The feeling of descending underground was strong, even though there were no visual cues to let them know they had passed beneath the surface of the ground. The walls were made of concrete, with no windows, yet Bo still felt the slight change in pressure, and the smell of damp permeated everything just a few steps away from the door.

They couldn't find any switches for the bare bulbs that swung from the ceiling, so they walked down in the light that came through the door. When they reached the bottom, and entered the rooms beneath the building, Adam turned on the flashlight that was attached to his gun. He brought his rifle to his shoulder, pointing it around the room to move the flashlight beam and examine their surroundings.

At first, they only saw large wooden boxes shoved against the walls. Bo peered into their empty interiors as they passed. The flashlight beam passed too quickly for her to really examine them, but she saw they were almost as tall as Adam, and looked deep and wide enough to fit two or more people across. Briefly visible in the quick beams of light were scratches on the interior walls, and the smears of filth and blood splattered on the wood. Bo came to the delayed realization that they were signs of captivity and attempted escapes. She swallowed hard and looked away from the boxes as she imagined the horrors for which they were used.

They quickly moved on from the boxes and further into the room. Here was what they had come to find. Chain-link fences creating cages filled the room with their metallic scent. Bo pushed a hand against her nose as another scent hung heavy and putrid in the air. It took all she had not to vomit, and her eyes watered from the stench of it.

As they approached the cages, it looked, at first, as if they were filled with just rags laying scattered on the concrete floor. But as Adam came closer, shining his light into the nearest cage, the rags began to stir. Eyes and frightened faces appeared from behind lank hair and thin arms as wretchedly thin humans awoke from their slumber. Each cage was filled with girls and women, all of varying ages and appearances. Nothing united them except for the fact that they were obviously starving and covered in wounds and filth.

Bo froze, her blood rushing into her face in waves as she clutched her gun tight enough to turn her knuckles white. She had never seen such deplorable conditions before. The girls and women didn't even show any emotion as the light shone over them. They simply shielded their eyes from the blinding light and started to shuffle toward the back of the cages. This must have been the routine when the Judge wanted a new girl. Bo cursed outloud and turned to Adam.

"Let's get them out of here," she said, slinging her gun over her shoulder so that she could free her hands.

Since they had no keys, it would be difficult to get them out of the cage without risking shooting the locks off. If they had time, Bo might have found materials to pick the locks. But, unfortunately, with every passing second Bo felt the urgency to get back to the airship and away from this cursed place. They couldn't afford time to get the locks off in any other way but with a gun.

Bo pushed Adam's rifle down, so that the light spilled on the floor and the women inside the cages weren't blinded. Then she stepped forward, pressing against the chain-links of the nearest cage.

"We're here to get you all out," she said, seeing the women wince as the sound of even her voice overwhelmed them. They must have been kept in the isolated, silent darkness for a very long time for this to happen. Bo wanted to rip the Judge's head straight off, but she knew that it would be a suicide mission with the militia here to help protect the compound.

Instead, she moved to position the lock. As she worked, she glanced up at the women. "Stand to one side, and as far from the door as you can. The bullet might bounce off the metal."

Once she was sure the women were out of the way, Bo retreated to a distance where she could aim her rifle at the lock. It took her three shots for her bullets to make it all the way through the lock. Once the smoke settled, she kicked what remained of the lock off the door to the cage, and let it swing open as she ran to start on another. They didn't have much time to spend down here, as the Forlorn could only keep the militia and the Judge's men distracted for so long.

Adam and Khan moved to help with the other cages, but it still felt like an eternity before all the doors were open. It took almost as long to herd all the bleary eyed women and girls out of the cages and into the open room. They were slow, weak, and hesitant to get near the guns that lay slung over Bo, Adam, and Khan's shoulders. No one even attempted eye contact, and Bo gritted her teeth as she reminded herself once again that the objective was only to free the women and get out.

Adam stepped to her side, leaning in close to whisper to her while Khan tried to coax out the last handful of women in the cells.

"I'm not sure they'll all make it to the airship," he said, readjusting his gun sling and glancing at the women who swayed even just standing still.

"We still have to try," Bo replied. "It's too cruel to just leave them here."

Khan approached, his eyes stormy. "It's pure evil," he muttered.

"Which is why we're going to put the odds out of our minds right now, and just assume that we are going to get all of them on the airship," Bo said.

