Insanity Chapter 4

“Cal, get behind me,” my brother said as he pulled me behind his back.

The man stepped out of the shadows, revealing that he was in his mid-twenties. His dark brown hair was a mess and by the look of the bags beneath his eyes it wouldn’t seem that he hadn’t slept in days.

“You two little thieves aren’t going anywhere,” he said as he pulled out a black flask from his coat pocket and took a swing out of it. “I’ve already hit the alarm and the imperial guards will be here soon. It’s better for all of us if you don’t resist.”

“Who the hell are you!?” Mal yelled as he took a step forward. “I wouldn’t take another step,” said the man as he pulled out a scalpel from his coat pocket. “I don’t enjoy cutting flesh of a living creature.”

“Is that thing all you got?” Mal asked as he took another step forward. “I don’t care what kind of weapon you have. I’ll have you on your ass before you get the chance to use it.”

“Such an unnecessary need to result to violence. Don’t you think that you’re setting an bad example for the young one behind you?” “Shut up! We’re leaving and there is nothing you can do to stop us!”

“Cal go back to Jessica and Malik. They should already be in the room that we entered waiting for us. I’ll make sure that he doesn’t try anything stupid.”

“Mal, I-”

“It’ll be fine. I’ve had to handle several situations like this before. This is nothing new to me.” “Okay, I said as I went out into the hall, only to find that Jessica and Malik were already there.

“Shh!” Jessica said softly as she put her fingers over her mouth. “We already know what’s going on. Head over to the terrace and wait for us there. If anyone else comes run.”

I nodded my head back to her and slowly made my way back to the terrace. From there all I could hear was some muffled yelling and then a loud crash! I wanted to make my way back to them to see what happened, but I wasn’t going to get that chance.

I heard a small creak of a door opening, and I saw that the front door of apartment was slowing opening. I saw the hint of gold and I hide behind the couch. I peered out to see that one imperial guard had entered the apartment. It would seem that man wasn’t bluffing.

I had to warn Mal and the others before they were caught. Though all I had on me, were several spoons and forks, along with the box I picked up.

“Mr. Demos?” the guard spoke with a feminine voice as they looked around the place. “I am responding to your silent alarm. Please respond.”

After a second with no answer the guard pulled out the rifle strapped across their back. I knew that if she went back into that room my brother and the others would be caught. I had to do something fast.

I pulled one of the spoons out of my bag and I quickly threw it into the direction of the kitchen, before she could move any farther. Hopefully this would distract the guard long enough for Mal and the others to escape.

“You can come out now,” the guard said as I felt the barrel of her rifle touch the back of my head. “Don’t make any sudden moves or you’ll regret it.”

I slowly picked myself up and turned to face the guard. “It’s you,” the guard said in shock, but that only left me confused.

“Wait one second,” she said as she took of her helmet letting her long black hair fall down past her shoulders. When I got a look at her face, she just looked at me with sadness, not anger.

“We met each other on the train about an hour,” she said, placing her rifle on the ground. “I thought that those guys took you, but it would seem that I was wrong. You’re trying to rob this place, aren’t you?”

“I-” I could barely get any words to come out of my mouth. I was scared that if I said anything than she would harm me or the others. I’ve seen what the imperial guard could do to people from the slums, and it was not pretty.

“I…I-” “Calm down, and try to breath,” she said in a soothing voice. “I’m not going to harm you I promise. I just want you to answer a few questions. Can you do that for me?”

I nodded my head, knowing there was nothing else that I could do. If I tried to ruin than she could end up shooting me. I couldn’t stop trembling in front of her. If I just had listened to Jessica than I wouldn’t be in this situation right now.

“First off how old are you?” “I’m eight,” I said back to her quietly. “You’re eight! Your small enough to look like your five. Those people must be using you to gain a sympathy factor.” “Hmm?”

“Back on the train you were with kids that looked twice your age. Did they force you to come here? Did they pressure you into stealing?”

“No, I-” “Let me see what’s in the bag,” she said as she slowly grabbed the bag out of my hands. Because she was bigger and stronger than me there was no chance of holding onto it.

“Just some silverware and an old red box. It doesn’t look like you got that much here. I can tell from this that you’re no threat or harden criminal. You’re just a kid. Now, where are the others that brought you here and what have you done to Mr. Demos?”

“They-”

“Not you again!” Mal jumped onto the terrace from outside the apartment and flung his bag at the female guard. The bag hit her right in the face giving me the chance to grab my bag back from her and run over to where Mal was.

“Come on let’s go!” he yelled as we jumped over to the next building. “Wait!” As we ran, I saw the female guard get up and point her rifle right at us. I knew that given the chance she would kill us.

“Keep mov-”

BAM!

Within an instant Mal was shot right in his left shoulder! He lost his balance, but I was able to grab his arm in time to keep him from falling over. Expecting another shot to come Mal and I kept running, but I could only imagine the pain that he was experiencing right now.

When we finally got far enough Mal, and I climb down the building we were on into a dark alleyway. Malik and Jessica were already waiting for the both of us when we got there.

“What the heck was that?” Malik asked Mal as he pushed passed me. “You told us that the guy wasn’t supposed to be there, yet there he was plain as day!”

“I didn’t know that he would be there! It’s just as much as a shock to me as it is to you. Jessica, can you do something about this real fast?” he asked as he slowly took off his shirt. The bullet wound went right through his shoulder and there was blood everywhere!

“You’re lucky,” she said as she pulled some bandages out of her pouch. “It went right through your shoulder. When we get back, I’ll cauterize the wound, but for now this should at least slow down the bleeding. Though you shouldn’t try moving your arm around that much in the meantime.”

“Who cares about that!” yelled Malik. “Because of this brat the imperial guard knows we’re here! Why didn’t you listen to Jessica? If you did, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“Malik it’s not his fault,” said Jessica as she finished wrapping up Mal’s shoulder. “Isn’t it? It’s all his fault! The man found us thanks to him, and the imperial guard found us twice thanks to him!”

“Malik enough,” said Jessica. “Placing blame right now should be the least of our priorities. Right now, Mal is hurt and we need to keep moving. If you disagree than you can find your own way back.”

Malik shut his mouth after that, and Jessica took charge.

“Even though Mal lost his share of the loot we still have the rest. We my come up with loses, but this job is still a success. Though that is to say if we are able to get back to the slums. By now other imperial guards will be searching for us. That means we can’t leave the same way that we entered.”

“We’ll have to take another route.” “And what route do you suggest?” Mal asked as he stood up. “The one that the imperials would never even consider taking; the sewers.”