Chapter 4: Escaping the Iron Fist

He was a wanted criminal... Adam couldn't believe it. He hadn't done anything, and he was wanted by TSC! He shouted out, and punched the ground in a rage. He was pissed. He just wanted to crawl in a hole and die! Then hed be with his mother... No. He had to shake that thought out of his head. He needed to live. He needed to find the last of the Ten. It was his duty. He looked up at Arya and nodded.

 

“We need to go. As soon as possible.” The woman smiled and nodded back, before looking at her daughter.

 

“Anything to help Adam. You know that, Mum.” 'Tasha smiled, and looked around the room. Arya sighed, shook her head, and stood up.

 

“Alright. I've already prepared some bags for the two of you, expecting this day to come. You'll have to learn to survive on your own, and learn how to fight. Understand?” The two kids nodded, as ready as they could be. Arya sighed again, and shook her head once more.

 

“I don't believe you do. If TSC gets to either one of you, both of you will die. Get it? This isn't a game. You can't just press the Reset button or something.” The kids nodded again. They weren't stupid. But they were pretty naïve, to be honest. Ah well, couldn't be helped. Arya sighed softly, and stood them both up.

 

“I can get you two out of Sect Mu, but that's about it. From there, you're both on your own. Learn to watch each other's backs while watching your own. Learn to fight as one, yet as a pair. Learn the secrets of your hearts.” She smirked, and shuffled into the kitchen, grabbing the two bags she'd prepared, and handing them to the pair. She then moved to the trapdoor in her floor, wrenched it open, and climbed inside. Once she hit the floor, she pushed against a specific point on the wall, which opened up into a pretty convincing passageway. She smirked, and climbed back out.

 

“There. It's gonna take you to the outer reaches. The unpatrolled zone. Next, head to Sect Sigma. My sources believe one of the Ten may be hiding out there. Listen to me. Don't get caught. Please.” 'Tasha nodded solemnly, and looked at her mother.

 

“But what about you? Adam's mother died after he escaped.” Arya smiled confidently and shook her head.

 

“I'm married to a Guardian. If they kill me, TSC steps in and executes those responsible.” She giggled. “They're protecting their own worst enemy. I'd love to see Munin " er " Diederich's face if he heard about that.” 'Tasha nodded, still not confident in her mother's safety. Adam just stood there silently, trying to take it all in.

 

'I'm a wanted criminal. My mother's dead. And I have some strange ability to do with hearts. Am I... dreaming?' He pinched himself and grimaced. Nope. Not dreaming. He sighed, and looked at Arya, tears forming in his eyes. She shook her head, there was nothing to be said. He nodded, and walked into the hole.

 

'Tasha turned and hugged her mother tightly, crying softly.

 

“Stay safe, my child.” Arya smiled, and pushed her awaw from her, guiding her into the hole as well. “Remember, Sect Sigma.” Adam nodded, and whispered two words.

 

“Thank you.” He looked up, and stared into the darkness that lay before them. Out there, somewhere in that darkness, stood their freedom. He just had to take it and run.

 

 

One Hour Later

 

Adam and 'Tasha trudged along in the pitch black darkness of the tunnel, feet making strange squishing sounds on the dirty ground, jumping at any sudden sounds. It was pretty damn freaky in there... A hand gripped his shoulder, and Adam yelped. No, it was just 'Tasha.

 

“Remember. If we get separated, use that Attunation thing.” Adam nodded.

 

“Before we do that, you'll have to practice it. When we get out to open ground, you'll have to start.” He heard the swishing of a head, and assumed that 'Tasha had nodded also.

 

“Adam... Why do you feel so scared?” The boy blinked. Was he showing it so easily? He stopped suddenly, and turned towards the girl.

 

“How... do you know? It's not written on my face, and you wouldn't be able to see anything anyway.” He was glad that she couldn't see his face right now " he was bright red.

 

“I don't know. I can just tell.” He sighed, and turned back around. He didn't need this right now. All he wanted was to get the hell out of here. Fast.

 

“Alright. Let's just keep moving. Alright?” Another swishing noise sounded from behind him, and they began to continue on their long walk, into the never-ending darkness.

 

 

Thirty Minutes Later

 

Adam was sure that it was never going to end. The passageway just seemed to go on-and-on, with no apparent stopping point. Adam sighed " of course, to get to the outskirts, they had to go under another Sect " Sect Delta " TSC's military outpost. He was wondering why the military, of all people, hadn't found this path yet, when he hit something solid.

 

It seemed that the wall had caved in on them here, and as Adam felt around the dirt, he realised that there was no apparent way for them to get through. He cursed under his breath, and turned back to 'Tasha.

 

“I think we're stuck here.” The girl gulped, and the laughed, grabbing Adam's arm, and shoving him to the side. The boy yelped, expecting to his the wall, but instead he fell over and hit ground.

 

“So the path took on a different direction. Excuse me for not realising this.” He sighed, picked himself up, dusted himself off as best he could, and turned to keep going. “Still behind me?” A hand touched his shoulder, answering his question. He nodded, and the two of them walked for about five more minutes, until Adam noticed something in the distance. A light. A light that was beginning to grow. The boy grinned, and began to run.

 

'Tasha saw the light too, and took on Adam's method of movement, running behind him. The two of them ran as quickly and silently as they could, bursting out of the hole into the afternoon sun. Adam looked up into the sky " they were free. He turned around, seeing the steel wall of TSC's capital behind them. They were most definitely free now.

 

A growl suddenly sounded between them, and Adam looked down at his stomach. F**k, was he hungry! He put the bag off his back onto the ground, and pulled out an apple, sitting down and motioning for 'Tasha to do the same. The girl nodded, and sat down next to him, pulling an apple out of her bag too. As the two ate in the sunlight, 'Tasha turned to Adam and smiled brightly.

 

“So, where to now?”

 

“Your mother... She said Sect Sigma.”

 

“We're going back in there?”

 

“It seems that way.” 'Tasha sighed softly. He was right, of course. They had to go back in. For all they knew, the Ten might all live in Capital. Not something she wanted to think. She hoped that this guy was the last one for them to find in here. She really did... Adam and 'Tasha both finished their apples, core and all, before standing up and staring into the sky.

 

“We need to get moving. Sect Sigma is around the other side of the city. It's one of the few places in Capital with minimal Guardian presence.”

 

“Why, not enough crime?”

 

“More like too much crime. It's the true cesspool of the city. Full of drug dealers, Mafia bosses and muderers.”

 

“Oh, you'd fit right in then...” 'Tasha cut in and sniggered. Adam just reached up his right hand and pulled the finger at her, poking out his tongue.

 

“Last I heard, it was in the midst of a three-way gang war, all vying for control of the Sect. So we're gonna have to be wary of our relations. So if you 'befriend' one, don't think the other two are gonna be so nice and friendly.”

 

“Wasn't planning on getting friendly with Mafioso.” It was Adam's turn to snigger, and he nodded, walking off into the distance.

 

“Sect Sigma, here we come.” He really didn't want those words to be true. But one of the Ten was there. Well they'd better be!