Arc 3 - Chapter 54: So We Could All Go Home

Closing the other door, Luke entered the 31st train cart.

Taking the form of a passenger cart, rows of seats lined up in front of him. With a long walkway, and golden arches laced around the rows, he fastwalked silently. Glancing from behind, he knew that door wouldn’t hold down for long, but he heard a bang.

—Huh?

His body in control, he instinctively took cover behind a row of seats. Hearing another bang, it took the shape of a gunshot, the boom overriding his literal senses. And from the door that he was supposed to enter into, came a group of guards.

—Guess I’m fighting my way through.

He pulled out his left hand.

Throwing back his arm, he didn’t have any sense to aim. Letting the object fly backward, he quickly covered both of his ears…

—While a shockwave rippled through the walls.—

Glancing to his left and right, many of the windows shattered by force. Shards littering the cushioned seats, dust began to accumulate, leaving Luke to sneeze. Getting out of his cover, he walked over the unconscious guards who groaned and moaned.

Reaching the door, he turned it down and entered through. But just as he did so…

“There he is!”

He heard the gong. Narrowing his eyes, he dashed toward another row of seats, as the 30th train cart was exactly the same as the 31st. Nearly avoiding a rain of bullets, it was as if they were waiting for him.

Taking out both of his uzis, he pushed his face to wrinkle.

—Fuck it.

He leaped out of cover.

Running toward another row of seats, all he needed to do was cross the hallway. Doing so, a rain of metal fired upon him, but his eyes analyzed the flickering embers. Springing out his arms, he pulled the triggers, and summoned his own rain.

Feeling the recoil tremble his arms, it was only for a single second until he stopped. Taking cover once more, he felt the floor be thumped upon.

“They got Agent Cam!”

“Take cover!”

This time, he was dealing with agents.

Knowing that a mistake would be fatal, he maneuvered out of cover and into a row in front of him. Because they were positioning themselves, it took them too long for them to fire. Ringing the room with gunshots, Luke pressed the back of his head on the wood.

—There’s three more left…

Luke couldn’t take a peek at them, as their bullets rang near his ears. Gripping the metal of his uzis deathly, he gulped down saliva, before breathing in through mellow airways…

Pushing his left uzi into his holster, he used his left hand to smolder his pocket. Taking out a simple grenade, its clumped shelling made its cracks look outwardly.

—Here goes nothing.

Pulling the pin, the three agents ceased firing. Hearing what Luke was doing, they pieced together the little gimmick that the criminal was about to do. But it was too late.

Throwing back the grenade, he didn’t need to cover his ears for it. Taking out his left uzi from his hip, he moved his fingers toward the trigger. It wasn’t a boom.

“Gah!”

One of the agents tumbled onto the seats. Although his eyes remained open, blurriness gobbled his pupils up to his irises. Along with the rest of them, they blindfired through their drunken states, but it was no use…

Three bullets rang.

One, two, three. Three thumps rippled the metallic floor. Some of them landed on their chests, or their faces, and they all had something in common. For one, saliva littered from the corners of their lips.

While one man ran past them.

“G-Get back… gasps…”

“No can do!”

Using his shoulder like a battering ram, Luke opened the door by force. Leaving the 30th train cart behind, he entered the 29th, and this time, no guards or agents welcomed him.

Running through the hallway, Luke—

Everything screamed.

Spinning by his instinct’s command, he pulled the trigger of his uzi once, and he bent his chest and stomach forward. If he hadn’t, he would’ve felt a burning sensation rivaling a hot knife.

“Ah!”

The bullet missed his body by a mere centimeter, and Luke took down the culprit. From a row of seats, was an agent clad in his usual tuxedo and fedora. Yet his instinct screamed twice. No, three times.

Walking back, Luke spun his arm like a clock hand’s being rewinded. Twirling again as he did this, he pulled the trigger once more, and bent his body back instead of forward. For a split second, a single flash appeared in his irises.

—That was close.

Shooting yet another agent, Luke didn’t dare to stall for a single millisecond. Running toward the door once more, his fingers tried to scrape what little loose metal it had. But instead of ramming into the door, he began to brake.

