Chapter 11:

Wanted

Infallibility


“Nari!” Kono sprung up and tossed her a bag from the shelf.

“Everything still in here?” She asked.


“Last I checked.”

I’d always thought it was an impossibility, a one in a million chance they came for us. We were law abiding citizens, believers in the Truth! Why waste time on those who have done no wrong?

Those bags set aside for doomsday were always a joke in my eyes, a frivolous expense based on paranoia, yet here we were, and it was all my fault.

We darted towards the back door into the ally beyond. Guards shouted in the shop and pointed towards the door.

Fuck it was going to be close.

Outside flickering street lights lit the dark walls. It was barren, not a person in sight. Only the creaking of pipes lay ahead of us.

We ran through puddles of water yet to be evaporated. Everything was soaked ten seconds in, from my shoes to my shirt.

From the shouts behind us however, the corruption checkers didn't care. We were their prey, a target to capture. A little water wouldn't become a deterrent. They were professionals after all.

We swerved past a corner into the gaping street beyond. People trotted around here and there scouting the shops before they closed. Despite it all, everything was peaceful, a day like any other. Most everyone here would never have an idea we were getting chased, their virtual lens’s too much of a destruction.

“Surrender and stand down.” Shining barrels started down our faces as the guards took advantage of our slight indecision.

“Woah.” Kono slowly turned around, putting his hands in the air. “Nari, Makoto, on the count of three run off to that ledge ya’ll love to hide out in.” He muttered under his breath.

“Got it.”

“Quiet rebels.” The head guard hoisted his gun in the air and pointed it right towards Kono’s forehead

“Three!” We dived like dolphins out of their sight, running in opposite directions. I weaved through the streetlamps and hopped over the homeless still asleep on the street.

How to get there, how to get there… Everything was a daze to me, the streets all the same.

“Makoto wrong way!” Kono’s voice shocked me back to my senses. Crap, sure enough, I’d passed my turn a few seconds ago.

I threw myself into the closest ally I could. Just a few turns and I’d be back on course.

Not a single soul was in sight, just me and my thoughts. I slightly showed my run to a fast jog and collected myself. My lungs were burning and my feet destroyed. I didn’t have the strength of Kono or the athletic ability of someone like Akane. Hell, I was one of the least athletic people I knew, confused for a girl more times than not. Running around with my life on the line was the worst case scenario for someone like me.

Fuck no, this was no time to complain. That’d do nothing but get me killed. Granted that was the likely outcome no matter what I did.

Why did I have to say those damn few words? Why couldn't I have just used common sense for once and kept my damn mouth shut?

“There he is!” Behind me a crowd of Corruption Checkers broke through the darkness “Capture him!”

“Ack!” I’d miscounted the allies! All that awaited me was a dead end. My head swerved back and forth for something, anything to help me in this situation.

“No use resisting kid, just come with us quietly.” I slowly turned around, hands in the air. They were right, there was nowhere for me to go. All my options were covered, except for one.

A rickety ladder hung from the side, just high enough for me to reach if I leaped into the air. It was a risk, one that probably would get me killed, but it wasn't like I had any better options.

“Fine, I’ll go.” They slightly lowered their weapons and casually walked toward me. I waited, and waited, and waited, until…

“Watch out!” A guard shouted, but it was too late. I springboarded off the closest guard, knocking him back like a bowling pin.

“Bang” A single gunshot rang out next to my ear as I hoisted myself up the ladder. “Don’t let him escape!”

“Bang Bang.”
I ducked under the steaming bullets and sparks of light caused by the ricochet. One wrong move and I was dead, a corpse dripping on the rainy ground. I just needed to make my way up.

Halfway up the ladder, the building shook as if an earthquake hit. The ladder's hooks were slowly leaving their notches, nothing else securing it from the floor below.

I pushed down the pain and hoisted myself up faster. My thighs were burning and lung collapsing. At this point counting the rungs one by one was all that kept me going.

“Final warning.”

“Too late.” Just as a barrage of bullets created poka dots on the building's wall, I slid up the side and collapsed on the roof.

“Sorry about this.” I leaned over once the gunfire ceased, and shoved the ladder off the rails.

I turned, covering my ears as it crashed on them down below.

Wasn't done yet, however. These were corruption checkers, the best of the best. No way a simple ladder would be enough to stop them. I needed to move.

“It’s just a bit farther Makoto.” I said to myself. Anything to get me to move would help at this point.

I crawled along the roof, stretching my aching limbs. I had to face my next question head on, what next? I couldn't see anywhere to go. My way up was now inaccessible and even if there was a way back down It’d assuredly be blocked off. I was trapped.

Shaking legs supported my weight as I got a better view. The cityscape stretched below my feet, lights shining in the night sky.

In moments like this Tokyo felt peaceful, a rarity these days. The hustle and bustle down below became a distant memory. Views like this were slowly transforming into a rarity as time went on.

“Hey Makoto.” A whispering voice caught my attention. Nari was poised on the edge of a nearby building, easily leapable in my normal state.

“Nari” I rushed over to her.

“Looks like someone was a bit careless.”

“Like you’re one to talk.”

She rolled her eyes “Come on, make the leap and let's get out of here.”