Ethereal

~Charlotte~

Sub-Terra was always dark. So dark I often wondered how anyone could see anything. Even so, one could always tell when it was night. The city settled. The lights went off all at once as though Sub-Terra was closing it's eyes to sleep. It was peaceful somehow, as if the terror and dread of the waking hours was relieved, if only for a little while.

If you looked hard enough, you could see glimmers. Little flickers of light, coming from the few people still awake. It held a mysterious beauty to it, and no matter how hard I tried I could not hate Sub-Terra.

We passed through it now, moving quickly. Tennin stayed close to me, an ever constant and unwanted shadow. I knew Marcie was somewhere behind me, probably with Ashan. We traveled surrounded by around eight guys, are whole protection detail. I recognized all of them by now, but I couldn't name them.

 I could hardly get to know them, because when they were around me they stood at attention and addressed me as miss, m'lady, or simply as the Koreask-- a tittle I had come to hate. They only answered direct questions, and even they never said more then they had to.

Plus, it wasn't like I had spent a whole lot of time around them. They would stand in now and then when Tennin and Ashan were called away.

"We need to move faster." I heard Tennin mutter

"What exactly are we running from?" I asked breathlessly. I had never been the greatest runner.

"I can't explain now, just keep going." at that, I stopped. I just stopped running and stood stalk still, glaring at Tennin.

Ashan ran straight into me and we, along with Marcie toppled and fell head over heels. I jumped back up as quickly as I could. Tennin had noticed and was running back.

"Are you daft girl!?" he basically screamed at me.

"Tennin keep your voice down!" Ashan hissed at him

"No, I'm not daft." I said "I'm just kept in the dark."

"No pun intended" Marcie muttered.

Tennin reached for me, and I could see he was planning on carrying me, to where ever we were going. But I stepped out of reach.

"Pick me up and I scream." I said looking at him straight in the eye. I hated to sound so petty. but I only had one power over these people, and that was refusal.

I drew myself up, attempting to look imposing.

"I am supposed to save your city. But I can't help you, if I keep being cut out of the loop. So tell me, what the hell are we running from?!"

Tennin's face suddenly lost it's edge.

"Please, we cant stop now. I will tell you. I promise, but right now we need to keep going. We need to keep you safe" There was a pleading tone to his voice. It took me of guard and felt surprise register on my face.

"Please." he said softer.

I shook my head, knowing I would regret what I was about to say next.

"Fine. Can you at least tell me where we are going?"

 "A safe house. We call it Scarrow."

"Thank you." I said "Alright what are we waiting for? to Scarrow it is."

And we took off running into the blackness.