Chapter 20--( A success?)

They moved swiftly through the grey facility. Guile remembered each turn. It was like a maze but he remembered it.

For some reasons unknown the facilities didn't have cameras or robot guards.

It's weird, did they think the trainees wouldn't try anything.

Well they thought wrong.

They arrived at the prisoner enclosure, or whatever you called the cages they were kept.

Hers was on the floor to the right, the fifth cage on the right.

" There she is ", Guile said trying to hide his presence.

Ghazul just stared. She was leaning on the cold bars with sad narrow cat eyes. She seemed around 18 or 19. Maybe a year or two older than he.

You really could tell, she wasn't supposed to be here.

Ghazul whistled silently.

" Even for a young boy, you have good taste comrade ".

Guile's fave turned red from the accusations.

" That's...That's not the point ".

" Well, I'm just saying you wouldn't be as motivated to save her if she looked like that guy ", Ghazul joked pointing at a heavily tattooed prisoner.

He wasn't right, was he?

' No that's not why I'm doing this '.

" What she looks like doesn't matter, I would have_

Ghazul cut him off confidently striding towards her cell undetected. " Oh don't beat yourself up comrade. It's only natural you're growing up ".

That smirk on his face was very unsettling.

Guile groaned in frustration under his breath before following.

They stood in front of her cell. She still hadn't noticed them. It was a technique that required a level of arcane mastery and a mastery of your own body. To reduce your very presence to blank nothingness.

Guile knew her name. He heard it from the vision he saw when he saved her.

" Elle ".

She turned quickly trying to hide her shock. On the other side of the steel bars were two boys, one of which sne knew. The one with purple hair, the one that saved her.

The other was a handsome boy with long dark hair, and red eyes that glowed illuminating his face.

These two were different from the other students, stronger.

" What are you doing here?", She asked backing away from the cage.

Now that Guile got a better look at her he could guess she was Japanese, or maybe half. Her hair was really long and rough. Not combed, not cut or styled in any way. And yet it only seemed to make her more...

' what am I thinking '.

Ghazul laughed under his breath before nudging Guile to speak.

" Em... We're here to save you ".

Her narrow eyes expanded in shock and joy at the same time.

" We'll get you out as far away from here as we can manage ".

Ghazul grabbed the steel bars and opened them up as if they were mere strings. The image of the bars that once trapped her here now opened, caused her eyes to grow watery.

" From then on you need to run as fast as you can "

She sat there. A tear escaped her eyes and fell down her smooth chin.

She nodded and whispered, " Thank you ".

Seeing her cry upset both of them. The Hero Association, no the world of heroes doesn't deserve to dictate the passage of a person's life.

" But ".

They stiffened on her words.

" I can't leave ", she looked down at the cold concrete floor. " They'll kill you. I can't, I cannot live with that ".

Guile didn't have words. Even now she was scared for the safety of a bunch of kids. Shouldn't she just be focused on leaving this place. Her morality was almost like a movie.

" Well Elle, you'll be happy to know ", Ghazul put his hands on Guile in optimism, " that we are both under age so we can't be sentenced to death ".

Guile felt a surge of encouragement. Maybe now she'd finally let them save her.

" Now can you go?"

She looked up at the cage. The cage that was now turned to a door. And on the other side layed freedom. She's lived a very hard life. It was tempting but she resisted.

" Even though ", Her narrow melancholic gaze fell back down. " You'll never be heroes. They'll punish you and your future will be glim. I'm really grateful but I just_

" Shut the fuck up Elle!"

"Who are you talking to!"

The other prisoners couldn't see or hear the young duo.

She saw Guile's hands offering something to her.

A lollipop, It was purple. Guile knelt down into the bars and handed it to her.

" Here. Have a lollipop then. It's the least we can do ".

He was even more childish than he looked, Elle thought.

Her hands moved slowly to grab it.

" Thank you ", she said in that weak tone of hers

Ghazul couldn't hide his smile, he knew very well what Guile was planning.

Just as she tried to pick the lollipop of his hands, Guile grabbed her. His small hands on her frail wrist.

His touch and speed sent a jolt of shock and fear through her, down to her toe tips.

Those intense purple eyes met hers. Behind them she saw one thing. Power.

" Elle, I'm afraid ",

He drew her closer.

" This isn't really your choice ".

