by Steve Hester
CHAPTER 23
Annie had slipped over the fence by the car park and was weaving her way through the cars towards the door to the booking area. A shadow detached itself from the darkness and she sprung into a defensive stance, her gauntlets glowing blue in the dim light.
“Easy tiger!” said Smithy.
She dropped her fists. “Where's the key? Is he safe?”
“For now but he won’t be much longer. Was the fire alarm your idea?”
She carried on her run to the door with Smithy on her heels.
“Jacobs. He called it in hopping to clear the building out.”
She reached the door and turned the handle. It was magnetically locked and could only be deactivated by the keypad on the wall next to it. Her gauntlets glowed again and she plunged both fists through the door. With a slight grunt she pulled the door off its hinges, cables trailed out from the still attached lock as it came with it.
“Well it mostly worked.” Said Smithy following her in. “Few officers came to check on the cells and they ran into our friend. They bought us some time.”
She looked at him sadly. “I hope it was enough.”
They ran on with Smithy taking the lead.
“I'm fine by the way. Only been babysitting the last hour or so, nothing to write home about.” He said.
“Not now Smithy!”
“It's not as though I've got anything better to do. It was only my clans Titanfall night, it’s not like we’re training for a championship or DUCK!”
As they reached an intersection a large pot plant flew through the air. Annie dropped to her knees and skidded along the polished floor as it passed through the space where her head had just been. She twisted round and jumped on her feet before planting her back against the wall. Smithy checked the direction the attack had come from.
“Two and they're nasty!” He said.
She risked a look round the corner. Two creatures snarled at her wearing ragged and bloody police uniforms.
“More Thralls? I've had just about enough of these things tonight.” She said to herself.
She clenched her fists and felt the power from the gauntlets surge through her. As she turned to face the creatures they hissed and screamed at her. Smithy poked his head out from behind her.
“Well... You have fun.” He said.
Annie never took her eyes off the Thralls stood in front of her.
“You're a great help as always Smithy. Go keep an eye on the kid.”
He nodded and ran off leaving her against the two former humans. Two against one? Hardly good odds for them, he thought.
Behind him he could hear them charge down the corridor towards Annie, howling.
…
While a lot of police work goes on in the field and on the streets, much more takes place in offices. Paperwork is all carefully collated and organised with evidence and statements for a hopefully successful resolution to a case and the hours spent organising it all is astounding.
The wall was only thin and splintered open as the body was flung through it. Several filing cabinets tipped over spilling files all over the floor and, before the body had come to rest, a number of desks and computers had already been broken. A fan had been knocked onto its side sending documents spiralling up into the air and created a paper snowstorm.
Jacob hauled himself up onto his knees and felt a sore and tender spot on his ribcage, which probably meant a break. If it hadn't been for his body armour it would have been fatal. He whipped his head round as a scream filled the air and saw the Sympathetic Man leaping through the air ready to smash his head open.
He rolled out of the way and onto his feet as the Sympathetic Man's knee cracked open the floor on impact. Jacob swung a kick into its head, which snapped around sending the creature spinning, but within a heartbeat it was up again and charged back at him.
He ducked as a clawed hand tried to find his head and instead tore a chunk out of a supporting pillar in the middle of the room. The hand got caught on some wiring that ran through the pillar and Jacob was on him in a flash with a series of rapid punches to the kidneys.
The Sympathetic man's elbow connected with Jacob's head and he was suddenly seeing stars. He staggered backwards as the creature finally got his hand free. Cables tumbled from the pillar, many sparking as they dropped out like entrails.
Jacob took a quick body inventory while lights danced in his vision. He was bleeding from at least three places, most likely his ribs were broken, his head was ringing and he was sure he'd lost two teeth. He wasn't even counting the number of bruises that would be welling up right now so whichever way he looked at it his body was a canvas of pain. One way or another he had to put an end to this fight sooner rather than later or there wouldn't be a later!
Jacob and the Sympathetic Man eyed each other across the room.
Physically there was no way he could carry this fight on but armed there was still a chance, despite the downside. He reached into the back of his coat and pulled out his sword knowing full well what would come next.
The Sympathetic Man grinned and held his hands out in front of him. As he pulled them apart energy arced between his fingers and his own sword grew out of the ether. It only took a second for the sword to appear and when it did it was clear that this wasn't a sword that was ornate or decorative in anyway. It was a sword built for one purpose: to kill with.
As the Sympathetic Man held the pommel, a gout of flame engulfed the blade, casting weird shadows that danced across his already grotesque face. The heat from the flames reached the sensor on the ceiling of the room and the sprinklers sputtered into life. Water cascaded over them, hissing and evaporating when it touched the flaming sword.
“Oh I hate this bit.” Whispered Jacob.
…
Annie backed away as the clawed hands went for her face. She dropped and spun on her heel, knocking the Thrall off its feet. As it tried to get back up, she dropped her leg onto its head. The fight knocked out of it momentarily, she plunged her fist through its chest.
