Escape - Chapter 10.2
Chapter 10.2
‘Alright. I’ve decided.’’
Bang!
Just as Luce opened his mouth to answer, a cry escaped his lips. It happened in the blink of an eye. Without a scream, Adeline instantly aimed her gun out the door.
Bang, bang, bang, bang.
While Adeline provided cover, Luce scrambled through the doorway. The doors slammed shut behind him by a hair’s breadth. Clang! Once the thick doors were sealed, even the gunshots were muffled. Adeline rushed to check on Luce.
“Are you okay? Where were you hit?”
Blood seeped from his right shoulder blade.
‘Stop the bleeding.’ The thought flashed through her mind, but escape was more urgent.
“Ugh, talk about twisting my arm. Now I have no choice but to go. Might as well, since I’m as good as dead anyway,” Luce groaned, trying to make a joke. As if the answer hadn’t already been decided.
“Luce, we need to get out of here first. They won’t follow us outside. At least, not immediately.”
“I hate to agree, but I do.”
The fact that a dozen soldiers had mobilized meant this involved the military’s upper echelon. It also meant it was possible they could get authorization for the first door.
They moved quickly. As if by unspoken agreement, they crossed the wide intermediary zone toward the second door. The grotesque door that opened only with human blood.
“Wait.”
As Adeline drew her dagger, Luce stepped forward, blocking her. He opened his left hand, the one that had been clutching his shoulder, and showed it to a puzzled Adeline. His palm was slick with blood.
“Ah.”
Adeline nodded in understanding and stepped back. Luce pressed his bloody palm against the door.
“Maybe with this, I can…”
…atone, even a little. The rest of his words were swallowed by the grinding noise of the opening door.
No, in truth, he knew. It wasn’t nearly enough to atone.
Whether the incident was staged or not, Luce didn’t really care. He just wanted to help Adeline, even if only a little. If it would ease his conscience, even slightly. If it would allow him to escape the image of Damian that constantly haunted him.
The screeching noise stopped. The door stood wide open. Luce took a heavy step inside, then turned around when he didn’t hear Adeline follow.
“What are you doing? Come on!”
“Hold on, I almost forgot something important.”
Adeline quickly scanned their surroundings, then adjusted her grip on the dagger. She almost forgot this on her way out.
Perhaps the tobacco field in the intermediary zone wasn’t just for defense. Maybe it was there for clueless explorers venturing out.
Adeline bent down and snapped off as many stalks as she could, stuffing some into her backpack and wrapping others around her arms like bracelets.
“Tobacco leaves? But you said they don’t work anymore.”
“I know. But they’re better than nothing.”
With a casual reply, Adeline hurried after him. Only one door remained. A manually operated one.
“On the count of three, push together.”
Even with his injured arm, Luce raised both hands. One, two, three.
Creak!
The door moved a fraction. When it opened enough for one person to pass through, they stopped.
Beyond lay complete darkness.
***
Silence.
They walked for a long time without speaking.
Thud, thud.
In the absolute stillness, only the sound of their footsteps echoed through the passage. How much time had passed? It must have been hours. Adeline noticed something was wrong with Luce after they passed the third trap.
Turning, she saw him trembling all over.
“Luce?”
They’d removed the bullet and treated his wound as soon as they’d gotten outside. His reaction seemed a bit extreme for just a shoulder injury.
“I-I’m fine. I’m okay.”
Despite his words, he didn’t look alright at all. His words were mumbled, and his eyes darted around nervously.
‘Could it be…?’
“Are you… having some kind of aftereffects? From what happened recently.”
PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder. Come to think of it, it would be more unusual if he wasn’t affected after what he’d been through. This was something she hadn’t considered. Luce was pale, seemingly terrified of the darkness itself.
He kept trying to walk only within the beam of the flashlight. Adeline swallowed a sigh. They had flashlights, but not many. Still, turning back now was impossible.
“…H-how much further? If you’re right, we only have five more traps before we reach District 12, right?” Luce suddenly whispered, whirling around. Adeline hesitated.
They were following the book’s instructions, keeping to the left wall.
‘Eight traps and you’ll reach District 12.’
That’s what the book said. But….
“We can’t go into District 12.”
“What?”
“We’re going towards District 12 to find the way to District 11.”
“What are you talking about? Why not?”
“It’s probably dangerous.”
The book emphasized it repeatedly: District 13 was the one and only paradise.
Of course, the other districts were described metaphorically, so the details were vague.
Even so, she was certain of one thing: it was best to avoid District 12.
“It was described as a ‘Serpiente’s nest.’”
Silence descended. Luce stopped dead in his tracks. From somewhere, the sound of teeth chattering echoed faintly.
