With their legs pushing them forward, there was no room to stop, as Lero huffed with each breath. For some reason, he was still holding onto the pickaxe, as he had never let go in the short amount of time from what happened to where they were now. Keru really thought that out of any diversion to come up with, was kick a grown man's little bells? Well, she was bloody brilliant, he could give her that.
"Quick thinking, huh?" he could hear Keru laugh, as shouting occurred behind them.
"I swear, this bloomin' plan of ours better work by the winds of-" Lero began to rumble off.
"I think I see them! Stop!" the pair could hear one of the guards shout from behind. "We will shoot you!"
Ignoring them, the duo managed to reach the long slope that made its way toward the top of the quarry and freedom. With more warnings behind them, they weren't even able to take a few more steps until shots rang out.
"Go!" Lero yelped in a rush, shots popping around them.
"Someone let them know we got two prisoners attempting to escape! Lock down the perimeter." another one of the guards shouted, as the quarry was in chaos.
The prisoners began running about, as the few guards in the area attempted to retain order. It only took a sole inmate to realize that they had no cuffs on their wrists before they tried to charge a sole guard. Catching on quickly, the guard aimed his rifle at him, and let loose. With a dead body on the ground, it appeared things were getting more controlled, as more guards began filing into the quarry.
The opportunity was in Lero's and Keru's favor, as they were already three-fourths the way up the slope. Only a few more yards away, and Lero could see the hole they needed to enter. Just as Lero passed the woman to be the first inside, three guards appeared at the crest of the slope, as they aimed their weapons towards them.
"Prisoners must not be let loose!" they shouted in unison. "Fire!"
Stuck in place, Lero could do nothing but watch in fear, as everything felt like it slowed down. His life essentially flashed before his eyes, as all his most memorable moments happened before him. From being a little boy through the grassy plains of his homelands to the fires that raged through the war that killed off much of his family, Lero would finally join them.
At least, it felt as if so, before Keru managed to push them both into the hole, causing him to lose all those terrible thoughts. The bullets lighting up their prior position, the man could do nothing but stare into Keru's mouth as if it was saying something.
"Move!" she said loud enough for him to understand, as he crawled alongside her.
The space itself was tight, as the roof of the tunnel rubbed against his prison uniform. He could see the light at the end of the ditch, which caused him to move faster so he could stand up. Just as he was about to reach the opening, Keru tapped his leg.
"Crawl through the bushes, but stay low. We're not clear yet." she mentioned from behind, as he followed suit.
Finally reaching the bushes, the pair stayed low as more shouting could be heard around them. The thick brambles and thorns did not help the situation as it started to make cuts across their face and outfit. Several more meters through the thicket did an opening finally present itself, as a short distance of about fifty yards through an open field in order to make it to the forest line and freedom. All they had to do left was run.
"We can't bloody wait any longer can we?" Lero turned to look at the woman.
Her eyes stayed attentive to some sight ahead, as Lero moved to follow her gaze. Right next to the field, was the main road that returned them to prison, and a dozen or so guards waiting by its side. It appeared that they expected them to jump out to the open any minute now, and who knew what carnage was going to happen by then.
"Shoot, what powers do you have?" Keru tried getting her energy links off her arms, although they were iron tight.
"Um, none." Lero muttered, a bit embarrassed.
"Really!" she whispered loudly, a bit agitated. "No wonder you never told or asked about mine."
"It's-."
"We don't have time to worry. If I don't get these links or cuffs, or whatever you call them, we won't get out of here alive. Hurry up and slam your foot against it."
Lero watched as she angled one of her arms toward the ground and angled it in such a way that it would do minimal damage to her. Once she was adjusted, the woman gave the man the go-ahead, and Lero lined his foot up. Embracing for any type of pain, he slammed his foot down, hearing a small crack. Looking at the woman, he could tell that she was grimacing a bit in pain, but gave him a small smile as she ripped the link of her left hand. With that done, she quickly checked to see the guards moving past the field and toward the quarry.
"Alright, let's move quickly. On the count of three, get into the tree lines, and don't stop until I say so."
"Alright, let's bloody do this, one last time."
"3, 2, 1, go!" Keru roared, as she leaped over the man and sprinted ahead.
