Monster Like You

Chapter 8

When we returned to the third floor, it was already crowded with security guards and guards who ran up. At the open door of the ward where Alyss was being held, a gloomy Gervase stood with his hands in his trousers pockets. When he noticed us, he immediately informed us, without wasting time on meaningless greetings:

"Alyss attacked the guards when they brought her food. Everyone saw that she was restless, but no one expected such a breakdown. And her strength was also underestimated. She managed to escape from the floor, but all exits from the building are blocked. They'll find her.'

"And what will they do?" I asked bitterly, feeling guilty about what had happened.

If I had stayed late, I would have talked to her for at least five minutes! Or, on the contrary, she wouldn't have gone at all, wouldn't have teased and inflamed... Alyss got angry after my visit. And now - "liquidation is allowed".

"What did she do to the guards?'

There was no regret or guilt in Kiaran's tone. Rather, on the contrary: a challenge. And he looked at me at the same time, and not at Gervase, but the director answered himself:

"They're alive, if that's what you mean. Stunned and humiliated by the fact that they were beaten by a girl, but not badly hurt."

I exhaled with relief, having already managed to feel Nathaniel's words that Alyss was me. And I would never kill in such a situation. At least, that's what I wanted to think, and the behavior of the chimera confirmed it.

"I'm sure she means no harm to anyone. She's just scared and craves freedom," I tried to explain her act as I felt it myself.

"Willing or not, she's a runaway monster now," Kiaran said glumly.

"Yes, and therefore liquidation is allowed during detention," Gervase nodded, wincing. "But here's the thing: I'm sick of the idea that we're going to shoot a pregnant woman, whoever she is. Therefore..." He handed us two intercom devices, which were used by security guards and security guards. "Find her first and persuade her to give up and return - save her life."

Kiaran and I exchanged glances. Catching escaped objects is not our job. It seemed to me that my boss and friend were going to voice this, and I hurried ahead of him: I grabbed the intercom.

"Then I went to look."

Attaching the intercom to my ear on the move, I walked quickly to the stairs without looking at anyone, sometimes switching from an intense step to a run. Logic dictated that Alyss should be looked for on the lower floors. The headquarters building stood apart, so the roof could be considered an absolute trap. And if I knew it, so did she.

Male voices were talking on the air. Some reported that they had checked the next «square», others reported on which cameras they had noticed the fugitive. According to these reports, Alyss was moving rather chaotically, sometimes even going upstairs for some reason, but I suspected that she was just trying to confuse the tracks. And looking for a place where you can go down unnoticed.

"She was just seen on the second floor," Kiaran grumbled beside her.

I didn't notice when he managed to catch up with me. Harry was still trying to hook the intercom behind his ear, but it stubbornly slipped off, causing him to mutter curses.

"I know, I heard. But she will go down to the underground floor. Perhaps he will try to find the entrance to the sewer. Or get out in some car..."

Before I finished speaking, I stopped, suddenly remembering Nathaniel. A bad doubt crept into my soul, but I have not yet allowed it to take shape into a full-fledged thought. Inside, something whispered: "No... no... this can't be..." But the moments when Nathaniel spoke about Alyss with genuine concern came back to mind. And how he suddenly decided to come with me when I refused to kidnap Alyss from headquarters.