Mathea's Perspective

Some security guards asked us all to line up in this room, and while we listened to them about being here, no one stands in a line. Half of the Gifted are here in this room, and the other half are in room B14; that's what the evacuation plans told me would happen. Most of the Gifted people are panicked, but I know what's going on; they're finally here for me.

I always believed that Willow would find a way to help me. I know I'll get to see her today, and I'm excited to finally see her. I know I have to try to find some way to hide these scars all over my body.

I've never wanted Willow's gift as badly as I have during my stay here, but I don't think it would have helped much. They were still able to hurt Kane. I'd always go to see him when he came out of what I like to call 'the torture room', and he'd always try to act tough. He's acting wasn't too bad, but his eyes and voice always gave it away.

They hurt Kane badly. Sometimes they even hurt him because of me; every time security guards came to get me, Kane would try to fight them off. He promised to stop doing that when I asked him to, but he'd do the same thing the next day. I think he knew he couldn't protect me, but he wanted to try anyway.

I guess it isn't too bad that the doctors decided to take away our free will regarding if we'd like to be cured or not, because that's when they stopped hurting us. There would be no point in hurting me if they were just going to cure us anyway.

I actually thought it was good news when they said they'd forcibly cure us; I thought they'd take a longer time to develop a cure compatible with Kane and that Willow and her friends would be here before that could happen.

I don't think I'll ever be so optimistic again. Even today, I hope I can make it out with my gift, but I'm prepared for the worst. I think I've been prepared for the worst ever since they did what they did to Kane.

I don't think the doctors understand; taking away our gift is like taking away a part of us. Kane looked so defeated when they escorted him out of the building. The way he talked before, I think his gift was all of him. Eve told me that she was told Kane is with Willow and her friends. I hope he's doing better.

"What's that smell?" A red-haired girl begins to tear up, and she franticly shakes her hands in front of her face.

When I first got here, I thought she could by my friend, but she seems a bit too extreme for me. She's one of the many people that came to the Purus willingly. She thinks all Gifted people or people showing signs of being Gifted are sick and need to be helped. I think she hates herself. Well, I guess it's good I haven't made any friends here; I'd feel a little guilty if I left them behind especially if they were forced to be here.

"Everyone remain calm. This is just a drill." The guard lies to everyone here, but I know the truth of today. Eve told me earlier that she was sure her part of the plan would run smoothly. She tampered with something in one of the doctor's office. She also changed some labels so most of the staff members think this problem is bigger than it actually is.

Most of the staff members think the gas filling a couple rooms is toxic and fatal if inhaled or if it comes in contact with the skin, but Eve let me know that any effects of it are temporary and won't cause much pain anyway. Still, I'd prefer to avoid it on my way out.

The voices in this room become louder and people begin shouting their guess of what they think is happening. One boy suggests that everyone here will be killed off, and that's the reason the doctors and other staff members are in a separate location.

Ever since I got here, he's been a very talkative person, and I don't think he puts much thought in what he says. Well, he could just be trying to be funny, but this makes some people begin to panic even more than they already are. I wish I could tell the people crying that they'll be okay.

The room suddenly becomes silent when someone knocks on the door. I actually think they've been banging on the door, but it sounded as soft as someone knocking when everyone was causing a ruckus. The guards look focused as they aim their guns to the door.

"Hc1," says the voice on the other side of the door. The code is hc1. I saw that code in the evacuation plans and told Willow this a while ago.

Almost simultaneously, half of the guards lower their weapon and one of them goes to unlock the door for the guests to enter. The door can be unlocked from the outside, but the evacuation plans state that anyone who enters without giving a code should be shot without question. I told Willow that, too. This means that the guests about to enter the room—the uninvited guests that I'm happy to have around—will be less likely to be killed when they come in to take me.

Everything seems to be going well. As soon as they confirm that I am here, they'll notify the rest of their team to enter this bunker.

My fear comes to life when one of the Purus members scream out in pain, drops his weapon and pulls his leg towards his stomach. I think a lot of blood will be spilled today. The gunshot is my cue to get down. He just got shot in the leg. Willow's friends are acting first and I'm not sure they will even ask questions later.

I wonder just who Willow became friends with, but there's no time to think about that relationship now. I do know that she's with Saint. I was just hoping that whoever the extra friends are, their first thoughts wouldn't be violence.

I guess it's safer for them this way; maybe it's better to shoot than be shot. I haven't seen many people get shot, but the ones I have seen have never been as dramatic as this man. I can't judge him. I know I would be way worse.

