Here We Go

Here We Go Part 9

[Back in Wesley's Car, 2:30 pm]

Wes propped the door to Syntec Site 3 open. He, Deb, and Bailey rushed to the vault door. It was shut.

Wes: Damn it!

Deb: Hold on. There's still hope. We're the first to get here, no one else has. They still could be in there, Wes.

Wes gave her a look of, "are you sure?"

[In the vault, 2:19 pm]

Sam: Okay, Matt take yours. Please!

Matt: I don't have it.

Woods & Sam: What?!

Matt sat down on the floor with them, near the door.

Matt: I don't have the antidote.

Matt rubbed his 863 ring.

Sam: But...I--that doesn't make sense! I would think Deb would've made enough just for a situation like this!

Matt: She made four.

Woods: She used one on me.

Sam: Leaving none for Matt?! No, no, no! This can't be happening!

Sam placed her head in her hands.

Matt just sat there, staring at his hands.

Woods noticed. And swallowed. Matt had black veins starting to pop up on his hands and slowly moving up his arms.

Woods: Sam. I think it'd be best if we lay off Matt, at least till someone gets here.

Sam: Why?

Woods glanced at Matt's hands. Sam did the same and gasped when she saw.

Matt was no longer looking at his hands or arms. Or Sam & Woods. He was staring at the floor. The black veins were already up to his elbows.

Woods had pulled out his phone and cursed under his breath.

Woods: Of all places to not have service!

Matt looked up.

Matt: It's fine, Woods. I'll be fine. For a little while longer.

Woods and Sam shared a worried look.

But they sat in silence, all praying that Matt would make it until someone came.

[Outside the vault, 2:32 pm]

Wes finally managed to unlock the door. They could hear voices inside. He opened the door and found Sam, Woods, Quinn, and Matt. All sitting on the floor. But Matt didn't even look up. Deb pushed past Wes. She pulled the antidote out. She knelt next to Matt. Matt looked up. Deb tried to not gasp. His face... black veins were popping out all over it, and his eyes had black circles under them. And he was getting paler by the second. Deb opened the antidote when--

[BANG!]

Phantom 591 had gotten the alert that the trap went off. Syntec Location 3. The trap for Deb. There was no way she had fallen into that. It had been there too long for her to fall into it. Had to be her pets, Project 863, or a bunch of morons. 591 didn't care. Nor was he going to tell Nelson. Not yet. He wanted to make sure there was something there worth it. He gently touched his neck. After Nelson had grabbed it, he was still tender. Even several weeks later.

He stormed into the Site, finding a group of people well worth his time. Project 863, a girl from their studio, Deborah, and Wesley Nathanial. He knew they couldn't see his smile under the mask he wore, now bearing menacing green lights, but he didn't care. They were frozen under his gaze. Even Subject 1, Matthias, who was white as a sheet of paper with black veins covering his body. Deb was kneeling close, antidote open. With one swift motion, he held the antidote, instead of her.

Sam: NO!! Please!

Woods stood in front of her.

Woods: Sam, don't.

Deb stood. Wesley's eyes narrowed.

Wes: 591, give us the antidote. I will go to Nelson, willingly.

Deb: As will I.

591 smirked.

591: Sorry, but Nelson wants all those who've made trouble for him. Not just his co-workers.

He turned to Deb.

591: Your little 'Project' will be coming too.

Matt suddenly gasped in pain. Deb whirled around. Matt had closed his eyes, fists curled in pain.

Deb turned back to 591. Her voice was ice cold.

Deb: We'll all go, as long as you let Matt have the antidote.

591 smiled and went over to Matt. He knelt dn front of him. Matt looked up at him, eyes filled with hate. 591 dumped the antidote out, right in front of Matt.

Deb tried to lunge at 591, but Wes held her back.

Deb: No! You (BLEEEEEEP)!

She, Sam, and Bailey began to cry. Woods had no way to attack 591, not without hurting Matt. No one, save 591, could do anything.

591: Guess your time is up, isn't it?

Matt, grimacing through the pain: Not yet. [Echoes]