She looked at the drones and realised that by disconnecting them from their computers, they had triggered an alarm. Everyone froze, looking in horror as great pieces of opaque glass, followed by the large telescope smashed onto the floor, raising plumes of dust into the air. Flapping wings filled the room and within seconds, everyone was shouting and clambering over shards of glass to the exits. Grunts echoed from outside the open door. They had swept like a flock of sparrows at the guards, disorienting them. Some of those that clambered towards the exit stopped trying to get the attention of what they saw as relatives or friends, not drones. They had to be pulled away.
‘You have to leave them,’ Amber shouted. The full impact of what Anna was up to, hit them as they passed the large screens. Ships turned over in high seas by rogue waves, or beached whales and dolphins calling to their mates.
Only when they stumbled out of their prison and up the hallway stairs did they realise how deep they were. Growls and screams echoed through the hallways as they followed Amber towards the gated exit.
Outside, Nettles watched as everyone behind her ran across the slowly lifting drawbridge. Some jumped straight into their totems after being caged up for so long. Most were too weak and frail to complete their joining. She watched horrified by the desperate way some half crawled into the nearby forests. Their sobs and cries of pain from unused muscles were carried by the wind. She felt immobilised on the grass as she watched the strange metal antennae disappear into the ground. It took a few minutes for her brain to realise that the heavy breathing was hers. She gulped down the fresh air as tears poured down her face from the effort. Elated at being free, she watched as those on the ground and sky became smaller and smaller. Nettles frowned, wondering where Anna and her sidekick were lurking. The thought threatened her freedom and she quickly scanned the outlying crops of trees – thankful for the full moon. From what she could make out, they were alone. It didn’t make sense; she had seen how Anna raged about security. She had to be here somewhere. She just wished she knew where.
A flicker of movement caught Nettles attention. She nearly cried in relief at the sight of Amber sitting on the wet grass. Part of her knew she shouldn’t be feeling relief - Amber was more dangerous than any viper she had previously caught in her totem body. Amber was sitting on the wet grass – her knees drawn up to her chin rocking rhythmically. That’s when Nettles registered Seth’s absence and felt a sense of guilt that she hadn’t noticed earlier. She didn’t have to worry too long; Seth was running back towards her, waving his hands.
‘Hey…c’mon, we have to get away from here,’ he shouted, skidding to a halt in front of her. She looked over his shoulder before staring back at him questioningly. Seth coughed, shifting uncomfortably.
‘Babe, I’m sorry, I really thought you were behind me, I just had to get away from the noise.’ He stopped then, frowning at Amber who was still rocking, and growled. Nettles put her fingers on his mouth shaking her head again, this time more slowly, before turning to kneel in front of her. Amber seemed disconnected, and in shock. For a brief moment, she felt pity but not for too long. This friend,’ had nearly destroyed everyone and everything that she loved.
The thought propelled her forward, and she grabbed Amber by the shoulders, shaking her.
‘Anna….where is she? And where is that demon?’
‘Babe, we have to get out of here. If you like, I’ll get her to talk really quickly.’ Seth’s voice sounded hoarse but Nettles ignored him.
‘Amber? Where’s Anna? Where’s that thing she fawns over.
‘My angel?’ Amber mumbled.
Nettles felt the bile rise as she remembered the demon’s angelic face when he had turned up the frequency. She still couldn’t believe who he was and how easily he had deceived all of them. Amber must have known who he was, and the thought that she knew from the beginning made her feel ill. Was she that desperate for attention?
‘How could you be so stupid and blind?’ She shook her then and Amber’s head lolled forwards. Nettles let go, feeling weary. Wherever they were now, it was clear they weren’t interested in them, or they would have been caught. She stood up angrily, her fists clenching and unclenching.
‘It’s no use, she’s in shock.’
She didn’t have time to register the fierce growl or flash of movement from behind her. All she heard was a loud slap and watched as Amber rolled over into a heap. Nettles swung round to Seth who held his arms up.
‘What? We had to do something.’
A small sob filtered through to them, and they both swung around to find Amber looking up at them in horror, holding her cheek.
‘Well the theory works then,’ Seth muttered.
‘What theory?’ Nettles mumbled, still staring at Amber.
‘A good slap brings people back.’
Before she could answer Seth pushed her forward, making Nettles look at him in anger.
‘Now ask her, and if she doesn’t answer…’ he held up his hand.
‘Seth.’ Nettles stood in the spot she'd been pushed, turning her head slightly to one side.
‘What are you waiting for Nettles? If you don’t do something, I will. That cow’s not going to get away with this, I promise you.’
‘Seth, shut up and listen, what do you hear?’
Seth sighed loudly, he didn’t like being so isolated and the silence was eerie, almost threatening. He noticed then how close they were to the fortress. Everyone else had left but them, and he felt a rising frustration.
‘Jeezus Nettles, let’s just get out of here. Just because, it’s quiet, doesn’t mean we’re not in danger. You think those things can’t see us? They can see all over the friggin’ world. Let’s get out of here while we still can.’
Nettles gave him a sharp look.
