Chapter 237 - 237 The Fillmore Center

237 The Fillmore Center

He grabbed his hands firmly on the pipe, the second, then he added his legs to the mix. He began to climb slowly as I looked in awe. He was so strong, and he was getting stronger.

“You okay?” I asked. He turned his head to me, and he nodded. “Yeah, I’ll be fine,” he said.

“Alright, don’t kill yourself,” I said to him, and he gave me a wink.

“I’ll be fine. I’m the best climber in the world,” he said, as his hands gripped the pipe tightly. He began to pull himself upwards, and it was like he was being pulled by an invisible force. “Goodness sakes, he’s good,” Tisiah said, taking a deep breath and staring in awe of him. Once Malachi climbed up, he looked down on us like some giant. “Alright you guys, get up here,” he said. We each looked at each other, before I turned my gaze to Tisiah.

“Are you ready?” I asked. Tisiah nodded. “Okay, let’s go!” I said, and Tisiah smiled. He began to climb up the pipe, and he looked back at me. “Be careful!” I shouted, and he looked at me, before nodding.

He reached the top, and he looked over the ledge. “Okay, Connor, it’s your turn!” they both shouted, and I nodded while feeling the pressure compress on me. I didn’t want to fail, and I wanted to make sure I succeeded.

I put my foot on the wall, and I began to climb. It was difficult, and I had to use my arms to pull myself up the pipe. I could feel the wind smacking me left and right, teetering my balance, but I stayed firm and continued climbing up. I could see the ocean below, and I could see the battle between the agents.

“You’re almost there,” I heard a voice say, and I turned my gaze to see Tisiah. I could see his feet on the ground, but he wasn’t holding onto anything. “Just a little further, and you’re there,” he said, and I could see the smile on his face. I turned my gaze back to the ocean, and I saw that we were close. “Just a little more,” Tisiah said, and I looked at him.

“I’m trying!” I shouted, and he laughed.

.....

“It’s alright. You’re doing great, just keep going,” he said, and I smiled. Suddenly, I threw my hands up for the climb and he clutched with a firm grip. “Gotcha!” he shouted, as he pulled me onto the balcony of the Fillmore Center.

I looked at him and I grinned.

“Well, let’s get inside and find Matthew Lock.” I said, and he nodded. “I’ll go around the outside of the building, and I’ll come around to the back.” Malachi nodded as well with us, and we all made our way around the building. We finally reached the back, and I opened the door. We entered the building, and we found ourselves in a hallway.

“Well, what now?” I asked.

“He might already be outside of the center,” Malachi said. “But Nikki and September would tell us. There’s a chance they’re still here.”

We walked through the hallway, which was decorated with white walls painted with gold triangles, that followed all the way to bright tan carpet. There were lights that shone through the hallway.

I got on my radio. “Do you see him?” I asked. After a few seconds of static, Nikki replied. “No, not yet.” I sighed. “Alright, let’s keep going.”

We kept walking through the hallway, and suddenly I heard footsteps. “Did you hear that?” I asked.

“No, but I think we should check it out,” Tisiah said, as he stepped forward. He continued to advance towards the beating sound, before a figure walked past the door that was open ajar. “Follow him,” I said, as we all exited the hallway and entered into the new one. This one was with the same decoration that was stuck on the wall and the same carpet. The only difference was the two men walking through the hall.

We followed them, but no noise was produced from our steps. They were wearing black suits, with sunglasses, and we followed the pair until we reached a large gray door. The door opened up to the stairs, which they walked down, and we followed them as we went downstairs.

“Who are they?” Tisiah asked.

“I have no idea,” Malachi said, but he was smiling.

“Let’s just follow them,” I said, and we continued to walk. But all of a sudden, one of them turned their heads and shock was the only thing their face testified. “It’s them!” the man—Redford Bane—shouted, which with him was none other than his son, Luthor Bane. Immediately, his son got out his wand, and shot three bolts at us, as they belted in our direction.

“Oh, shoot!” Tisiah said, as we leaped out of the way, dodging the attacks. Redford was quick to shoot his wand, and he fired several blasts of lightning at us, but he was too late. We jumped and ducked out of the way of the shots, but when he tried to cast a spell, it was a failure.

“Come on, let’s go!” Luthor Bane shouted, which now they booked it down the stairs.

“They’re running!” Malachi warned, as we lifted to our feet and began to pursue after them. We ran as fast as we could, and I was surprised at how fast these two were. We chased them down the stairway, until we were on the bottom floor. They turned the corner, and we quickly turned the corner as well.

I felt my legs quiver in the air as I continued running, and I felt the wind carry me through the floor. I slowly reached them, but that was used against my advantage. Suddenly, Luthor Bane stopped and went for the swing. The head of the wand struck the space between my face and ear, and I screamed in pain as I fell. I hit the ground hard, and I could feel the wind leaving me.

“Connor!” I heard Tisiah shout with shock trembling in his voice, but I couldn’t respond.

I looked up to see Tisiah’s face. He was looking at me, and he was confused. I couldn’t speak, and I could feel the cold floor beneath my cheek. “Come on, let’s get you up. Malachi, chase after those Banes!” Tisiah said.

“On it,” Malachi said, and I saw him running away from my view.

“You should’ve seen your face,” Tisiah said, as he helped me up.

“I know, I’m so dumb,” I said, and I began to cough. I grabbed onto Tisiah as he held my arm, and I leaned on him. “I’m good, I’m good, I’m…” I muttered, but the ringing pain in my head began to intensify.

“Let’s get you up,” Tisiah said, as he grabbed my arm. “I don’t know what that was, but I know it hurts.” I nodded, as we continued to walk to the exit. We busted out the door, trying to focus on those two men.

We ran as fast as we could, and I could see the two men in the distance. “Keep running, and don’t stop,” I said, and Tisiah nodded.

“Let me tell September,” Tisiah said, touching his earpiece. “September, it’s Tisiah. We’re coming back to the base, and I want you to come back here immediately. I’ll explain to you once I get there. I don’t know what happened, but we lost sight of them,” he said, and I nodded.

“I don’t see them either,” September said. “But we’re hoping to see the convoy of boats Connor predicted.”

“It has to be,” I muttered to myself. But what if I was wrong. What if something else was on the table? What if there was nothing on the table? I didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t know what to expect. I had a feeling that I knew the answer, but I didn’t want to think about it.

“Ahh, come on! Where are they?!” I shouted. “Where’s Malachi. I thought he was chasing after them.”

I pressed my earpiece. “Hey Malachi, where you at? Do you see them?”

“I don’t see them, and I’m not sure why,” Malachi responded and I sighed, feeling the anger boil inside of me.

“Well, keep looking for them,” I said, as I ran on the side of Tisiah. We reached the pier, and I could see the sun setting in the sky. The day was almost over, and we haven’t found them. But right then and there, I heard someone speak in the earpiece.

“There’s a convoy of boats. I see it!” September shouted, and hope filled my heart again. I turned my gaze to the ocean, and I saw the black and white fleet of ships, with a multitude of people aboard each other. “I see them!”

“Oh, thank God!” I said, and I could see Tisiah’s eyes widened with shock.

“We’ll meet them at the pier,” I said, and I could hear the excitement in Tisiah’s voice. We both turned our heads, and we continued to run. I began to jog as we approached the pier, and we were finally there. We got to the end of the pier, and I could see the boat that was closest to us.