Vote

I'm calling a vote, well not really a vote but kind of. Anyways it seems we all need a short break to think about what is going to happen next and I'm suggesting we take a short break, a week or two, and then come back to it after we've had some time to think and rest from this story. Post a comment whether or not you wish to take a break, if no one wishes to continue we'll break otherwise I will post the next post sometime after I read the comment saying that you wish to keep going.

Bonnie

"You know, he's always saying he'll tell you later, but does he?" Anu inquired as we raced behind Will and Mira. I hadn't ever thought of it before. As far as I could remember he had caught me up to speed, but now that I thought of it, there did seem to be more I wasn't aware of.

"It doesn't matter right now, brother, we need to find Randy."

"and who is this Randy character you are always going on and on about? Seems to me, if he was so important you wouldn't have ever lost him, not to mention continuously."

"Look, if you're going to stay with us, you're going to have to trust Will."

"Why? because suddenly you think you're in love? Trust me, it's not worth it."

I stopped dead in my tracks and put my hand on Anu's shoulder.

"What happened? You're never serious about anything, especially not love."

"Look, it doesn't matter. She's long gone. Bartholomew sold her into slavery. I will never see her again. And if I do, she will not be the same."

I was touched, I had never thought of my brother ever being in love. I guess because he would always be a kid to me.

"We'll find her, if you want. We're good at that sort of thing." I tried to reassure him.

"I'm not a kid anymore, don't make promises you can't keep. Besides, how do I know she'll take me back? It's my fault she's gone! If I had been watching over the village no one would have been sold, no one!"

I tried to talk to him, but he just pushed me away and ran off ahead. Man, I was getting sick of running.

William

I scratched my head curiously as the Jerican that had taken Mira simply put her down outside the building and left. I motioned for Bonita and Anuja to be quiet while I snuck up on her, making sure it wasn't a trap. As I suspected, best to appear not to see them.

I nudged Mira, "Wake up sleepy head. How did you get out here anyways?"

She moaned slightly, "Who are yo..." She held in a laugh and quickly straightened her expression as she realized who she was almost laughing at. "Good to see you Will."

"Come on let's get out of here," I motioned for Bonita and Anuja to come. "Let's go find Randy and then I'll explain everything I know."

Mira nodded, "What about Tamitha?"

I blinked and swore under my breath, "Let's get out of here. I said I'd explain everything I knew. That includes her."

She gave me a look like she thought I was going insane and perhaps I was but I didn't let it bother me. She led the way to a hotel and I saw something I didn't like and they saw me.

I whispered to Mira, "Get him up and ready to leave." She went inside with the other two.

A few moments later a seeker was standing in front of me with it's sword out, "I should kill you."

"But then you wouldn't know where your master is and she is in danger," I grinned.

It glared at me, "You are just like your mother. Manipulative and always in our way."

I pointed to the burning building, "That's the last place I'd seen her. And that monster from the dark district is there as well. Good luck."

It's eyes went wide and it clammered back to it's post and I saw it scury away a few moments later. Mira came running out and she looked hysterical(sp?).

"He's gone!" She shrieked.

That's Randy for sure, "I have an idea where he would go. Actually the only place he'd go, but we have to hurry he might have left that place too."

"Why?" Bonita interjected.

"Because the man he'd be looking for is out of town." I turned and began to leave, "Let's go."

Good crap I'm still broken.

---Back at the hotel.

Randy rolled around for a little while. Yawned. Then hobbled to the window. Raised an eyebrow. "is that fire supposed be there?" Trying to run, it was urgent, Randy fell. "Ow, Mira... Tam?... ... potato!" rolling painfully over, Randy saw the wheelchair that was left? "thought we left you in the ally way. Tam must have came back and did that."

"Do you really think it was necessary to poke him till he woke up?"

"Well, it was better then watching him snore all night. Especially when the City is going to ruins around us. We have to do something. It's just cruel fate that we're tethered to this crippled buffoon."

"Well he's awake maybe we should-"

"We can't tell him anything. Our orders were to go unnoticed. That's why we had to throw the pebbles at the window, move the wheelchair. Who knows what else we'll have to do-

where did the cripple go?"

Scooting along, Randy was racing, he had to make it to Van Grays. In his condition, he had to do something. There were a lot of guards out tonight doing patrols. But Randy had little trouble.

In truth Randy woke the dog's then the Madness Men came along then the guards struck. They survived of course but surprised that Randy had lived this long.

Making it there. He knocked on the door. "you're alive!?!... and Van Gray Makes you answer his door still!?!" the poor bandaged maid looked at Randy in disgust, there was something maybe a hesitation, Randy did try to save her but it probably was rationalized away. "Van Gray isn't here. out of town for a business meeting."

"oh, well... could you tell him the city is under martial law. The city center is on fire and-" door shut in his face. Thank goodness Randy was a monk and didn't really have to rely on female companionship. evidently they can be fickle.

solutions solutions. Randy think. you could wait till Tam and Mira come back then do a stratigic plan to thwort the forces. run away now heal then come back. try to get the monistary to come and help out. find Comander crooks and have him help out... the last two would take the longest.

