Machia Veil Timeline

Nate and Kenya made it to Coventry Street. He glanced back. A silhouette raced towards them. “Run!”

Adrenaline kicked in and they sped towards Piccadilly Circus. As they passed the Eros statue, it had a gun in its hands instead of the traditional bow. They crossed the street, dodging cars with blaring of horns.

“What the heck!” screamed a driver.

“You blockheads!” followed another.

Nate and Kenya made a break for a double-decker bus. Reaching it, they jumped in.

“Darn, it’s Ellis!” said Nate, craning his head.

“Who?”

“I’ll explain later,” he said, leading Kenya to the back of the bus. Ellis Warnock was speeding through the traffic on a motorbike.

“Alright, here’s what we do,” said Nate.

“Yes?”

“She comes in through the front. We leave through the back.” He paused. “And vice versa.”

“Yes and vice versa, yes, vice versa,” she said, trembling.

“You said you wanted adventure!”

“Yes, the safe type. This is too hairy!”

Ellis was fifty yards away, Nate pressed the bus stop and stood at the front and Kenya at the back. Upon stopping, Ellis reached the back of the bus and Kenya ran towards Nate and they dashed through the front.

They sped past a group in a brawl outside a shop. “I was here first! You fart face!” One was about to gauge the eyes of another.

Nate flinched.

They headed into Burbeiny’s and climbed the stairs. They made their way to the roof. However, an Arch hung above them from a helicopter, and he was closing the gap.

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They entered another building, and they hid behind a set of clothes and waited. The Arch following them ran past them. They headed back up again. They continued from roof to roof into a side street.

The helicopter pivoted, firing a crack of shots at them.

They shrieked and hunched over.

“This way!” called Nate.

“A pipe? I can’t!”

“We’ll help each other. I did lots of tree climbing at home.”

“We are going to die!” she screamed.

“Don’t look down. It’s a matter of coordination and balance.”

Nate wrapped his arms around her.

Kenya’s rapid breathing beat against his chest.

They jumped into another department store and made a run for the exit. Making their way down the stairs, trying not to call attention. They stole two hats. Nate dressed up as a woman and Kenya wore a cap.

The Archs outside created a cordon. There was no way out.

“The hell with it!” Nate crashed the fire alarm and chaos broke out.

Nate and Kenya hid as everyone evacuated the building.

“They must have figured it was us,” said Nate, searching for an exit.

There was a room with garden equipment and hammocks. They shared a look. It was their bridge to the next store.

They fastened each side of the hammock to long, sturdy gardening forks. With diligence, they secured the hammock. Then they positioned the contraption between the two buildings, ensuring its stability for a safe crossing. At last, they clambered into the next department store.

“We bought ourselves some time,” said Nate as they headed out the main doors of the building. The Archs were next door waiting for their exit.

As they hopped on a double decker, they acted casual, except the bus drive stretched on.

Nate surveyed the traffic behind them.

A police car approached them with its siren blaring.

Nate stiffened, yet it kept going and passed them.

They got off early and crossed a throng of people. Then followed the street that led to Paddington. Nate’s gaze caught a placard with the station’s name: Pandemonium? Well of course! They reached the station. Ambling towards the platforms, they held hands in silence. Prepared to run if they had to.

Nate jolted at the sight of black-suited Archs standing in every corner of the terminal. “They’re everywhere!”

***

Pandemonium Station, Plague Street, Londoom

He steered Kenya left as if to enter a store, only to come out the other side as quickly as they entered. They found refuge behind an artificial hedge of an advertising display.

Positioned to their right were the screens with train destinations.

“Our train leaves in two minutes!” said Kenya.

“Platform 1, there’s our train,” he said, pointing in front of them.

“Let’s make a quick escape,” said Kenya.

“Maybe the doors will shut before the Archs reach us,” said Nate.

They were wrong. There was a delay. They squeezed themselves under two seats on the coach train. Other passengers jumped on, their feet scuffing against the floor. One of them searched the seats. Nate fixed his eyes on the Arch’s black shoes as he drew nearer.

The train beeping startled them. Doors were closing, and the Arch jumped off the coach.

Phew!

They waited.

The train heaved forward. Then it gained momentum.

They stepped out of their hiding place and sank into their seats.

“That was so close!” said Nate, catching his breath.