The Contract

Chapter 8

It had been truly stupid to let me keep my weapons and hide me so close to the exit. The people running around ignored or didn't recognize me, so I had plenty of time to get my orientation working and have a look at the room plans. Twice right, then left and I would be outside, there I would have to find the main gate and escape. I made my way through the distressed crowd until I turned around the first corner. Right. This hallway was completely empty. I loaded my guns – just in case someone followed me – and ran as fast as I could. Whatever had caused the irritation in this organization, maybe a public execution for the woman, had brought me some time, but soon everything would be back to normal and people would start searching for me. I had to get out of here before that could happen. The second turn right brought me back into a moving crowd. Unfortunately, I had to walk in the opposite direction of the mass probably aiming for the execution place.

I walked along the wall and dodged elbows and hands as I heard someone say: „Hey... isn't that the girl they were keeping in room C308?" Shit. Some agreeing voices and more hands, this time trying to grab me. I aimed for the next person trying to get closer and fired a bullet straight at his head. Then happened the best thing that could have happened – a gap between the people. And a hand dragging me in the direction I had to go now.

When we turned around the next corner, I recognized the person pulling at my hand. Shin? But there was no time to be confused about anything because the alarm had been turned on and several people were following me. I shot some of them, but they were too many. I had not enough bullets. From the corner of my eye, I could see blood splattering through the hallway. A black-haired guy stood in the midst of his massacre and waited for others to try to get closer. Reiji?!

Next turn. I could see the exit now, the doors were wide open and defending the door, there stood Dante, holding off the people wanting to catch me out. When Shin and I raced past them, Dante followed close, still defending us. After a few seconds, Reiji appeared out of nowhere and joined him, then taking over Shin's place – he seemed to be faster – and dashed across the grass in the direction of the main gate. It was closed. All my hopes fell and crashed as we raced towards the firmly closed doors and was almost afraid that Reiji planned to run against it as he jumped higher that I could have imagined him to. We landed safely and soundly on the other side of the gate where we were more or less safe. I caught my breath and calmed down my excitement to clear my mind.

„Explain later. First, we have to open this damn gate", I said. Reiji shook his head and in the same second, Shin and Dante came flying over the gate just like Reiji and me before. The next thing I realized was that I found myself in Dante's arms in a tight embrace.

„Oh, god. I thought you were gonna die when I saw the safety level of that organization", he said and released me. I stood there, totally exhausted and still bleeding from my thigh and a few other wounds.

„I need a shower", was all I said. Dante smiled at. Shin and Reiji kept their distance. Why were they even here?

„Thanks for saving me, you three." Shin didn't respond, but Reiji came a few steps closer.

„You know how to thank me", he murmured. I nodded.

„But I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit. I'm not in the state to lose any more blood", I said. Then, we made our way home – wherever we were.

The shower I took right after we had reached Reiji's villa felt so good I could have cried. All my cuts hurt, but it was so pleasant to feel the dirt and blood being washed off. It literally cleansed my soul. The shower was big and I could lock the bathroom door, but I didn't. Being locked away again this soon after my stay inside this locked room felt somehow creepy. And everyone knew I was taking a shower, anyway, so I didn't have to worry. The foam of the soap hurt even more, but it was important to clean the wounds thoroughly if I didn't want them to infect with bacterias or germs or something else.