunt these new beasts, though the new military was short lived. Even then with a common enemy, the countries seeked power above the other.
As years went by, there was little technology left, most of the human race wiped out, and the two worlds had become one..... Earth was no longer. Thick forest and perpetual waste lands had become the new world. And the portal was lost within it. However, there is still a small shred of hope. In the heartland, the last major human city stands, resembling more fortress then city. Although, there were some small towns that still remained, in the surrounding areas, Paladin City was now the capital. Within its walls, is the last major center for trade and business and so the taverns are always busy. Skins and dragon scales from the other world creatures make for good trading as well as any remaining technology. If you needed a hunter, it would be there, that you would find one.
With all other resources being used, some hunters, decided to look to the ancient arts of magic as a last resort, to protect what is left of the human race. To do so, they seeked an alliance with the elven nation. Which was fortunate timing as something dark and very dangerous had managed to escape confinement and slipped through the portal before it closed.
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 18, 2008 11:49:52 GMT -5
It wouldn't be long now. Charity knew that she had to reach the walls before sunrise. She glanced up at the three moons and smiled. The smallest being the true moon of old earth. As she lowered her gaze, the walls of Paladin could be seen in the distance. She had to hurry, the beast were closing in. She jumped from the branch onto the ground and made a run for it. She made it safely to the wall.
"Halt", the very large guard on the left voiced. "State your name and why you come to Paladin City."
Charity chuckled a little inside. She came for the same reason everyone did these days.
"I am Charity, and I come for refuge and a job"
The smaller guard wrote down her name and reason, and then pushed a button that opened the gate.
"Welcome to Paladin City, Charity"
As she stepped through the gate, she could smell the morning arising. She made her way down the broken road toward one of the local inns. She saw three of them all next to each other, only one had a vacancy sign. It was a tavern with rooms above it. It wasn't the prettiest or the cleanest from what she could see, but she needed to get indoors before the morning light.
As she entered the tavern, it was silent. A fireplace to the right was roaring, and a old man stood behind the counter drinking a cup of coffee and reading some kind of paper.
"Good Morning, what can I do for you?, I bet you are wanting a nice hearty breakfast.", the old man said smiling. He then looked over his shoulder and yelled toward the back. "MARY!!! We have a guest."
"No, I actually..."
"I bet a nice tall glass of bobble ale? Put hair on that chest of yours. MARY!!!!!!"
Charity placed her hand on her chest as to cover it. "No, I actually would like..."
"MARY!!!!, dang that woman, where is she."
Charity spoke a bit more forcefully to get his attention. "I would like a room please." She glanced out the window and saw that that rays were soon to hit it. "Please, I am really tired and would like to lay down."
The man nodded and got her a room key, "Will there be anything else?"
"No, not for the moment. Thank you."
Upstairs in her room, she saw that it wasn't really much to it. A small bed, a sink, a toilet, chair small table , a closet...and one window. That would have to be covered.. She took the blanket from the bed and hung it up. As she laid down on the bed, she thought about what the next day would bring.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 22, 2008 20:00:57 GMT -5
The only answer the old man received to his shouts was a disgruntled snort from the other room and then a loud crash that followed their only guest, at the moment (all the rest were still sleeping or off somewhere early), up the stairs. The old man shouted some curse, sounding as if he was fit to burst, but he didn't get any other response until a youth staggered through the door with a broom held out as if to ward off attackers. It was an old, worn out thing, and probably would have snapped at the first blow, but the wild, brown eyes with their golden flecks told another story. They had held off more than a few blows by their frightening stare alone.
But the young man didn't act rebellious in the least, turning a deferential gaze to innkeeper and then doing as he was directed and sweeping out what debris had collected the night before after he'd vanished into his little hidey hole where he slept every night. The broom he used with an unnatural vigour, perhaps to get back at it for being the instigator of the fall that had created such a loud crashing noise. If he managed to finish this chore before anyone came down those stairs, he could have breakfast before getting to the task of serving them, otherwise his stomach would have to wait a long while before it got filled.
But right in the middle of a sweep, his head jerked up and he stared about him, sniffing the air and sinking closer to the ground, his knuckles turning white from his hard grip on the broom handle. His unkept, brown hair fell into his eyes and gave him the scruffy appearance of a wild animal that had taken on the guise of a human. Which wouldn't have been too far from the truth, had anyone been thinking it. But when the old man set his mug down with a deliberately loud chink and raised his brow questioningly, the youth simply shook his head and got back to work. It was probably just his imagination, probably... Hopefully...