I don't see the rest of the casualties as I remain crouched down at the back of the room, but I hear shouts from both the Purus guards and the Gifted people here. Willow warned me that things may get a bit messy so she thought it was best that I stay at the back of the room. A few Gifted notice me and do the same, and some of them end up crashing into me, and my head bangs against the wall. I'm sure that will leave a mark.

"Guns down. Get on your knees." I have been around that voice long enough to know it belongs to Saint. He sounds more serious than he ever has, and his voice is filled with so much life. "Get on your knees," Saint repeats. "Faces down. Hold your hands out. Slowly..."

I tilt my head to the side and Saint catches my eye. He's the only one in his group that isn't wearing a mask.

Saint notices me looking at him then nods to his teammates before lowering his gun and walking closer to me, leaving his teammates to watch the Purus guards who now have their faces to the floor. The Gifted people begin to crawl away from me when they notice the direction he is walking in; they begin to create a path for Saint to approach me.

I stand up slowly, because I'm afraid quick movements might scare Saint's team. When Saint reaches me, he holds out his hand and smiles sadly as he offers me his gun.

I shake my head. "I wouldn't need all of you if I had that,"  I say, looking to the injured and bloody people lying on the floor.

Saint retracts his hand with a sigh. I think he knew I wouldn't take it, but there's no harm in trying.

"The exit isn't far from here." I hear more bullets coming from outside, but I think whoever is shooting is far from us. "You can tell them to pull back now, can't you." I have to raise my voice a little, because I hear more gunshots, and these ones sound louder.

Saint then turns away from me to see his teammates striping some of the Purus guards. All the Purus guards wear a one-piece so it isn't difficult to put on or take off. They also all have bulletproof vests underneath.

I watch as Saint strips off his clothes, leaving him only in boxers and his bulletproof vest, before quickly putting on the clothes, gloves and mask belonging to the Purus guards. Some of Saints teammates do the same and one of them shoves a vest, gloves and mask towards me. I then pull my blue hoodie over my head and put on the bulletproof vest before hurryingly putting my hoodie back on.

Once the hoodie is over my head, I notice Saint looking at me impatiently. He then grabs my arm and walks to the door, poking his head out before pulling me alongside him. I'd tell him to be more gently, but it isn't the same for that either.

Some of his teammates follow us, while the majority of them remain in that evacuation room. If anyone sees us, they'll say I didn't follow the evacuation protocol and they're escorting me to the room with the rest of the Gifted. If that fails...well, I hope that doesn't fail.

"Two lefts, one right, another left, and the last right. We'll get to a ladder with an exit with the least guards."

"I remember, Mathea." Saint then looks back at me. "I'm glad you're okay."

He smiles at me then turns away before I can reply, hurrying down the corridor and occasionally glancing behind him, probably to make sure I'm still following him. I'm glad he's okay, too.

The plan is going smoother than I could hope for, but I don't know the casualties so it may be too soon to speak. All I know is that the exit is near; I've seen it once before when I walked with Eve.

I bump into Saint's back once he suddenly stops, and this makes his teammates behind me bump into my back, but they all mutter soft apologies. I watch as Saint pulls off one of his gloves and slowly stretches his finger to touch the gas.

I've smelt it for some time now and although it is causing a slight burn to my throat, the pain is very much bearable. Of course, the Purus staff members don't know the weak effects of the gas so they'll be walking around frantically with masks and hiding in the rooms that prevent gas from entering.

Saint shakes his finger as he pulls back from the gas. His finger is a little red, but he continues walking as he slips his glove back on. The rest of us follow him until we're all submerged by gas as we walk through the halls. Even through my clothing, I can feel my skin begins to itch and slightly burn. Eve warned me about all of this though.

Now that I think about it, telling us the gas isn't fatal could be a good plan for her to get rid of us, but I don't think she'll do that. Willow said that if Eve betrays us, her family gets hurt and Eve will be cured which means that's the end of her.

I know Eve cares more herself, though. I think all of the Purus doctors would let their family and themselves get killed rather than help a Gifted, so we're lucky to find one with a sense of superiority.

Eve could've gone into hiding, but she doesn't some like the type of lady to hide away her whole life. She also has this strange view on her existing to help the Gifted so hiding would interrupt her purpose in life.

Saint keeps glances behind him and I notice he picks up his pace as we all hear gunshots behind us. As soon as we take our first left, a knife is flung into our direction, but misses me by an inch and is now fixed into the wall. Just then, a hand appears in front of Saints face, also carrying a knife, but Saint dodges the attack and slams our attacker's hand to the wall, causing the person to drop the knife.

The attacker's other hand fidgets around the pockets of his or her pants, but Saint is quick to slam that hand, too, against the wall. Saint then brings his head to the attacker's nose and his knee to the attacker's stomach. The person cries out in pain as Saint uses his arm to pin the person, by the neck, against the wall.

