Irregular (mlm)

Chapter 5

Owen was standing at the pharmacy counter near the entrance of the hospital when the lights went out. Both he and the pharmacist looked around, confused, as the emergency generator kicked back on and bathed the halls in red lights.

"The hell?"

The pharmacist handed him the small paper bag of medications. "Must be a power outage. I'll try to get a hold of maintenance."

Owen took the paper bag and shoved it into his back pocket so he could call Amy. When he opened his phone, he found there was no service. "That isn't good. Hey, if you see any nurses have them hide with you. Do not wander around."

The pharmacist set down his phone and nodded. "I'll try Paxton once I get service."

"Okay. Stay quiet."

The power was out and there was so phone service. This wasn't normal, and he had a bad feeling. He needed to find Amy and get back to Kai's room.

The elevator to the second floor was down, so he made his way to the stairs. Before he got there, he saw four shadowed figured swing the door open and slip into the fair well. Two of them were holding what looked like guns. Big ones.

Owen swore under his breath. He left his gun in his car and from what he could tell, going outside wasn't an option. He had no clue how many of these armed men were storming the hospital. They were probably looking for Kai.

After a few minutes, Owen carefully opened the door to the stairwell and peaked inside. The men were gone already, so he took the stairs as quietly as he could and pressed his ear to the door at the top. He couldn't hear anything.

Slowly, he turned the handle and poked his head into the hall. There was a huddle of nurses at the nurses station, watched closely by two of the three men. It was dark enough that he risked darting across the hall and behind a cart.

Owen peaked through the shelf in the cart and tried to see if he could spot anyone he knew. He couldn't make out faces, and they were to far to smell.

All he had was a pocket knife and a phone that didn't work. Great.

One of the men with guns exited what Owen knew what Kai's room. He said rather loudly, "Empty. Boss said he was on the second floor but he's not here."

"Maybe he got out and is hiding somewhere."

Owen let out a breath of relief. They didn't have him, at least. But then where was he?

He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Alice pressed her other hand over his mouth and shushed him. "Quiet."

He took her hand off and whispered, "Where's your brother?"

"I don't know. The lights went out and when the red ones came on he was just gone. I slipped out of the room and hid in a supply closet until I heard you in the hall." She looked past him. "Is now a bad time to mention I know those guys?"

"I figured." He pulled his knife out of his pocket and flipped it open. "Are they good shots?"

"Yes." She looked at his knife. "Really? Haven't you heard never to bring a knife to a gun fight?"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"No."

"Exactly." Owen flipped his knife so it was hidden in his palm. "I'm going to try to talk to them."

"Be my guest. Try not too get shot."

"Great advice," he mumbled, then slowly stepped into the center of the hall. He walked for a few feet before the men noticed him and aimed their guns. "Hi, there."