They Don't Own Me

Chapter 40

Ivy pulled her along, careful not to trip on the stairs. They ran through the seats, making their way to the edge of the tier. When Eliza looked back, she saw a Crank go passed the entrance way before coming back into view and releasing a shriek.

"We've got company!" she said.

"That's nice! Keep going! I'm going to need two of your bombs."

Eliza chose not to question her and managed to pull two bombs out of her bag. When they reached the end of the tier, Ivy grabbed one of the bombs from her and set it on the floor, setting the timer for ten seconds.

"Grab onto the curtain and slide down to the stage," she told Eliza. "Keep the other bomb and set it up on the stage toward the front."

"Are you crazy?!"

"Do we have a choice to try and figure anything else out?"

Eliza didn't respond. Instead, she climbed over the banister and grabbed the large red curtain, sliding down until her feet hit the stage. Ivy started the bomb, glancing up to see that more Cranks had joined the first and while they were struggling to make it through the seats, they were still moving fast.

"Ivy, let's go!" Eliza shouted, having already planted the second bomb.

Ivy grabbed the curtain and slid halfway down before jumping down to the stage. As she sprinted away from the curtain, the tier above exploded, sending debris crashing down into the seats. Ivy heard a scream and just barely noticing a body buried under the rubble. Glancing up, she saw the other Cranks approaching and not slowing.

"Set the bomb!" Ivy called to Eliza, running toward her.

Eliza did so, standing to her feet when it was set.

"Ten seconds."

"Then move your *ss and jump!"

The two ran for the front of the stage, jumping off. When they hit the floor, they managed to roll to break their falls, quickly getting back up and running. They reached the the back row of seats right as the bomb went off, dropping several Cranks down into the pit below the stage, as well as setting the stage on fire. Eliza almost laughed out loud, so happy that Ivy's plan had worked.

"We're not clear yet," Ivy told her, grabbing her hand and pulling her out of the theater. The moment they stepped through the doors, they heard another series of screams, causing them to look to their right. Down the hall was another four Cranks. "You know, I'm really starting to hate these things."

"No kidding!"

"Ivy! Eliza! Get down!"

The two didn't question the warning and ducked behind a pillar. Gunshots went off and they saw the Cranks go down. The women ran out from behind the pillar and saw Graham and Wolf at the entrance of the theater.

"Graham!" Eliza cried, running toward him and wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

Ivy smiled at the sight of her brother. She was about to go to them when she heard another screech come from behind her. Ivy spun around, only to be tackled to the ground. Ivy nearly screamed when she saw the Crank above her, snarling in her face.

"Ivy!" the others shouted.

The girl struggled with the Crank, doing her best to keep it from grabbing her. She managed to push it away from her a little, giving her a small space to breathe. Just as the Crank tried lunging at her again with a renewed strength and determination, it was ripped away, colliding with a large pillar. Ivy stumbled to her feet with Wolf's help. Before the Crank could charge at them, Wolf shot it down, killing it. Ivy sighed, hanging her head in exhaustion.