Colton: Chapter 1

The cold, metal corridors echoed with each pound of Colton’s feet. Far behind him, he could hear the reverberation of dozens of footsteps, pursuing him as a wolf chases a rabbit. Reaching the end of the hallway, Colton skidded to a stop, frantically swiveling his head for an escape route. Two open passages on either side of him beckoned to him. Before he could make a hasty decision, an object barreled toward him slamming into him without hesitation. Stumbling backward, he quickly recovered, growling up at the strange new pawn in such a cruel game as this.

            

“Get up you stupid oaf, and follow me if you value your life.” Obviously a girl. Having no other choice, Colton darted after the girl down the hallway to his left.  

            

The metallic clang of their boots against the hard floor was an obvious giveaway to the antagonistic figures behind them. The girl’s wavy blonde hair flew behind her, as they darted down the sterile passageway. They continued to run straight, for no other corridor would present itself to them.

            

Glancing behind him, Colton caught his breath as he surveyed his pursuers’ uncanny ability to run. They steadily gained on him and his companion, eyes dull in the stark brightness of the hallway.

           

A wall slowly rose up in front of Colton and the girl. A ten foot tall sheet of slivery metal stopped them in their tracks.

            

“So.” He turned to his companion. “’Follow me if you value your life! I don’t know where I’m going, but I may as well get you killed too!’” He mocked her.

            

“Hey. You could’ve gone in the direction I came from – which was your only other option – and run into a dozen more of those goons on our trail. Following me obviously just delayed the inevitable.” She responded defensively, her violet eyes gleamed in frustration. “Just give me a boost over this thing.” She motioned to the wall of metal in front of them.

            

“Right. And leave me to face those creeps alone? No thanks. If I have to face them, you have to too.”

            

“Has anyone ever told you how irritating you are?”

           

“I don’t think you have any right to say that, seeing as you’ve only known me ten minutes.”

            

“Doesn’t take any longer than ten minutes to observe an irritating person. Plus, you’ve just sentenced me to who knows how many years of captivity among these people.”

            

“Point taken. Can I at least get your name?”

            

“You can call me Vi.” She answered, pointedly. “It’s short for Violet. That’s my nickname.”

            

“So you gave your nickname a nickname? Er, right. Why’s your nickname Violet?”

            

“Duh…” She gestured to her eyes. “Purple eyes… Violet? Gosh, you’re an idiot as much as you are irritating.”

           

“Hey, no need to throw insults back and forth.” Colton retorted. “Shouldn’t they have reached us by now?” He gestured back down the hall. Vi glanced past his outstretched hand.

           

“They’re gone.”

           

 “I noticed.” He said. “What do we do now?”

          

 “Where’re you headed?”

           

“The dungeons. They’ve got someone in there. I… uh… I need.”

           

“Family?”

            

“Not yet. She will be. Depending on whether or not they kill her.”

            

“Sounds fun! Let’s go get her.”

            

“But where are you headed?”

            

“Wherever you go. Lead the way.”

           

“Suit yourself.” Colton started back down the passageway. The disappearing attackers unnerved him slightly, but he wasn’t about to admit that.