February 14th 2017
11PM
2300Hours

Bzzz Bzzzz

The light flickered on and off before complete darkness swallowed the office. The only light came from the laptop, brightness on high now and the shouts echoed outside my office and heavy feet running around. Thunder rumbled overhead, no doubt bringing the beginning of rain and lightning...a nice stormy night.

But a very terrifying evening.

With a heavy sigh, the time on the watch said 11:01PM. In a minute, the backup will kick in. With a sigh, a sip of water, resuming work on the laptop, counting down the seconds or so I had thought. My eyes flicked down the time on the bottom corner of my laptop.

11:16PM

The back-up lights had not kicked in...surely all of the power could be down-

"Professor!"

With a yelp, water spilling over my lap as I jumped in my seat when my office door was slammed open.

"We have a situation Professor! The generators have not kicked in and Officer Greeves has only just left!"

"Okay, well, it's just the lights, officer. We planned for this, back-ups for everything. Everything officer. It doesn't make this less creepy but-"

"Sir! All back-ups are down! The containments are out!"

My mouth opened and closed like a goldfish as the information slowly processed through and trying to speak.

Attention all units! Attention all units! Containments out! I repeat containments are out! Containments, return to your keep immediately!

Fuck!

There were shouts and yells, running and stomping all around, battery powered lights activated, bathing hallways an on and off terrifying red light.

A sudden screech that had to be a the floor down bellowed around, the agony of it made me clap my hands over my ears in pain as I curled up over my desk.

The scream faded off, leaving my ears ringing and head swimming from the growing headache. Slowly straightening, sweat growing around my forehead and dripping down my neck. The young officer standing at the door, slowly uncurled himself from the crouched position he was in, face I could just see was creased from the pain.

The realization of what, or who just happened, my heart skipped a step.

"How many containments are out?" I quickly stood, gathering my laptop and paperwork.

"Unsure professor, but at least half of them." The officer shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose.

Attention all Units! Attention all Containments! I repeat, attention to all! Return to your bunks! Your keeps! This is a Lockdown! I repeat! We are under lockdown! Any movement from Containments, we will open fire!

Lockdown?

I glanced at the young officer who stared at me in horror.

"Why announce lockdown? It's already a given we are?" The officer pulled out his radio and nodded as he listened.

"Okay, are the back-ups turning on yet? What's with the lockdown-SHIT!" The young fella cursed, jumping back from my office door. Several shouts came down the end of hallway, waist-high, and pale figure skipped past, the terrifying high pitched giggles, following the runaway as soldiers ran past, after the giggler. The officer, slammed the door closed, his breathing growing ragged as he leant against the door heavily.

"Officer Drew, keep her head on now! That's an order." I snapped. "Your panicking will do you no good in this situation. Not all containments are planning on killing. It's the ones that do want to kill that you should panic about."

Officer Drew opened his mouth to answer but was cut off when the lights switched on, blurring our eyes and I flinched irritably, eyes watering from the sudden brightness.

"All officers stand-by! We have a situation in Sector C."

The power section for the Asylum.

"Standing by. I have Professor Brooks here with me."

"Understood. We need Professor Brooks down now to Sector C immediately." Frowning at the order I glanced at Drew and nodded begrudgingly, more eager for bed and sleep.

"Escorting him down. What's the word on all containments?"

The line was silent, the radio crackling as they waited in the tense office.

"All prisoners are contained. I repeat, all prisoners are contained. And for everyone's sake, let us hope they remain so."