I Want to Live
1790 Words
Just before Lucas was in his current state, they already planned an escaped route. In case that their place were to be compromised or breached. They will run through the second floor and use the sole window in their, hopefully, the half harpies are not around when they used it.
When using it, they had to be careful of the noises they made. Since harpies don't have eyes, they are sensitive to noises so as long as they move quietly they can avoid them. That is at least what Lucas is hopeful for.
While Lucas is out of it, he doesn't know the struggle of their group in defending and running from the chasing mutants. Balancing from roof to roof. Climbing up, sliding down and rolling over. Their close calls resulted in injuries, especially with Lucas as an excess baggage to carry.
He could hear them slowly cursing, groans and their footsteps. His vision is hazy, foggy and slow. He blinks away the scenes at his group’s dilemma.
“WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!” Kiko runs his bloody hands in his hair. Losing his patience and screaming at Lucas.
“Shut up. You’ll attract them.” Aaron hissed after taking a peek outside.
They’ve finally lost their chaser after a while. Placing themselves currently inside the ride control room.
Frustrated and unable to express his annoyance, Kiko settled down in the corner and glared at Lucas.
“What’s his deal? Seriously… We should have just left him.”
“If we left him, do you know what we are supposed to do next?” Aaron asked.
“The hell, I would. At least I wouldn’t let us get killed.”
“...”
Kiko kicked the rubble to Lucas but Lucas didn’t react. “Just so you know, Elijah is still out there! Because of you!”
Half an hour ago, they were all beginning to wear out after all the running and hiding but their hiding places were easily discovered until Elijah had an idea.
“Hey! I will try to catch their attention, and go run in the opposite way. Okay?”
“What?! No. They’ll tear you apart!” Kiko immediately retorted.
“Aww. I feel touched dude. We are getting closer now aye?”
“Crazy bastard you have the energy to joke around?!”
They shout at each other while running in the streets with a horde of mutants coming after them.
“Stop!” Aaron pulled up his hand to stop the two of his team because landing in front of them is a half harpy.
“This way! Quick!” Elijah leads them to a laser like attraction house. They quickly barricade but in haste there is not much durability on it.
*BANG BANG BANG
“Give me Lucas’ bag, quick!” Elijah pressured. Kiko handed the bag immediately.
“Are you trying to be hero?” Kiko complained as Elijah brought out several things including the smoke gun.
*ZIIIIP
After zipping the bag and putting the things on his side and pockets, Kiko pulled Elijah’s arm and looked down at him with a serious glint in his eyes.
“Are you serious? Are you itching to die?”
Elijah was startled but his expression softened and gave Kiko a smile. “Seriously dude, you are making me cry.” then give him a hug.
“Can’t you be serious for once?” He removes Elijah and continues to glare down at him.
“Yeah, I am. If this continues we are all dead anyway… and no offense you guys kinda slowing me down. Hehe” He was serious in the first half but then laughed it off.
*BANG BANG
A long nail starts digging out the door.
“Hide! I promise to come back once I shake them off!” Elijah pushed Kiko out.
“How?!”
He showed his watch. Their watch’s only use is to locate the leader’s location.
“Just don’t lose Lucas anywhere. Hehe.”
“Comeback alive to us.” Aaron said as he dragged Kiko.
Kiko picked up the bag and hurriedly followed Aaron as he looked back, Elijah waving at him with a smile.
“Stupid.” He mumbled.
The smile disappeared as soon as they were gone. “Haa. Why does it feel like I gained another older brother?”
*Thud Crash *Bang
“KWWWARGHHH”
“EIIIIK! EIIIK!”
They are two types of mutants in front of Elijah right now but they are all distinctive. Though hunched back ghoul are with poor posture, hairless, and long arms with sticks and bones body type, some have longer arms, larger bodies or more arched bodies. Same goes with half harpies mutants, their bone wings and unidentified meat formation body are not built the same.
“Ha. They are really ugly and scary!!” Elijah said out loud as he fired the smoke gun.
Blue smoke flies out and explodes in the harpies direction.
“Come and get your meal!!!!” He bravely shouted before running out.
He dashes full speed.
