Monday, April 9, 2012

Denshier Chapter 1

I watched him grabbing weapons off the rack, shoving them into my backpack.
"You've gotta get out of here, Beth."
"But Ben..." I started to say.
He shoved a machine gun into my hands and I almost dropped it, scared to hold it.
"Ben, I don't want to leave."
He glanced at me, pushing some packaged food into a side pocket of the bag.
"That's to bad. We aren't risking our lives so that you can die."
He held a dagger out to me. I looked at it uneasily.
"I don't even know how to fight-"
"Then you learn!" he said, grabbing my hand and pushing it onto my palm. He folded my fingers around it. "Your are only chance."
"What about Them?"
"Them?" he asked.
"Our people..."
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
"They're fighting for our country, just like you need to be doing right now."
"But I'm not fighting, I'm running away." I objected.
"To get help.  Beth... If we don't get help we will die. The C.O.D. will listen to you."
"But I'm only fifteen! Would they not listen to you?"
He shook his hand as he picked up the backpack.
"No, I'm not in charge around here-"
"And I am?"
His face darkened as I said that.
"Your parents just died." he said slowly as if to get it into my head. "They were the King and Queen of Beun and they only had one child, which is you. Don't you get it?"
My hands began to shake.
"But even if I am royal blood... You know so much more about the war and why its going on."
He slung the backpack onto my shoulders.
"I don't decide how politics work, Beth. I only negotiate with them." he placed a folded piece of paper in my gloved hand. "These are the directions to Denshier. When you get there, one of my friends will show you how to contact the C.O.D."
There was a moment of silence as we stared at each other in the gloom.
"What about you?" I asked, putting the paper into my jean pocket.
He placed both of his hands on my shoulders and smiled at me.
"Your just like your dad. He would never leave until he knew everyone was safe." we both heard an explosion outside then a flash of light lit up both of our faces. "I am going to protect your escape. If you do get to Denshier, find someone who looks exactly like me. He's the one you need to talk to."
Another explosion went off and then I heard a scream.
"Thanks." was all I could think to say.
He hugged me, whispering in my ear.
"Its gonna be alright. Get to Denshier."
I pulled away from him, blinking back tears. He nodded and I began to climb the latter leading to the vent in the sealing. I heard him whispering to me.
"Beth, hurry! Don't stop."
I finally crawled into the vent shaft and kicked the latter down. It clattered to the floor and I watched him hide it in a closet. He looked up at me.
"Everything's ready. Shut the trap door!" he hissed as I could hear footsteps coming towards the door of the room.
I shut the door until a only a slit of light was coming through. I watched breathlessly as the door banged open and fifteen men dressed all in black strode in, dragging a few children in with them. I placed a hand over my mouth, my heart pounding in my ears. The men in black shoved the children towards Ben and one stumbled. Ben caught her and steadied her, whispering something. I couldn't make out what he said but one of the guards apparently did. He took a step forward, pulling the girl out of Ben's reach then shoving a gun in Ben's face.
"Where is Beth?"
I felt my hand straying to my gun trigger, but I stopped. Ben had told me to go... How could I leave him?
"Tell us now, or she dies!"
I let the trap door down silently. I had to go to Denshier... I had to get out. I began crawling down the vent as I heard a scream from the room. I stopped and turned, torn between my decision. I heard a crash as somebody was thrown against the wall then Ben's voice.
"She's gone. She's not here!" his tone of voice was telling me to run.
I started moving again, my tears now falling. I pulled my bandana over my mouth and nose to keep the dust and smoke out of my lungs. The building was on fire... I could tell. The heat was coming from above as I heard a crash of timber up above me. I began to move faster, hearing gun shots down the tunnel. My backpack was getting heavy as I looked up and saw a light at the end of the shaft. Suddenly, I heard another explosion and the heat became intense on my back. Before I knew what was happening, the tunnel right behind me gave way and one of my legs was caught in the rubble. I screamed, feeling my leg being burned. The pile was on fire. I pulled my leg out, coughing and sputtering as the smoke thickened around me. I dragged my body along the tunnel, finally reaching the door. I pushed it open and tumbled out. I had rolled out onto a glowing white hallway with shouts and cries coming from my left. Or was it my right? I turned over on my back, grimacing as the pain in my leg steadily grew worse. I felt dizzy as I looked down the highway and saw the doors. Several black shapes were fighting as I heard cries of pain coming from outside. I tried to stand but crumpled to the floor with the agony of my leg wound. I leaned against the glowing wall as I heard more shouts as the door banged open. I jumped and turned but it was to late. A man dressed in black enveloped my vision as I felt strong hands grab my shoulders then my head crash against the wall. I slumped to the floor, unconscious.







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