Only Human (19 page)

THE FIRST FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

We are all here, and about to leave the haven for the first time since we arrived a few days ago. There is a third entrance to this place which Uncle is only telling us about now. In the second entry room, which you go into after the tunnels and lock, there is another hole in the ceiling. Climbing up there leads to one other dirt tunnel that leads directly to the caves, which were our first haven when we were rescued. It has seldom been used since the steel tunnels were discovered, but it serves our purpose today. This direct route saves us a swim in the lake or a trek through the forest, and whatever entities are lurking there at the moment. It’s not one hundred per cent safe, so we have to travel two at a time, gap, and two at a time, gap and so on. If there is a cave in at any point, others will be able to help.

We are all dressed in some x military fabric jackets and trousers; goodness knows where
Uncle got these from, but trust me, they stink of mothballs, and are definitely not new. The label says durable and fire retardant, so that’s something, given that we are exploding the farm with its own oxygen tanks, when we are done.

We are in the tu
nnel and I have Orianna with me; I forgot to mention that we each have a torch clipped on to our wrist as it is pitch black in here. It’s very dusty, as you would imagine, and I hope the tunnel walls are supported with pillars or something, but I can’t see much, even with the torch. I think I would have risked the forest, given a choice, but Uncle knows what he is doing. The gradient is up, then down, and so on, but it is roughly a straight route as the crow flies, so to speak, except it is underground, until we get to the caves. Amica, I told you that Zak is safe haven’t I? He’s with the wife of a rebel somewhere, out of danger, that’s good enough for me.

I am beginning to
recognise some of the grooves and bumps in this tunnel; we could be near our old caves. We are getting nearer the surface because I can hear the riotous noise of the birds. I have missed that so much since we have been closeted in steel. We are here; we have come out in one of the other caves, further down from Garok’s.  Garok, why did I have to think of him right this second? He should be here with us.

‘
Stop it!’

‘
Sorry, Amica, I’ve stopped.’

‘
Let’s do this thing!’

‘
Yeah!!!’

‘
Are you talking to yourself?’

‘
Just thinking out loud Orianna.’

I can hear Lupe and Sebastian coming behind us, then it
’s just Mother and Father, and we can make our way to Maccao Lane. Uncle is already outside, scouting the immediate area for any signs suspicious or unusual activity.

What on earth is that rumbling sound? Oh No, not the tunnel!

‘Hurry Lupe, tell mother and father it’s not safe, they’ll have to go back.’

The rumbling has stopped
, and Uncle has rushed back inside to us.

‘
Is everybody out, tell me?’

‘
We don’t know yet Uncle. I’m going back in to see.’

‘
Oh no you are not! Let me see.’

This side of the tunnel is still clear
, and we can see Lupe, Sebastian and Mother, I think, they are covered in dirt. They are holding in coughs, by the looks of them, or holding their breath so they won’t breathe in the dirt. Father must have stayed in the Haven; he must have realised that the tunnel was caving in. Here they are, thank goodness, they’re all coughing like trapped miners, but they’re ok.

‘
We have to go.’

‘
But Uncle, give them a minute, Mother needs to tell me about Father, he must have stayed behind.’

‘
Mother, he did, didn’t he? He heard my warning?’

She is still coughing; I have some water for her to clear her throat. Now she is muttering something to
Uncle, when I’m asking a question! Well, that’s just charming that is; just wait till my parents tell me off for interrupting again, I’ll....’

‘
We have to go now. Aecia NOW!’

I don
’t know what I’m thinking, something is wrong with father, but I want to be a child and not believe it. Mother and Uncle know I’m not stupid, but if I deny it and don’t speak, it might not be true. Lupe is shaking her head in reply to whatever Orianna asked her, and now they are looking at me. I don’t want to know!  Focus Aecia, focus and breathe.

‘
Yes, come on Orianna and everyone, we have to get to the trucks.’

No
‘one is speaking as we are tramping along over the fields. The birds aren’t singing anymore, and the only sounds are of the seven of us breathing, and seven pairs of boots pounding the ground as they march towards the lane. We have all been given wrist watches at last, and the time is now 9.35 a.m. I can see the trucks in the distance, with two strange Vamps standing outside, and they are speaking into walkie-talkies to somebody. It must be the other drivers, because Uncle isn’t speaking into his. I feel like I’m on remote control, or that I’m up in the sky looking down on all of us. Mother won’t even look at me, but has her eyes fixed on the road. I can’t remember why Mother should be upset, I feel numb.

‘
Aecia.’

‘
Yes Uncle.’

‘
We are here, at the trucks, what are you doing?’

‘
I, eh, I think, something to do with Father, but Zak, what about Zak?’

‘
Aecia come here, look into my eyes. You are in shock, but you can’t stay that way. I need you with me; do you understand me? You are safe and you are strong, and we are all together. Your father’s spirit, your mother’s courage, and your friends’ love are all surrounding you. We are a unit, we are powerful, and we will rescue the Clones today. Now do you remember?’

I feel refreshed
, and confident that we are up to this task Amica, don’t you? Why is everyone standing around and looking at me?

‘
Uncle, we have to go now don’t we? Shouldn’t we be moving by now?’

‘
Absolutely Aecia, let’s move!’

We are in the second truck with
Uncle driving, and I want to find out exactly what will happen before we move in and start disconnecting the Clones. The trucks are basically warehouses on wheels, and blooming large ones at that; we’re going to have to hang on tight to our rescued Humans, when we are in the back with them. I need to know how long we have got to free them, and settle them in here, before we have to speed off again.

