body. We were about to be found out.
“Don’t
panic,” Torrid whispered. “We’re almost there.”
“I’m
sure it’s him,” the murmur continued.
“Hey!”
a firm voice shot up. “Hey, you! Up there.”
Our
steps continued to clang down the metal landing as we ignored the calling.
“Hey!
Who do you have there with you?”
The
occupied bottles were almost within reach. Just a few more steps…
“Answer
or…”
While
Torrid stood behind me blocking the view, I reached for the first occupied
bottle, shook the djinn awake and set him free. In quick succession I awoke
and released another and another. I was able set five djinns free before the Catchers
below became fully aware what was really happening.
“Go
after them,” one called out.
“Break
as many bottles as you can,” Torrid ordered as he reached out, grabbing two
bottles at a time and cracking them open off the side of the metal shelf.
Confused
and bewildered the newly freed djinns just stood there staring, unsure what to
do; what they could do. Many were groggy from long hours of sleep and
inactivity.
Only
when the first Catchers arrived on the landing did they finally come alive.
“Fight
for your freedom,” Torrid shouted.
The
narrow landing allowed for only two Catchers side by side, making it a little
easier to fend off, but they kept coming and kept coming.
Torrid
sent a few of them flying down to the main floor and others, seeing the
futility in fight jumped down on their own. The djinns stopped all of the Catchers
who tried in vain to rebottle them.
It
was only when a whole army of Catchers and guards made their way to the second
landing and started attacking us from above, did we falter.
Several
djinns were caught and bottled.
A
loud blaring siren cut through the battle, startling both djinns and Catchers.
“Code
black!” A robotic voice called over the loudspeakers. “Code black. All
soldiers to the ward floor. All soldiers to the ward floor.”
The
loudspeakers crackled and popped, went dead then fizzed again as a live voice
sounded. “Catchers, be on the lookout for our most prized captive. I repeat,
be on the lookout for the Prince. Above all, he must be caught.”
Every
Catcher released the djinn he had in hand and turned his attention to Torrid.
“I
knew it was him.” It was Noj. He looked at me and narrowed his venom filled
eyes. “I knew there was something about you.”
He
reached out for my wrist. “You're no Catcher.” He turned to the band of Catchers
around him. “This is an imposter.”
Chapter 8
T he moment Noj touched me; Torrid flew off the handle
and attacked him. The surprise attack threw Noj back, but he kept his hold of
my wrist, bringing me crashing to the floor with him.
My
head hit the metal landing with a resounding clang and all the sounds around me
suddenly were muffled and distant.
Still
grasping my wrist, Noj fought Torrid off. He yanked me up, adding to the
already dizzying effect of the blow I’d taken.
“We’ve
worked too hard and gone through too much to let you go now,” Noj said. “The
governor of Arcadia is counting on you.”
“You
mean he needs me. He wants to keep me as a bargaining chip.”
Noj,
his movements practiced and agile, pulled out a leather band and whipped it at
Torrid’s wrist.
His
eyes narrowed with amusement, almost mischief, Torrid kept his gaze fizzed to
Noj’s face as he flicked back his wrist, avoiding the leather band. “I’m not
going to let myself get caught aghhh…”
The
last word didn’t have time to make it out of his mouth. Three Catcher’s jumped
on his back and tackled him to the floor while Noj watched on with glee.
Before
long dozens of djinns and hundreds of Catchers filled the ward floor, each side
battling for their idea of freedom.
Through
the swirling buzz that still made my head ache, I found the strength and
presence of mind to wring my wrist
“Don’t
panic,” Torrid whispered. “We’re almost there.”
“I’m
sure it’s him,” the murmur continued.
“Hey!”
a firm voice shot up. “Hey, you! Up there.”
Our
steps continued to clang down the metal landing as we ignored the calling.
“Hey!
Who do you have there with you?”
The
occupied bottles were almost within reach. Just a few more steps…
“Answer
or…”
While
Torrid stood behind me blocking the view, I reached for the first occupied
bottle, shook the djinn awake and set him free. In quick succession I awoke
and released another and another. I was able set five djinns free before the Catchers
below became fully aware what was really happening.
“Go
after them,” one called out.
“Break
as many bottles as you can,” Torrid ordered as he reached out, grabbing two
bottles at a time and cracking them open off the side of the metal shelf.
Confused
and bewildered the newly freed djinns just stood there staring, unsure what to
do; what they could do. Many were groggy from long hours of sleep and
inactivity.
Only
when the first Catchers arrived on the landing did they finally come alive.
“Fight
for your freedom,” Torrid shouted.
The
narrow landing allowed for only two Catchers side by side, making it a little
easier to fend off, but they kept coming and kept coming.
Torrid
sent a few of them flying down to the main floor and others, seeing the
futility in fight jumped down on their own. The djinns stopped all of the Catchers
who tried in vain to rebottle them.
It
was only when a whole army of Catchers and guards made their way to the second
landing and started attacking us from above, did we falter.
Several
djinns were caught and bottled.
A
loud blaring siren cut through the battle, startling both djinns and Catchers.
“Code
black!” A robotic voice called over the loudspeakers. “Code black. All
soldiers to the ward floor. All soldiers to the ward floor.”
The
loudspeakers crackled and popped, went dead then fizzed again as a live voice
sounded. “Catchers, be on the lookout for our most prized captive. I repeat,
be on the lookout for the Prince. Above all, he must be caught.”
Every
Catcher released the djinn he had in hand and turned his attention to Torrid.
“I
knew it was him.” It was Noj. He looked at me and narrowed his venom filled
eyes. “I knew there was something about you.”
He
reached out for my wrist. “You're no Catcher.” He turned to the band of Catchers
around him. “This is an imposter.”
Chapter 8
T he moment Noj touched me; Torrid flew off the handle
and attacked him. The surprise attack threw Noj back, but he kept his hold of
my wrist, bringing me crashing to the floor with him.
My
head hit the metal landing with a resounding clang and all the sounds around me
suddenly were muffled and distant.
Still
grasping my wrist, Noj fought Torrid off. He yanked me up, adding to the
already dizzying effect of the blow I’d taken.
“We’ve
worked too hard and gone through too much to let you go now,” Noj said. “The
governor of Arcadia is counting on you.”
“You
mean he needs me. He wants to keep me as a bargaining chip.”
Noj,
his movements practiced and agile, pulled out a leather band and whipped it at
Torrid’s wrist.
His
eyes narrowed with amusement, almost mischief, Torrid kept his gaze fizzed to
Noj’s face as he flicked back his wrist, avoiding the leather band. “I’m not
going to let myself get caught aghhh…”
The
last word didn’t have time to make it out of his mouth. Three Catcher’s jumped
on his back and tackled him to the floor while Noj watched on with glee.
Before
long dozens of djinns and hundreds of Catchers filled the ward floor, each side
battling for their idea of freedom.
Through
the swirling buzz that still made my head ache, I found the strength and
presence of mind to wring my wrist
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