With amazing speed he carried her in his arms. She was forced to grasp his shoulders for balance.

How was a kid this young this powerful.

They went through the facility with as much speed and silence as they could.

They were moving so fast that the blowing wind forced Elles eyes shut.

" S...Slow down ", she managed to speak.

" We can't do that sadly ".

They jumped out of the facility. Now they were in the courtyard. The gate was more than a mile away.

They ran through the dirt.

Other than the students there were only two other heroes here. Baileer and Sir Orion.

If any of them showed up, they would be a big obstacle.

They got to the gate. They didn't slow down, their quick footsteps caused sand to riot behind them.

In a swift motion they leaped off the gate. They caught a glimpse of the outside world when they heard a snapping sound.

–snap–

They were teleported back to the courtyard.

Only one person has that Dominion.

It was Baileer.

Guile stood up making sure he cushioned their fall so Elle didn't get hurt.

" Trainees?", Her voice was tired and lazy. She was wearing grey pajamas and her eyes had dark circles around them.

Her usually smooth Geller hair was rough.

She was clearly sleeping.

" Why ", she paused scratching her eyes, trying her best to wake herself up.

" Why are you aiding a prisoner in their escape. That is a. ( Cough )..it's a federal crime ".

" Comrade, I'll take her on you just focus on taking_

–Snap–

Elle was teleported to Baileers arms.

Her two hands held behind her back as she tried to not weap from fear.

" You're lucky I'm the one that found you. And you're lucky Sir Orion is a deep sleeper ".

Seeing Elle struggling in Baileers iron clutch made Guile rage inside.

" Let her go!" He screamed.

Releasing a burst of Archaic energy that went up many meters into the night sky.

" I cannot do that. Return to your rooms and I'll overlook your stupidity".

Baileers usually lazy eyes grew serious with a golden hue.

" Or else ".

" Or else what!",

Boom.

Ghazul as always was the first to attack. His hands flexed to a claw. He was aiming to sever her head.

He knew from recent exposure, to always attack a sentinel with killing intent. Cause that's the only way you'd have a chance.

Baileers one hand was clasping Elles wrist. But that didn't make her any less capable.

Swiftly she dodged Ghazul's attack and with her drove her elbow down into Ghazul's collar bone.

The sound was loud and gutteral.

Then she kneed him back. The force took his feet off the ground. Who knew he would get the crap beaten out of him by a person in pajamas.

The blow sent him crashing into the sand back to his charging point.

She looked at her other hand and smiled. The prisoner was gone. Guile was moving her away in the sky as fast as he could.

" Nice try but it's no use ".

–Snap–

Once Again Elle appeared back in Baileers clutch.

Ghazul was holding onto his arm. It felt like his shoulder would fall enough any second.

He used his other hand to try pushing it back in ( it was dislocated ).

The bone crunching sound made Elle turn away. She felt this was all her fault

" Please just go back. Before this gets_

" Shut up ", Guile roared in anger. He stood up. He would be lying if he said he was not scared. Across him was a Sentinel. Of course he was scared.

He knew he didn't stand a chance.

But to him bravery lied in ignoring the fear.

" Enough acting all high and mighty like you care. I told you, you didn't have a choice in this!"

Ghazul slammed his shoulder into the ground finally putting it.

" Much better ", He said standing up alongside his comrade.

For some reason he had trouble catching his breath. It was getting harder to breathe.

Was it fear, excitement maybe?

Something was off.

Guile's hands hit his chest with resolution as he declared.

" I swear that I Guile will save you. You just stay and let me do it ".

Elle couldn't stop her tears. He saw past her image. She wanted to be saved.

A scoff. Baileer scoffed at their words.

" Swearing something doesn't make it any more likely to happen ".

She raised her free hand to the sky. Ever slowly and

–Snap–

Elle wasn't there anymore.

' Tch '.

" Where the fuck did you take her?!", Guile roared preparing to attack.

Baileer let out a sigh.

" She's free ", Baileer looked up, " I teleported her far far away ".

She said in a tired chuckle.

You wouldn't know if she was joking or being serious.

What? Guile was at a loss of words. He could only watch as Baileer turned away from it all walking back into the facility.

" What are you talking about?" Ghazul said still hiding the pain in his shoulder. But the breathlessness, very evident.

She paused mid step and turned back to the young boys.

" I saved her for you. I was going to do it anyway but you just made my job better ".

