START     OF     BOOK      14
Encounter

Chapter 116
Breaking into the Cage, Part 1

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[ Paths So Far ]

{Escapees}

.Ray.

.Emma.

.Gilda..Don.

.Anna.

{ Demons }

.Mujika.

.Sonju.

{ Goldy Pond Residents }

.Oliver.

.Gillian.

.Violet.

.Nigel.

.Zack.

{ More }

.Norman.
.Hayato.

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1. 

Reader's POV

I took a deep breath.
{ Infiltrating a plantation? If it helps Chris... Yeah, I'm up for it. }

"Infiltrating... a plantation?"
Emma asked.

"Yeah. There's a Mass Production farm around 5KM West from this place.
We've sneaked in there before before to get supplies...
There were many kinds of medicine. I think they should have what Chris needs too,"
Hayato said.

 "Wow... you've sneaked in?!"

"Makes sense..."
Oliver muttered, he was next to me with a hand on my shoulder in reassurance Chris would be okay.

"Let's get going. If we leave right now, we can be back before sunset. We can save him,"
Hayato told us.

"Is this really okay?"
"There's no other option..."
"It's our best bet for Chris... but it's still a plantation, y'know?"

I took a deep breath.
"I'll go, whatever helps Chris. Hayato, please lead the way,"
I said, standing up.

"Y/n!!"
Gilda exclaimed.

"I'm going too,"
Emma then said.

"Emma!!"
Gilda then said.

"Since we only need the medicine, it should be a small group. So we could get in quickly and get out quickly."
I said.

"Jin, please stay here. If anything really bad happens, you need to lead everyone to Minerva,"
I then added, turning to him.

"Yes, ma'am!"
Jin said.

"Then, we need someone who knows a good amount about medicine. 
Zack, could we ask for your help in this?"
I asked him.

"Of course,"
he said.

"Wait, Y/n... Let me go instead. Please,"
Anna said.

"Huh-"
"Anna?!"

"You realize it too, right?
The most rational choice is to leave Zack here. For Chris' sake, not only his... What if something happens to Dominic? What if demons or the Ratri attack... with everybody crowded together like this?
Zack is the one with the most experience battle power and skill in dealing with them. Sandy's equally good, too."
Anna said.

"I should be the one to go. I'll bring back the medicine that Chris needs."
she finished.

"But, Anna...!"
"Right...! Even if...still..."

"No... Anna's right,"
Zack then said

"Zack!"

"But for another reason. She knows more than anybody about medications.
Am I right?"
he asked.

"Yes!"
Sandy smiled.

"And not just medications, but everything related to healthcare... 
She's put a lot of effort into studying all that during this year. We can't compare. 
All for the sake of supporting her family. She learns incredibly fast and remembers everything.... Her current level even left Lucas impressed!"
Sandy said which got Anna flustered.

"Let her go. With Anna there, even if they lack the proper medicine, she'll find a way,"
Zack said.

"That said, I understand why everybody is worried... So Ray should go with you, too,"
Oliver said with a smile, ruffling my hair.

"These two have been super worried for a while now because of that..."
Gillian said.

"Yeah! It's a bit like Yuugo!"
Lanni added making Ray give an irritated look.

"We'll be fine here,"
Oliver told us, looking at me.

I gave him a smile and nodded.

"Come back to us, no matter what!"

"Got it!"
I told Oliver with a smile before hugging him and Gillian to reassure them.

"We'll be back before sunset with the medicine - whatever it takes!"
Emma said.

"Let's go, then,"
Hayato said.

I looked to Chris and nodded.
We'll be back for you, Chris. Before sunset... please, please fight it.

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I followed Hayato, right next to him.
He soon stopped and I looked up at the farm.

Then, I turned to Anna.
She was struggling to put her hair in a ponytail.

I rushed over and helped her, putting it up for her.
Her cheeks turned pink,
"Thanks, Y/n,"
she said softly.

I gave her a smile.
"No problemo."

"So that's..."
she then muttered, looking up at the farm.

"Right. It's the farm. 
Don't worry. It's a low-grade mass-production plantation, so security is weak.
There are few demons. They rely on machines.
Just avoid the cameras and sensors, and we won't be seen.
However, I ask you to be as quiet as possible once we're in there,"
Hayato started.

"The cameras respond to sound.
And as soon as they spot us, the demons will come after us with all they got,"
he told us. 

"Got it."

"Well, then... Please follow after me,"
Hayato said, opening a way to a sewer.

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"the way gets steep from now on. Be careful,"
Hayato told us as we got into a small climb way.

(Yeah, climb way is an example of what happens when I run out of words to describe things)

I took a deep breath.
I was small, I knew that.
But I felt extremely uncomfortable in small places. 

Hayato, Emma, Anna, and Ray were in front of me.
So I was in the back.

Mom told me I didn't have claustrophobia.
And that was well confirmed, but...
I hate feeling trapped.

Everyone started going up and I took a deep breath.
Ray turned back to me, and offered his hand.
I took it and he kept a hold on my hand as we crawled in the thing.

Anna then slipped, causing her to hit Ray.
She yelped.
"Sorry,"
she said.

"Don't worry about it,"
he responded.

I felt a slight change, a feeling I knew was bad.
  I realized this was probably what Ray would feel when he saw me hugging Nigel or Oliver.

I instantly felt guilty.
That was a horrible feeling.

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"We'll go down here.
There's a camera to the right side. Keep it in mind,"
Hayato told us.

"The medicine room is at the end of the corridor,"
he added.

We all nodded.

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I walked behind Anna, going slowly on our way.
Then, my eyes widened as I saw a demon peek out.

Anna's eyes widened and she instantly ran back into my arms.
I hurried back, holding her close.
Emma's eyes widened and she pulled us away.

Ray went at the demon with his gun, shooting him.
"H-Humans?!"
the demon was surprised.

"Run!"
Ray told us.

"Ray...!"
I muttered, but I nodded and he smiled.

I kept Anna in my arms as we rushed away.

"I'm going to help! Get the medicine and come back where we came from!!"
Hayato told us.

( okay, this is out of nowhere, but doesn't anyone else love how Hayato talks?
Like all of the other characters are like mannered and stuff or whatever.
And Hayato is like "bro" and "dude" gosh, I love him xD )

I nodded to him slightly, and he rushed away.

"Y/n... Emma..."
Anna said.

"Let's go..."
I said softly, holding her gently.

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5.30.2020
Word Count: 1141