Underground Legends: The Hunt (BWWM)

Chapter 38 - Abella

Abella Sterling (Female P.O.V)

October 28, 2074

Quinton nodded and grabbed the woman's arm. "Come with us!"

"What?! Why?!"

"You're going to take us to them."

She looked as if she wanted to argue, but Quinton dragged her from the room, giving her no other choice.

We followed after them as she led us back down the hallway. When we stood before another set of steel double doors, she keyed in a code, and we entered the dimly lit room. Aside from the sixteen glass cases spread across the center, there wasn't anything else inside.

I ran over to the one at the farthest side of the room. My heart ached when I saw my brother lying inside. Dark shadows rested underneath his eyes, and his lips appeared dried and cracked.

"Logan, I'm here. I'm here." My voice wavered while looking down at him through glossy eyes. Only a thin piece of glass separated us, but it felt like much more.

Crippled by fatigue or perhaps hunger, he slowly lifted one hand and pressed it to the glass. Choking back a sob, I did the same.

"We're going to get you out of here. Alright?"

"Okay." He mumbled through trembling lips while wiping his tear-streaked face with his hand.

I ran my fingers along the upper sides and corners, searching for an opening, but it was all smooth edges. Cut into the glass on either side of his head were two holes that were large enough to allow air to pass through but not much else.

I turned to the lady. "How-how do we open this?"

She didn't answer straight away. She just stood there with her lips slightly parted as her eyes darted around the room.

"How?!" I yelled, making her jump back a bit.

"T-there are keys to unlock each one." She finally said, hurrying over to the other side of the table.

When she started to reach underneath it, Quinton and Saint raised their weapons. Both were still on edge after Cromwell executed a similar move that resulted in his death.

Her eyes widened in fear, and she snatched her hand back. "They are on hooks underneath the table." She further explained.

Saint motioned with the gun for her to continue. Dutifully she complied but at a slower pace. The breath I hadn't been aware I held escaped my lips in a rush when the shiny gold key came into view.

She handed it over to Saint before retrieving the other key and giving it to Quinton. They tucked their guns into their waistbands before unlocking the locks. After everyone saw them come undone, they went to free the others. While Quinton and Saint lifted the side of the glass case, allowing Logan to slide out.

"You're okay. You're okay." I repeatedly muttered, wrapping him tightly in my arms.

"Everyone h-"

Piercing screams sounded down the hallway, made Saint fall silent, and everyone stopped whatever they were doing.

"What is that about?!" Tinman half whispered/yelled.

"I don't know, but it's not good."

Quinton started to speak but pressed his hand to his ear. It took me a second to realize someone was communicating with him through his earpiece.

"Ken, how long until the cops get here?" Saint questioned.

We couldn't hear the reply, but I didn't need to. After living with Saint, I learned to read his body language. I had to since he wanted to shelter me from bad news. His face was a stone mask, not revealing anything, but the slight slump of his shoulders told enough.

"What did he say?" Veronica anxiously asked.

Saint sighed. "He said, "They're still a few minutes out." But we need to keep moving until they arrive. So everyone stay close, and those with weapons look out for the ones without. Alright?"

Everyone nodded their understanding before he led us from the room. We barely made it two steps beyond the doorway when we saw crimson droplets splattered across the white-tiled floor.

"Oh my..." With my hand loosely cupped over my mouth, my eyes followed the trail until they thinned out around the elevator. "What happened?"

"The robots," The lady stated while side-eyeing Saint. "They won't stop unless their batteries run out or Mr. Cromwell inputs the code to override them."

Quinton groaned. "That can't be the only two options. There's gotta be another way."

"If there was, I doubt he would be dead right now. Now would he?" She asked, gesturing to the control room, where one of her colleague's bodies lay halfway out the doorway, completely still.

Quinton ignored her question and motioned with his gun down the hall. "Move."

Once we reached the elevator, he mashed the button to call it. And while we awaited its arrival, Quinton positioned us against the wall.

"Stay close against the wall just in case..." His voice trailed off, but everyone already knew the reason or at least suspected it.

A few moments later, a light ding announced the elevator's arrival before the doors slid open.

It seemed empty, but Quinton wasn't taking any chances.

He crept forward with his gun raised to inspect the inside. Once he deemed it clear, he waved us over. Everyone filed inside, and I followed at a snail's pace. My mind was still fully encoded with the rules of the game. Even though I knew it was ridiculous. These robots couldn't magically spawn like the ones in the game.

Saint must have sensed my hesitancy because he interlocked our fingers and led me inside. The small space forced us nearly on top of each other, but a few seconds of discomfort was worth it instead of risking two trips.

Everyone squeezed together when we arrived on the top floor, allowing Quinton to be the first to exit.

His jaw repeatedly clenched as he stepped over a string of broken blood trails on his way to the left stairwell. Black boots stuck out over the threshold, but the rest of the body remained unseen. Saint and Quinton dragged the body back inside before shutting the door.

Their efforts felt useless, given the entrance door was splayed open. Most, if not all, of the robots, must have escaped already.

If the others thought the same, they stayed quiet, so I did too. All that mattered was that we were almost free of this place.

"Let's go." Quinton jerked his head toward the door, and we took off for the exit. Never once did we look back. We just kept running.