74 CHAPTER 73-RESCUE

"My little angel." Came the soft voice that could mellow a rigid heart and wax mountains to dust.

Jeff glowed and seemed to walk on air as the sound of his mother's voice resounded in his eardrum. The feeling was taut with affection, and the warmth was like a boiling oil. He wouldn't mind burning in it. Too many words corroded his throat, but his lips glued to each other and would not spill them. It was as though he was in an ocean, drowning slowly but not wanting to be saved or rescued. Every bone, muscles, and cells that made up his body knew the language and wanted to have a drink from its cup. 

With all humility and gentleness, he rested his cheek on her hair, letting the familiar smell of her body slip through his nostril. Time and seasons have passed. Yet time and seasons have brought them together. How long since he last held his mother like this?

"You have grown taller," Anabel's voice cracked as she peeled away from him "And muscular too. But you need to shave those things on your jaw"

Jeff couldn't help the laughter that bathed him with embarrassment. He scratched the mustache as if hoping his fingernails would scrape them off.  

"I will do that as soon as we get to the surface."

"My sweet boy." Annabel smiled and patted his cheek.

Jeff held the gaze with his mother for a while. Those strong white eyes still looked strong, even though they contrasted with the wrinkles which blended with her sand color skin. Age was breaking her skin with crease, it's just a matter of time before they shroud over her beautiful body. 

"I am happy that you are alive, and well too."

"I did my best to stay away from trouble, even though it was inevitable at some point," Anabel replied weakly. Jeff wiped the tears on her face with his gloved hands.

"My friends are on the surface, let's hurry before trouble finds us."

Jeff took her hands and walked to the direction of the hallway.

"Wait," Anabel slipped her hands away from him and turned to the dark door—the door she had walked out from. 

A gentle shrill echoed through the walls as she whistled softly with her lips. 

Silence spoke a silent language for a time that seemed to last forever. It spread wild cloaking the voice of the still boiling cylinders. If anything was meant to happen, it obviously was not happening as the ugly face of tranquility mooned over their expectant gaze. 

"We have to go, mom," Jeff said and held her shoulders. He could read the sorrow on them, and would not need a soothsayer to reveal how much his mother has been through. Well, he was here with her now, and he would do all his possible best to keep her alive.

Anabel studied the dark door again before letting Jeff steer her direction to the hallway. They were on the heavy door when a faint whistle rooted them to the spot. 

Anabel's face brightened as her gaze crossed the boiling cylinder to the far end of the room. 

The shrilling sound echoed again, this time, bringing to light, the face of some haggard, life beaten people.

Confusion mucked Jeff's eyes as he watched the people who walked slowly towards them.

"All these people…Is that," Jeff stammered as the little crowd engulfs them "Nimrod" He laughed when the familiar face smiled back at him "Westley, Binma." 

"Hello, Red." A feminine voice said from behind. 

"Aunty Joyce," Jeff screamed and threw his hands on the woman "What happened, why are you here. Where is Uncle Jack and little Susan?"

The woman's wrinkled face grew with more crease. She only grumbled regrettably, but Jeff could read the silent word. He let it fly, for the time being, owing to the sad look that covered her aging face, it might be fatal to push the woman. He just hoped that his uncle and Susan were alright. 

"Is that Kyle and Tim?" Jeff chuckled when his eyes fell on Matt's brothers. 

"Hello, Jay," Tim mumbled. He had a gray dye on his hair, looking as skinny and pale as Jeff could remember. A woman stood akimbo beside them, looking anywhere but at Jeff.

"This is what's left," His mother was saying "We are the survivors of the Happy-Tech. The Zonna's and our family are the last of the Gray lineage from the Heroes city."

"What?"

Jeff couldn't believe his ears. The handful of people were about 30 in number. He didn't recognize all of them, just a few he had grown up with. How could they possibly be the only survivors in the entire Heroes city?

That question was answered when the ceiling vibrated from the pounding feet of the Keepers.

Jeff's stomach fell when he heard it. At that point, he knew they had little time left and must hurry, if they want to remain the only survivor of the Heroes city.

"You," Jeff pointed to some two boys who looked more matured and strong "Get those cylinders and follow my lead. The rest of you stay behind them."

Jeff checked his shocker gun, making sure the charged light was on. 

"Be careful" His mother said as he took the lead.

Jeff wiped his brow for what seemed to be the hundredth time. So far they haven't met any obstacle from the Keepers, but he knew it was just a matter of time. Those soulless monsters would soon crowd the place with their spiteful temper. 

The elastic hands of time stretched and seemed to last forever. It made him remember how far the surface was. They were thousands of feet below the ocean, if only they could make it to the end of the hallway without any interference, ascending to the surface would be the only problem to worry about. 

"Hold it" A machinelike cry shouted from behind.

The metallic feet matched towards them, and panic clouded the people. They only watched helplessly as the robot pointed its gun, daring anyone to shift from their position.

"Move forward," Jeff cursed and ran back. His hands were already on the hilt of his Candor. He hadn't anticipated an attack from behind. "Stay behind the men with the cylinder." He cried.

Whoosh came the first electric ball, but Jeff was there in time to deflect it. Glasses shattered and rained down as the ball of electricity found their mark on the ceiling. Without waiting, Jeff released two shots, buying the last man time to get behind the hovering boiling cylinders. 

"Run ahead, don't wait for me," Jeff shouted at the people. 

Screams blended with the hasty feet as they hurried ahead.

"Jeff," Someone called.

"I will be alright, mom. Go with the others, please." Jeff's stomach lifted with happiness when his mother nodded and ran after the others. She hadn't argued with him. That was new.

More metallic feet echoed, announcing the arrival of more keepers. They hurled electric balls immediately after they sighted Jeff.

He was fast. Jeff stepped on the left wall and flipped, just in time to miss a hot ball from frying him to ash. He launched his own balls and was glad when two Keepers fell from the three electric balls he released. 

Something burst and a horrified expression concealed Jeff's face. The greenish liquid in the cylinder had ruptured and was licking with a hissing sound.

"Come on, let go, Jeff, the liquid can slow them down."

Jeff's head turned to the sound of the voice. He was surprised to see Nimrod hiding behind one of the cylinders. 

"Come on," The boy urged as another electric ball slammed the other cylinder. 

Jeff hurried towards the boy. 

"You should have gone with the others." He said as he crouched behind the cylinder abreast to Nimrod's.

"And leave you here by yourself? No way."

"I had it under control."

Another ball hit Jeff's cylinder.

"I can see that." Nimrod smirked, "Just make sure you hold that thing before it falls on your head."

More electric ball slammed their cylinders.

"What are we going to do?" Jeff coughed. The chocking gas from the cylinder was becoming unbearable.

"Give me your gun,"

"What?"

"You heard me, your gun. Now."

Jeff frowned but threw the gun to the boy.

"I will count to three and I want you to run."

"Run?" Jeff's frown deepened "Why will I do that?"

"One"

"What's the plan, Nimrod?"

"Two" 

"Nimrod, will you at least tell me…" Jeff's eyes widen when he saw what the boy was doing. He had dismantled the shocker gun and had used its hot end to generate a spark. 

"Three"

Jeff hurried his body and ran away with Nimrod as fast as his feet could carry him. They were only some distance away before the cylinder exploded.

"You are insane, Nimrod. That thing could have killed us" Jeff coughed and wiped the green liquid away from his body.

"You are welcome" The boy grinned.

"You owe me an apology" Jeff was on his feet and was already walking down the alley.

"Jess, for saving your life?" Nimrod's grin widened as he hurried after him.