Because We Were Different – Part 30

Hey everyone! I’m back with Part 30 of my short story! Hopefully only two more parts to go! I will admit, I had a bit of a hard time writing the first section of this part for some reason (probably because on-the-run or chase scenes aren’t my favorites to write). But I really enjoyed the second section, so I hope you all enjoy it too! Thanks again for reading! ~ Kay Adelin

Part 30

Part 30

I curled my fists as the door started to open. Sure, my fists wouldn’t do much damage, but at least I’d go out with the knowledge I fought till the last. Just as I prepared to swing my fist, I registered the single person standing in the doorway. 

“Raidon?!” 

The idiot stood with a grin, holding the oddest looking tool. “It works, Ainslyn!” 

I blinked, staring at the tool. “My… my door unlocker?” 

“What’s going on?” Mai stood at the entrance to the door, looking as bewildered as I felt. 

Raidon laughed. “I tried Ainslyn’s door unlocker and—oh wait! We don’t have time for this! I gotta get you two outta here! I’m rescuing you!” 

Raidon rescuing us? If it’d been any other situation, I’d just assume we were doomed, but hey, he’d gotten the door open! That gave us a chance! 

“But how are we going to get out of here? Remington will just catch us and lock us up again…” Mai clasped her hands together, looking downcast. 

“Oh I’ve got that taken care of too! Nat’s got a ship waiting; we’ve just got to get to the hanger! Come on, it’s this way!” Raidon motioned down the hall, then frowned. “Or was it this way?” 

Yup, this was why I always assumed we were doomed. Snatching Mai’s hand, I pulled her forward. “Come on, we’ll go this way!” I recalled the side the soldiers had come from last time I’d tried to escape our cell and headed the other way, Raidon hurrying behind. We turned down a hall, and then another, my mind scrambling. Why couldn’t Raidon be good with directions?!

“Are you sure this is the right way? It doesn’t look—” Raidon slammed into me before he could finish his sentence. “Wha—”

Guards. A whole bunch of them came down the hall, calmly, as if they’d been sent to intercept our escape. As if it’d been planned. 

I frantically glanced around for another escape. “This way!” I pulled Mai into another hall, Raidon following. The footsteps of the soldiers just kept coming as we headed down the next hall, and then another. Doors aligned all the halls, leading to who knew where. Maybe they were the guards’ quarters? Or rooms leading to more jail cells? “Raid! Do you have any idea where the exit is?!” 

“No, I’m all screwed up now. My mental map has long taken flight.” 

“Some rescue!” Now instead of me and Mai dying, it would be me, Mai and Raidon. “You stupid fool; you should’ve just stayed out of this and saved your own life!” 

“How could I do that when you’re suffering? I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t at least try to help.” Raidon actually smiled. “It won’t be so bad… dying with you.” 

No! I won’t let this happen again! As soon as I turned another corner, I spotted yet another group of guards coming towards us, and shoved them back. “There’s more guards coming this way!” 

“We’re trapped!” Mai started crying, shaking all over. “They’re going to kill us…” 

“Come on, have faith! Maybe the Creator you talk about will help us still! We’re not dead yet!” How could Raidon still retain his cheerful outlook even in the face of death?

I tried one of the doors. Locked. I pulled them into the doorway. “Listen to me,” I said, looking Raidon right in the eyes. “I’m going to try and distract them. Take care of Mai for me, and try to get her out of here. Can you promise me that?” 

He shook his head. “I’m staying with you, Ainslyn.” The smile faded from his face, and he looked more serious than I could ever remember him appearing in our almost six years of knowing each other. “We work together, remember? We can do something together to take out Remington and his men.” 

Three of us against… twenty or more of them? 

“We’ve been trained. They haven’t.”

“We’ve been trained to be spies, Raid—”

“Exactly. To act like one thing and secretly be and communicate another.” 

The guards came closer. 

“All right.” I lowered my hands to my sides. “What is your plan?” 

“I don’t have one.” My brows raised as he smirked. “Yet.” 

#

The guards led us into Remington’s secret office, and much to my surprise and relief, they kept our hands free from any bonds. Raidon acted his usual sheepish self as they shoved him beside me before Remington’s desk, but as he glanced at me, I saw the sharpness of his gaze. 

“Well well.” Remington leaned back in his seat, chuckling. “I enjoyed experiencing a little deja vu before having to execute some of my favorites. Didn’t you try to escape once before, Occupant 342?”

My gaze flitted around the room. He’d apparently had someone clean his room, and not even the paperweight remained on his desk. Only his feet and… the chloroform! The bottle of chloroform rested beside his legs on the desk. Was he planning on using that again to take us to our execution? 

But what if the tables turned? If we could somehow get rid of the guards and get ahold of the chloroform…?

I glanced at Raidon, and he smiled. He understood.

“Mr. Remington… I was only trying to have a little fun. I got so bored, I figured it’d be fun if I broke them out of prison. Plus, wouldn’t it showcase my crazy good skills?” 

Remington huffed. “I was looking for an excuse to get rid of you too. You’ve been nothing but trouble ever since you came along. Honestly, I was hoping you’d be killed on the mission, but this is just as good.” 

I clenched my fists. How dare he wish such a thing on Raidon!

“W-what?” Raidon truly sounded hurt. 

“Don’t be too sad. It’ll be quick and painless.” The man fingered the gun at his side, and my heart-rate sped. Was he intending on killing us right here? I glanced between Raidon and Mai. I could shield one or the other….

“W-wait, please don’t kill me! I’ll… I’ll tell you everything! About Ainslyn’s inventions, about the Shiarizian princess, everything! Just please don’t kill me!” 

I stared at him, wide eyed. Was he seriously just going to—!

He gave me a side wink as Remington responded in an interested tone. He… he was distracting him! I winked back before mentally plotting how I’d get the chloroform.

“I’ll tell you, but please…” Raidon glanced at the guards behind us. “C-can they leave? I get too nervous talking in front of too many people.” As if he was giving a speech.

Remington nodded, and for once I was glad Raidon had such unusual antics. Remington didn’t even question his quirks anymore. The guards went to stand outside, and as Raidon started rambling, I stepped closer to Mai. Without turning my head in her direction, I whispered, “When I move, rush to the door and lock it. Can you do that?” 

Though trembling, she nodded, and I took a deep breath. At the count of three, I’d do it. 

Three.

If we died, at least we’d attempt to take Remington with us. 

Two. 

We were going to die anyways if we didn’t try something. This was our last chance…

One.

This is for you, Mom and Dad. 

I dove for the chloroform. If this failed, I doubted I’d live to see the outcome.