A smile appeared on her seasoned but still flattering face.

" Now I get to blame you for it ".

They just stared at her. Still finding the best ways to accept her words as reality.

" Why?", Guile had finally spoken.

" It's what heroes do you brat. Not every hero is corrupt ".

She turned back to them, this time fully facing them. She had a pondering expression on her face. " But I cannot leave you both to Sir Orion's wrath. You're just kids after all. That would haunt my conscience ".

She sighed once more.

" I know ", she said raising her fingers up to the sky. Like she just found the next big idea.

Then she was gone.

Guile didn't know when she already appeared before him and launched a massive fist straight into his stomach.

The blow sent his body crashing into the floor like a pebble bouncing off a lake leaving a trail of blood and dust.

The blow drained Guile of all his comfort and breath then filled the space with pain and broken bones.

He was trying to find at least one chance to breathe but it was impossible..

Again Ghazul felt weak. He didn't even see when she moved. That wasn't her teleportation snap, that was just raw speed.

She stood over Guile's reeling body.

" Now, it's more believable ".

She walked closer to Guile and knelt down to him, her hands resting on her knees as she stared at the young boy clearly in pain.

Ghazul was still wondering how any being was allowed to move that fast. Having her this close, someone this powerful made him conscious of every sweat that trailed down his back, every scratch that normally be ignored.

Maybe he's only now seeing it. When Sir Orion attacked him he was dropped before he knew what was going on.

Now he was awake enough to fully take in the strength of a Sentinel.

" This is how it went boys. You already helped the prisoner escape before I came here. You ", she pointed at Guile

" used your gravity dominon to transport her far away. When I got here she was already long gone. And I am only capable of teleporting objects whose locations I'm aware off ".

She stood up and let out another tired sigh.

" After, we engaged in a battle but you refused to return her. I'll convince Sir Orion you just focus on keeping shut ".

She smiled. It was a reassuring smile as if telling them know she was proud.

After she just turned. Then she walked away.

" Return to your rooms ".

A final word as she became a mere silhouette.

' She didn't teleport us '.

Ghazul finally controlled his breathing before offering Guile a hand up.

" Well comrade. Your mission was a success ".

Guile was still clasping his stomach. Yep, definitely a few broken ribs.

" I guess ".

" And yet you don't seem satisfied ". Ghazul said placing Guile's hands on his shoulder.

It wasn't for Guile alone. Both of them needed support.

Both of them couldn't walk without the other.

" What makes you say that?",

" It's all on your face. You wished you could've said goodbye, don't you?"

Guile tried to hide his blush. Or the pain in his ribs just suppressed it.

" Who doesn't like goodbyes". He said tiredly, eyes trying to remain awake.

' Shit. It's a long fucking way to their dorm ".

A sudden thought hit Ghazul.

" Why can't you just carry us with your Dominion?"

" I can't. Her blow drained everything ". He replied.

" It's probably because you looked at her funny ". Ghazul replied smiling.

" Puuhff ",

Guile spat out a few broken shards of bones.

He was already healing himself. " Well, she made her point ".

It's been ten minutes and they weren't even in the facility yet. Their legs failed them and they collapsed just at the entrance, their clothes decorated with sand

" Want to ", Ghazul paused to catch his breath, " rest a bit comrade?"

Guile was also breathing hard. It's like her blows went down to your lungs and rid you of your breathing. How many powers can one even have.

" I don't think it's a matter of wanting Ghazul ".

He said breathlessly, each word only managing to be pronounced between frantic breaths.

This fatigue. It was so intense. They'd probably just end up falling asleep on the ground. Then everyone else would wake up and use them as a source of laughter in these walls of despair that surrounded them. Somehow the image of their backs on that soft mattress had never seemed so serene.

Now the two of them just lay there. Waiting for their strength to return. Then they'd walk with each others support till their strength failed them again.

It was hard to stay awake with these large clouds looming over this sad place.

–Snap–

They were teleported back to their room.

" Oh thank god ". Guile couldn't help it. He knew there was no way he would walk all the way back.

He just slumped back on his bed ready to fall asleep.

" Hey how's your shoulder Ghazu_

The heavy snoring betrayed it.

Ghazul was already fully covered on his bed in a deep deep slumber.

" Offcourse ", Guile mused while yawning heavily.

" Good night ".