AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Fuck,” I mutter, seeing a park nearby with people wandering around, walking dogs, taking in the sights, and star gazing. They are sure to see us, but we have no choice. We have to keep going. I’m betting the humans have called the police, the army, to come and get us, and the city will soon become locked down and we will have nowhere to hide. Before that happens, we need to get over the wall to safety.
“Okay, we’ll move fast then. Where are we going?”
“Straight down this road. It leads right into the slums, but there is a small bridge we have to cross, and it might be guarded.” She swallows nervously, but I nod and look to Akuji.
“Carry me. You’re faster. We’ll run as fast as we can. Do not stop for anything.” I look back at the monsters. “If we get split up, head to the wall and we will find you,” I order, and when everyone is ready, I let Akuji pull me into his arms as he steps out into the streets. Then he runs, sprinting as fast as he can. The others are on our tail, but it doesn’t matter.
The humans see us, and their screams rent the air. They scramble to get away, to hide, or to get indoors. I watch some people grab their phones to take pictures or call the police, but we ignore it.
Doors slam and the screaming gets louder, but we block it all out. We move so fast, it’s almost hard to see, but I don’t close my eyes in case we are attacked. We skid to a stop just before the bridge, which is protected by guards. She was right.
“Put me down,” I demand, and Akuji releases me with a frown. I give him a quick kiss and rush across the bridge, ignoring his growl.
“Help me! Help me!” I scream, pretending to stumble. They hurry forward in alarm, ignoring the manned barrier that blocks the bridge. I fall to the ground as they reach for me, looking to help, and then I grab a baton at one of their sides and look up at them.
“What’s wrong?” one demands.
“Nothing.” I grin as I leap up, smash it down on his head, and turn to do the same to the other. They fall to the ground, and I whistle, waving the others on. Akuji quickly reaches my side, and he grabs me again before hoisting me into his arms as we break through the barrier. The first few streets are some I’m not used to, but the deeper we get, the more familiar it becomes, and I shout orders.
Unlike in the richer half of the city, people openly watch us. They are so used to feeling fear, some don’t even react. Others do, running or falling to their knees as they beg. Everyone here knew this might happen one day, but we ignore them, ducking into and through shacks, sticking to the shadows again. We avoid anyone who might follow us, confusing them. The wall towers above us, and it’s not far now.
“Almost there!” I call as we duck under the walkways, but it’s a dead end. With a snarl, Akuji leaps straight into the air and lands on the walkway above. Without missing a beat, he runs and scrambles over the sagging metal roof of the shack before landing on the ground. It’s fucking impressive. We race through the night, each passing second getting us closer to home.
We’re so close, but then we hear the rumble of trucks and shouting. It’s the army.
Guns fire in warning somewhere in the slums, and I hesitate. I don’t want the people here to have to deal with them, but the army won’t kill them, no, they will kill us. I stay quiet, even though I feel bad about it. Akuji just grunts and pushes himself to go faster, which I didn’t think was possible, until we find the door we came through. It’s closed and covered, untouched, and I slide down Akuji’s body as he rips it open.
“Go!” I yell at the others as I gaze out at the slums, searching the darkness for any signs of humans.
Talia stops at my side, but I push her on, growling at Cato until he hurries her through. A hand tugs mine, and I look down to see the kid there. “Come on, Aria, please,” he begs.
I hesitate for only a moment, knowing if I go through now, I’ll never come back. The truth is, though, my decision was made when I stood with the monsters—the people who protected me, loved me, and welcomed me. I pull him through the wall. Akuji follows behind and slams the door with a finality that settles my racing heart.
I press my head to his chest, but the silence has me looking up, and my mouth drops open again as monsters melt from the shadows around us. I freeze, but Akuji just laughs. “My people,” he explains.
More and more appear, all waiting and hoping we would make it back, welcoming us. Everyone comes together as the monsters from the cells find their friends and family.
The kid and his mother turn to me. “Thank you,” she starts, but she’s stopped from continuing by a loud roar.
We all turn to see Roroak. He’s standing in the masses and staring at her with shock. “Racel?” he calls, and then he sprints towards her. She cries and rushes to him, her child in tow. I watch as Roroak wraps them in his arms and spins them around as they cry and talk before collapsing together.
“Roroak is his dad?” I whisper.
Akuji looks down at me in shock. “I didn’t even realise it was them. They disappeared after his child was conceived. They look completely different. We thought we’d found their bodies on this side of the wall. They were burned… It’s them.” The happiness in his voice makes me look back in joy.
“Daddy, Daddy, it’s really you!” the kid shouts as the general sobs, holding them closer.
“It’s me, it’s me,” he soothes. “I’ve missed you every single day, every single second. I thought you were gone.”
“I missed you so much. My mummy told me about you, and Aria promised me I’d see you. She didn’t lie. Daddy, she brought me to you.”
Roroak’s eyes swing to me in shock. “You did this?”
I swallow. “We all did. We didn’t leave anyone behind. I didn’t know they were yours.”
He stands, his face closing down as he stops before me. I swallow and meet his gaze. All eyes swing to me, and everything is silent, save for my thundering heart.
“You brought me my family,” he whispers, and then he drops to his knees with his face to the dirt and his hands splayed before him. My eyes widen as I look back to see every single monster doing the exact same until there is an army of them on their knees before Akuji and me.
