"29" :: Chapter-12

The bus picked up speed and the pace at which it went past the buildings made Fabrice feel dizzy. "Please stop the bus" shouted Fabrice failing to sound polite. The man quickly turned back in response, a smirk spread all over his face, reflecting  a strange type of madness. Fabrice got up from the seat sensing the anger rising up in his head.  He held the man by the arm which steadily held the steering wheel.

"Stop the damn car" , a laughter answered his command. Fabrice caught hold of both his arms and twisted them, the driver wouldn't let go off the steering wheel, making the bus turn in abruption. The sharp turn in the middle of the road made the bus stand on its left side before it crashed into a concrete wall.

The crash was too fast to notice, the windows were mostly broken and the driver laid lifeless with his head down on the steering wheel and droplets of blood trickling down. Fabrice got onto his feet, a little bump was formed on his head, the pain of his already injured jaw line was now added to the pain of little bruises on his arms. Little splinters of glass left little bloody marks on his skin. Fabrice looked back, trying to focus his dizzy vision. Emilia was right there, hands on face, unharmed, with not even a single visible scratch.

They walked  out to see the underground road they were in, there was light coming in from a far end. The light showed three silhouettes running towards them. "Finally, you're here'" a scream claimed. Stepping away a little, Fabrice held Emilia's hand preparing to run but one of the man came in view and there wasn't anything strange about him. Maybe, help had come. Maybe.

"Come now, we have to get you out of here" he said.

"But who are you ?" Fabrice asked.

"Ah, come on now. We've got very less time" he pulled Fabrice. Fabrice thought he wouldn't resist for now. The opening of the road led to that much familiar building, which was once a high school Fabrice had known. Looking just the way, it had been back in time. Fabrice was led in, there were a lot of people rushing here and there. All of them, looking normal. The man finally took him to a locker room. "Get dressed now" he said "It's game time"

Fabrice, about to question stopped in response to Emilia's signaling. He got  dressed, Emilia walked in, opened a locker and handed another frame to Fabrice. "With this quest you shall find the image in this frame too" she said "All the frames will collectively activate the exit vault"

Fabrice moved out from the narrow opening, the skies still dark. The timer in the 15th hour, he suddenly felt the hand of a man behind his shoulder as he watched his team march out. "I need touchdowns" he said. "Else..." he paused.

Fabrice looked at him with a puzzled glance "Else grenades shall touch down from the stands"

Fabrice swallowed, as the skies signaled him to start with a drizzle that began.