‘
Uncle, where exactly are you creating the first explosion?’

‘
In truck one, there are two oxygen tanks, identical to the ones held at the farm, and we are going to light them up, just outside the back entrance to the supply area. When the Vumes go around to put out the fire, they will think the tanks have loosened out of their own supply, and will go inside to see if the rest are dangerous. Four of our party will be waiting inside, to restrain them if possible, or use the UVA gun as a last resort. You and the others will already be disconnecting the Clones, and the Vampires among us, will carry them, two at a time to the trucks. You remember where the lever is on the wall, which lowers the Clones down to our reach?’

‘
Yes, that’s new information to you isn’t it Uncle? We are learning more all the time.’

‘
Focus Aecia. All that matters is the time we have now. Do you all know what you are doing? Stay with your partner and watch out for each other!’

The air is alive with anticipation and anxiety, we have been over our every move numerous times and we are ready. If there is a God, please help us now Sir
, for what we are doing is right. We are here! We wait for the explosion; there it is; now we move! There are four Vampires in front of us that I don’t recognise. There are certainly more than twelve people involved in this mission now, so Uncle must have contacted some rebels from outside our Sector to help. My God, they are huge! They must be nearly seven foot tall! The entrance isn’t guarded now, because the Vumes are at the rear entrance, trying to prevent the fire from spreading into the storage area, I presume. The front door is locked, but it may as well be wide open as the two ‘SuperVamps’ (well that’s what they look like friend) have just barged into it, and knocked it flying into the warehouse. My puny group, of Orianna, Sebastian, Lupe, mother and I, are hard on their heels and ready for action.

We are in
, and in the seconds it has taken us to follow them into the building, the SuperVamps have already lowered the first row of Clones down to our level. The smell is stringent and putrid, and my stomach is quivering in disgust. My friends are suffering the same reaction, no doubt, as they recall the acidic disinfectant combined with the warm iron of blood, invading their nose and throat. Our blood was once part of that atmosphere, theirs’ for a lot longer than mine, and the horror of their memories has stopped them in their tracks. ‘All of you, come on, there’s no time to stop!!’ They are moving, but slowly; is it fear that is stopping them, or the horror of their past existence, brought to life in front of their eyes?

‘
Come on!!’ I am pulling Sebastian’s arm, the SuperVamps have lowered every row of Humans down, and are disconnecting them at the other end.

‘
Snap out of it, they will die! We will all die!’

Mother is
amazing, she must be shocked herself seeing, for the first time, how her kind treat the Humans. It has not fazed her, and she is already cutting into the plastic cocoon of her third capsule. I have to disconnect and lay down each Clone, ready for the stronger Vampires to load them into the trucks. I have to continue, whether my friends are moving or not, I just pray that they have each gone to their own row as we had planned. There is a feeling upon me that I cannot describe, as I mechanically detach each human being from their dual drips on either side of their bodies. I cannot allow myself to own it now, as there is no time, and it would stop me in my tracks, as it did the other Humans in our group. I can see you Amica, striding before me and outlining every move that I must make, and am grateful for your precise composure, which I must emulate. As I release each pitiful Clone, I daren’t look in their eyes, or their bewilderment and pain will consume me, and prevent me from completing this horrific task. There is chaos and movement all around me, but I am alone in my own cocoon of purpose, and each beating heart I release is in time with my own.

‘
Aecia!’

It is
Uncle’s voice. ‘Help the others carry them to the van; I will finish the last row. Hurry, there are more Vumes coming. Is your gun armed and ready?’

I hadn
’t even realised how many we had freed, it’s the Vamps, they can move ten times faster than we can.

‘
My gun is ready Uncle. Where are my friends?’

‘
Outside, they are not strong enough to carry the Clones, but they will defend us from the Vumes.’ I am racing now to the nearest group of Humans, and I realise my strength is coming back. I can easily carry two Humans at once and get them to the second truck. There are more Vumes appearing from everywhere, and I can hear the pulsating of the UVA guns being discharged; random explosions of light confuse my eyes, and the smell of burning flesh and ashes assault my nostrils. People are shouting instructions to others, with no idea of where they are, and I’m not sure who is friend or foe anymore.

‘
Amica.’

‘
I am here, carry the Humans to the trucks and don’t stop. That is all; carry the Humans to the trucks.’

‘
Yes, yes, that is all I have to do; that is my job; carry the Humans to the trucks.’

My arms and shoulders are aching and I can see the last two
Humans, unconscious, at the back of the warehouse. There are Vumes in here fighting with the rebel Vampires, and they have machetes, the like of which, I have never seen before.

‘
Ignore them, get to the Humans.’

‘
All right Amica, I’m going, but I’m afraid, it is coming over!’

‘
Your gun?’

‘
My gun,? Yes. It is standing in front of me. It has human eyes, not Vampires, but vacant, I….AAAhhhhhh, my leg it’s slashed! The pain…’

I am firing the ray gun from my position on the floor
, and the thing is turning to black skeleton and crisp ashen skin. It is writhing in pain and I hate myself, even while knowing that it would have killed me.

‘
Aecia, I have you child.’ Mother is carrying me, she is hurt, and there are burns on her face and arms.

‘
Mother, you’re hurt.’

‘
Let me get you to the trucks. I will stay with you inside; the medication is wearing off on me.’

What is happening? I can see more Vumes than rebels, and I can see an Elder! Kasen, it
’s that monster Kasen, and he is looking at me.