The Thrall howled as it turned to ash, leaving only a stain on the carpet. She started to turn to search for the other one but it was already on her. Two arms wrapped themselves around her upper torso and were squeezing hard.
She kicked her feet into the floor and threw the two of them back against the wall, putting a crater in it in the process. She felt the hold loosen and drove her elbow back into the Thrall's midsection.
Annie stumbled out of its grasp and out of the way as it swung at her. A fire extinguisher was lay on the floor where it had been dislodged during the fight.
There was a loud clonk as the fire extinguisher bounced off the head of the Thrall. The impact was enough to dent the canister that in turn upset the pressure inside it. The top exploded out of Annie's hand while the main body of the extinguisher shot into the corner of the wall, propelled by the Co2 that was filling the room.
She breathed at the wrong time and straight away she started coughing. The fire extinguisher had been a mistake. Her lungs were burning and the Co2 was doing a pretty good job of smothering the oxygen in the room, something the Thrall didn't need to worry about.
She just about knocked one blow away but a second sent her tumbling forward. On her knees she was closer to the cloud of gas and started coughing more. There was a kick that knocked the wind out of her and she tumbled over onto her back.
She felt something wet on her face and was sure it was blood until a second later when the sprinkler nozzles burst into life and started to drench the room. It was helping to smother the gas and she tried to breath normally again before she felt a weight on her chest.
Annie looked up into the face of the remaining Thrall as it sat on her. She felt its hands wrap around her throat and squeeze. Drool oozed from its mouth and dripped onto her cheeks where it mixed with the artificial rain.
It had been too long since she'd drawn a decent breath and her vision was starting to blacken at the edges. Her fingers tried to pry her attacke
r’s hands away but with the water she couldn't get a grip and each gasp for air was harder and harder to get.
She put all her strength into a jab at the creature’s elbows. Its arms buckled and it fell forward a few inches. In that second its grip was released slightly, but it also brought it in closer for an attack. Annie powered her head forward and butted the Thrall in its nose, which exploded in a dark red mess.
Annie knew something like that wasn't going to stop it but it gave her the opening she needed. She grabbed its head and twisted it round with a loud popping. The body fell on her and she rolled it to one side and took a deep breath. Her chest felt like it was on fire but right now she didn't care. She sucked deep on the air, savouring it like a fine wine. With a grunt she rolled the body off and moved onto her knees before lifting herself onto her feet.
She felt something grab her ankle. The Thrall wasn't finished. It started to pull her back towards it, its jaws snapping as its head lolled back and forth on its broken neck. Annie grabbed a nearby filing cabinet and pulled. There was a screech of metal as it tilted forward and a wet splat as it crushed the Thrall's head. Its body gave one last twitch before it burnt away to ash.
When she reached the cellblock Smithy was waiting for her.
“Bloody nora! You all right?” he asked.
Her face was bruised and her clothes were torn where some lucky strikes had gotten through.
“I'm fine. How's the Key?” she said hoarsely.
“He's alright but this place is probably glowing like a beacon right now. We need to get him out of here before the other lot show up.' He said leading the way.
“You really should wear your hair like that more often.” Said Smithy.
Annie reached up and felt her hair. It was matted, sweaty and slightly bloody not to mention soaked by the constant spray of the sprinklers.
“Not really in the mood right now Smithy.”
“I keep forgetting how cranky you get when you wear those things.” He said pointing to her gauntlets.
“Keep talking and we'll see how cranky I am.”
Annie grabbed the handle to the cell door and, with a yank pulled it clear of the frame. What was left of the locking mechanism fell out onto the floor as the door swung open.
Rob retreated to the rear of the cell as the battered figure stood in the doorway. Annie paused for a second and looked him up and down.
“THIS is the Key?? He's just a kid!”
Smithy nodded behind her. “Yup, that's him.”
She made a move into the cell but Rob backed himself further into the corner. Annie held up her hands peacefully.
“It's ok; I'm not here to hurt you. We've come to get you out of here; we'll get you some place safe.”
“Who are you?” asked Rob.
“Gothic.”
There was a moment’s silence.
“Never heard of you!” said Rob.
“Be surprised if you had but in case you haven't noticed, we're in a lot of trouble so we haven't got time for introductions or explanations right now.” said Smithy. “We've got to get you out of here!”
“I'm not going with ANYONE until I get some answers.” said Rob shaking his head. “How do I know you're not working with that guy who was in here earlier?”
Annie stepped up towards him. She was getting tired now and, as much as she didn't want Smithy to be right, she was getting cranky.
“You have two choices. Leave here with us and live or stay here and die. But know this; a lot of people have died so you can keep breathing. So move your arse, pretty boy.”
With that she spun round and walked out of the cell. Rob watched her go then looked at Smithy who was leaning against the doorframe with a grin on his face.
“And I suppose you're the good cop, right?”
Smithy shook his head. “Never played cops and robbers, doctors and nurses was always so much more fun!”