Without touching the handle, his instinct still roared.

—They’re waiting for me in there.

Holstering one of his uzis back into place, he pushed a single hand into his pocket. Going through the catalog of inventions once more, he brought three vials. All of them thickened with orange smoke, Luke himself shivered the more he held onto them.

But he had no choice.

Holstering his uzi into his other hip, he had a handle on the door. Squeezing the golden metal, he shook his head… and opened it wide. He didn’t show his body, nor his face. Instead, he threw the vials into the room.

“He’s—”

Anyone who was waiting for him, ended up furrowing their brows in confusion. Lasting only a second, the three vials that contained that thickish smoke…

Shattered.

Chips of glass sprinkling beneath their feet, the dozens of guards and agents began to walk back. But the gas spread quickly; far too quickly. As if a gust of wind carried it forward, many men felt the gas seep into their noses and lungs. Coughing, gasping, they tried to sprint toward the door, but their legs turned into jelly.

Some of them laid on the ground, while others collapsed hard. Many of them tried to fight it, but the gas acted like a virus. And from the gas cloud, walked a man wearing a gas mask.

—So this is what Gemma inhaled…

The insulator being his guardian angel, his cheeks began to sting by the irritating gas. Although bromine is used to attack the respiratory system, it didn’t just infiltrate the lungs.

His knuckles began to burn, and his forehead shingled in small lines of red. Sprinting through the gas cloud, the stinging pain soon ended once he pushed on through.

Collapsing on all fours, his breathing was heavy, but his lungs were safe. With his right hand, he took off the gas mask, and quickly pushed it into his jacket’s pocket. Getting up from the floor, he was about to…

“Hope you like metal.”

Because he had his uzis holstered, he couldn’t pull them out in time. Right in front of him were several agents all wearing the same exact attire. But, the only thing different about them were the weapons they carried.

—Oh no…

Their metal batons gleamed under the settling sun, and he knew pulling another trick would be costly. With narrowed eyes, he slid his right foot back, and glued his toes deep into the leather of his boot.

Curling his fingers into his palms, he raised his arms up to the height of his face. They all smirked at him, as if they were staring at a piece of fresh meat.

“Get him boys!”

The six of them rushed at him.

Two to his left, two to his right, and two leaping in front. Luke leaped back, as his instinct instructed him to do so. He used the tips of his toes to maneuver around the homing agents, who also did the same thing.

—Wait… I’m starting to feel it now…

He moved like a butterfly. If the wind shapes a butterfly’s path, his blessing did the same thing. It helped him, gifted him, gave him something that Luke never fully realized until now.

Avoiding each strike of the agents’ batons, he also took count of their arms and legs.

—This feeling, this motion, I could predict their moves. I can see right through them.

It was like time flowed in slow motion.

His heart slowed, and his breathing was marinated in his own calmness. He didn’t even need to go on the offensive, as his defense was already impenetrable enough. Zig-zagging around them, he did it in his own way, as he avoided their batons by the skin of his teeth.

—I can do this…

Avoiding two men at once, he sprang out his right foot toward the guard leaping at his right. Striking the man’s side, his boot struck his liver, which guaranteed victory. Seeing the agent gasp out saliva, air struggled to come in, making him collapse on the floor with his hands on his side.

Being in a vulnerable position, three agents took their chance. Rushing at him from all sides, he twisted his body 180, and avoided all of their batons. Managing to bend and shift his body, he almost snapped one of his shoulders…

—I can do this!

Crushing down, he pulled a swipe kick in the blink of an eye. Using both of his legs, he had his palms hold his whole body, along with his locked in elbows. Hitting two of the agents' ankles, they quickly fell from his sudden move.

And pushing his body up, all by the sheer strength of his shoulders, he bent back to avoid another strike.

“What is he made out of feathers!?”

“It’s just one boy! How hard can striking him be!?”

This time, Luke bit his lower lip.

Leaping forward, he side-stepped to his right while keeping his arms in front of him. Swerving his head left, he found an opening, and launched a single fist toward an agent’s face.

