4522 {The Number Series}

48

"That was lucky," Archer breathed heavily. "The could have just put round after round into us."

"Would it have been enough to eliminate us all?"

Archer looked round at the group, half who were following the now ex-Officer, and the other half who were still standing with us. "Maybe not all of us. But enough that this would probably never happen again."

I nodded. "I don't know where Macallister and The Third Party are but I hope they make it soon."

"We will never be able to accomplish this without their support."

"Then I guess, if you need us that much, we will be here," said a female voice I never thought I would be happy to hear. It was Jericho. Archer smiled and hugged her. I tried not to anger myself. He was her friend and that was all. Her feelings for Archer did not change his feelings for me. In her arms she held a large gun. Knives were strapped to her thighs as well as two hand guns. On her back she had a small pack of what I assumed would be supplies. She took notice of our bareness. "No weapons?"

I shook my head. Several others from The Third Party were spread out among us. They too were covered with weapons.

"Got any to spare?" Archer asked.

"Not on me." She narrowed her eyes at us. "Where did you two go?"

"That doesn't matter right now but clearly our disappearance had something to do with us being here now," Archer checked his surroundings. People were shuffling around, our movement temporarily confused until we could get a way to defend ourselves.

"I think we should follow the others," I chimed in. "Jericho is here now, she can lead these people to The Party and help supply them."

"Agreed," Archer said. "The Officer's who remain on the other side will be here soon. I do not doubt that the one in the tower signaled for back up before he died."

"We should meet back here?" Jericho said, gesturing to the Hall of Knowledge.

"Yes, this building is the most important one," Archer said. "Without it, there is no way to shut the computers down and take control."

"How are the children?" I had not forgotten about the people of the Forest coming in and taking it over.

"In safe hands and out of harms way." Jericho said. "Marie had let all of them come and stay with them."

I had not thought about Marie in a long time. Last I knew she had been prepared to sacrifice me. If that had ever been true. Though her name was not one I wanted to hear, knowing that the children were safe gave me a small sense of relief.

"Good." Archer sighed. "Take these people with you."

"Of course," she said before raising her voice. "Follow me! Quickly!"

Without hesitation they looked for the direction from Harold. I froze. I was not sure if Harold wanted Macallister to know he was still alive. He nodded at the people and they left with her. I relaxed. Jericho knew his name from Gina's mouth, not his face. Though, much like he had known Archer and I before we knew he had existed he must have recognized Jericho.

With them leaving to safety the three of us went to catch up with the other group. We could not be the only ones unarmed.

The building we were led to was a round black storage building. It was a strange thing to look at. The Officer must have used an access card to let the majority, allowing people to pass the weapons down like an assembly line. Mostly guns were handed out. I doubted most knew how to use them but I was hoping some of the older people were retired Officer's. At least The Third Party and the Forest knew how to wield them.

Together Archer and I walked into the building. Harold started talking hurriedly to those holding weapons. I did not have time focus on what he was telling them. Inside the ceiling was high and the walls were covered in different types of devise and weapons. My hands began to sweat. I knew nothing of guns and a small amount of how to use a knife and hand to hand combat. I was not the best at either of them. I might as well have considered myself to be in the same field as those who had never used them in the City. I did not realize I was fidgeting until Archer handed my knives to strap onto myself. I shook as I put them on like I had seen Jericho's.

"It's going to be alright," Archer attempted to reassure me. "I will be right there with you."

Archer picked deadly and more advanced weapons. In his hand he held a large gun that I knew nothing about.

"Thank you," I squeezed his hand before letting go. He smiled but it did not quite reach his eyes.

A shot outside startled us out of our moment. I knew my mouth was gaping in a panic. Several more shots were fired.

"Archer-"

"Come on, we don't want to be cornered in this building," Archer grabbed my hand. We ran outside as fast as we could. More shots happened consecutively. I had tried to prepare myself for the possible chaos that would be happening but it did not prepare me at all.