Enhance: Chapter 19

“I really don’t wanna go down there.” Yumi said for the third time.

From their new home they had taken the better part of a half an hour to make their way to the location marked on the map. The subway station in question was abandoned. According to Feint no one had used it in years. Even in front of the entrance there were boards with a big sign that read ‘Do Not Enter’

“Don’t have a change of heart now.” Shade tore down one of the boards and then kicked the another one away. The darkness inside was suffocating.

“Does the map Darren sent get any more specific?” Phase asked.

Feint nodded. “I’m crossing the map they sent ontop of a map of the subway. It’ll take a minute.”

“Then let’s head down while the mask does it’s thing.” Phase said disappearing into the darkness.

“That is a horrible idea.” Yumi mumbled.

Phase was walking down the steps, with a loose grip on the railing. The rest filed behind him with Yumi bringing up the rear. It was about 3 a.m. which didn’t lend much to back lighting their journey.

As they walked the darkness got all consuming and Phase gave the order to swap their vision over. In one sweeping glare of light suddenly things were white with a green overtone but were very clarity.

Phase came down to the platform and glanced back and forth. A few benches were strewn about. Most of them were broken but a few were solid probably take the weight of a person. A broken and ransacked venging machine remained, a relic from a byone age.

Phase glanced toward everyone. “So we’ve got two directions we can go down.”

“Left or right?” Feint asked.

“I’m guessing the map hasn’t popped up yet.” Shade said glancing at his right lens.

“Not precise but it’s leaning toward the right.”

Phase walked forward then jumped onto the tracks. Throwing a glance down both tunnels he started walking down the right one. The four of them followed the map as it became more and more clear. The longer they walked and the closer they got to the signal the better the map became.

A faint sound started to echo down the tunnel. They turned to face it but there was nothing they could see. However the sound came again and Shade couldn’t let it go. He turned around to face the sound and narrowed his eyes. It was a barely audible whisper of a noise so he stopped and listened harder.

“Shadeow what’re you doing?” Yumi asked glancing over her shoulder.

He didn’t respond. He just closed his eyes and put a hand to his mask. “Mask, enhance the audio.”

He rotated his finger across the side of the mask slowly and watched the volume bar increase and so did the slight echoing noise. But it wasn’t slight anymore. He could even piece together that words were being spoken.

“Can you feel. The oncoming Storm?!”

“Guys get out of the tunnel!” His eyes went wide as the air kicked up and exploded down the tunnel. Throwing his arms up he shut his eyes tightly.

They didn’t bother to ask why. They simply moved trying to scan the walls for someplace to go. “Over here!” Yumi ran toward the wall and grabbed ahold of a small stepladder. There was a side door attached to it and she climbed up the side and yanked the door open. She dove in followed by the others. Shade was the last to get inside and as he worked to shut the door he saw a flash of light.

The tunnel was cramped, small and dark. Most of them were cramped and crouched down. Eyes widened he shut the door and then was launched into the wall, his arms numb. The roar inside the tunnel was deafening, each of them turning down the speakers on their mask.

“What the fuck is that?” Yumi shouted.

“I have no idea. It sounds like a thunderstorm.” Shade stumbled back and shuddered. “Or a tornado!”

“How the hell is a tornado happening in a subway tunnel?” Yumi asked staring at him.

“We’re proof that strange things can happen.” Phase growled as he leaned forward. His head took on the fizzling quality before putting it through the wall. As he stared he saw nothing but rushing air. There were strange bolts of lightning flashing through it all but he couldn’t find the source.

He stared hard and frowned. He thought he saw something but place it. Jerking his head back he shook his head, “What’d you see?”

“I think I saw a guy out there.”

Feint frowned. “You mean someone like us?”

“Is that possible? I mean for one of us to do something like that?” Shade asked.

Feint shook her head. “I don’t know. Maybe. Enhance isn’t exactly an exact science.”

“Where’s Darren?” Yumi asked in frustration. “I want out of this fuckin tunnel.”

“I found them.” Feint turned around and then pressed her hand against the wall. Tracing it across slowly she felt along for grooves. It turned out the tunnel that they had jumped into was a lot longer than originally thought.

She went far enough that she even managed to stand up. Turning around she moved forward and found a ladder. She grabbed a rung and started climbing it. The others quickly followed suit. She kept her gaze upward and eye constantly glancing at her map.

It took some time, the silence was killing one of them, but they eventually got to the top of the ladder. Climbing out and giving her legs a stretch Yumi groaned loudly. However she turned to scan her new surroundings. This, unlike before, was much closer to a sewer then a train station. It at least smelled like one.

“Great. We went from creepy to dank.”

“Shut up Yu.”

“Make me Shadeow.”

“Both of you stop it.” Phase looked toward Feint. “Close?”

“Closer than you’d think.” A grunt and then a string of soft swears greeted them in the darkness. They homed in on the sound, it coming from another cubbyhole in the wall. A door kicked open and they saw a shoe that eventually led to a leg and then found the rest of the scrawny teenager.

