I heard another deafening thump behind me as the soldiers tried for the third time to break down the thick oak door, they would get through soon. I cast my eyes around me at the long thin room I was in, the cold stone floor was covered in dust and debris from when they gutted the place and the walls were empty apart from some graffiti slandering a local gang. The only thing in the room apart from me was an old upturned table with one leg missing, it was as grimy, tired and broken as the human who shared its space. It hurt me to think that this place had once been my home and the only place that I felt truly safe but now it was being cracked open on the orders of people who also had once found a haven here. But those people had turned against the people who had helped them and there was only me left who knew their true nature.

Suddenly my vision clouded and my head rushed with full force, the drugs were starting to kick in but I fought back and stumbled through the once elegant glass doors that lead outside. The bright sun made me squint but the bitter wind knocked a little more sense into me. Like the Manor, the gardens before me had once been beautiful but now were nothing but an overgrown wasteland home to only helpless vermin and longing. I looked around me for a means of escape but through blurred vision it was all I could do to fight back the misty haze that was threatening to overcome me.

An almighty crash informed me that soldiers had finally broken through and reduced the grand old oak door to splintered piles of wood. The world swayed in front of me as the effort of remaining conscious mixed with panic. There was a tiny hidden gate at the far end of the grounds which leads out onto the hyperway and if I could only reach it then I might have a chance to escape. Problem was that my feet wouldn't obey me as the drugs started taking their true effect and I was rooted to the spot. I stumbled slightly forward and nearly plunged into the grass until all of a sudden I felt a strong arm around my waist lift me up.

Up and completely off the ground into the sky. My bemused self giggled at the realisation that I was flying but when I eventually thought to look around at my rescuer the drugs took their final hold and I slipped into unconsciousness.

Labels: adventure, chase, extract