Runner

by Samantha Lau

  They both slid to the ground, panting. Wei clung to Oren’s strong frame, shaking, letting another soft whimper and closing his eyes hard, trying to hold back tears.

  “Gotcha.” Oren’s breath was hot on his ear, tone soft, just a whisper. His hands caressed down Wei’s back, soothing. “I gotcha, you okay. You safe now, Wei.”

  Wei wanted to cry. He wanted to cry and scream and cling and never let go. He did none of those, save for the clinging part. Oren let him hold for a long while, holding tight around him in turn, caressing his hair and back, again and again.

  “Here.” Oren gently pulled him back at last, carefully. “C’mere.”

  Wei clung a bit still as Oren stood, standing too with his help. He followed deeper into the building, until Oren stopped again.

  “Stay ‘ere. Low n’ quiet, ‘kay?” he whispered.

  Wei clung to his arm, frowning. “No,” he whispered, knowing he sounded like a scared child, but unable to help himself. “Don’t leave me.”

  Oren frowned and gently dislodged those hands from him, cradling them instead. One of those large hands squeezed his briefly, like a twitch.

  “S’okay. I’ll be back.”

  Wei’s lips pressed to a tight line.

  “Jus’ wait here.” Oren’s hands let go of his.

  Wei could do nothing but obey. He slowly lowered and curled into a ball on the protected corner Oren left him on, hugging his knees, unable to stop his body from trembling. He could feel Oren’s gaze on him, but he didn’t dare look up. He could do nothing to soothe himself. Only when Oren’s hand came to stroke his hair did he finally look up.

  “Be back soon,” Oren promised.

  Wei watched him hesitate and finally go. This man... this brave man was protecting him. He was risking himself without having a reason to. What an utter coward he was, to let him go face things on his own. He didn’t want to be a coward. He wasn’t a coward. He was just... out of his depth. Way out of his depth. He wanted to help. He wanted to get back home. He... he had to move, if he wanted to do this. He had to gulp down his fears and move.

  Chapter 8

  Well, shit. The guy was a mess, not that he could blame him. He’d performed exceptionally well under pressure, all things considered, even if for a moment there Oren had thought he wouldn’t follow to the new building, and then he would’ve had to find a way to get him unstuck from that precarious ledge. It’d been stupid and dangerous, and it could have gone horribly wrong, but it had been the fastest way short of breaking through who knew how much of West Tower security... Which they might still have to do.

  He squatted before the trembling man and reached to stroke his hair.

  “Be back soon,” he promised, having second thoughts about leaving him behind when those big green eyes filled with unshed tears looked up at him. But this would be best. He didn’t want to subject Wei to further danger. He would scout ahead on his own and fetch him when he had a somewhat safe way out, hopefully.

  Standing and walking away from Wei in such a state had to be one of the hardest things Oren had done to date. He had barely made it to the nearest set of stairs, still undecided if he shouldn’t go back and get him, when he heard Wei’s voice, barely over a whisper.

  “Take me with you.”

  Oren’s brows rose and he looked back. There Wei stood, shakily still but with newfound determination mixed in with the fear. It was... endearing. It would be stupid and dangerous to accept, but how could he deny him? Oren bit his lip in thought, then finally motioned for him to follow.

  Like before, he kept his body low and sneaked about, indicating for Wei to do likewise. He signaled when to stop, when to move, when to be especially quiet. They came to a point on the stairs where there was a gap. Oren considered backtracking to the elevator hole, but the cables had probably long since rotten, and he didn’t expect it’d be any easier of a way down. Even if they hadn’t, he wasn’t entirely sure that Wei, despite his designer body, could hold himself up for as long as they would need to get to the lowest point. Not without practice and not with a wounded arm.

  Hell, he wasn’t sure he could either.

  That last thought was exacerbated when his hand twitched slightly.