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 22, 2008 23:29:24 GMT -5
Charity didn't get much sleep. The sounds of the day below were coming in the window. It seemed that everytime she would fall asleep, someone would yell, or a loud crashing sound would happen. She forced to sit up in bed grasping her side. She looked down and saw that her right side was all bruised. She painfully leaned over to the chair beside the bed, and lifted up her bag. Dropping it on the bed, opening it up, she saw the small document container fall out. She pushed it aside, and then pulled out the standard issue medical kit.
After she was finished bandaging her ribs, she picked up the container. I am not suppose to look She saw that it had 'Confidential' on the outside. Although, she was tempted, she went ahead and placed it back in her bag. He stomach was growling. She needed to eat. She reached in her front pockets and pulled out a small wad of bills and some random change. It was enough to get her something to eat.
After Charity was dressed, she grabbed her bag and made her way downstairs. She could hear that there were customers, although she was sure it wasn't many. Man, this place smells. When she reached the bottom, she noticed that there was a corner table available, next to the kitchen door. Perfect, in case I need to leave quickly.
Placing her bag at the foot of her chair she sat down and waited for the barkeep to take her order.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 22, 2008 23:51:38 GMT -5
He had only just finished, and was turning about to put the broom away when the first of their, oh so lively, guests appearred in the room and the young man couldn't help a sigh. He had been looking forward to food, having missed dinner last night because he had felt a little sick, but now he would have to be the go between, and it wouldn't take long for the others to arrive. But maybe they would all decide to eat really fast, and it wouldn't take long... Matt snorted at such futilely hopeless thoughts as he listened to his 'master' offer breakfast or a drink, asking after his guests pleasure.
With good hearing, the young man could stay in the kitchen while Mary got the orders set up on plates, then he could go out and deliver the food to their patrons by putting a face to the voice. Sometimes, when that didn't work, he'd have to glance over at the old innkeeper for clarification, but he was usually already headed for the right table. It was pure torture to have to carry the food so close to his face and not take a bite, but he managed, keeping a light, half-smile on his face and serenely ignoring any remarks that came his way. He couldn't have answered them anyways, being mute, but he took just the smallest satisfaction in pretending like he hadn't heard.
Then, coming back out with just one plate and ready to take other, empty ones with him to the kitchen sink, the young man blinked and faltered. That smell again, it frightened him, but he didn't know what it was, didn't understand where it came from. At least it was still faint, though had to have grown stronger for him to be able to smell it with all the other scents in the room. He shivered and served up the food as quickly as he could, gathering two empty plates and arrowing for the kitchen door. That was when he realised that a newcomer had come to the inn as he slept, and she was sitting at the table nearest the kitchen.
Was she the source of the scent? He didn't really want to find out, but he had been staring at her too long to be able to just walk past feigning ignorance. Matt shrank back, not moving a muscle, but deflating visibly. It was only when the innkeeper noticed and came to his rescue, pushing him through the kitchen dor, that Matt could break away from his stare and continue with the work he was supposed to be doing. Behind him, the innkeeper cleared his throat and launched jovially into the routine questioning. "And what can I get you? We have a lovely breakfast meal, though I'm afraid we've only the one order to offer you. But my Mary does make a good waffle."
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 23, 2008 16:02:38 GMT -5
"And what can I get for you?" was the only thing that Charity really heard, as she adjusted in her seat. Her side was still causing her pain, but one would never know it just by looking at her. She was used to pain. Inhaling deeply, she forced a smile, "A large cup of coffee, and your breakfast meal special, and I will also take a order of those waffles you pushing too." I am so hungry. She had never been this hungry.
As she waited for her meal, a strange feeling came over her. If felt familiar, but as if it was so far a way. Almost like a memory trying to come to the surface, but not a memory. This strange feeling made her even more alert. Were they already here? Had they come in the early morning as she slept? Something in the air made her uneasy.
She was about to change her mind, and seek food elsewhere, when the kitchen doors swung open.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 23, 2008 16:23:26 GMT -5
He stayed in the kitchen, shivering as if a blizzard had just come through and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop his hands from shaking. Matt knew the innkeeper would be annoyed with him for staying inside so long, but he'd be even more annoyed if a plate got broken due to his clumsiness. The old man was understanding, but he didn't like mistakes that cost him money. Mary cast him a worried glance as she set up this newest order, but she didn't ask him what was bothering him, she just kept at her work.