Picking himself up, he dashed behind her, as shouts from the guards realized the commotion going on was the escapees. Not letting them get away, the few that could see began firing upon them, their bullets spreading around them.
"Don't let them get into those trees alive!" one of the guards shouted, as they started chasing them down.
Still moving, Lero could see a small opening he and Keru could fit through, as he was only fifteen yards away when blood appeared by Keru, as she stumbled into the void. Eyes widening, Lero managed to move next to her, as she managed to hold herself up, although the man spotted where the shot landed. It looked like it just grazed her neck, although it appeared worse than that.
"Bloody runners, you can still move?" Lero went to her side, lifting her up.
"Of course, I'm still moving, am I not?" she managed to joke, although a stream of blood was leaking from her mouth. "We can't stop."
Understanding, he let her latch onto him as he could hear the guards approaching them. Not wanting to lose more ground, he marched onward, even as the sound of the guards didn't disappear. He could not afford to return to that horror house, as the thought kept him moving even with his lungs burning. He kept going for what felt like hours, as his feet hardened and the only sound he was listening to was his own breath. Lero refused to stop now, especially with Keru still on his back, not even knowing if he was alive or not.
But after that eternity, the pair had to stop after reaching a small river. Even as tired as he was, Lero could not stop shaking at the thought of being captured or killed, and face that Warden.
"You still alive?" Lero could feel her head on his neck, faintly breathing.
"Yeah." she managed to mutter against his ear. "I need to rest."
"Not just yet. We gotta cross this serpent here." Lero took a quick breath, before placing his feet into the water.
Icy pain shot up his aching legs, as he forced himself to cross, the water reaching up to his knees. Keeping balance against the slippery stones on its bottom, the man was at the edge of the other side when he heard faint talking behind. Knowing who it likely was caused him to lift himself and Keru with all his remaining energy across and move several more yards before collapsing next to a tree.
Moving so neither of them would be seen, Lero carefully took a quick peek to see who was behind them. Just coming into view through the bushes and fallen trees, were about six of the guards, with one of them having an enlarged nose like a trunk.
"You smell em'?" one of the guards closest to the bigger nose said.
"Give me a sec." the big-nose man sniffed like a dog, taking in all the scents. "It ends at the river. They couldn't have gotten far or even crossed it yet."
"You heard him, search this side of the river before we decide to check across in the next hour. We can still catch him."
Just as Lero was about to lay back to catch his breath, the guards said one more statement that kept him on their toes.
"And if anyone finds them, kill them. We don't have time to bring them back and inspire more resistance from the other prisoners. Warden's orders."
That kept the air still, as Lero looked down at Keru. She had her arms wrapped around his side as if he was her protector. Which in this case, he was for now, as he took a quick look at her wound. Although the blood started to crust and dry up, it was clear that she was going to be weakened for the time being. Looking at her face, she seemed as if she went through an Anertilan storm, as the dried blood from her lips was still there.
At least to make sure she was alright, he lifted one of his fingers and started to wipe the blood off her face. The action caused her eyes to flutter open, as she took a quick look at him. Even after everything they've been through, he couldn't lie as to them making a good pair. It was as if they complimented the other in decision-making, and that seemed to work in their favor.
"You're welcome. We got to move out soon." Lero pulled his hand back. "Looking better now."
"I owe you for what you've done." the woman moved closer to him, "I didn't think you had it in you."
"I swear, it better not be another peck to the cheek. I don't need that." Lero started to assure her, "I just want my bloody freedom. I should have never been arrested."
"I know. You're a good man." she stared at him for a few more seconds.
Lero didn't even budge, as the woman looked at him for a bit longer, before planting a quick kiss on his lips. A bit taken back, he couldn't help but not be surprised that she would do that to him at all. Oh well, the woman could really do as she wished, as long as she wasn't getting too personal.
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Lero got up, causing her to move back a bit, "Let's get a move on now."
"I know you liked it. It was the least I could give." Keru snuck in a playful smile, with Lero looking away in a fluster.
Not wanting to make the situation last longer, he grabbed the woman's arms around his neck before recollecting himself. Taking charge once again, he took those first steps closer to real freedom and away from that prison ever again.