10.







"It won't take long before they realize something is wrong and put this facility into lockdown. I will start pulling this back up in fifteen minutes make sure you're back by then." Doc instructed.

I scowled as the Catcher grabbed my bicep and forced me onto the small lift, he swiftly got in behind me and pulled the doors shut.

I felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. The creaking sound of the pulleys working as the lift started to move downwards.

My back was currently plastered to the Catcher's suited front. The surface of his metallic suit was surprisingly warm. It helped soothe my nerves a little bit.

The lift suddenly lurched to a stop making me stagger forward. Zee was already waiting for us. She opened the metal doors and we stepped outside.

"We've made it into the store room." Zee spoke solemnly, "From what I can hear from behind the door it seems like they're keeping some of the kids hostage here."

Exactly like my dream.

A shudder ran down my spine. "So what's the plan?" I found myself asking.

Zee's voice hardened. "The two of us will attack them hard and fast." She motioned towards him and the man currently hovering behind me.

"What about me?" I questioned.

"You will stay here." She said matter-of-factly.

"I can help. I insisted

"We don't trust you." The Catcher spat out, he moved from behind me and came forward so he was right in front of me.

Zee turned her head towards him and shook her head disapprovingly. If I could see her expression through her helmet, I was sure I would've found her shooting him a dirty look. Her voice was apologetic when she spoke to me, "It's too dangerous. You have nothing to defend yourself with."

I started to argue but stopped myself. There was no point wasting my energy lying to these people.

"Okay, I'll stay here then." I lied instead.

Zee nodded. She took out what looked like a belt from her bag pack and latched it around her waist. I noticed that multiple circular objects were attached to the belt.

"I have a total of five smoke bombs." She spoke to the Catcher. "They should give us around fifteen minutes."

The Catcher grunted in agreement. "We will need to be fast. They will start shooting blindly once they realize what's happening. We have to make sure that none of the children are hurt."

Zee gave him a thumbs-up before she made her way to the door.

I held my breath as I saw her slowly turn the handle. She opened the door with only a crack and rolled two of the smoke bombs outside before shutting it again. "We'll wait a couple of seconds so there's enough smoke to mask us, get ready."

I could hear the surprised shouts and commotion starting outside. The room we were in was already starting to fill with smoke coming in from beneath the door.

My heart was racing wildly in my chest. My hands curled into fists in anticipation.

"In case you get any bright ideas." I heard the Catcher whisper from beside me right before I felt a cool band of metal press against my wrist followed by a clicking sound.

What the-

I tried to pull my hand away but it was too late. That asshole had handcuffed me to the door of the lift we'd come up in.

"If we're not back in fifteen minutes get back into the lift when Doc starts pulling it back up." He instructed.

"Now!" Zee shouted just as I started to protest.

Without giving me a second glance the Catcher jogged towards Zee just as she flung the door open and they both disappeared into the thick cloud of smoke.

There were suddenly sounds of screams and startled shouts followed by the sound of gunfire.

"It's the Catchers! They're here!" Someone shouted. "Quick bring out the magnet rifle!"

Then suddenly amid the sound of raining bullets, there was a loud 'BOOM' almost like an explosion.

"Fuck!" Zee cried out, her voice laced with pain. "Be careful! They have a weapon that can cut through the armor!"

BOOM!

I heard the sound again.

This time it was the Catcher's pained groan that reached my ears.

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins.

I needed to help them.

I pulled against the cuffs uselessly.

Then suddenly my eyes locked on the silhouette of Zee's bag which she'd left in the room. It was difficult to see through all the smoke but it was definitely there.

The torch Zee had used to cut through the fence was still in there!

I stretched my leg as far as I could, hoping to hook my foot into one of the straps so I could pull it towards me but it was too far away.

I crouched down as far as my restrained arm would allow me and stretched my body out towards the bag. This time the tip of my foot thankfully touched one of the straps. After a couple of minutes of concentrating and straining, I managed to pull the bag towards me.

I shuffled through the contents of the bag and let out a relieved breath when I found the torch. I also found a small dagger which I placed in my pocket for later.

The torch had a single switch at the center of its handle which I assumed turned it on. I held my breath as I flicked the switch with my thumb and as soon as I did what seemed to be a bright blue colored flame came to life at its nozzle.

I recalled how Zee had used the torch to cut through the fence before. With shaking fingers, I brought the torch up to the part of the handcuff attached to the door of the lift. I watched in awe as the metal cuff melted like butter under the flame of the torch in a matter of seconds.

How did these people have this kind of technology?

I didn't really have any time to sit and think about that though so I quickly got to my feet and sprinted to the door.

