Running With the Wave

Chapter 54

Hunter:

It took less than a minute for both the Keeper who had found us in the control room and Deeth to be lying dead on the floor, both with a bullet wound in the head. It had stunned me, but I still reacted quickly, turning off the guns and opening the cells. I had run out of the control room without looking back, and for some reason that's what I think of now: turning my back on my dead companion without a second thought. I shake my head, trying to bring myself back into the real world. The prison comes into focus around me, and I skid around a corner into the hall where the cells are. Here, all hell has broken loose. Keepers fumble with the gun, cursing and trying to figure out why they're not working. I smile grimly at that. A lot of people are going to die tonight. Other Keepers, Authorities, doctors and men I don't recognize try to hold back the ever growing throng of women and girls pouring out of the cells. Without thinking, I dive into the fight. I find a Keeper beating a little girl back into her cell and do a quick upper cut, getting him in the chin. His head jerks back with a sickening crack and he slides to the ground. The little girl looks up at me, fear mixed with confusion.

"What-" she mutters.

"Go!" I interrupt her, giving her a sharp push, "I'm on your side, go out the door through the Ward!"

The little girl obeys without protest. I move on, kicking, punching, even biting. Whatever I can do to get as many Keepers down as possible. I can't tell the women to go away: they want to fight. They're not about to let go of the revenge they're getting right now. Revenge for themselves and their ancestors. I elbow a Keeper in the stomach, then bring out my leg and sweep his legs out from under him. He hits the ground and lies still. I continue to push through the crowd, unharmed.

"Hunter."

All the noise of the chaos seems to grow quiet as the steely voice reaches me. I turn around and see Railt, my old friend, standing in front of me.

"Long time no see, Railt." I reply.

"I guess this will be the last time then." He flashes me a cold smile.

I begin circling him, looking for a way to get through his guard. When we were young Railt and I would have matches against each other for fun. Though we never hurt each other, we both know well enough how to murder each other. We know each others weaknesses.

"For you, maybe. I'll be there when they put you to rest in your grave." I retort.

"Good luck." Railt narrows his eyes at me.

"You'll need it." I snarl.

He attacks first, bring his leg out in a flash. I jump just in time and flash out my fist, catching him in the jaw. Railt charges me, and I try to jump out of the way but his elbow catches my stomach and I stumble back. When I look up again he's coming at me again, and when he reaches me I grab his ankle and he slams into the floor. I get up and kick his knee. I hear it pop out of place and he gasps, but before I can do anything else Railt shoves it back and is up and slams me into the wall. The world spins around me and a trickle of blood runs down my forehead and into my vision.

"Goodbye, Hunter." Railt hisses.

He lifts up his hand in which he clutches a knife and dives it at my chest. An inch before it reaches it's mark, I grab his wrist, twist it hard so that he drops the knife. I catch it by the hilt in midair and shove it hilt deep into his chest.

"I guess luck just wasn't with you, old friend." I whisper, my voice dangerously soft.

Railt's eyes grow wide and he grapples at the knife in his chest and he falls to the ground. A wide red stain spreads on his shirt as he stares up at me.