Screams echoed through the damp tunnel. Leo could hear his companions panting. They were all out of breath from running, but their leader Koa wouldn't stop. 'The newcomers aren't going to make it at this pace.' Leo thought. Two of them already collapsed, their unconscious bodies were slung over Rex and Aspin's backs. Leo knew the other three would be in the same place soon if they didn't stop to rest.
He picked up his pace to catch up with Koa.
"How much farther?"
"Just a bit, ten minutes if we keep up the pace." Koa knew the tunnel system better than anyone. Even the palace guards got lost if they wandered around for too long. But Koa never even thought twice about which tunnel to take or which door to open.
"I'm afraid the newcomers won't last that long, and we don't have enough members with us to carry them if they pass out." 'Rex and Aspin don't look so good either...' he was going to add, but he thought twice, and decided not to. He didn't need to hurt their pride.
"Just a little further,", Koa urged.
"Koa, they're not as strong as you." As if to prove his point, the youngest of the three tripped and fell hard onto the stone floor. Brook quickly bent down and picked him up. Both of his knees were skinned, and blood dripped down his arm from a cut on his hand.
"We have to stop.", Brook insisted. Leo saw Koa perk up, like an animal that just heard a sound, and knew that he was listening for their pursuers.
"Fine. Only for a few minutes though. We have to get out before they find the exit."
As soon as Koa gave permission, everybody collapsed.
Brook started to inspect the newcomers, tightening and replacing any bandages that came undone while they were running, giving them some of the little water they had left, and even rocking the smallest one in her arms to comfort him. All five of them were pitifully thin. Their ripped clothes were covered in dry blood, and they reeked of chemicals.
This time, they had rescued a mother with her three kids and an orphan boy.
"Are you ok, Rex?", Koa asked. Rex looked at the long cut on his upper arm.
"It's not that deep. I think I'll live." He tried to act tough, but Leo could hear the pain and exhaustion hidden in his voice. Koa gave him a unconvinced look as fresh blood seeped out of the wound.
"How many bandages do we have left?", Koa asked Brook.
"Just one pack."
"Patch him up. Then we'll start moving." Rex took a breath to insist he was fine, but one sharp glance from Koa made him shut up and accept the care from Brook. She had just finished, when they started to hear faint voices echo through the walls. The guards were getting close.
Brook, Aspin, and Rex stood up quickly, helping the weaker ones to their feet. Leo helped lift the two unconscious ones onto Aspin's and Rex's shoulders. Leo had just enough time before they started running, to notice the pool of blood where Koa had been sitting. 'Shit, that's a lot of blood! We were only sitting there for a few minutes...It must be deep.' He looked at Koa who, other than a slight limp, acted perfectly fine.
Suddenly, Koa made a sharp turn that Rex and Aspin almost missed. They ran for another ten minutes. Koa led them with confidence, turning right, then left, then right, left, and left again, till finally, a dim glow started to lighten the tunnel, and a low roar filled their ears.
They emerged into a medium-sized cave, hidden from the outside world by a waterfall that covered the entrance. 'Freedom...just beyond that wall of water.' Leo could almost feel the fresh outside air when he thought about it. 'We still have to deal with the palace guards though...' All of them stopped once they got to the water.
"Go.", Koa ordered. Brook was the first to jump. Then, Aspin quickly but gently lowered the smaller kids to her, before jumping down himself and helping the older kids pass down their mother, then themselves.
"But Koa! What about the guards?! If they find this place, they'll brick it up! If not, the king will order them to watch it all day and night!"
"Don't worry about them. I'll lead them away and make sure they get lost."
"But your leg! You're injured!"
"I'll meet you at camp. I trust that you'll lead the others there safely." Without another word, Leo watched as their leader ran straight toward the guards and slipped out of sight. He wanted to run after Koa, but he knew that the others couldn't make it back without his help. Taking one last glance in his leaders direction, he plunged into the water.
Coldness surrounded him as he fell into the river below. Once he regained the surface, he swam to shore where the others were waiting for him. The sudden cold water must have woken the mother and her child because they were all four huddled up together, wide awake.
"Where's Koa?", Brook asked as soon as Leo got to the shore.
"Distracting the guards for us. He told me to get you guys back to camp safely." Brook seemed to sense his anxiety.
"Don't worry, Koa's never let us down before, now is no different." Still, Leo couldn't help but think about the pool of blood he had seen.
The temporary camp they made was not far from the waterfall, only a ten-minute walk. Once they were at camp sitting around the fire, they properly introduced themselves.
"I'm Evie. These are my kids, Reed and Violet,", The mother said, pointing at the two oldest, which appeared to be about eleven or twelve if Leo were to guess; though their malnourishment made it hard to tell. "and my youngest, Birch."
Brook looked gently at the other kid with the scraped-up knees.
"What's your name little one?", she asked, but the only sound that came out of his trembling lips was a soft whimper. Brook stretched her hand out to stroke the boy's head, but he flinched and backed away from her touch. 'Poor thing...' Leo thought, 'It's gonna take a while for this one to trust anybody...'
"Hey~ don't be afraid, your safe now. Nobody's gonna hurt you anymore, not here. We took you away from the bad guys." Her words calmed him a little. 'That's Brook for you. Always good with kids. It's a wonder she doesn't have any of her own yet.' Leo thought.
"W-who are you g-g-guys?" The kid stuttered.
"I'm Brook, this is Aspin, Rex, and Leo. The one who led us through the tunnels is our leader Koa."
"B-but who ARE you guys? You were wearing m-metal like the bad guys..."
"We dress like them to disguise ourselves, but we're just like you.", Brook explained.
"Ju-just like me? You're not like them?" The kid sniffled.
"Yes, just like you. Now tell me, what's your name little one?" Silence followed the question.
"You don't have to be afraid." Brook assured him.
"I-I'm #33...", he answered at last.
'A dungeon breed!', Leo thought in disbelief. Dungeon breeds were what they called the unfortunate souls that were born in the dungeons and never saw the outside world. They didn't have names, only a specific number tattooed on the back of their neck and on their wrist.
"Oh...well that won't do. How about we call you---Leaf!" Brook suggested.
Leo liked the name. He thought it suited the kid well, with his dark green eyes and trembling body.
"Yes, Leaf! What do you think?", she asked the boy, who smiled shyly and nodded his approval.
"I thank you once again for saving us. And I know the boy, Leaf, already asked, but... Who are you guys? Are you part of some rescue organization? Who sent you?", Evie asked.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but no one sent us. We used to be prisoners like you." Rex told her.
"Until Koa helped us escape. After that, we've been sneaking prisoners out whenever we can.", Leo explained. "No matter how many we sneak out though, there's always more taking their place." He sighed.
"Where are you gonna take us?", Violet asked.
"First, we'll take you back to our main camp. Then, once you're ready, we'll take you back."
"Back?" Evie sounded puzzled, "what do you mean?"
"Back home, to Alterna."