chapter 9

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Chapter 9:

We moved to opposite sides of the pipe, just as Kyle and Dale joined us. Although this duct wasn't as well fortified as the ones in the main Compound, it was still bolted from the inside. Even better for us. Ian and I withdrew our homemade tools. I mentally ran over the plan in my head. We were too close now, talking would be risky. When Ian and I shoved the vent outwards, Dale and Kyle would leap to the ground and disable the camera, while Ian and I took out the guard. If all went well, which it usually didn't, they wouldn't even know we were here.

Unscrewing my second bolt, I turned to face Ian. He gave his wrench one last twist, then nodded at me. I held up three fingers, then mouthed the numbers as I lowered them. On “go” we shoved the grate outwards, letting it clatter to the floor. Kyle and Dale didn't miss a beat. In sync, they leaped to the floor and, ignoring the guard, raced towards the hidden security camera. Although I would have loved to watch my friends work, we also had a job to do. The two of us also jumped to the ground. The guard seemed torn between which group to pursue. He decided on neither. Instead, he reached for the communicator he kept in his pocket.

The panic button, we couldn't let him press it. With a burst of speed, I slid across the tiled floor, like baseball player going for a home run. I was fast, but he managed to jump to the side. Unable to completely stop my slide, I reached out, grabbing a hold of his pants leg. Although I managed to pull him to his knees, he already had the device in his hand. Meeting my eyes, Ian took a flying leap, his foot aiming for the man's face. The man caught his leg, Ian knew he would. All the guards were trained to fight.

Seizing my opportunity, I went for the arm holding the cellphone-looking-thing. I grasped his wrist, but his finger still hovered over the button. Ian grunted, as he fought to hold back the man's other arm. Knowing that I was running out of options, I lunged at his thumb, with my teeth.

Bitch!” he swore, as I broke skin.

The pain I'd inflicted had caused his entire hand to loosen, allowing me to wrestle the device free. Unclenching my jaw, I scooted away on my butt. The man raised his bleeding finger to his mouth, and Ian raised his leg; kicking the man's skull and sending him into unconscious. Ian raised an eyebrow and I shrugged. My mouth was filled with the coppery taste of blood, and I spat, trying to rid myself of it.

Nice job,” Kyle said, striding across the room towards us.

Did you guys get the camera?” I asked.

Yup.” Dale nodded. “But I don't know if it was in time. They might have caught of glimpse of us. Either way, they're bound to get suspicious. We've got to hurry.”

Spitting again, I jumped to my feet. He was right. As Ian and Dale went to put the grate back in its place,I began to look around. I knew not to touch any of the glittering computer keys and buttons. It would set off an alarm. We'd learned that last time, the hard way. Kyle was already standing near the door, and I followed him. It locked from the inside, so we could easily get out. It's not like I had a map of the Compound but, from what I knew, the white room should be somewhere around here. They'd be debriefing in there, I was almost sure of it.

You ready?” I asked, turning back to the other two.

Hmm.” Ian stood on his tiptoes and gave the grate a final push. “Yup!”

He and Dale raced up behind us, and Kyle pushed open the door. Quickly, we all flattened to the walls. I was the first to tilt my head, peaking out into the hallway. Just as we'd feared, a camera swung back and forth, on the ceiling. Ian looked at me, he'd seen what I'd seen.

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