‘Lucas is right again.’ He thought as he saw the door in the opposite direction.
“Remember, attraction houses always have two doors. One is for the entrance, one for the exit. They also have emergency exits.”
*Push
As he pushed the door out, the morning light greeted him brightly.
*CRASH!!!
Behind him, the attraction house was destroyed as the mutants rushed following him.
“If you think you can catch a professional thief then… try it ugly… craps!!” It was his best insult.
The smoking gun and his loud voice successfully lead all their chasers away.
The swirling dust had settled down when Aaron and Kiko turned to look around. Part of the amusement house is gone and the sunlight is coming.
“Let’s go.” Aaron said, sparing one last glance before running to the opposite direction of Elijah’s.
Few minutes later, here they are inside the control room.
“You! You better thank Elijah if only he didn’t need you, I would have thrown you away.” Kiko is still glaring at Lucas.
Aaron stared at Kiko.
“What?!”
Aaron frowned.
In a subdued voice Kiko repeated his words but was unable to look at Aaron. “What is it?”
‘Damn. He is really reminding me of Michael.’
Michael had a habit of glaring and putting people in their place if they disrespected Liam.
“You have a nasty mouth.” Aaron said.
“What? Excuse me. What did you say?” Kiko is losing his patience.
“You have a nasty mouth.” Aaron didn’t feel a bit intimidated at him.
He didn’t even have the courage to retort back.
“...but you seem like a nice guy.” Aaron added.
“...! Sorry?”
“When Elijah lost his consciousness, you and Jack went to save him.”
He is referring to the time, when Liam’s group used sound bomb that shocked Elijah.
“...Lucas was trying to calm at that time but he didn’t give up on defending Elijah. I am too far to make a run. It wasn’t in plan but both of you went in to rescue him.”
Kiko suddenly felt an urge to scratch his neck in response. “I only did it because of the task… it will be hard to retrieve the watch if we let it be and… and knowing Liam. Their group wouldn’t let their guard down again. Jack also agreed, it was for the best.”
“That’s what I thought too, but you stopped Elijah earlier. Why did you? His plans were for the best also?”
He was caught therefore he can’t say anything but massage his nape.
“In the first round, he saved me. He made a way so I can go with the others while he distracts the undead… I’ve always wanted to repay him yet he saves me again.”
“You refused to be in the same group as him.”
Kiko opens his mouth but then he closes it. It took a few seconds before he answered. “...because more than anything, I wanted to live. I needed to live.”
Kiko was a resident of Wall 100 with a huge debt on his head. He has two alcoholic brothers that beat him out of whimp. He always wanted to run away but where can he go? The house that was left by their parents to them, was the only home he ever knew and because of his brother’s debt even he was being chased down by loan sharks. He can’t run away. His job as a door to door vendor didn’t earn much. It can barely cover the meals and the accumulated debts.
One day, coming home, his two older brothers treated him nicely for the first time. He was fed a good meal and given warm clothes. A meal he never had for years. It was a simple meal but it brought tears to his eyes. He ate it heartily and was thankful that his brothers finally changed.
They promised that they will look for a job and contribute to the house.
He believed them and slept that night.
That was his mistake.
When he woke up, his lower part was numb. Taking off the blanket, he sees the sheets are stained with blood and his abdomen was wrapped in bandage.
His head is heavy and confused.
What happened next was hazy and blurry but he remembered his two brothers coming in and he was extending his arms to them then all went black.
“Your other kidney and half of your liver had been removed.” That’s the news that shattered him after waking up in the hospital.
He is so weak and unable to process everything. It’s not registering his mind for so long.
“The procedure was not careful and there are signs of infection on your stitches. It’s better to go under another surgery to make sure that you are clean of any infections. If you would just sign here and we could proceed with it.” The doctor explained to him but all he did was look at the white ceiling.
“Uh. Sir, do you have any family?” The doctor asked.
He opened his mouth lightly and when the doctor missed what he was saying he came closer.
“Can you repeat it again?” The doctor said softly.
A tear had fallen in the corner of Kiko’s eyes. “H,how… m,much?”
Even on the verge of death, all he can think about is how much is this going to cost him.
- Writer