  Deciding they’d just have to go for it, he took a few steps back and, under Wei’s gaze, jumped the gap with practiced ease. At that moment the display on his eye fizzled again and caused him to lose focus on the landing. He slipped and ended up falling a few steps and scraping his leg. Damn it. The way his display kept fizzling worried him. His own wounds worried him. His whole body was hurting, and he was still bleeding slightly from a couple wounds, he felt the drops of blood very slowly running this way and that, tickling his skin. He had no time for wounds and worries. If they weren’t deadly, he would have to see to them later.

  He stood again and motioned for Wei to follow. There was less hesitation this time as Wei gulped down, and mimicking his earlier action, took a running jump. Oren caught him, just to make sure. Wei’s slender frame was still trembling slightly against him, so he rubbed his back a little before he pulled back.

  “We almost out,” he tried to soothe, even if he had no idea if they were.

  A couple floors down they saw the first sign of West Tower security; a guard who sat on a broken-down wall, looking away from them, gun hanging on his back, not really seeming to be paying as much attention as he should have. Oren signaled for Wei to wait, made sure there was no one immediately around. He noiselessly reached to pick a fist-sized piece of broken concrete and approached the guard from behind. With a well-placed hit to the back of his head, he knocked him unconscious. He pulled the body to where Wei was hiding to keep it out of sight just in case there was another patrol around. Then he proceeded to remove the guard’s jacket to put it on himself, zipping it up, having not realized he was cold until he felt that warmth envelope him. He got his gun as well – a modified rifle – but handed it to Wei.

  “Last resort only,” he whispered, for shots would only attract more people to them. If they could stealth their way out of this, it would be best for everyone.

  Wei took it uneasily, then nodded.

  Two more guards went down like this, but the third turned just as Oren was about to hit him. The man raised his arms to deflect the punch, hitting Oren with the butt of his rifle to gain some space. Oren turned back and as quickly as he recovered, lunged for a punch to the man’s ribs. It landed, but the other executed a turn and hit Oren again, this time in the temple, sending him sprawling on his back and seeing stars. Oren’s sight was still swaying, his eye display fizzling again and impeding proper sight, when the rifle was aimed at him.

  Just when Oren thought he might be done for, the sound of something hitting bone and a soft gasp made him try and focus his gaze back up, in time to see the guard fall right over him.

  “Ugh!” Oren tried to heave the dead weight off him with a gasp, only to find Wei standing over him, rifle still held high like a club, eyes wide, pupils blown open. His face was a mask of panic. And yet, he’d come to his aid.

  “I-is he dead?” Wei asked.

  Perhaps it was the pain, perhaps it was the tiredness, or just the stress of the whole situation, but Oren couldn’t hold back a soft laughter.

  “Don’t laugh!” Wei called, brow furrowed in worry, shaking a little still. “Are you okay? Is he dead? Did I kill him? Don’t tell me I killed him...?”

  Oren tried to stop laughing, rolling to the side, and pushing up to his knees. He looked back at the man, the fizzling on the display seemed to be slowing again, but not enough for him to see if the guard was alive with just a glance. However, right then the truth mattered little. It was easy to hear the mounting panic on Wei’s voice. He got to his feet and took the rifle from him, his other hand coming to rest on Wei’s shoulder.

  “No.” He said, though he couldn’t know for sure without checking him. “No, he’s just unconscious.”

  Wei sighed, shoulders slumping.

  “Let�
��s go.”

  ***

  Moments like those, trying to scurry unnoticed and requiring patience, always seemed to stretch time endlessly. What had really taken less than an hour to accomplish had felt like an entire day. But taking it slow and using great care, the two finally made it out of the building. There were a few close calls, but they somehow avoided the people looking for them, and made their way from that lesser inhabited area in the outskirts, and back towards the center of Dimian. Even dirty and bloodied, the crowded streets worked to their favor, and once again Wei followed close to Oren, glued to his arm, trusting that he knew where they were going.

  As they walked briskly down the streets, Oren tried to get his thoughts in order, list the tasks and facts and decide on a course of action, as he always did.

  First: they were both wounded. He didn’t think any of their wounds were deadly, but he was weak and tired, and surely Wei was feeling so too.