He was grateful for that, even if it meant he would have to go out there again. He still didn't know why that scent frightened him so, nor where he'd smelled it before. He shivered again, taking a deep breath as Mary handed him theplate and mug of hot coffee. "Don't burn yourself, dear." Her parting words were kind, but they still said that he had better get out there. So Matt did, taking the few, small steps to the door slowly. At least now that he had something to carry, his hands were steady, but his nerves wre entirely shot. He hissed at himself for being such a coward, then pushed the door open with his shoulder and turned right towards the woman sitting all alone.
Standing as far as he could away from her, Matt kept the table between them as he set down her food and coffee. Yes, the scent was certainly stronger near her, but he didn't think it was her own. Forgetting himself, he frowned at her, trying to solve this puzzle before anything happened that he wouldn't like. His gaze was sharp and hard, and he bared his teeth at her in a feral grin that wasn't the most friendly, but just as he was turning away to grab up some other dishes, a cry came from outside. His head jerked up and around as he crouched and froze, hissing softly. He couldn't tell if whatever, whoever, had made that sound was frightened or angry, but it sent the hair standing on end along his arms and neck.
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 24, 2008 12:30:53 GMT -5
Just as the boy servant was setting the cup of coffee down onto the table, a piercing cry came from outside. With instinctively quick reflexes, Charity reached down and grabbed her bagpack. She looked at the kitchen door, the boy was blocking it. She looked at the front door. They will most likely come in the front She looked at the stairs, that would most likely be her best bet. She didn't want to start running and bring attention to herself. So she sat thier at the ready making sure that she didn't loose sight of the stairs.
Please do not let it be them she couldn't help but think, while holding her bag tightly. She knew that they would not stop till they had the container.She was starting to wonder what exactly she was carrying.
Her stomach began to rumble.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 25, 2008 21:02:35 GMT -5
Once he realised that he wasn't going to see anything happening on the other side of the walls, Matt glanced about to gauge the actions of the others. He could hear Mary still working in the kitchen, but then, she'd only ever stopped cooking once everyone was served, and the old man was standing behind the bar as usual, though he was looking about just as Matt was. Their patrons were reacting in a variety of ways. Going from fearful, to curious to just trying to ignore it all and hoping it would leave them in peace. He snorted soft laughter at that last one, because, if something was coming for you, it didn't matter how much you hoped, it would keep coming.
He wouldn't have found the strange woman's reaction so strange, in fact, he didn't think it odd at all to be looking about, until he realised she was looking for exits and she was holding tight to that bag of hers. Matt frowned and scented the air, fidgeting from one foot to the other and then jumping when another cry came, and this time, it was easy to pick out the anger in that voice. He shivered and a low ,choked off whimper broke from him. It was them, the shadow things that had taken his true master.
But they had never come here before, there had never been any sign of them and he had pushed all thoughts of them from his mind, which explained why he hadn't been able to place their scent. And the fact that they were here only begged the question, why? Why were they here? What did they want? At that, his head snapped about and his eyes fell, once more, on the woman with her bag and her fear. They wanted her! But why? What did she have that was so important? He took a step towards her, and was just lifting his foot to take another when someone pounded heavily on the door.
The hinges protested and the latch squeaked, but no one seemed inclined to answer it. But when the pounding resumed, the innkeeper called out to Matt to answer the damned door before it got blown off its hinges and he'd thank him to not keep whoever it was waiting. Obediently, but shaking in his shoes, Matt spun back about and started for the door. He glanced over his shoulder as he did and tried to catch the woman's gaze before nodding towards the stairs. She should run, instinct was telling him to run! But he couldn't, he was supposed to open the door.
So he did, cautiously and as slowy as he could, peeking out to try and glimpse the guise of whoever had come knocking. The stench was strong now and Matt wanted to gag, but no one else seemed to notice it. And that frightened him still more. Finally, the person lost their patience and shoved the door open fully with a shoulder before stepping across the threshold...
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 25, 2008 22:46:05 GMT -5
Charity had heard the second scream and it was much closer then the first. It had to be them. The wall was suppose to be a sanctuary and they had crossed it. She thought for sure that they would stop at the gate or at least she had hoped. What would make them risk the pact made with Paladin City? She then gripped her bag tighter. What am I carrying?. As she looked towards the door, she noticed the servant boy inching closer to it. The innkeeper was yelling at him to open the door before it was torn down. Then the most peculiar thing happened. He nodded in Charity's direction to go to the stairs. Does he know?. She threw her bag over her shoulders and ran for the stairs. She had to hide or get out of the inn without being noticed. She made it up the first level of stairs and turned the corner. She was about to go up the next set, when she realized there would be no time. She quickly ran down the hall trying to open any door that would open.