Adam nodded. "I'll take up the rear. Khan, you lead. Bo, you stay on the right—"

Before Adam could finish his sentence, the door at the top of the stairs slammed against the wall. The sound of boots echoed down the stairs, and then three men in militia uniform appeared. They paused in shock at the sight of all the women standing in front of them, and then their eyes roved to where Adam, Khan, and Bo were whipping their guns up.

The militia shot first, thankfully aiming for the three Forlorn and not any of the women. Bo launched behind one of the wooden boxes to try and draw the fire away from the now scattering women. She just barely heard one of the militia shout into his radio their location, but soon afterward she saw him fall as Khan's shot ran true. Adam and Bo managed to hit the other two men, and they fell down the rest of the stairs. Bo ran forward to grip their radio, hoping that the transmission hadn't gone through.

"How many are there, Blue Six? Repeat, how many are there?" a voice asked, but Bo merely dropped the radio and shot it.

"They'll send in reinforcements," Khan said. "The Judge will want his 'prizes' protected."

"Then we need to get out of here fast," Adam said.

Bo turned to the women, who shook in terror. A few clutched wounds from the gunfire, and Bo only hoped none were too serious.

"Everyone! We need to run now, before the Judge and his men can reach us. If you want to be free, dig deep and find strength," Bo said.

"Follow us!" Khan shouted, and then lead the way up the stairs. Miraculously, the women followed, their steps fast even though they barely had the strength to move.

Bo waited until around the middle of the crowd, and then followed them up into the building above. It was still mostly empty, though Khan shot down a pair of militia men that had been set up at the front door as guards. It wasn't until they were outside, that the real chaos hit them again.

Gun fire still filled the compound's yard, and it was now joined by the sound of explosions. Bo had no idea if the Forlorn or the Judge's men had the grenades, but she didn't care much at this moment. They needed to concentrate on getting across the battlefield as fast as they could.

Acrid smoke stung their eyes as they started the run for the ship. It was harrowing. The field between them and the airship was filled with bodies. They stumbled on stiffened arms and torsos, and kicked heads as they tried to reach the airship. Bo watched as the women fell around her as the militia turned their guns on the escaping prey. Silver did his best to cover them with the airship guns, but it was already too late for a good handful.

Thankfully, the airship loomed close. Only a few steps more. The heat of fires blazed across her cheeks as they dove into the shelter of the airship's shadow, and the hatch slowly opened. The women spilled into the interior, where a few Forlorn ushered them further in to make room for the other women that were now running from other buildings under the escort of the rest of the Forlorn. Bo turned, helping in those who needed it, and saw Adam struggling to carry two women who had been shot.

Bo made a move to help him, but before she could get more than a step, she heard a cry from somewhere above. Her eyes whipped up to the second floor of the building nearest the airship to see a frantic face peering out a window. It was a girl with dark and curly hair and panicked eyes that reflected the fire below. She was staring down straight at the Forlorn, screaming and waving her hands. Though Bo could not pick out her words, she knew she was begging for help.

A deep regret weighed on Bo as she watched the girl shouting, because Bo knew it would be impossible to run back into the building and retrieve her without massive casualties. The second floor would be heavily guarded, and the Forlorn were already letting the militia regain their ground as they retreated to the airship.

Tears pricked Bo's eyes as she weighed the decision. It would be impossible to save her, yet the thought of leaving her behind in this hellhole was worse than a death sentence. She glanced at Adam for help, but he was too busy dragging the women he carried across the field and toward the airship.

Bo turned back once again, but just as her gaze fell on the girl she saw a pair of hands wrap around the curly hair and yank the girl back from the window. Bo's mouth fell open in horror, and she took a step forward. Who knew what would happen to the girl now. Whoever it was that had grabbed her would not be friendly, that was for certain.

Bo hissed out her breath, glancing from the Forlorn retreating, and the open window where the girl's cries no longer rang out from....

In the end, she didn't have the make the decision.

A blur passed her as she stood frozen on the ramp, and then she saw Khan's back racing into the fray. He was heading for the door of the building, shooting wildly as he ran. He'd die fast going in there alone. The militia were already pouring from every possible direction. Bo gripped her gun, and knew that she couldn't let him do the right thing alone.

She launched off the ramp and dove through the crowds, pressing herself to catch up with Khan. She slammed through the door just as he was bounding up the stairs, and she sent up one frantic prayer that even if she and Khan died in this building, Adam and the rest would not stick around for any sort of justice. She only prayed they would leave and live to see another day, regardless if she or Khan would.

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A/N: Thanks for being so patient with my weird updating times, everyone! My life has been so crazy and busy recently, but I'm trying to keep the updates coming for you! So thank you for the support and understanding! :)