Asia swallowed hard as her foot struck the landing. She quickly pushed the door open with a silent huff. The wisp of air blew back the curly tendrils hanging around her face.

This was it. Asia could feel it in the stillness of the white hallway. Each footstep she took was slow and packed brimming with apprehension. She inhaled deeply; tightening her hand around the pistol with a fretful finger near the trigger.

She followed behind Shaka as he took easy steps. His calm disposition should've relaxed the worry that swelled in her core but...it didn't. Something in the back of her mind threw up warning signs blazing brighter than the Las Vegas Strip.

The hallway was empty but right ahead a bright light shone as she neared the horizontal corridor. Asia stood at the end of the hallway not yet prepared to journey down a new hall. Her pulse rushed ferociously as she pondered on all the dangers that could lie ahead but she had to follow the scent that lingered in the air.

A weak trail of lilac meandered in the lightened hall. It was the same flowery aroma she breathed in three years ago.

Past

https://youtu.be/Mfn5y9tCa2g

Rayford University's quad was packed with students. Some lined up at tables adorned with banners eager to enlist the new freshman class in their club while some students socialized with new roommates while nodding to the music blaring over the speakers.

It was Freshman Welcome Day and Asia was a little nervous. She could count on her hand the number of times she'd been in a new place without her crew. Better yet she didn't need to use her fingers at all because the answer was none. However, today ended that streak.

The boys were at their dorm learning the rules they had to follow and the things they couldn't do. The girls had freshman orientation and intro to college living last night, hence she was standing in the middle of a swarm wondering which table if any was she going to. The Black Student Organization looked interesting and so did the Future Leaders of America.

"Are you wondering the same thing I am?" Came a voice she recognized from last night.

Asia settled her quizzical eyes on the girl sidled next to her. "I don't know?" Asia readjusted the tote bag strap on her shoulder. "What are you wondering?"

"Where are the sororities?" The chocolate-hued box braid beauty asked reading the colorful banners. She planted her orbs back on Asia. "I thought all universities had a Greek system."

"Don't know." Asia shrugged. "Don't care."

The girl gave Asia a lopsided smile, "Not a group person?" Her smile grew a little bigger.

"Not really." Asia watched a guy with dreadlocks hold a handstand for a minute for a free t-shirt. "What about you."

"Uh..." She wrinkled her forehead. "Not at all."

"So, why are you looking for a sorority to join?"

She shrugged with a jovial laugh. "I just thought it would be fun to have girlfriends for a change." She held out her hand. "I'm Leslee by the way."

Asia took her hand and shook it firmly, "Asia...Asia Knight."

Leslee's smile took over her face as the crowd cheered for the guy that earned the t-shirt. "I think we're going to be good friends, Asia Knight."

Present

Asia stalked down the lightened hallway. Nothing but crisp white walls stood at her sides. Her palms grew sweaty as her heartbeat raced. Shaka's steady gait abruptly shifted to a run. Asia quickened her stride to keep up with the wolf's fast-moving feet.

Perspiration that bloomed from her pores out of fear of the unknown poured down her face because of the chase. A couple of feet ahead, Shaka stopped and sat down. Asia scrapped the little energy her hungry body had to reach the animal. Her generic gray sneakers skidded as she came to a sudden stop.

A massive window gave few to something Asia hadn't seen in a long time, not since she went off to college.

"Oh, God." She whispered to herself. Her eyes widened a little at the sight of the white, sterile room. Rows and rows of babies lay nestled in small clear cribs. A pang took hold of her heart because she knew twenty-one years ago she was one of those babies.

"You can't be up here!" The voice she heard three years ago declared. "You shouldn't be here at all."

Asia whipped her head away from the window and toward the person at the end of the hall.

"Leslee." She harked slackening her grip on the gun. Asia used the energy remaining in her tank to run to Leslee. She threw her arms around her friends' neck as Leslee clung tightly to her. "I knew you weren't dead. I knew it." Asia couldn't stop her voice from cracking. "I felt it."

"How?" Leslee asked pulling out of her embrace. "I'm not..." Her eyes cast down as she tried to verbalize all the information she learned since being captured and returned to campus. "I'm five months older. We're not in the same progeny."

"Friendship still has its perks." Asia answered. 

Leslee nodded peering into Asia's watery eyes. "You need to go."

"No." Asia shook her head. "We need to go."

Leslee rubbed her neck taking a couple of steps back. She looked down the hallway behind Asia, "You and what army."

"Well..." Asia wiped the tears from her eye. "I only have Shaka and a gun." She held up the firearm. "I think we can make it work."

"Shit!" Leslee roughly rubbed her face. "You shouldn't be here." She repeated dropping her hands from her face. "They'll make you a surrogate." Her hand traveled to her abdomen covered by a blinding white dress.

Asia's face contorted with concern, "Are you—"

Leslee cut her off, "I don't know yet."

Asia grabbed Leslee's hand and tugged her down the hall she traveled, "Let's go."

Leslee pulled back, "We can't go that way." She breathed out a nervous breath. "Follow me."

How will Leslee and Asia escape the top floor? Is Leslee pregnant?