Page 53 of Orange Town
I was trembling but it did not stop me from reaching my destination. I huddled behind the table and sobbed. I realized I made a mistake. I should have taken another dagger from Roqs. But I was too scared out of my mind. I tried to stifle my crying by biting my lip hard. I knew it was bleeding, but I needed to stay quiet. Hopefully no one heard or saw me here. I covered my ears, it seemed like more men entered the saloon and attacked Zirc. I could not help but pray that he be alright.
I could not prevent the scream when someone stood up to my right side.
Chapter Fifteen
Brynn
“Quiet!” Zirc hissed angrily. “Come.” He extended a bloody hand, his right hand holding a bloody sword.
Dumbly, I motioned my headno. I do not want to go out of my hiding place.
“We need to get out of here before they activate theShura.”
I took a glance at his furious face. I shivered. His eyes lost their cat-like eyes and now his eyes are all black. No iris. It’s like he’s a whole different person. Is he going to turn into his beast?
“I do not have any time for this, Brin. Either you come with me, or you die here. I will not leave Roqs behind.” His voice was furious.
And with that, he turned and left me. My mind has an internal battle. I do not want to be left alone but I also do not want to stand up from my safe place.
It took all of my effort to stand up. Shakily, I turned and surveyed the mess of the bar. Some bystanders were unfortunate enough not to move are slain on the floor or on top of the table. I saw Zirc pulling Roqs and lifting him on his left shoulder. Leaving his right sword hand free.
I gasped. I can see that his back is full of cuts. Deep cuts. Though I didn't see any bullet wound, it was hard to tell because the upper half of his body was covered in blood. Even his tail has some blood in it. Hopefully not his.
He looked back at me and surveyed me from head to toe. Seemingly satisfied, he threw something my way. I thought his knapsack would be heavy, but it weighed just right. I placed it on my back. He walked not to the front but towards the back of the bar. Not surprising if there are enemies outside. Along the way, I saw more enemies because they are dressed differently than the ones I saw earlier in the bar. And I also saw the guy’s head that rolled all the way to the bar. Luckily, I was too numb to react. I also saw the big guy among the bodies, lying face down on the floor. An axe was buried halfway to his shoulder. I don’t know where the axe came from, and I do not want to know.
We hurried along a narrow path towards a possible back door. Though Zirc is not running, I was pumping my legs to catch up to him. Carrying Roqs did not slow him down one bit.
He cautiously opened a metal door, looked both sides and went out. I followed only a foot behind him and saw that we were in an alley. Not exactly a getaway location where a nearby vehicle can be found.
Crazily, Zirc went inside the other building. From here, I can see it’s another saloon. Unlike the one we just escaped from, the bar is still upright. But the people are caught up in whatever they are doing. All in a frozen state. Drinking, talking, walking. I passed someone who was scratching his butt. We walked all the way to the other side and exited another metal door.
This must be what Zirc is trying to find. I recognized the vehicle I rode with Roqs. Where was the black cloth? None too gently, he dumped Roqs on the back. There are no metal parts shielding the inside of the vehicle, so it was easy to get in and out of it. The vehicle is full of tiny compartments and some weapons I can’t recognize because they looked futuristic to me. The weapons do not carry any bullets I can see from outside.
Zirc went to another vehicle parked there, took something from the driver’s side. Sparks flew when he forcefully ripped it off. He went to the driver's side, dumping the thing behind Roqs' head.
Zirc looked at me like a dummy. “What are you waiting for?”
Knowing he was right, and I was a dummy, I forced my leg to climb the vehicle. As soon as my butt touched the seat, he pumped the vehicle, maneuvered it out of the parking space and away we went.
Along the way, I felt something drop and knew those were my precious water jugs Roqs attached to this vehicle.
Instantly, the vehicle felt lighter, and we were speeding away. I don’t want to dwell too much about the water because the important thing is to stay alive.
There is no carbon or gas I can smell. The vehicle’s technology is probably magnetic, and we are scattering dust along the way. I’m pretty sure our enemy can still spot us even though I could not hear the loud sounds the vehicle was emitting when we first entered the town. Unlike Roqs, Zirc did not feel the need to place the seatbelt on my seat and did not bother to up the shields.
I looked towards the side of the vehicle. True enough, instead of tire tracks, two solid lines on my side are left on the dusty road.
Zirc grabbed my upper arm and snarled. “Are you crazy?” he shouted. His fangs are out. I tugged my arm away, but he won’t budge.
“I was only checking if we were leaving tracks. Shouldn’t we use another road like that concrete road?” It did not leave any tracks behind when Roqs drove through it.
I can see Zirc’s jaw is ticking. His focus is on the rough road ahead of us but he is not letting go of my upper arm even if I try to take it from him. “I was not going to jump!” I shouted at him.
I can feel him rumbling.
“I was only trying to help.”
“Help!” he shouted. He finally let go of my arm, but I wished he didn’t because I almost got thrown off my seat when he used both hands to maneuver around a rock behind us. I was too busy glaring at him to notice and holding on to the metal bar in front of me.