The attacker's cry must have drawn attention, because two more figures appear in front of us, but Saint's teammates are quick to move, and I shut my eyes when I see them raise their guns. Saint's teammates didn't hesitate, and I see the two bodies fall to the ground when I open my eyes.

"How'd you know?" Saint asks our first attacker, and I think he's asking how he knew they weren't Purus guards.

"That's Jean's outfit and Jean isn't that short," the attacker says and looks towards a blue mark on Saint's outfit. I think the attacker regrets telling us this, but it's too late now.

"What do we do?" Saint looks at me as he asks this, but I know what everyone is thinking.

"Can't one of you stay with him until we leave?" I ask, but everyone shakes their head.

"Go ahead, Boss, so the girl doesn't see this." I'm about to speak, but Saint takes my arm and pulls me forward.

"What did you think would happen, Mathea?" He sounds angry, so I don't bother replying. I hear a shot and when I look behind me, Saint's teammate we left behind is following closely behind us. "Move faster. We're almost there."

We now all run, nearly bumping into each other as we take the second left. However, I stop moving when I turn to the left of me and see a young girl strapped to a chair in one of the offices. She looks extremely scared as she stares back at me. I can't hear her voice but she is clearly asking for my help.

"Mathea, we need to leave. She'll be alright."

I ignore Saint and barge into the room with the little girl. Some gas has entered the room and I think it could be hurting her, so the least I can do is get her out of this room.

I want to take her with us, but I don't think anyone here will allow that. I don't even know what I'd do once we take her away. I don't even know if she wants to leave this place. She could be one of the children who willingly came here to get their gifts taken away. I just wonder who left her here.

My curiosity is answered when a skinny man throws some liquid at me. He's dressed like the other Purus doctors and looks more scared than the little girl. I don't think what he threw at me is anything dangerous seeing as nothing bad has happened to me, but I should probably get a check-up later. I think he just threw the first thing he saw.

The Purus doctor then picks up a chair, but Saint knocks it right out of his hand before shaking his head at me.

"Hurry up." Saint doesn't look at me when he speaks. He focuses on the Purus doctor who doesn't make any movements. The lack of motion probably has to do with the gun Saint now points at him.

I begin unstrapping the girl from the chair, but when I'm about take her hand, she pushes past me and hurries out of the door.

"Someone get the girl," Saint sounds irritated as he addresses his teammates who stood by as the little girl ran out of the door. Both of them start running after her, but I don't think it will require much effort to catch up to her.

When I turn to Saint, I start to panic when I see a chair slam into his body and his gun fly across the office. The Purus doctor looks more confident than before as he runs to pick up the gun Saint just dropped.

I then tackle the Purus doctor by the feet and groan as we both fall to the floor. He starts kicking me in the face, but I keep a tight grip on his pants. I watch as he stretches for the gun not too far from him, but Saint has already stood up and he kicks the gun further away from the doctor.

The doctor then reaches into his pocket and stabs Saint's foot with some injection. Although I know we are already making too much noise, I can't help but scream as I see the needle sticking out of Saint's foot.

Saint immediately pulls it out and lifts the doctor up from the floor so the two men face each other. I think Saint would like to punch the lights out of this doctor, but the doctor pulls out another injection from his pocket and jabs it into Saint's hand. Saint groans as he pulls it out.

I can only hope whatever is going into him isn't anything dangerous, and I hope there won't be much trouble from the way the doctor is just sticking these needles into Saint and from the way Saint is just yanking them out.

I quickly stand up and look around for anything that can help our situation. On a different occasion, Saint could probably beat up this doctor, but I think whatever was injected into Saint is now making him dizzy. Saint stumbles forward as the doctor moves past him to reach for the gun.

However, right before the doctor can bend down to fetch it, I grab a glass bottle placed on a nearby desk and slam it into the doctor's head. The doctor then screams out his pain as he touches his head which is now turning pink. He then looks to his hand and it already looks like the skin on them is peeling off. I don't know what I just threw at him, but I'll have to apologize later.

I don't think he'll even give me time to say sorry, because he runs towards me as if he is ready to beat the life out of me. I immediately pick up the closest bottles I can find and begin throwing them at the doctor. He starts to scream louder which causes me to scream even louder, and his cries of pain only end when he drops to the floor a few feet away from me.

I hope he isn't dead, but I really don't want to check if he is right now. That would just make everything more real. I pray he isn't dad. He can't be. Someone should come and find him soon. That also means that the rest of us get out of here. I look to the door, but none of Saint's teammates have come back.

