Chapter 12

Cynthia(AL.I.C.E-2968442)

As he was pulling me along, Ren tripped, and we both fell to the ground. I looked up to see our pursuer launching a fist at Ren's head. Ren suddenly pushed me away, while rolling in the opposite direction, as the man's fist smashed the ground where Ren's head once was. Ren quickly stood up and took a defensive stance as our pursuer slowly straightened his back. After seeing the ground get pulverized like that, Ren intended to fight? He had no chance.

Our pursuer was someone I recognized. I had never seen him before, personally, but the insignia that wrapped up on top of his bald head was unmistakable, and the star rank under his left eye confirmed it. The captain of the security committee. A M.A.R.K model that was more imposing than any other unit before. Even more than any other M.A.R.K models I had met.

"General," I spoke out loud as I looked up.

"I see you recognize me AL.I.C.E-2968442. Please wait a moment while I get rid of this small pest." I could only see the side of his face from where I stood, but it looked like the side of his mouth was upturned from what I saw. As if he were about to enjoy this fight. I pushed myself off the ground, but I could not do anything. Ren and the General stared at each other for a moment as they slowly began to walk in circles around each other. In a flash, the general threw a fist at Ren. Ren quickly slid to his left, letting the general's fist barely slide across his left cheek, and threw his fist at the general, landing a blow on his bald head.

There was a crack, and Ren backed off. He tore his shirt and wrapped it tightly around the hand that had made contact. Then he rubbed a cut that had formed on his cheek where the general's fist had slid across. The general smirked. He had not moved from his thrown fist position during the whole exchange and just now drew it back and began walking to Ren. Ren took steps back as he slowly walked to him.

"Run while you can," he yelled to me. Ren's back was now against a wall of a nearby building. I turned and took off in the other direction. I pushed through the crowd of people; they had armed themselves with rocks like they had done against me but were now hesitant to throw them. They only stared at the giant who was fighting Ren. The sound of the wall smashing came from behind me. I pushed my way out of the crowd and ran along with a few others from the back, who had just decided to run away as well.

I turned down a street, turned a corner, and ran down another. Why was I even running? The General had only come to collect me. He had no reason to be hostile, nor would he have been if Ren hadn't been as hostile to him. I stopped and turned around. The General was walking a distance behind me, dragging something. Some of the crowd stood farther in the distance peering from around the corners of the street. As he got closer, I could see it was Ren that was being dragged along. The General held on to one leg and pulled Ren, face down, behind him. I took a few steps back. A strange reaction, but Ren would likely only endure worse at this rate if I ran away again. I began walking toward the General. We met and stood face to face, or instead he looked down at my face from his imposing height. He had dragged Ren's unconscious body by his leg the whole way and only now let go.

"Well, this beast did impress me some, to say the least," he said as he dropped Ren's leg, "It had proper training, but that was clearly its first real fight." He seemed amused by the fight he and Ren had just had. Fight was not even the right word for what just happened. The crowd, still far behind us, continued to watch from a safe distance.

"Hello General, what brings you here?" What kind of question was that? I could not think of anything else to say, so I just spat something out. He chuckled.

"Why, I've come to collect you. You know you have gotten the top brass in quite a frenzy. To be honest, I am a little jealous." He walked up to me and, without stopping, grabbed my arm and began to pull me away. His grip on my arm was relatively light, but his pulling had some force. I struggled to turn around and keep pace. It was clear he did not want to waste any more time here. I slipped out of his arm and turned around to walk properly beside him. He did not bother to grab me again; he probably figured I would comply.

I turned around to see Ren unceremoniously lying unconscious on the ground. He was still face down, and the General likely dragged him that way intentionally. I turned to look away. It was probably best this way. I had spent more time here than I planned. Any longer and I might have started to think that they were people too. It was silly to think I should stay here longer. I should just go back and forget everything that happened with Ren. No reason to remember these beasts.

A silver seraph suddenly materialized in the air in front of us and landed. It had presumably been cloaked and was following the general along. There was no way I could have gotten away with Ren. Its silver side door slid open, and we walked inside. I took one last look at the frozen crowd and Ren. He started to push himself up and turned in our direction before falling again. He looked up and stretched out an arm to us. Then he collapsed face down on the ground again. What was he trying to do? Stop me? He was just trying to send me home, and now I was going home. The door slid shut, and I felt us lift off the ground.

We were in the air now. It would only be a matter of minutes before I would be home. Now that I thought about it, I was starting to miss home. I was beginning to miss 443, Nanana, and 47628475. It would be good to see them again. I would have to act like I had a bad time in the town when I saw them. I am sure I would get in trouble in some way if I painted it as a good experience. The story of being attacked by the townspeople would certainly convince them. I began to brush myself off. I just realized I was wearing the clothes I had gotten in the town. Did the General intend to bring me back like this? I was about to say something to him when I felt something press against my back. Then it was dark.