Severed Bonds

"Where do you think you're going? I didn't allow you to leave just yet! You really think I'd allow you to leave without any insurance?" What! Ian walks back and hands the guy a small, rhombus shaped object. I stand there not knowing whether to wait or run out the door.

"Here, will this suffice?" The guy takes the object and studies it.

"What is this?" He looks at him skeptically.

"It's nothing really, just worth fifteen grand." He says casually. "Think of it as a quarter of the clan's profit."

"Hm? I guess this will suffice." He nods his head with a wide grin. Ian walks back, and yanks my arm out the door. His pace has increased suddenly. Once we're far away from the room, I give him a piece of my mind.

"OW! You're hurting me!" I finally say.

"We have to get out of here." He says in a serious tone.

"Why?" I look up at him.

"Because we may not make it out." Just like that, BOOM! I turn around and gaze at the collapsing ceiling from the room we escaped from! The celing's cracks start to spread out to our area! Ian pulls me harder as I stare in shock, I pick up my pace to a sprint. Adrenaline rushes through me, my legs feel robotic. Ian stops and releases my hand.

"Ian what are you doing?" The cracks are spreading to the ceiling above us! His eyes swirl into a misty purple. "Ian?" The ceiling crumbles but is held up by an invisible force. I look over and see Ian's hand raising towards the ceiling while his fingers clench. His eyes are glued to the ceiling. Ian raises his other hand clenched toward the ceiling, while holding the ruble. The ruble above his other hand begins to crumble. Big chunks of ruble fall and break through the floor. He lowers the hand that was once taking down the ruble.

"Go!" He says while holding up the ruble. I jump down the caved in floor, and fall on the next floor. I pick my aching body up slowly, Ian jumps down without a scratch. "Come on!" We run as fast we can pass the ruble and finally the door.

"IAN!" We turn and see the crazy guy running out.

"Shit!" He curses out loud.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Multiple clicks go off, and were surrounded by a hoard pointing guns at us.

"Hannah." Ian mumbles. I don't know why but I stand close to him.

"SEE YOU IN HELL!" I cover my face as multiple bullets go off. Am I dead? I uncover my eyes and see a blue canopy around us. It fades away, I look around and see bodies everywhere. I pant, and hold my chest. A hoard of people stand around us, a guy and girl approach me and Ian.

"Thank goodness you guys made it out!" The girl says.

"I have to admit, I'm a bit shocked. I honestly didn't think you would make it out alive." The guy adds. Well that's comforting!

"Well even though their clan leader is as insane and skeptical he's never been the brightest."

"Yes, that's for sure..." He trails off. The girl looks at me curiously.

"So, you must be Hannah?" She gives me a warm smile.

"Yeah, I am." I say timidly.

"Well have introductions later, right now we should get the hell out of here." Ian adds. I follow Ian and the rest to a van.

"The rest of the members are in a different van." The guy says.

"Yeah, I figured." Ian looks toward him.

"Sorry about Ian's rudeness back there." The girl adds. Ian looks over to us. I can't help but smile.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"I'm Alison, but you can call me Ali, and our driver is Thomas." She speaks with a bubbly and gentle tone. Me and Ali chat for hours in the car, we get along pretty well actually. She asks me if I'm hurt or anything. Like a decent person! I told her about the room, and how cold it was. She hugged me tight, as she saw how close I was to have a breakdown. I fell asleep halfway in the car ride. When I wake up, I find I'm the only one up. Ali and Ian are knocked out. Except for Thomas, who's still driving. The sky's looking a bit dark, I hope he hasn't been driving the whole time?

"Have you been driving the whole time?" I ask. He looks at me through the rearview mirror.

"Yes, a warlock's mind is a lot sharper than a human's." Was he putting down humans? Or trying to reassure me?

"Oh." Is all I managed to say.

"Hannah is it?" He asks.

"Yeah, and your Thomas huh?" I say, trying to make light of the situation. He says nothing. Well this is awkward.

"Heh, I can see why Ian gets annoyed by you." Ouch.

"Well in my defense he annoys the crap out of me too!"

"You're a frail human, that jumps into conflicts without knowing anything about them and then you insist on us taking your opinions and solutions." I get the feeling he doesn't like me.

"Well it's better than sitting there doing nothing!" I argue back.

"No it's better if you but out until you understand your place." He hisses.

"Whether I'm human, or whatever the hell you guys are! I won't be placed, because I don't have one! So why don't you shove it!"

"Typical for you to get so upset, all I'm doing is offering you advice." He says with a patronizing tone.

"What kind of advice is that?"

"To help you stay alive, because if you step out of line. You'll only have yourself to blame when you cause your own downfall." Argh, forget it! I'm wasting my breath, talking to him. Thomas pulls up at Ian's house. He parks in front of a gate. I don't remember a gate here? This must be the back entrance. Ian walks out grumpily while Ali walks beside me.