Alice followed closely behind Max as they journeyed into the weary evening; the sky still dark, void of any stars. They managed to get a few feet away from the motel when they heard a scratch of tires on the rough road.

Looking behind them, they saw a tan car out on a side street that stopped suddenly. Waiting for the car to pass, the car window suddenly peeled open. Gunfire sailed at the children. It had missed them by the protection of buildings and a dumpster.

They soared through the wind as the car headed back toward their position. The side streets and alleyways hid the children from this mysterious vehicle.

It came to a halt, as the machine gun fired rapidly again. Max pulled Alice out of the way in time shielding themselves with the dumpster. Hearing roars of laughter, the young voices seemed their age.

Rushing out in the street, they hurled themselves over the car. The teens inside the car made unruly remarks and cursed at the two. The children slipped quickly into the next alleyway before these dangerous teens could fire off their next round of bullets.

“We gotta get to higher ground,” Max said.

They scanned for an entryway up to any nearby building. Alice spotted a fire escape and she leaped into the air to grab a hold of it. She shook the ladder as she dangled and the ladder released the slack. Alice ascended and Max followed.

Just as they reached the first landing, shots fired again, but missed them, hearing hoots and hollers as they hurriedly climbed up onto the roof.

There was nothing more frightening than not knowing where the goons were. Max looked over the edge and saw them peering straight at him calling up to him, but Max hid himself staying silent. The children, hearing the small ruckus down on the ground level, decided to avoid any interaction.

Springing onto the next building, the duo leaped, and dove about the buildings until they heard no more sound. Stopping and listening for any noise, it died out.

“What does that paper say, Alice,” Max asked. She breathed heavily as she unfolded the piece of paper still clenched in her hands.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

It read: Seek the fortress. She looked at Max. “What fortress?”

Max didn’t know.

She gazed at the paper again. It had never occurred to her to ask Mr. R where he was taking them, but she wished she had. Sadness fell upon her as the thought of Mr. R pained her. She couldn’t help but shed a tear for her friend.

“I can’t believe he’s gone,” Alice said quietly.

Max didn't know what to say. Tired, he had no words to describe what he felt. He tried consoling her, but she pulled away.

Max pondered what Mr. R was trying to say to them.

Fortress? Fortress.

He gazed out to the ambit of the city. The sky was still dark as night. It still hadn’t changed. Max thought maybe it might change, maybe this time it will be different.

Maybe if I looked this time it wouldn’t be so dim. This time it’ll be better.

But the blackness remained unchanged just like their situation. His gaze then turned to the tallest tower. It held its mighty head high over the chaotic city. Flying ships wisped in the air far off.

He called out Alice’s name as he pointed toward the tall structure. Turning, she looked at the magnificent thing. Looking at each other, they nodded, moving without any audible sound toward the ominous tower.

The journey wasn’t long as they reached the fortress. The tall infrastructure stretched high above the city’s landscape and it was even grander than the children thought. A building that was composed of metal as it reached up to the sky at a point. It had a few windows scattered about its face and had only one door which was that of a vault.

They scanned the whole structure from the roofs of neighboring apartments and businesses.

“Whadya think? This is the place Reginald wanted us to go to? It looks like a prison,” Max said, confused.

“Well, it’s our best bet.” And they proceeded to go straight for the vault door. But as Alice was about to touch the vault wheel, they noticed a side door. A small wooden door that looked like the appropriate entrance, the secret entrance, where they crept towards and knocked.

To their amazement, the slit in the door slid open as two eyes peered at them suspiciously.

“Who are you and what do you want?”

“We’re friends of Reginald, he sent us,” Alice said, quickly.

“Who? I don’t know anyone by that name. I think you have the wrong place. Goodbye.”

“No, wait,” Alice pleaded. “He sent us. Look, I have a slip of paper that he wrote on! That’s his handwriting.”

“Little girl, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Get lost.”

“No, you have to help us,” Max said. “The police are after us! Mr. R didn’t make it. That’s why he isn’t here!” He rushed towards the door. “Please!”

The person standing behind the door hesitated.

“Did he really send you?” The children’s hearts became calm. “You’re the ones running from the police?”

“Yes!” They both answered.

The door burst open, grabbed them both, and shut abruptly, dragging the children down the dangerous dark dungeons to a place unknown.