GOOD bacon! Randy was feeling usless rigt now and he could do nothing about it. haring some guards around the corner. "you two that way I'll check the coridor. and you Report to Bartholomew our progress n locking down the town." "YES SIR!" they yeld in unison.

"Barty huh..."

Bonnie

"I think when this is all over (assuming I live) I am going to need a very long vacation." I complained as I followed Will blindly in the dark. If he hadn't been holding my hand I probably would have lost him hours ago.

What was this creature they were all talking about anyway? I didn't get a very good look at him when the lightening shined on him. He didn't look human, that's for sure. Perhaps he was one of those werewolves my elders had spoke of, but everyone assumed that was only a story. Either way, I did not want to be in it's path.

"I wish we could get out of here, it's a death trap. I hope my brother makes it out. . .though, he is a very clever boy." I tried to reassure myself. Will's hand tightened around mine as he tried to comfort me. My whole life had changed in an instance those many months ago. All because I had taken Randy's rations. Part of me regretted it and wished I could take it all back, but another part of me (a part I had never known before) was glad to have had such adventures with Will by my side nearly the whole time.

I let my mind wander as we ran through the darkness, it was much better than worrying about death. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I almost didn't hear the shrill screams coming from the darkness. "Mira?" I asked Will, incoherently.

Before Will could say anything, someone grabbed my from behind and pulled me away from Will. I wanted to scream, but his hand was covering my mouth. I started to panic again, until I heard a familiar voice whisper in my ear, "I think I've found a way out."

"What has happened to Mira?" Will interjected.

"The guards have got her, I was able to get away. They'll be looking for me. But I suspect they will be taking her somewhere first. They have torches to see in the dark. Seems to me, if they are smart they will be wanting to get out of here before the monster gets them."

"How did you. . .?" I was about to ask, but it wasn't really important.

"if we follow them quietly, they will surely lead us to an exit." Anuja informed us.

What other choice did we have at this point? On the other hand, what if the guards were taking her to the creature?

William

Bonita and I had gotten a bit lost wandering through the corridors. I wasn't worried about finding Mira, I had my own ways of locating Randy. Mainly that in a short while this city would be under siege, I'd seen the weapons with my own eyes after all and they wouldn't be headed this way for nothing. Randy would be up and at the gate trying to hold off the invaders the moment he caught wind of the battle.

I thought we were finally headed in the right direction until we entered a large, dark room. We could hear the rain peppering the windows above us.

"Not the usual approach but, it's a way out." I grinned at her.

A bolt of lightening flashed, illuminating the room momentarily and revealing the eerie truth. This was the place the delegates had been held in while something butchered them.

Our eyes adjusted to the darkness and I grimaced, "This is just like that monster's work from the dark districts. It's beginning to branch out, looking for more prey."

"But--" Bonita stammered. "It can't be that hungry it had plenty of-" She hesitated saying it, "Food."

I stood up and wrapped my arms around her, "I said looking for prey, not food. It's intelligent enough only to be dangerous. It probably isn't safe for me to be here."

"Why?"

"Because I'm the one that got away," I said as a lightening bolt illuminated my frame and another from across the way. "Run."

Bonita ran out the door and I was right behind her, I guess the guards that were supposed to contain it failed in their duty, probably they just ran. A few minutes later we heard voices around a corner and paused. The creature had temporarily lost us in the labyrinth of halls and doorways.

"I don't know what he wants exactly," One of them spoke. They were coming closer, "Something about-"

I jumped from around the corner and punched the one who was speaking in the throat and slammed the other into the wall. I then proceeded to knock the other one out. I picked up a sword and tossed it to Bonita before picking up the other one.

"I have a feeling we'll need these."

We continued walking quietly down the halls.

Events .

Damien walks into the hallway with a bloody knife. “So sad he had to go out of order.”

Some guards came up. Damien “the general is indisposed. Tell me the matter.”

“There appears to be two rebel groups on the run in the hallway Sir”

Damien “Focus all your men on the group closet to the exit, smother them. I’ll handle the other.”

“And of the beast?”

“Let him rampage, just contain him in the main room till he settles down.”

----back at “safety”

Cricket cricket, the noise seemed to be maddening to the protectors of Tamitha. The only thing that disturbed the peaceful quiet was the occasional snore of pathetic Randy.

“do you-

“Stop”

“But what about-

“Look, if the prophetess wants us to stay here, we’re going to stay here.”

“But the-“

“And if he snores all night, we’ll just have to- "

ZZGHT! Interrupted by Randy’s snore.

“We’ll be fine”

“What if the prophetess is in trouble?”

…

“I like jello…” Tamitha grinned as the frantic people threw their plates in the air.

---in the hallways

Drawing closer to his prey he could hear them chatting around a corner. “Will’s partner?” Damien rolled it around in his head. If this is The Will that I’ve heard so much about that would mean his partner is-"

The two scurried off after a few moments and hearing more guards come closer. “Sir have you seen them?”

“Jericans I have a fantastic mission for you, guide them to an exit, I think I’ve found a weakness to this Will.”