Okay so we had a plan for escaping this mess. Was it a good plan? Well not exactly. It was kind of just... A total mess.

Jacob and I had noticed after a couple loops monitoring Baltia and making rounds, that the headquarters of the city lay in a high tower, a tall building they had built the wall into, on the West side. It was on a low floor there that would house vehicles and allow for exiting of the city.

That's where we'd have to be. We'd have to take down the security camera, as well as use the two guards' access passes to open up the door to leave, which meant knocking them out somehow.

One guard looked inward into Baltia, observing those inside the city that approached him, and the other guard in the wall looked outwards, making sure no one and nothing could get inside without permission, giving warning when needed. Both their access passes were necessary.

Like I said, the plan was a total mess. I came up with it. As a collective we weren't great at forethought.

"The only problem..." I said to Jacob, not long before we were supposed to execute our plan.

"Only one?" Jacob snickered. "Then we're doing pretty good."

I glared at him. "I'm just worried we aren't gonna pull this off smoothly. It's kind of a mess."

"Worst case scenario: we die. So like, it could be worse." He shrugged with a smile.

Nicole glared at him. "It literally couldn't."

"Depends on your perspective."

"Perspective doesn't-"

"Guys," I said. They ignored me. "GUYS!"

"What?"

"Nic, I need you to watch Callie while Jacob and I-"

"Why do I always have to watch Callie?" She whined.

I scowled. "Don't be insubordinate, young lady. You're fourteen, guards immediately assume you're up to something. Jacob and I will handle this first part."

Nicole pouted, but there was an understanding in her eyes that didn't go unnoticed. I nodded at her.

Jacob and I headed towards the wall, Nicole waiting behind closely with Callie.

The guard, #603, pressed a button as we approached. His voice rang through a speaker. "What can I do for you?"

His voice was polite, but rather cold in tone.

"Yes, um, Dr. Khan sent us. She requested soldiers go and collect some samples for her beyond Baltia's walls." I said.

His eyes narrowed at me. "That group hasn't been scheduled to leave until tomorrow."

"Change of plans, it's important that we seek out those specimens ASAP. Do you want to be the reason Dr. Khan can't get her research done?" Jacob improvised. It was strange to see the steely gaze on his face when normally he was so cheerful and mischievous. It was intimidating, but it didn't fit him.

#603 seemed to buy this. He sighed and pressed a button on his desk. The doors into the wall opened. "Come in."

I nodded towards Nicole. Hidden behind another wall she tossed a rock, hitting the camera above us with scary accuracy. I motioned for her and Callie to follow through.

Inside the wall were the two stations, one looking inwards and one looking outwards, as well as a row of heavily secured cars, including one beat up yellow hummer. Jacob's eyes lit up with excitement.

"Dammit!" #603 exclaimed. "Camera five just went down."

Jacob and I blocked Callie and Nicole from his view. He turned around, giving them the opportunity to hide behind a black SUV.

"I suppose you're gonna need a ride." He said, almost as if it were a question.

"Yes, we will." I pretended to think about. "I'm sure no one will miss that yellow hummer there at the end."

He wrinkled his nose. "That ugly old thing? If you're sure."

Jacob opened his mouth, but I stomped on his foot before he could say something stupid.

#603 pulled out a set of keys which I immediately recognized as Jacob's. He handed them over.

"Thanks. Sorry!" I tossed the keys to Jacob before punching the confused guard in the face.

Frick! I didn't realize how much punching someone hurts. My knuckles bruised and bled, but eventually he collapsed. I tried not to think about the kind of brain damage I had just caused.

"Get the car started. I'll take care of the other guard." I stated, picking up #603's abandoned weapon.

"Locke, are you sure-" Jacob began.

"Don't. I got this." I glared.

He shrugged, hurrying off to his precious Ducky.

I snuck up behind the other guard, the one looking outwards. In the window I was able to get a good look at her badge number. It read #439. She was half asleep it seemed, headphones on, and bored out of her mind. I couldn't blame her. It didn't seem like an exciting job.

Her eyes shot wide as she caught my reflection in the window. She banged her hand on a red button just as I reached her. I whacked the butt of the gun against her head. BAM! She went down.

Not before sirens began to blare.

WARNING: PROTOCOL BREACH!

I searched the desk for the button that would open the gates outside. The pounded of heavy footsteps echoed as guards rushed in.

I had no choice but to drop my weapon.

Like I said, it wasn't exactly a great plan.

Long time no write. I was super stuck, BUT to make up for it I will have another chapter out this week, if not two more! Sorry for the delay! Thanks for reading!
~Oz