  Second: They were still being chased. West Tower, and he still wasn’t sure if someone else wasn’t after Wei.

  Third: He had to make sure the video had reached the boy’s parents. He wasn’t quite sure how to do that just yet.

  Which led to four: He had to get Wei to the extraction point.

  He looked down at Wei, still clinging to his arm, gaze fluttering from person to person, distrusting all. No, none of their wounds were deadly. They could wait. They would have to wait. He didn’t dare go to the doc’s, bring the West Tower down on her. He already had enough with Jun’s death on his conscience, and perhaps more... he didn’t dare get close to the tattoo parlor to find out if Dhani had suffered a similar fate, but he could easily imagine she had. Shit. He didn’t want to think about that now, he had to focus. Focus, focus, focus.

  What were the things he could solve?

  He could do nothing in regard to being chased. So, problems one and two were out of the plan for now. Maybe if he found a somewhat safe spot he could consider patching them up, but for now, it couldn’t be a priority.

  The third point required contacting Lee. That he could do. He pulled Wei to the nearest wall and crowded him a little.

  “What are you doing?”

  Oren didn’t answer right away. He pulled his sleeve back and swiped over his wrist, but even the skin display flickered and fizzled.

  “Shit.” Well, it would have to do.

  “What is that?”

  He looked up briefly to see Wei admiring the malfunctioning display. He was pretty sure his heart skipped a beat at the sight of those parted lips. He was going to miss this beautiful boy...

  “A mod,” was all Oren said.

  “That’s illegal in Taizhou.” Wei whispered. It sounded like he was just grasping at something familiar, more than admonishing him. It wasn’t like he didn’t know by now people down there were modded, after all, right?

  “Not here.” He tried to work around the flickering and crackling display to bring up Lee’s contact and call him. Unfortunately, the connection was as bad as his display, and when he tried to connect again, a loud screeching sound nearly deafened him. He hissed. “Damn it!”

  “What’s wrong with your mod?”

  Ignoring his question, Oren grabbed Wei’s hand and pulled him along to the nearest information booth. He swiped his hand over the display for the automatic fund transfer that would allow the call through. A holographic screen flared up, and he called the numbers of his contact. The video remained off, the screen merely reading ‘call in progress’, but the voice was heard clearly.

  “From a fuckin’ booth, seriously?” Lee’s angry voice came through.

  “Kinda in a pinch here, Lee. We getting’ a way out or not?”

  “You got it?” Lee asked.

  “Why ya think I’m asking?” Oren glared at the letters on the screen.

  “Yes,” Lee said, pausing a little too long for Oren’s taste.

  “Fuck, Lee. I ain’t got a secure line, just hit me with it. I’ll risk it.”

  “Fine, the Fifth. South Wing. Janitor with a red ‘kerchief tied to his arm. At the usual spot you’ll find a little somethin’ to help. Good luck. Call me when it’s over. If you survive.”

  The screen went off before Oren could ask anything more.

  Chapter 9

  “Who was that?” Wei was starting to get a bit annoyed with the lack of response. He understood the pressing situation they were in, of course, it was why he’d kept quiet until the call was through; but he needed some answers. He needed to understand. He just... he needed some type of normalcy. A moment where they weren’t being shot at, or chased, and they could just... talk. He wanted to talk. He wanted to get to know more of Oren. He wanted... he wanted to ask about this place, about why he’d never heard of it, about all the things he didn’t know, about Oren’s life, about... he had so many questions.

  “He’s the one ya go to when ya need somethin’.” Oren said. “Look, we almost there. Just a bit more and we gettin’ ya home.”

  Oren smiled, lips a little too tight. Wei could tell it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He was forcing a smile to soothe him. Maybe it was just the tiredness that prompted this first dishonest smile. Wei was acutely aware that if he was hurting, then Oren had to be too. Who knew what he’d gone through at the hands of those men? And he was tired, too. How should Oren be feeling? He was bound to be exhausted.

  It was all his fault, Wei thought. He wanted to thank him in some way for all he had done and risked for him. When he brought Oren up with him, he’d make sure a real doctor saw to his wounds, and... to his mods. He would make sure he’d get paid handsomely for his troubles.