They looked up at them, squinted for a moment, and then laughed. “Ha. This is the oddest situation I’ve been in in a while.”

“Really Wiz Kid? This is the one?”

They were silent, their face working through whatever memories or thoughts they might have had. “Okay I can think of a few others. This is definitely in the top five. Will one of you help me up?”

Phase came toward them, crouching down and wrapping an arm under their armpits and then lifted them up. They were standing in seconds and Darren looked a little worse for wear from the transition.

“So are we getting out of here now?”

Phase nodded. “Yes Yumi. We just need an exit strategy.”

“I’m uploading something to your mask right now.” Getting their phone, they started typing quickly before nodding. “And uploaded. A few exits for you to take. You guys pick. I’m tired.”

“I think they might be concussed.” Feint ran a hand over their head and then looked into their eyes. “I’m pretty sure their concussed.”

“Then we need to get them out asap.” Shade glanced toward Feint.“What’s the fastest way out of here?”

“This way.” Yumi said and turned before starting to go toward a ramp. She grabbed the railing and led them forward. While they walked Shade was keeping his mask volume on max to try and hear whoever or whatever that voice had been.

Phase moved to keep them up as they walked. Darren’s head was slumped against his shoulder but they were strained breathing wise. As they walked up the ramp half of it turned into stairs and then Yumi slowed down. “Weird.”

“What is it?”

“My mask is acting up.” Yumi hit her mask lightly and then glared. “Annoying.”

She hit the side of the mask a few more times. Phase glanced past her to the wall, seeing a small spark. He narrowed his eyes, focusing in one the wires that trailed the wall of the subway tunnel. They sparked again, brighter this time. “Yumi move!”

Turning to face him she leaped backwards as the wall exploded. It and part of the ceiling crumbled down around them blocking off the entirety of the passage. Yumi rolled back before hitting the remains of the wall and watched as the rubble finished piling. Through the smoke and dust she waved her arm around. Suddenly she was separated from everyone else.

“Damn. I think I missed.” That was a new voice. Not one of theirs. She got to her feet and then narrowed her eyes. When the dust settled she focused in one the man.

He had a long face, a goatee and string long whiskers of a mustache. He was wearing his black hair in a ponytail and his expression was one of confusion. He was wearing an open dress shirt and suit jacket with the sleeves rolled up and slacks. Overall, he looked shabby. He wasn’t even wearing shoes. His face was heavily scarred and wolfish in every movement he did.

He looked at her masked face and was stationary. Frowning he reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture. Glancing back and forth between the picture and her he shook his head.

Yumi was silent for a second. “Who are you?”

He was shocked for a moment and then grinned. “Do you know who I am?”

Yumi spread her arms. “Do you know who I am?”

“This is not a game of who the fuck are you. My name is Ramon. A knight of the Royals.”

She glared at that and raised her arms up.

“Hey hey hey. We don’t gotta fight. In fact you can help me. I’m looking for a guy. About yay high, scraggly hair, might be a genius but uses his tools for wrong.”

She snapped her fingers. “First of all they. Second I do know someone like that. Except they’re more of a Wiz Kid than a genius.”

Laughing at that he smiled. “Well can you point me toward him? Them. I need to catch them.”

“Sorry but no can do. They’re a good friend of me and mine.”

“Well that’s where me and you now have a problem.”

“Alright, then bring it.”

“Well the King likes you guys, so I guess I can take it easy on you.”

Ramon cracked his neck and then his knuckles. Shaking his hand around he stepped forward and then jumped at her. Yumi jumped around and dodged the first blow but took a kick to the stomach. She was lifted off the ground slightly as she stumbled backwards.

Choking back her pain from the blow she growled. Planting her feet firmly in the ground she ran forward and threw a punch. Her fist slammed into his cheek and her eyes widened. She sank to the ground, losing all control of her limbs.

She panicked for a moment as she tried to force herself to move. She moved her arm slightly but that was the best she could do. Ramon laughed as he went back toward the rubble pile. “That was easy.” Pressing a hand against the wall he pressed and it didn’t budge. “Crap. I fucked up.”

Taking a few steps back he raised his hand taking a slow breath. The air grew still. Yumi rolled to the side, struggling to get up but able to get one of her hands down she forced herself up to her feet. The air around him started to conjure tiny sparks appeared around him. She could feel the hair on her arms and her hair starting to rise up.

She stumbled backwards putting distance between her and him she leaned against the rubble wall. And suddenly Phase came into visibility and helped her up. “Going through walls. Must be handy.”

“Yeah no kidding.” He grabbed her hand and she squeezed it as she leaned on him. Her legs weren’t in perfect working order but she gave him a nod. They ran toward the rubble and were able to jump through the wall.

As they did he stumbled forward and held his shoulder. “What is he made of?”

“You got hit with it too?”

Phase nodded and shuddered. “Still can’t feel my arm.”