It was complete chaos as soon as I stepped outside. The smoke was clearing so I could partially see what was happening around me. People were screaming, kids crying out in fear, and guns were firing.

Someone grabbed me. Their punishing hands clamped over my shoulders and spun me around to face them.

I came face to face with the catcher's armored form. I could see my face reflecting at me on his visor.

"What are you doing here?" He demanded.

I was about to answer but my eyes widened when I saw a man aiming his gun at him from over his shoulder.

He must have read my face because, in the blink of an eye, he spun around swiftly completely blocking me from view. I noticed the handles of his two blades jutting out diagonally from the back of his suit. His hand reached back as he unsheathed one of them.

One second he'd been standing over me the next he was in front of the man shoving his blade into his chest. I was awestruck by the agility of his movements.

He turned to me again, "You need to get out of here. Now!" He commanded.

"I can help!" I insisted.

"You-" He started to argue but he was cut off.

BOOM!

It was the sound I'd heard earlier only it was extremely close this time.

The Catcher staggered to the side. He'd been hit!

A red-haired woman seemed to be operating a shot gut of some kind. Only whatever was shooting out of it seemed to be able to cut through the armor the Catcher had on, unlike the other guns which had been completely useless against their suits.

I gasped in horror when I saw that the metal on the right side of his chest had been completely blown off. I could see the deep gash on his skin oozing blood.

The woman positioned her gun to fire again. This time she was aiming for his head.

Without even thinking I grabbed the dagger I'd taken out of Zee's bag earlier and flung it in her direction. I held my breath as the dagger spun through the air and then finally embedded into the side of the woman's neck.

She dropped her weapon as her hands went around to cup her throat. I took a shaky breath and watched her drop to the ground as blood started to bubble out of her lips.

I fought the sudden wave of dizziness.

I needed to focus.

"We need to leave now!" Zee came rushing towards us. The Catcher was already on his feet his hand clutching his side.

"Most of them have been terminated and the ones remaining are making a run for it." The Catcher grunted. "We don't have enough time to hunt them all but their operation here has failed.so we can leave"

Zee nodded, "The kids are safe for now. That's what matters right now. Let's get out of here."

My eyes suddenly locked on the door at the opposite end of the basement. My mind drifted back to my dream from earlier. There had been a boy who had been taken to that room by these people.

The boy I hadn't been able to save in my dream.

As if my legs had a mind of their own, I sprinted towards the door. I could hear the footsteps of the Catcher and Zee running behind me trying to stop me.

I tried to fling the door open only to scream in frustration when I found it locked. I felt an arm wrap around my waist as I was suddenly yanked back against a smooth metal torso.

"Trying to escape already?" The Catcher whispered coldly in my ear.

"We need to get inside please!" I begged. "You guys need to trust me. In my dream there was a kid-"

I stopped talking and took a deep breath. I turned to look at both of them briefly.

"Please," I spoke firmly. "You need to trust me. There might be a child inside who is in danger." I titled my head back to look at the Catcher's helmet-clad head. I couldn't see his face but I knew he could see me perfectly.

I brought my fingers up and pressed them against the collar around my neck. "The second you get even a hint I'm trying to betray you please press the button and end my life but right now we have to get into this room, " I told him seriously.

I held my breath. For a moment neither of them moved. Then suddenly the Catcher's arm disappeared from around my waist. Zee gave me a nod of approval.

I took the torch that was still clutched in my hand and used it to burn through the door. Once the hole was big enough I reached in and unlatched the lock from inside.

The room was dark when we stepped inside. I could just make out the outline of the surgical table. Zee flicked the lights on and I squinted as my eyes protested against the sudden brightness.

My breath stuttered in my chest when my eyes landed on the boy lying motionless on the surgical table. My heart seemed to drop to the pit of my stomach.

I'm too late!

I rushed to the table. I almost sobbed in relief when I saw the steady rise and fall of his chest. I gently shook his shoulder, and his eyes fluttered open.

My lips split into a smile.

"He's alive," I said out loud.

"Are you okay?" I asked him breathlessly. His eyes were fixed on my face now. He stared at me blankly probably still in shock.

"It's okay," I told him gently. "You're safe."

He just tilted his head to the side and continued to stare at me.

"Fuck!" Zee screamed.

"Evangeline get away from him!" The Catcher shouted as he reached for me but it was too late.

The boy's hand moved towards me, quick as lightning.

And then there was pain. Blinding pain.

My chest was suddenly on fire. Warm liquid was soaking the front of my shirt.

My movements were sluggish as I tilted my head down to look at the handle of the knife jutting out of my chest.

I tried to speak but no words seemed to come out of my mouth.

Everything around me was spinning.

I couldn't breathe. I was too tired.

Everything around me faded into nothingness.

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