Jump to content

The Fellowship of the Thing-Other Stories


Negative_Null

Recommended Posts

Davey dashed across the ground, dodged through the copse of trees at the back and slipped down the bank of the river. Mud splashed with each of Davey's footsteps as he scrambled forwards. He could hear the soldier struggling to keep pace with him, shouting something that sounded like "Halt!"

Just... a little bit... farther, he thought as the underflow tunnel came into view. He'd been playing in the drainage tunnels ever since he was old enough to swim; he could lose the soldier in there, easily. He just needed-

ZZZCHOW.

The hair stood up on the back of Davey's neck, both from fear and from the shot that had just missed him. Bad, bad, bad, he thought in abject terror, scrambling ever more furiously through the mud towards the tunnel. His foot slipped, and another shot went over his head. Davey screamed, put on an extra burst of speed, and scrambled into the tunnels.

"No one has to get hurt, kid," called the soldier, splashing his way to the tunnel entrance and pausing. Davey froze instinctively at the voice, hiding behind the first turn. "Just come on out and-"

All of a sudden, the soldier's voice cut off. Silence fell like a jackhammer. After a moment of tense waiting, Davey risked a peek.

The soldier was standing partway down the tunnel, next to a twisted mass of metal and glass. The UP safe, stashed here for safekeeping- the soldier's shot must have blasted it open. One way to get around the combination, he supposed... although it seemed to have destroyed whatever was inside as well. Whatever it was, the soldier seemed quite distracted by it. Davey stepped back carefully and sneakily, hoping to get away before the soldier finished.

The man's head jerked up as soon as Davey moved, staring him directly in the eyes. The soldier's gaze narrowed, and his mouth turned up at the edges in a smile that showed all of his teeth. Slowly, he raised his gun and pointed it at Davey, standing frozen like a rabbit before a wolf.

ZZZCHOW.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This way! THIS WAY! Alex grabbed T's hand and yanked her towards a cluster of bushes. Come on! Hurry!

"She a UP, kid?" One of the soldiers called. "You know what the penalty is for keeping a live UP from the Clan!"

Alex muttered an unflattering word and pulled her down behind a bush. "Stay still. Really, really still."

@Mist

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/17/2021 at 9:18 AM, Channelknight Fadran said:

Alex took in a breath. Were they really doing this? Now.

Hiiri bolted.

On 4/17/2021 at 0:25 PM, xinoehp512 said:

Davey instinctively bolted in the direction of the safe.

Hiiri considered it, then raced after Davey. Her responsibility was to T, but staying in pairs would be smarter. And Alex could protect T just fine - at least in this world, as long as they didn't get seen.

9 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

Davey dashed across the ground, dodged through the copse of trees at the back and slipped down the bank of the river. Mud splashed with each of Davey's footsteps as he scrambled forwards. He could hear the soldier struggling to keep pace with him, shouting something that sounded like "Halt!"

Just... a little bit... farther, he thought as the underflow tunnel came into view. He'd been playing in the drainage tunnels ever since he was old enough to swim; he could lose the soldier in there, easily. He just needed-

ZZZCHOW.

The hair stood up on the back of Davey's neck, both from fear and from the shot that had just missed him. Bad, bad, bad, he thought in abject terror, scrambling ever more furiously through the mud towards the tunnel. His foot slipped, and another shot went over his head. Davey screamed, put on an extra burst of speed, and scrambled into the tunnels.

"No one has to get hurt, kid," called the soldier, splashing his way to the tunnel entrance and pausing. Davey froze instinctively at the voice, hiding behind the first turn. "Just come on out and-"

All of a sudden, the soldier's voice cut off. Silence fell like a jackhammer. After a moment of tense waiting, Davey risked a peek.

The soldier was standing partway down the tunnel, next to a twisted mass of metal and glass. The UP safe, stashed here for safekeeping- the soldier's shot must have blasted it open. One way to get around the combination, he supposed... although it seemed to have destroyed whatever was inside as well. Whatever it was, the soldier seemed quite distracted by it. Davey stepped back carefully and sneakily, hoping to get away before the soldier finished.

The man's head jerked up as soon as Davey moved, staring him directly in the eyes. The soldier's gaze narrowed, and his mouth turned up at the edges in a smile that showed all of his teeth. Slowly, he raised his gun and pointed it at Davey, standing frozen like a rabbit before a wolf.

ZZZCHOW.

Hiiri disappeared and reappeared behind the man, kicking his leg out from underneath him. That shouldn't harm him too badly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Condensation said:

Hiiri bolted.

Hiiri considered it, then raced after Davey. Her responsibility was to T, but staying in pairs would be smarter. And Alex could protect T just fine - at least in this world, as long as they didn't get seen.

Hiiri disappeared and reappeared behind the man, kicking his leg out from underneath him. That shouldn't harm him too badly.

The soldier twisted, strangely compliant, his eyes seeking hers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 4/19/2021 at 10:36 PM, Condensation said:

Hiiri paused. Something about his gaze... She looked away, towards Davey. "You all right?"

The soldier grabbed Hiiri's head, eyes focused intently on hers. In the refection on his eyes, she could see something moving.

"...help..." mumbled the soldier indistinctly.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...