“Jonah!” Vanessa called out. “Slow down!” She said, as she stopped her brisk pace. She bent down and took off her high heeled shoes, and grasped them in her hand as she rushed to catch up with him. “What is this sector two?” She asked, as she easily kept pace with him now.
“It’s a place where we use to play as kids.” He said. “Forbidden, of course.” He laughed uneasily.
“If it’s forbidden, then how do you know about it?” She asked.
“Roger.” He said. “He and I…and Adam. We used to play down there. That is until Adam…” He quit in mid sentence. Vanessa knew of Adam, but Jonah had never talked much about him, or what had happened. She just knew it was a sensitive spot with Jonah. Whenever he did talk of him, she never pried for more. She knew that whatever it was, it was something that Jonah held deeply inside, and guarded with his whole being.
“Okay. Let’s try this then.” She said. “Why? Why are we going to this sector two?” He walked a few paces before he answered.
“That is where Charles said he was going. He told someone to meet him in sector two.”
“But Jonah, dear. He probably meets people all over New Sebastian.”
“I’m sure he does. But he told them to come armed.” He said.
“Armed?” Whatever does that mean?” She asked.
“A weapon.” He said. “It means to bring a weapon. Something out of the old literature, I think.”
“A weapon!” She exclaimed, as her expression changed. “So you think all this talk about killing…that it’s real?” She asked with disbelief.
“Yes, Nessa, I do. That’s what I have been saying all along.” Suddenly she stopped. He continued for another pace or two, and then stopped as well.
“Then why are you going there. If there is going to be killing. Why are you going there?” She asked, as tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
“Somebody has to stop them.” He said as he stepped closer to her.
“Somebody?” She said. Her lip quivered slightly. “Somebody else!” She said and stepped back from him. “Tell somebody about it. You do not have to go there.”
“And who do I tell?” He asked as he stepped forward again. “Roger? Charles? They’re the ones doing this!” He said. “Nessa.” He said softly. “There is no one else to tell.” She looked down and nodded ever so slightly. “Come on. It’s just over here, if I remember correctly.” He led her around the corner of the building and down a narrow alley. He paused near the end and began to place his hands against the wall. Gently he pressed here and there on the wall.
“What are you doing?” She asked. Suddenly a door shaped panel sank back into the wall, slid to the side, and revealed a dimly lit short hallway.
“This.” He said. He grabbed her by the hand and stepped inside. The door slid shut behind them, and startled Vanessa.
“How do we get back out?” She asked, as she stepped back towards the closed door. In response it slid open again. She took a step away from it, and it slid shut.
“It’s automatic from this side.” He said, and turned and continued into the hallway, which ended in steps that led downward. She caught up and began to follow him down the steps, her bare feet now cold against the coolness of the steps. Her shoes swayed by the straps from her hand as it carefully slid down the railing of the stairwell. They traveled down several flights. The only sounds, the ones of Jonah’s shoes as they clicked on the steps. They had passed several doorways, when Jonah finally stopped at one. He put a fingertip to his lips as he motioned for her to remain quiet. He activated the door, which slid open. She followed him into another larger hallway, and after they turned the corner they stood in front of an even larger doorway.
“Sector two.” He whispered as the door slid open from the middle and they stepped into the room. She had never seen so many boxes. Stacks upon stacks rose up throughout room. She sensed motion to her left, and looked up and saw the great mechanical arm as it swung overhead with a stack in its grip. Amazed and a bit frightened, she watched as it plunged down yards in front her, deposited the stack, and then shot upward as it swung back to the middle of the room. “Watch out for the claw.” Jonah said.
“Claw?” She asked. Her words were barely audible.
“Yeah. That’s what we always called it. The claw. Stay here.” He said as he entered the huge room, and quickly ran to the stack that was just deposited. Vanessa’s heart leapt into her into her throat as she saw the claw as it swung back towards them with another large stack in its grasp. It plunged down toward where Jonah stood. She let out a stifled shriek, as he stepped aside at the last possible second. The stack was released, and the claw shot upward again. Jonah stepped from around the just deposited stack, and grinned sheepishly back at her. She shook her head. He turned and headed up the aisle away from her and disappeared. A few moments passed before suddenly, in front of her, she saw a woman’s head stick up from the closest stack of boxes. She edged to the side of the doorway, and concealed herself the best she could as she watched.