Yumi raised her head to stare at the empty tunnel. “Where’s everyone else?”

“Told them to keep going and that we’d catch up.”

“I’m assuming we want to find another path to take.”

“That would be the idea.”

Yumi pulled away, unsteady on her feet for a moment before getting it together and nodding.  “Alright, my mask is back on the grid. I think it was his fault.”

“Wouldn’t put it past him. Weird Enhance shit.” Pressing a hand against the mask, he focused on the map. “Mask, nearest route. Fast.”

The other various locations disappeared from the map and only one appeared. They started on the path and they managed to get past a few turns when the ground shook hard. They both whipped around at the direction.

“Think that’s him?”

“I think we should run.”

At once they broke into a sprint. They moved as fast as they could going up several flights of stairs. The air picked up and lightning struck randomly across the walls and they ducked to avoid them. Yumi glanced to the side and she could see a barred-up window. She could smell somewhat fresh air on the other side.

Taking a sharp right turn they went up another ramp. It was a slow incline, probably meant for handicapped people. The stairs were on the other side of the ramp and they looked more decrepit then they thought possible. Just a broken set of stacking rocks at this point.

Yumi was the first to the gate. It was locked shut, with chains through the bars. Grabbing one of the chains she gave a hard yank and they shattered with a soft clink. She ducked under a bolt of lightning and Phase grabbed her hand to faze them through another.

Both her and Phase grabbed sides of the gate and began to pull them open. The gates resisted and slightly stuck in the ground but they forced them open. The screeching sound was grating on their ears but they slipped through and stared at the skyline. It was dark but the pink tinges of dawn were visible.

“Okay. So that was strange.” Phase looked at Yumi.

“Yeah. A little too strange. Mask, call Feint.”

A soft ringing filling his ears as he started running. Yumi trailed behind him as he got to a building and started his climb. He wouldn’t feel comfortable until he was above ground level.

“Hello? Phase. Did you guys make it out?”

“Yeah. We’re on street level. Where’re you guys?”

“Almost home now. Can you meet us here?”

“With pleasure.”

He hung up and glanced back at his partner. “They’re almost home. Let’s meet up with them.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice leader.”

It took the better part of an hour to get back. They took a few detours and long ways just in case they were being followed. However halfway through that they couldn’t take it anymore and just took a straight path. When they came to the balcony Yumi threw open the door and then hopped over the railing.

Darren was lying down on the couch, while Feint was on the loveseat with her computer. She could hear Shade somewhere in the house and glad for that part. She pulled off her mask, taking a fresh breath and sighing heavily. “How’s Wiz Kid?”

“They’re going to be alright. At least from what little I can do. They were concussed. And they’re asleep now but we’ve been treating them. Not to mention we all have an aversion to hospitals.”

“Well, we could probably take Darren if need be,” Shade said as he walked over. “Unlike us, they don’t have Enhance in them. Therefore won’t cause any excess problems.”

“We’ll watch them. Worse come to worse we take them in.”

He nodded. “What happened to you two?”

They exchanged glances. “We ran into the Knight that was hunting Darren.”

Both Shade and Feint sat up straighter at this. “You saw the Knight?”

“More than saw.” Phase rubbed his arm slowly. “The guy had Enhance. Though what he could do exactly I don’t know.”

“Said his name was Ramon. He also said that the King likes us or something like that. Didn’t fry us on the spot.”

“The King being the head of the Royals.” Tapping her fingers against the keyboard Feint bit her lip.

Shade shrugged. “Probably. Though I’m a Vanguard type of guy. I don’t know shit about the Royals.”

“But I’m betting Wiz Kid does.”

Feint looked at their sleeping form. “They’re not going to be very forthcoming with information for a while. Not until they wake up.”

“Then we wait. Not like we can do much without them anyway,” Phase stretched his arms above his head and shut his eyes tightly. “I’m going to sleep. I need it.”

“We’ll be here. Probably doing nothing.” Feint got up and went toward him, squeezing his hand lightly.

Smiling at her he squeezed back before moving away. Sitting on the bed he heard shuffling and frowned. Sitting up slowly he looked toward the ground and saw the dog making its way into the room. It was dragging the bowl, somewhat full, behind it. As Phase watched, the dog paid him no mind. The dog dragged the bowl into the corner of the room before pacing around it and then lying down.

For a moment he didn’t move and then grabbed a pillow. He crawled to the edge of the bed and then slid the pillow over to the dog. It jumped to its feet, slightly startled. Staring at the pillow it sniffed it a few times. Satisfied with it for the time being it made a soft chuffing sound. Grabbing it with its teeth it dragged it closer to the bowl and then climbed onto it.

A smirk touched his mouth before he turned back to his bed and shut his eyes. He didn’t realize just how tired that he had been. Or as stressed out as the meeting had been. In the back of his head, the entire time he thought about losing one of them. That wasn’t something he wanted to handle or thought that he could. But he didn’t have to worry about that. They were home and they were safe. That was enough.