Problems of a Dead World

Chapter 6: Jailbreak

Twitching with sheer rage, Earl left the grimey room where he had received his vicious beating. The blood continued flowing from the extensive amount of open wounds on his face and further reddened his previously grey shirt. He kept the knife low at his side and the pistol uncocked in his pocket. Creating noise via gunshot was the last thing he wanted to do. Staying low, he traveled silently through the seemingly endless corridors of the facility. His vague memory of the complex was fading even faster due to the complete loss of his sanity.

The corridors seemed to blend together. Just endless brick walls painted a dull gray, occasionally bearing a yellow or blue-colored stripe. Earl had vaguely remembered Jackson explaining their use of color-coating in the facility, but his thoughts were too lost to contemplate the meaning. The anxious human continued silently through the hallways, gripping the leather handle of his bloody knife and preparing himself for an encounter. To his advantage however, no one showed up. After several minutes of fruitless searching, the walls became familiar in Earl's further distorting vision. He planted himself against the wall, heart racing, and peeked around the corner. Instantly, Earl recognized the tattered door that lead to the room bearing his friends prisoner. A grin shot across his face as he inched out from behind the wall, and down the hallway.

Earl paused for a moment after reaching his hand for the door. Colonel Jackson could be just on the other side with any number of his maniac crew. He glanced around the hallway and along the door frame, trying to find any alternative to another "Leeroy Jenkins" incident such as the one during the invasion. He cursed quietly under his breath after finding no solution. With a grimace to his thoughts, he tightened his grip on the combat knife, causing his knuckles to go white and his hand to tremble slightly. He took one quick breath and slowly pushed the door open. Almost instantly, Twilight recognized him through the bars of the cell, causing her face to brighten slightly, and then fall back to a frown as she noticed his battered condition. Part of Earl's sanity slowly began to come back as he saw his girl, perfectly safe. He was determined to keep it that way.

Scanning the room quickly, Earl noticed only one guard, standing watch just in front of the bars. The soldier's back was turned, causing him to be completely oblivious to any possible threat.

Perfect... Earl thought as a sinister smile returned to his face.

Shining was the next to notice Earl's arrival. However, knowing the circumstances, the blue-haired human acted natural. Earl swiftly brought a finger to his lips, signalling for them to remain silent for further confirmation.

Slowly, Earl began inching closer to the guard, heart beating harder than the hooves of a stampede. Beads of sweat began to litter his bloody forehead, and the salty liquid soon made it into his scars. For the first time since his beating, Earl felt a sharp, burning pain. The human stopped dead in his tracks and twitched in pain as the sweat continued pouring into his wounds.

Twilight needs me... Shining needs me... They all need me. Earl thought, trying to overcome the pain that was becoming more apparent by the second.

Once again, the pain began to turn to anger as Earl glanced up to the still oblivious soldier. He was now inches from the man, just waiting for his moment to strike and unleash the burning anger in his heart.

Without further delay, Earl came up from his standing position and gave a quick whistle through his bloody teeth. The soldier was instantly startled by the high-pitched noise and spun around, grasping frantically for the rifle slung around his chest. Before the Soldier could brandish his automatic weapon, Earl dashed forward and swung his right arm around the soldier's shoulder, jabbing the knife in his left hand into the man's midsection. A small, barely audible gasp escaped the guard's mouth as pain from the harsh stab set in. Not letting up, Earl gave the soldier's body a brisk pull, planting the knife further into his midsection. He quickly pulled the knife from the soldier's bleeding stomach and moved to the side, tossing him to the ground with intense force. The guard's face hit the ground, giving a sharp crack as flesh connected with pavement.

By now, Earl was seeing complete red. His first real kill was almost completed. Without any second thought of taking the soldier's life, Earl shifted his position next to the man on the ground and readied his leg to deliver the killing blow. He thought of his friends, his home, his captor. Anything he could to further amplify the power going into his kick. With a burst of power, he swung his leg forward and connected with the soldier's jaw. Sending a massive spray of crimson, red blood across the room, followed by several teeth and an extremely audible crack that echoed throughout the walls of the room. Shining and Twilight both paused, realizing the look in Earl's eyes and the act he had just completed. At that moment, a small fear for the enraged human standing before them was created.

Macintosh and Applejack quickly snapped their heads upwards as the crack echoed throughout the room, finally noticing Earl breathing heavily as his foot returned to the ground.

"Earl!" Applejack said, a relieved tone entering her voice.

The human continued catching his breath and reached down to search the recently deceased soldier. After a few seconds, he pulled a key from one of the various pockets that lined the dead man's vest. Without hesitation, he spun around and began working with the lock. It sprung open without any problem, and Earl inched open the cell door weakly. The four recently humanized equines stared at Earl as he kept his head held low. After a few slightly awkward moments, he slowly outstretched his arms and looked to Twilight.

