Running On The Line

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Meg

I used to be a fast runner. I used to beat Mason ever since I was 8. But RED has taken a toll again and it was taking all my energy just to breath without the sound of my breath rattling. Mason would be worried and probably stop training. But he had already missed training for two weeks so he could take extra shifts for more vials, although they had never paid him extra. There were only two left from the ones he had taken from work and I knew he couldn't risk going back. There was a good chance they knew he was a Royal. That wasn't the end of the world, Mason was good at hiding. But if they knew who Emy was, it could quite possibly go to Hell. They might still have small doubts about that fact and, being rich and all, probably thought by default that Amy was the Queen. The rich always took the easy way out. My feet pounded the floor as I ran as fast as possible, even then I was behind. My vision went red for an instant and my heartbeat sped up. I cursed as the weight in my lungs threatened to take me out. I managed to call out right before I collapsed, a vision of my mom flashing through my eyes.

Aless

I was running just for fun and to see if I could still beat them. The answer was yes, I could. Satan was catching up to me when we heard Meg cry out. My blood went cold and I swivelled around. She was collapsed on the ground, blood spilling out of her mouth through her bandana. Mason and I ran to her, sliding on our knees to get there quicker. I ripped the bandana off her face and she groaned. "MEG! WAKE UP!" But she didn't move. Emy ran over, panic written across her features. "What happened?! Get her to the medical bay!!!" Mason was frozen in panic. I could barely form a word. If she died I... no she wasn't dying she couldn't die. I stared up at the fucking ceiling. "YOU'VE TAKEN EVERYTHING ELSE FROM ME! NOT HER!" But no one was up there. Kimberly ran over and put her arms under Meg's arms. "Help, you fucking idiots!" Emy grabbed the feet and they ran for the door. Kay and Lana ran up to me before I could move a muscle. "Is she ok?" Lana asked. I shook my head and the two kids grabbed my hand, dragging me to the door.

The medical bay was white. Besides the people swarming about and the heartbeat monitors it was the cleanest place you'd ever see. Kimberly didn't take the time to look, which I was grateful for. We put her in the bed and Emy quickly attached a monitor. "Her vitals are dropping. Slowly, but still. I don't know what to do. We need the vials but..." Mason grabbed her by the collar. "But what?!" Emy swallowed. "This morning, I tried bringing them here. Pickpockets." I gaped in disbelief. "Pickpockets?! EMY! You need to tell us when you're moving the vials! Now they're gone and all that at work was for nothing. I can't believe this." She shook her head at me. This conversation wasn't over. Mason grabbed Meg's hand. "Whatever! NOW WHAT DO WE DO?!" I started hyperventilating and Emy grabbed my hand. I was too freaked out to push her away, even in my anger caused by the loss of the vials. Instead I hugged her. She told me it would be ok but would it really? Nothing was ever okay down here. It was Hell. Kimberly, Jemma, and Satan stepped up. It was Sean who spoke. "We may have an idea." Emy let me go with a quick kiss that left me spinning even more than I already was and motioned for them to follow us up to the planning room.

Mason stayed behind; making sure her vitals wouldn't drop. Taya and Harry brought up the rear, shoving away a thousand questions from curious Royals with pressing curiosity. "Nothing happened. No she's not sick. Dehydrated." It was the same three sentences over and over again. I knew the Royals could probably tell that she had RED, but that was a problem for another day. Emy was biting her lip nervously and we ran into the tech room, shutting the door behind us.

The tech room was about the size of a classroom, or that's what Kimberly said. It was black and dark blue, the bright colors coming from the screens. In the center held a table with a 3D map of Haven that seemed to float in mid-air, the areas printed like constellations. They didn't spend too long gaping and ran to the front of the map.