“Jericho!” She heard the woman whisper, and watched as she ducked back down. “Jericho!” The woman called again, and suddenly a man’s head popped up on another stack close by.
“Over here.” He said in almost a whisper, as he looked around. He eyed the Guardians that still surrounded the skid, though they were no longer on the platform. They stood with their backs to the skid and seemed to scan the room. He ducked down again. Suddenly a box on the top row of the stack tumbled to the floor, and revealed his hiding spot. He turned and climbed down the stack to the floor. “Gabby?” He called out quietly. Another box tumbled to the floor, and now from her hidden vantage point, Vanessa she could clearly see Gabrielle in her hiding spot, as she turned and climbed down the stack. They rushed to one another, and hugged. Then quickly, turned, back to back, and began to survey their surroundings. Jonah ran around the corner. Startled, Jericho pivoted, and his control stick came to bare. Jonah spun to his right, ricocheted off of a stack and fell to the floor. He rolled, and then came to his feet with his hands up, apart, and ready for action. He faced Jericho.
“Who the hell are you?” Jericho yelled, as he waived the control stick menacingly in front of him.
“I am Jonah.” Jonah answered excitedly, as he slowly circled to the right. Jericho followed suit and circled as well. His control stick was ready to strike.
“What is this place?” Jericho demanded angrily, as he still circled.
“New Sebastian.” Jonah answered calmly, and stopped his movement as he stood up straight. He relaxed his arms, and let them fall to his side. “And you are?” He asked.
“Jericho.” He answered hesitantly. Gabrielle stepped to his side and interjected.
“Gabrielle.” She said.
“Well, Jericho…” Jonah nodded towards him, and then turned to Gabrielle. “And Gabrielle. We need to get out of here.” He said and glanced back from the aisle he had come from. “There are mechanical men back that way.” He said as he nodded his head. “And they are coming this way. Come on.” He said and ran past them. Jericho’s hand flinched slightly as he passed, and his fingers tightened on the control stick. He looked at Gabrielle.
“Gabby?” He asked. The look of concern was clear in his face. Her look matched his. She stepped to the edge of the stack nearest them and peered around the corner. She saw the Guardian down the aisle, as it headed towards them. She snatched her head back and grabbed his hand.
“Let’s go!” She yelled, and began to run after Jonah. They ran through the doorway, and saw Vanessa as she hid against the wall. She tried to make herself look as small as possible. Gabrielle stopped dead in her tracks, and seemed to forget the danger behind them as she stared at Vanessa.
“That’s Vanessa, my wife.” Jonah said as they cleared the doorway and it slid shut. “Come on. They’re still coming and that door won’t stop them.” Jericho turned back and reached out with his control sti
ck. The control panel sparked violently.
“Rebecca?” Gabrielle asked Vanessa hesitantly. “Is that you?” Vanessa looked around her, and then turned back to Gabrielle and responded.
“No. I am Vanessa.”
“Let’s go!” Yelled Jonah, as he led the way down the hall. Vanessa turned and followed him, while Gabrielle stayed motionless, as if dumbstruck. Jericho started to follow Jonah and Vanessa.
“Come on!” He yelled back to her, just as a loud clang came from the door. The sound startled her back into the moment, and she ran after him. In a few strides, she had caught up to him.
“Jericho.” She said, as she panted. “That’s Rebecca!”
“Rebecca? Who is?” He asked.
“That lady.” She pointed as she ran. “Vanessa. She’s Rebecca. She’s your sister.” Ahead Jonah and Vanessa had disappeared through a doorway. Jericho and Gabrielle hurried to follow. The bangs against the door behind them became louder, and the now familiar acrid smell filled the air, as sparks began to light up the hallway they had left behind. They bounded up the steps two at a time.
Chapter 27
Immortal Page 26