Stolen Minds

  Chapter 9

  Sophia and Rohan continued down the chute and found themselves in an underground entrance.

  “What is all this?” Sophia asked Rohan.

  “It’s their dead,” Rohan replied.

  “All these boxes?!” Sophia exclaimed.

  “The size looks about right, besides can’t you smell the stench?”

  “I can, but I thought that’s just how this place smells.”

  “Perhaps, but I am certain these boxes hold their dead. There is only one way out of here and it’s down this long path,” Rohan added pointing to the dark corridor ahead of them.

  “OK, follow me.”

  “No. I’ll lead,” Rohan responded flatly.

  “Oh don’t start this nonsense. You’re the one who wanted to follow me, so follow,” Sophia retorted.

  “Fine,” Rohan conceded. “But don’t go too far ahead.”

  “What, scared you can’t keep up; oh highly trained Special Tactics Officer,” Sophia jested as she started along the path. Rohan merely shook his head and followed, while quietly readying his sonic blade. He had no doubt that they would soon encounter resistance. As they approached an intersection, Rohan asked Sophia if he could look ahead before they went any farther. He switched his visual range to thermal and cautiously peered round both corners.

  “It seems that beyond this point, they use intelligent lighting; the lights come on when they sense activity,” Rohan informed.

  “It’s probably one of the ways Safe Haven conserves energy,” Sophia responded and Rohan nodded.

  “I agree, but I don’t think we'll get far dressed like this.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “There are three Guardians coming our way, perhaps we could borrow their uniforms,” Rohan recommended with a cheeky grin, which Sophia returned.

  “I guess I’ll leave that to you then,” Sophia took a few steps back and Rohan leapt into the air, slowly rising to the dark ceiling, towards the arch above, and there he remained while looking below with his infrared vision. Rohan relished the prospects of some action and smiled as he patiently waited on his prey. The moment they appeared at the entrance, Rohan descended on them, knocking out one Guardian as he approached. With trained speed and precision, he sent two sharp blows to the heads of the other two knocking them unconscious; and not a sound escaped their lips. Rohan started to move their bodies away from the light, deeper into the dark path behind him.

  “Wow, I’m impressed,” Sophia complimented.

  “It’s what I am trained to do; I just hope I didn’t catch any unwanted attention,” Rohan replied.

  “I doubt it. You were swift and silent,” Sophia responded with a smile and Rohan smiled back.

  “Did you ever doubt that I could protect you?” Rohan asked with a mischievous grin.

  “Oh, there you go again, whatever, let’s just get into these uniforms,” Sophia responded with a little irritation in her voice, and she began undressing the Guardians.