Of course, the agent avoided the fist. But Luke already took note of his shortcomings.

“Gotcha.”

Swiping his right foot, he pulled another dirty kick. His ankle no longer handling his body weight, the agent felt a snap, and he yelped in pain by—

His face was smashed in. Arching his whole head back, blood immediately bursted from his nose, and his eyes rolled in. Sprawling on the ground, Luke jumped back, his foot already pulled back.

—I may not be good with upper body strength, but I excel in kicking.

Two agents falling victim, Luke leaped back with enough momentum to crash onto the wall behind him. Sliding himself right, the four agents were still gunning for him.

With his left hand, he grabbed a small extinguisher that he took note of. In the blink of an eye, he grappled it with crushing fingers, before sending it flying. The agents least expected a flying extinguisher, so when they widened their—

One of them tumbled back.

Caving his eyes into his skull, blood gushed from his nose. Crashing to the floor, his cheek was pressed onto the floor, leaving behind the three agents to deal with Luke.

—So I guess this is it…

Leaping straight toward them, they surrounded him on all sides. One on his right, one on his left, and one coming straight toward him, he targeted the one right in front. But instead of a simple punch, he did something completely unexpected.

Thrusting both of his feet out, he made his body parallel to the floor. His boots made contact, but they were grabbed, as if the agent canceled his air kick. He had a narrowed face and eyes, yet Luke carved his fingers onto the agent’s hands.

—This is Togo.

Dropping the agent to the ground, his fingers were there to keep himself from being flown.

As the two agents struck down their batons, Luke hurdled himself forward, and for a split second, he rolled over the agent's face and chest. Sprawling out his arms and legs once more, he jumped up, before avoiding three to four slashes from their batons.

Seeing that he was dealing with a 2 vs 1, he bit his lower lip, and leaped back.

“Timeout!”

Pulling out a little string, what jumped out was nothing more than baggage. But to Luke, it was nothing more than a weapon. He let the bags fall, creating a two second stall for him.

At that moment, he maneuvered onto another row of seats. Making himself a bit of distance, it wasn’t long before they reached up.

“Don’t think that’ll make us stop!”

Luke dashed toward the door, as his face was glittered in sweat. Feeling the three of them being a meter away, Luke grounded his teeth and strained his gums. Before thrusting his left hand into his pocket.

“And don’t think I’ll use my trump card.”

Taking out his left hand, his fingers had it balled and shafted in tightness. Throwing it backhand, it was nothing more than a vial, but the glass was white and blue, almost colorful. But once it broke, it reacted with the air.

For a split second, one of the agents made the mistake of stepping on it. And as he did, he slipped, with the back of his head hitting the floor. Groveling on the ground, all that was left was the two agents.

Who jumped over a pair of seats.

—Got ya both.

Hiding his right hand, he pulled it out from his pocket, and felt the glass shiver his palm. Like it was trying to enclose his skin in ice, he threw it like a ball.

Striking the ground, a collection of vials shattered in all directions. But the culmination of them all, brought forth a whirlpool of air that shifted and swirled. And being in the center of it all, was the three agents.

Unable to leap back, they were swelled in air that crinkled their clothes. Their fabric indulged in frost, their skin did as well. Like a plague that traveled their nerves, it even reached the frontal lobe of their foreheads, as they coughed deeply through slow breaths.

“Sorry it had to come to that.”

The three agents lowered themselves to the ground, as the frost began to pinch their skin. Although it wasn’t absolute zero, the air was more than enough to completely entrap them. Their lungs failing to deliver fresh oxygen, Luke saw it all through darkened eyes.

“But I need to save my friends.”

Taking out both of his uzis, he turned his eyes toward the door to the other train cart.

Knowing he had to repeat this process, repeat the same battles, it was all for them. With luck by his side, and his wits still golden in success, he narrowed his eyes forward… before stepping into battle once more.

________________________________________________________________________

(Reverence 6, 59 / 7:31PM)

All of them heard gunshots.

Lifting their heads from their knees, their ears took in the popping and crackling of air. Hearing it from many train carts down, a woman with blue eyes and blonde hair softly rose from the ground. Biting her lower lip, she directed her eyes toward the door.