  Oren’s fingers touched his chin, and Wei looked up from those lips. The man’s smile was softer, more honest this time.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll get ya back.” He said, misunderstanding his expression, but Wei didn’t correct him. “Let’s go. Better not stay put too long.”

  Wei nodded, and followed once more. “Where are we going?”

  “My place’s compromised, don’t know that there’s a safe spot I can take ya to, not when West Tower’s after ya.”

  “What’s West-” he started, but was interrupted.

  “I’m takin’ ya straight to the checkpoint.”

  Wei’s eyes widened. “But didn’t you say it was unsafe? Is that janitor that man said-?”

  “Yo parents sen’ him, he should be ‘kay.” Oren stopped in his tracks and turned to face Wei, frowning. “Unless... ya don’ trust your parents.”

  “Wha- of course I trust my parents!” Wei stared.

  People bumped past them, someone cursing at them for standing in the middle of the way. Oren backed him up against a nearby nondescript doorway, crowding him. He was so close; Wei could smell the sweat and blood. He gazed into those mismatched eyes.

  “Ya sure?” Oren’s own gaze was searching. “That crash, that was no accident. Some bang’d up pod came after ya right after- them peeps that chased us?” Oren tapped near the wound on Wei’s arm, mindful not to hurt him, but making him wince a bit in surprise. “Ya recall ‘em?”

  Wei nodded lightly, lips trembling.

  “They ain’t had the Dimian looks. None here got pods either. Not even West Tower, and they’s powerful.”

  “So... you think someone wants me dead? I mean, me, specifically?”

  “Lotsa people wants ya. Alive, seems like, tho probably not for long.” Oren sighed and looked around warily, keeping an eye out for danger. “Ya can think of anyone who’d wanna cause ya harm or use ya for somethin’? Yo parents have something against ya or, dunno, they important or somethin’?”

  “I’m... I’m no one there, really. My parents, they’re... well, they’re in the health council, but they’re not really important...” he hesitated.

  Oren let a soft sound. A brief spasm made him squint just from the gold eye.

  Instinctively, Wei reached up to touch his temple. “Are you alright? Is your... mod bothering you?”

  “I’s fine.” Oren
pulled back from that touch, looking away. “If ya trust yo parents, then I’m takin’ ya home. Least’ you’d be safer with ‘em.”

  Would he be, though? Wei wondered. He’d never heard of anyone going through something like this in Taizhou. Oren’s warm hand wrapped around his and tugged. Wei tried to keep to his pace, eyes on him. Was he really alright? He’d been acting a little funny, having little ticks.

  Through a sea of people, they made a bee line for their next destination. Soon, they came in sight of one of the largest, cleanest, and by far best illuminated buildings Wei had come across yet. Spanning at two entire blocks, with blue neon lights all around the lower and higher section of the building, and large neon capital letters in the same color that read: “POLICE”

  It looked like the center of operations for the entire police departments. Police hover cars were parked all around, men in that black and blue-trimmed uniform were crawling all over the place.

  Wei’s mouth fell open. “We’re not going there, are we?”

  “Well, yeah,” Oren smirked back at him. “Ya didn’t think the checkpoint’s at some lousy building, did ya?”

  It was exactly what Wei had thought. He frowned. There was no way they could get past that without having to confront policemen, and Oren had already stated they weren’t to trust. Given all that had happened, he had no reason to believe otherwise.

  “How are we... how-?”

  Oren’s arm rested briefly around his shoulders, guiding him away from the building and to a nearby alley. Around the middle of it, he let go to approach some old discarded boxes and trash containers. He opened the lid of one of the trash containers. Wei couldn’t help but retch at the initial waft of rotten... something. The place reeked. Some dark critter scurried away when Oren started rummaging in the trash, drawing Wei’s eye to the dark liquid pooling under one of the containers. It was disgusting. Before he could complain or inquire what he was doing, Oren pulled out a sealed plastic bag.