Her heart was racing. She could feel the heat of her body as she desperately tried to find a handle that would turn. Finally, a door opened. It was a room that looked alot like hers only it had two windows. One on the wall parallel to her and one to the left of her. She ran to the farthest one. It was a straight shot down in the front of the inn. There were soldiers of the shadow standing in front. She then ran over to the other window and looked down, it didn't reach the ground, but sat over the roof of the next building. This one!.
She could hear the soldiers footsteps nearing and screams of the occupants in the rooms, as they forced the doors open. She climbed up and out the window and on to the roof as fast as she could.They opened the door, just as she knelt down below the window sill. Thank goodness for window boxes.. She could smell their stench and hear their raping breathing. Shaking with fear and hoping that no one from the ground could see her. Trying not to make a sound, not even a whimper. Which was hard considering her side was causing her agonizing pain.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 25, 2008 23:15:24 GMT -5
He only just kept his balance as the fully armoured man-thing pushed him aside, then lost it entirely when another came through and pushed him farther out of the way. In falling, his head hit the wall, and he lay stunned for several moments, watching in a daze as they stampeded through the tables and chairs and people without much care for which was which and headed for the stairs. He was pleased to note that the woman, whoever she was, had dissapeared somewhere, hopefully out of sight and where these shadow slaves wouldn't find her. Matt didn't like the shadow soldiers, his last encounter with them had been of the most unpleasnt kind, and they'd killed his master.
He glared at the backs of those waiting within the common room, unable to do anything more with so many about. He may have been angry, but he wasn't suicidal. He could hear the others outside, their thudding footsteps mingled with those from the upstairs hallway.and as his thoughts cleared and the ache in his head dimmed to a tolerable level, he listened and followed their progress with baited breath. And they didn't find what they were looking for. He knew it, he knew it when they came thundering back down the stairs as he pulled himself up.
He knew it by the thundering fury in the leader's voice, and he took grim pleasure in that even as he flinched away from that dangerous emotion. But it didn't do him much good, and the soldier who'd pushed him before gave him another shove as they left and Matt went sprawling to the floor again as the door slammed behind him. No one spoke, it seemed almost as if no one breathed, they were all so still, staring at that door in shock and not a little fear. They didn't know, they couldn't smell the taint, to them, those soldiers were just ill-mannered mercenaries looking for something. The youth shook his head at the floor, then picked himself up again.
He swayed a little when he gained his feet, but it wasn't so debilitating that it stopped him from worrying about the woman. Was she still here? Had she hidden or run off? He stumbled for the stairs, and no one moved to stop him, they were still to shocked, yes, so at least they felt the fear then. He hissed and pushed himself to go faster, so he could know, so he could maybe get her hidden better before they came back. Matt didn't know what he would do, didn't even know if he should be trusting the woman, but instinct said she was only dangerous if what she carried fell into the wrong hands, and he trusted his instinct. It had never failed him before.
Up in the hall, all the doors were open, and, looking through the rooms, chests had been emptied, clothes and bedding strewn about, chairs overturned. It was important, what they wanted. Matt shuddered, then hurried back into the room he'd been leaving, racing for the window. He wasn't certain, but he had to check didn't he? Had he heard a broken off gasp, a faint shifting of cloth rasping against cloth and wood. Oh, there, he looked down and found her immediately, grinning wildly with relief. He glanced about to check for any observers, then back into the room, goo, no one yet, and the folks downstairs sounded like they were setting things to rights. Hmm, well, at least she'd chosen a nice window to hide in, but should they stay, or should he take her along the roofs? It was a safe enough route, just so long as no one saw them and Matt, who'd made certain of his escape routes the moment he'd gotten here, could get her somewhere safe. Though if she wanted back out of the city, that would be harder.
The young man held out his hand, gesturing quickly for her to take it so he could pull her up and back into the building. His brown-gold eyes were feral and he didn't seem to notice the small amount of blood leaking from the cut above his temple where his head had hit the wall. It wasn't important enough to deal with at the moment, and it would heal quickly enough.