Despite the fear that had just manifested itself for her, the purple-haired girl inched forward, weary of the blood staining the front of Earl's shirt. After a moment of hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his midsection, followed by him embracing her tightly. The members of the group remained silent for a moment as the two shared their embrace, knowing it's importance. After what seemed like hours, the two broke away from eachother, Twilight's shirt now stained slightly. Earl looked between the members of his group. He glanced to Big Mac, and his scarred face. He looked to Applejack and saw beyond her tough exterior, straight through to the mortified mare underneath. He saw Shining trying to remain resilient as well, but broken to the core. Lastly, he saw Twilight, the love of his life since she had pulled him from the fires of the infection. He had done this, he had taken them all here, and affected them in such a way beyond all relief. He may not have caused his home world to turn to shit, but he definitely brought them there. The human cleared his throat roughly.

"We're leaving." He said in a stern, yet caring tone.

* * *

The five humans slowly inched along the corridors of the facility, frantically searching for an exit amidst the dull-grey walls and constant threats of being discovered. Twilight had explained to Earl about Jackson's plan to "get more friends" for his interrogation. Taking the opportunity, Earl simply gathered his group and left.

Keeping the knife at his side, he continued inching down the corridors, sweating profusely and constantly checking corners to avoid anyone discovering them. After several lengthy hallways, Earl stopped and turned to face his group, still in a stealthy crouched position.

"Does anypony know where the exit is?" He asked, his voice lacking confidence.

In unison, the members of his group shook their heads.

"Shit... If we keep wandering around the halls, we're bound to get caught." Earl continued.

Twilight's face quickly lit up in a wide smile.

"Hang on, I can use a spell that-" She said.

After a brief moment, her smile fell to a frown at the realization of her recent transformation. Earl's expression turned to a frown as well. He hesitantly put his hand on her shoulder.

"I-It's fine. We'll... we'll find the way." He said, trying to comfort her.

"Hey! Wha- what the fuck?! A voice sounded from the hallway.

Earl's heart dropped and a chill ran down his spine at the sound of the voice. He briskly fell to the ground and pulled Twilight with him, motioning for the members of his group to do the same.

"Hey! I think I got em' over here, Sector 2, Bravo hallway!" The voice shouted, followed by a burst of static.

Earl stayed low, camouflaged by the darkness of the hallway. To his advantage, it was one of the many hallways that wasn't being powered anymore. The next voice heard was very familiar, and drenched in the sound of static.

"You shoot to kill, you hear me?!" Jackson shouted over the soldier's radio.

Before Earl could react, multiple shots boomed through the hallway, creating a blinding flash and a deafening boom.

"Go! Go!" Earl shouted, stumbling to his feet and helping Twilight.

Macintosh, Shining and Applejack quickly obliged, mortified by the gunshot. As the five continued down the hallway, the soldier fired more shots at their silhouettes, missing them by mere inches.

When they finally rounded the corner after dodging shots, Earl pulled the six-shooter from his pocket and cocked it. Without hesitation, he peered around the corner and fired the two shots down the hallway, hoping to frighten his attacker.

"Shots fired! I repeat, shots fired, they are armed! Send backup!" The voice screamed worriedly from down the hallway.

"Shit, backup!" Earl said angrily, returning behind the wall.

"Backup?!" Twilight asked worriedly.

"Jackson is going to bring everyone..." Shining said, his eyes going wide.

Earl searched their surroundings frantically before spotting a large metal door across the corridor. His nerves were further dampened as he heard the sound of footsteps roaring down the hallway they had just escaped from.

"Go! In there!" He shouted, pointing in the direction of the metal door.

Without question, the four sprinted across the hallway, Earl following close behind.

The footsteps were blaring down the hallway now, inching closer to them. Within seconds, the soldier had reached the hallway and raised his rifle. Yet another shot ran past Earl's head as they continued down the hallway, just feet from the large metal door. Upon reaching it, Shining threw the door open with as much force as he could, revealing a pitch-black room. Shots continued echoing throughout the hall as the rest of the group made their way inside. After making sure everyone was inside, Shining slammed the door shut again with just as much force. This time, however, a loud melodic beep sounded from a panel beside the door, followed by a green flash that read "secured".

The soldier stopped dead in his tracks and slowly lowered his rifle as he examined the room they had just entered. He shakily reached his hand up to the radio attached to his vest and swallowed nervously.

"Sir?" He said, his voice faltering.

"What?!" Jackson replied.

"They... l-locked themselves..."

"Speak up soldier!"

"T-T-T-They..."

"ENGLISH MOTHERFUCKER!"

The soldier swallowed nervously again, his hands still shaking.

"They locked themselves in the armory."

End of Part One