PAW Patrol: Lockdown

Chapter 14- Into Darkness

It would be a nightmare for anyone to suddenly become enclosed in a dark, humid corridor that was only two feet tall. With little to no breathing room, crawling in the vents was a claustrophobe's personal hell.

"It's moments like this I wish I was a cat." Marshall whispered, slowly creeping along.

"What, why?" Zuma asked from behind, "the Kitten Catastrophe Crew gives us enough trouble as is."

"Yeah, but at least I'd be able to see in the dark!" the Dalmatian grumbled.

Chase gently barked from the back of the line. "How's it going up there, Rocky?"

"I can't see two feet in front of me," the mix said, breathing loudly as he tried to slow his heartbeat. "If there's a sudden drop, I'm dead."

Zuma could be heard grunting in discomfort. He was unable to stand up straight due to the low ceiling, forcing him to either awkward crouch or keep his head low, both options resulting in soreness of the body.

"It's so hot in here," Marshall inquired as he shuffled along. In the beginning, the vents were cozy and warm, as the dogs were finally getting out of the freezing rain. However, that got old fast, as the heat only increased to unbearable conditions.

"Would you prefer being outside with Feroxmalis?" Chase fired back, slightly agitated.

The Lab in the middle raised an eyebrow, looking back slightly, "it has a name?"

"Yeah, didn't I mention that a few hours ago back in the tower?"

"Well, you did shoot Skye, so we were probably a little distracted," Zuma bit back.

Rocky's ears perked up as he remembered something, looking back while his voice shook. "Wait, that's right, you said Skye was the one infected. Then why did it come out of Rubble?"

Chase stuttered as his heart skipped a beat. They were starting to catch on to his lie, and he grew uneasy as his excuses became less and less convincing, "yes, she was." He said quickly, "but... it probably jumped bodies, it can do that."

"Jump bodies?" Zuma asked as he continued trekking through the darkness, "how?"

"I don't know!" the shepherd snapped, "it's a fuckin' giant creature of death, how am I supposed to know its fine details?!"

"Okay okay, sheesh," the Lab waved off. "I just thought maybe you would know," Zuma quickly defused the situation, but his suspicions were ever-increasing. A chilling voice in the back of his head was telling him Chase wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Ugh, we've been in these vents for a long time," Marshall heaved. "It's really hot, shouldn't we have been in the tower by now?"

Rocky spoke up, "I saw on the blueprints, it's a pretty big network of ducts."

The Dalmatian emitted an annoyed whine. "But why? Why do we need such expansive vents if it's just one tower with just one top floor?"

"It isn't," Chase replied from behind. "There's the boiler room down below, and the breaker box had labels for a basement."

"Shouldn't Ryder have told us all this was here?"

"That's what I'm thinking too, actually." Chase flattened his ears, looking to the ground.

Rocky suddenly stopped, causing them all to bump into each other as the movement halted. Chase had to rub his nose as it collided with Zuma's tail. "Ow. Rocky, what the hell?"