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 26, 2008 18:22:02 GMT -5
Charity held herself tightly up against the wall underneath the window box. Her feet positioned firmly underneath her on the edge and her hands above her. The other held the backpack close. I need to get out of here. As she listened to the soldiers formation form below and march off around the opposite corner, she couldn't help but wonder if they all had left the inn. Just as she was about to take a chance and run the roof tops, a gentle hand reached down from above her. It was the servant boy. He was trying to help her. Trust no one. She felt conflicted, but she needed help and she knew it. Reluctantly, she reached up, grabbing the lowered hand, and allowed him to help pull her up. He was remarkable strong for his size. As she climbed back through the window and her feet touched down. Observing the mess the soldiers made, she attempted to straighten herself up. Her legs and arms were sore from staying still for so long.
"Thank you for helping me."
Just then the ache in her side began to pulsate, the air went stiff, her body heated up and the room went gray before her eyes. It was only for a brief moment that she saw the floor close up and her bag fall beside her.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 26, 2008 19:48:06 GMT -5
He could tell by the way her eyes flickered from his hand to his face, then away that she was wary and not at all certain of him, and that made him glad. For one thing, it meant that she wasn't a trusting fool, but it also meant that she wouldn't depend on him if he couldn't help her enough. His master had been depending on him, and for that, his master had died. He shivered as she grasped his hand, but he didn't flinch away, rather, he pulled her up, bracing himself against the window's frame and lifting her as straight as he could so she wouldn't scrape too much against the wood. It hurt a bit, the strain of it, but he simply gritted his teeth against the pain, since it wouldn't go away even if he dropped her, but it would fade eventually.
Matt held her there until she could help herself, then waited as she came into the room, keeping a watchful eye on the streets below and the door behind them while rubbing absently at his chest where it had hurt. It would be hard to convey the question to her, but she ought to have a choice since she was the one in trouble. He was still thinking about how he could get it across to her with the least possible actions when she thanked him for his help. Not that he'd really done much, just told her to run. He shrugged dismissively, then turned back to her with surpprise when he heard the gentle thud of her body striking the floor. The youth flinched in sympathy, then crouched down beside her.
He utterly ignored the bag at her side except to make sure it was within reach, just in case someone came up looking for him. What it held wasn't something Matt wanted to know, it was dangerous, and generally, it was smarter to avoid danger than chase after it. His concern was for the woman. A cursory glance had already revealed that she wasn't bleeding, but wounds didn't all have to bleed for them to be painful. He frowned down at her, then, with an complete lack of respect for her privacy, pulled up her shirt to see if there was something there, and the bandages gave it away quickly.
She must have done something to her ribs, and that position she'd been in when he found her couldn't have been good for them. No wonder she'd collapsed. Matt stayed crouched beside her, biting at his knuckle as he thought about what to do. He'd never been very good at the independent thinking thing, but at least he knew what the goal was; protect her and her secret and hide her somewhere safe. He could do that, if he could just figure out where to take her. The inn probably wasn't safe anymore, but it didn't seem likely that anywhere else was safe either. Hmm, problems, problems and still more problems. But if he left, he could protect the old man and Mary too, and they had been kind, they did not deserve to be hurt for something they did not know about.
That decided it for him, he would leave with her, across the roofs to the warehouses and then he'd have to make sure his route wasn't blocked off. But he could only do that once he got there. Lady, waking up time now... No sleeping, bad time for sleeping... He snapped his fingers by her face, tapped a cheek and then just scowled at her. But it wasn't much of a decision to make, since he probably would have done the same were she awake. Her ribs would have made it difficult for her along the roofs. Granted, she would certainly make it harder for him as well, but he'd carried his master's boy this way and so long as he remembered to adjust, he didn't think he'd fall, and so long as nothing was spying in the skies, they ought to make it there safely. Optimism was something he generally scorned however, since it sometimes wasn't very realistic, so Matt simply shrugged to himself and got on with leaving.
He grabbed the bag and swung it onto his shoulders, then he stooped and picked the woman up as gently as he could, huffing at her weight. She was lighter than he'd expected, but that wasn't saying much. Plus, she was taller than he was, so it was a bit awkward, but he got one arm under her knees and another going diagonally across her back and tucked her in tight against him, so she was less likely to fall. One of her arms dangled, but he couldn't do much about it, he did pause to lean her head against his shoulder though, it was what the boy had done and seemed far more comfortable than having it lull backwards all the time.
Then, without wasting any more time, he stepped up onto the window ledge and pushed out to the opposite roof. It wasn't that great a distance and he bent his knees to absorb the weight, landing with a louder thump than he would have wished, though it wasn't enough to alert any but the most suspicious. Matt stopped to hitch the woman up again, then started walking as if he were on level ground. Heights had never fazed him and he had the balance and agility that they didn't need to. He was leaning forward, however, and he moved with the stealthy crouch of one who wishes to remain unseen, unfortunately, there weren't many shadows for him to hide in up here during the day.