“Can it be…”

Hope trailed her foot steps, as the bottom of her boots squealed and groaned by each thump. Hearing the repeating gunfire, she reached the door, but she couldn’t open it with her hands tied to her back. Still wearing those salt cuffs, her legs held her body up, but gravity tried to descend her down.

“He came back… he came back! Luke is returning to save us!”

Spinning around, she had a smile that glittered her face. Her eyes glowing blue, even amidst the settling dark, she glanced at each person with enough enthusiasm to rival Gwen.

“Y-You guys! Aren’t you all glad!? We don’t have to be chained to these handcuffs any more! We could be—”

“Why would he rescue us?”

Hope pushed her eyes on that voice, a mere whisper.

Leaning his head against the metal, Sean’s hair was glued to it. His arms resting on his knees, his eyes looked dead, as if no life flickered in his irises.

“He knows going back here would bring trouble… so why…”

“Cause Luke doesn’t know when to give up.”

Another voice spoke through the dark.

Getting up from the floor, Miles’s face was still darkened and filled with exhaustion. But there was a flicker of hope, a small flame that tried to ignite. Although his voice throttled, and his knees felt like jello, he nonetheless buckled them to his body.

“I know he made mistakes, but if he’s going this far to get us back… then why let it go to waste?”

Hope gave him a nod, and she stomped the floor once to get everyone’s attention. With all of their eyes now on her, she stood with a straightened back, along with a cleared throat.

“Miles’s right. Once he arrives, we can’t let him be the one to lift up our spirits. We have to fight. We have to—”

“Shut up.”

Hope’s right eye twitched.

Turning her eyes to her right, she noticed a tanned woman groveling on the ground like a bum. Her cheek against the wall, her face was clustered in a mean glare.

“Who gave you the right to lecture us? Lecture me? You were one of the few that opposed fighting. You and Miles.”

“I know that.”

“You hypocrite…”

The chains of those cuffs rattled, with Luna’s body shivering under her frustration. Unable to stand up, she growled her venom-like voice from below. But in Hope’s eyes, all she saw was some angry woman.

A rival so filled with jealousy, that at some moments, she almost felt sad for her.

“You think you can just lift up our spirits eh? You’re not some angel derived from heaven.”

“I never said I was an angel.”

“So stop acting like one!”

Her voice echoed through the train cart.

In such a while, Hope noticed a faint sparkle of emotion in Luna’s eyes. It wasn’t fire, but water. Tears bottling up underneath her eyelids, her voice broke and crumbled as she tried to convey those words.

Hope began to walk toward her, her footsteps quieter than usual. Both of her hands to her side, she looked down.

“Quit acting like you some goody good two shoes woman! I know how you act with Luke! I know what you’re capable of!”

“Luna…”

“You can’t—”

She kicked her face

Giving her a gentle one, her cheek reddened in pain. Luna dropped her jaw, and looked at Hope with so much confusion. She couldn’t get angry, nor could she voice a question. It was like her whole body was going through a restart, while Hope shook the hand she slapped her with.

“Sorry but you needed that. I had to get you to listen.”

Luna’s throat jumped.

“What is it?”

“Why did you kick me…?”

Hope pushed air through her nose, her nostrils flaring up from the exhaustion she carried. But upon folding her arms beneath her chest, she didn’t allow a frown to grasp her face.

She pushed up a smile, but not a cheeky one.

“Someone had to get you under control. Luke can’t be the only one to leash you.”

“W-What?”

“You know what I mean.”

Her face began to glow against the sun’s rays.

Turning her eyes toward everyone, they all sulked on the floor that began to swell in darkness. So much despair filling their souls, Hope was the only one having no such thing. Her soul continuing to be flamed, she balled both of her hands.

‘I got to give them hope, give them something to fight for…’

While Luke fought for their freedom, Hope had to quell on another front. Right in front of her, was a group of people who all reeled with exhaustion. Reeled with the belief that they can’t fight.

But she was given a task only she can bring; a word that matched the name she was given at birth.

—‘So we could all go home.’—