I then turn to face Saint, and I see him leaning against a wall and shaking his head. I slowly walk up to him, but I'm not too sure if he can see me.

"Saint, are you okay?" He nods his head, but I can't tell if he's actually processing anything I am saying. "Saint?"

He then pushes himself off of the wall and reaches for his gun, placing it back into the holster before he walks past me and through the door.

"We need to leave, Mathea."

I don't argue with him, because not only is there no time to check on Saint's condition right now, I don't even know how to make sure that's he's alright. I think I just need to get him out of here.

I walk a little faster than usual so I can catch up to him, and he doesn't try to stop me once I wrap one of his arms over my shoulder to support him as we walk down the hall. I only remember his teammates once we turn right.

"Your teammates never came back."

"They'll be okay," Saint says. He sounds tired, and I hope that's all there is to it.

"Why'd they go after the girl anyway?"

Saint ignores my question, and I won't bother him about that now. I'm worried about his condition, but I'm sure it will all be okay when we leave this bunker. Well, I just have to hope that we don't bump into any other trouble along the way. I guess we didn't really bump into trouble before, I happened to walk right into it. I don't think I'll try to help anyone else here.

By the time we near the next corner, Saint looks more alive. I don't think any drug would have effects that last for such a short time, so I begin to think that he is just acting strong. It doesn't seem like he's acting though. He really does look fine, and after a while, he even removes his arm from my shoulder to walk on his own.

We both stop in our tracks and lean against the wall as we hear voices around us. It's takes a couple minutes for the voices to fade away, but when they do, Saint and I continue towards the exit. We take the last left, and our final turn we need to take to reach the exit is not too far from us. Only a few more steps and I can finally leave this place. I can definitely say that I will not miss it.

I start running faster as I see the ladder than will lead us to the exit and I even run ahead of Saint. I feel his hand brush across mine as I zoom past him, but I doubt he wants to make noise by calling out my name. 

As suspected, there are no guards here. The experiment Eve tampered with is close to this exit so they wouldn't keep anyone close here. The Purus staff members are afraid the gas may be really harmful if anyone is around it too long even with masks and gloves on. Their clothing isn't perfected for the kind of situation they think they're in.

I look to the wall and see the keypad on it. I begin entering the code, but I stop after I put in the first digit and begin to panic as I look around me. There's gas around me and my body hurts. I then look back to the keypad and enter the remaining digits, but an error sign is displayed on the screen.

I can't remember. I think I can't remember. Then there's a tap on my shoulder and the person rubs my shoulder. I quickly turn away and take my second shot at this code. I need to get away from this place.

My second attempt works and the door above my head lifts open. I then pull the ladder towards the exit and begin climbing up. As I reach the top, a hand reaches out to me. Instead of taking the person's hand, I reach for the gun in the holster then take this opportunity to kick the head of the person who was following me. I need to get away from all of this; whatever this is.

I can hear a voice grunt from below, but I don't look down to see the damage I did. I start running, but I begin to panic when I take in my surroundings; there are so many trees. There are so many large trees and bugs crawling everywhere.

I almost stop running but I hear someone calling my name from behind me, frightening me. This causes me to run even faster, but I'm not sure how much longer I can do this for. I've never been the fittest person and I can feel my lungs giving in. I don't even know where I'm going.

I continue running through the dirt as I hear someone following me, and when I look behind me for a second, I miss my step and end up falling into the soil. As I scramble for my stolen weapon, the figure catches up to me, but is no longer wearing a mask. It's a pale man. If I didn't have this gun, I'd be done for. I pull off my mask as I stand up. That thing was suffocating me.

"It's me, Mathea. It's Saint. I'm going to take you to Willow, okay?" I only start wondering where my sister is, but I know I haven't seen her in a while.

I need to find her, so I turn away from this man and continue running forward. I think I hear Willow's voice, but it's faint. Either way, this is the best option I have right now.

I continue to run forward and I must be running faster, because I no longer see that man behind me. When I near the location I believe I heard the voices from. I see multiple figures standing not too far from me. They're all wearing masks, so I can't really tell if Willow is one of them.

I now slow down as I get closer to the people standing ahead of me, and I raise my gun when I do so. I don't know these people, so it only makes sense that I am careful. One of the figures notices me, and I freeze in my spot, aiming my gun at the person.

I notice the person has weapons but doesn't make any movement to aim them at me. Everyone, excluding one girl who just pulled off her mask, stares at me.

The girl's eyes suddenly meet mine, and I'm sure I know her. I know Willow, but I don't know the rest of them. That's when the gun goes off. I then shut my eyes as I let the weapon fall out of my hands. I don't think I pulled the trigger, but I must have.