((Heh, wasn't certain if she had fainted or just collapsed, so I went with fainted *grins*))
|
|
|
Post by Enchant on Feb 27, 2008 20:38:41 GMT -5
(( Yeah, she passed out...))
The faint sounds of the streets below hinted to Charity that she was no longer in the room. Struggling to open her eyes, and lift her head, she could see the sky above and that sunset was approaching. Then it occured to her, that she was moving, but not of her own accord. Someone was carrying her. Oh no, they have captured me. She couldn't move, it was then she could feel the panic setting in. As she struggled to release her self, another thought came to her. My bag?. She couldn't keep her eyes open, or muster the strength to either move or speak. Then the world around her went grey once more.
|
|
Nemaisare
Warrior Hunter
The farther you are from the edge of reality, the closer you are to my world.
Posts: 157
|
Post by Nemaisare on Feb 27, 2008 21:08:10 GMT -5
Her breathing shifted as she started to wake up, but it wasn't enough of a warning for Matt, who hadn't really thought about how the woman might react upon realising someone was carrying her. Her struggles almost managed to tip them off the roof top he was currently walking along, and only a timely setting of his feet saved the two from toppling. The youth tightened his grip with a grim set to his mouth, staring off fixedly into space as he tightened his grip on her and swayed. He was tired, and hungry, and unsure. His muscles were starting to ache, his mouth was dry and he was starting to feel a little paranoid, but the warehouses were only one more street down, and then he could set the woman down and rest for a bit.
Matt had had a few chances to rest during the day, when the shadow soldiers passed beneath him, and he had to freeze for fear of discovery, but he hadn't put her down yet, and the strain was starting to show. Well, alright, so it had shown itself a long time ago and he had been able to ignore it up till now. But then, that seemed to be the way of things, you would be coping just fine until your goal or destination was within reach and then everything would become impossibly difficult. Like setting one foot in front of the other...
He kept walking anyways, the movement too mechanical for him to stop, but at least she didn't seem to be frightened anymore. Matt glanced down at his burden and sighed, realising that she had passed out again. Convenient, he supposed, he just hoped she would stay that way until he put her down. Because if she woke up and struggled before then, he knew he would drop her, and that would only end with a nasty fall for the both of them. Breathing deeply and shaking his head, Matt bared his teeth and sized up the gap that suddenly appeared before him. Fresh, and without the woman's weight, it would've been an easy little hop for him, but now it seemed more like a chasm. Still, it was the last roof and then he could get to the bolt hole he'd found in the attic. Hitching her up until she was lying across his shoulders in a most undignified fashion, the youth took one more deep breath, crouched and then launched himself across the open space.
He landed roughly, dropping to his hands and knees with a clatter of roofing tiles and a whump of escaping air from his lungs, but at least he'd made it. Glancing about fearfully for any sign that someone had noticed his impromptu flight between buildings, Matt sucked air into his lungs and started to crawl towards the hatch he'd found when he had been exploring. He didn't think he had energy enough to stand at the moment anyways and he was so close.
The young man hauled it open and peered down into the gloom, listening quietly with his head tilted to the side, but no one was making any sound save for a few rats. It was too dark nside to see much, but that had never botheed him and he could smell the layers of dust and abandonment. No one ever came up here any more, of that, he was quite sure. He lowered the woman down by her arms, glad that the floor was so close to the roof, but he still had to lean through to make sure she didn't hit her head too hard when he finally let go. Heaving a relieved sigh as her weight finally left his arms, Matt shook himself free of his fatigue, glanced about once more, then slipped through the hole himself, closing the hatch after himself as he went. They ought to be safe here for awhile.
He pulled the bag free of his shoulders and dropped it carelessly by the woman's head, grimacing as he rolled his abused shoulders from where the straps had dug into them. Well, he had gotten them here and now he could rest for a bit, but first... It was time to get rid of some of his hunger. Matt stalked a short distance away, his steps now filled with a deadly silence as he almost glided across the floor and between the unused crates. Then came the skittering of tiny claws and a sharp squeal cut abruptly short. He reappeared with a large rat in his hands and was aleady biting into it when he perched himself, in a crouch, atop one of the crates to watch the woman and wait for her to wake up again.
|
|