A ten minute window. There was a ten minute window, where she would be distracted, and I could disappear. I had to make it through the compound, past the guards, and out of the airplane hangar in ten minutes.
Don't hesitate, I was told, don't look back.Don't bring anything that could slow you down.Just run. Avoid guards if you can, fight them if you must. Whatever you do, don't get caught.
An alarm bell sounded. My breath caught in my throat. Go, NOW!
I leapt to my feet. Guards raced past, ignoring me. My heart thumping in my chest, I waited until the last had left, and then ran in the opposite direction.
Don't think. Go as stealthily and quickly as possible.
I rounded a corner, mentally mapping the course that would take me out of the only place I had known.
Don't hesitate.
I sprinted down a hallway, but skidded to a stop when I spotted a guard at the end of the hallway. I ducked into a room and waited for the guard to run past.
Don't get caught.
As soon as he was gone, I darted down the hallway. There were only a few more passages, then the large hangar, which was my destination.
You have a ten minute window.
Forcing myself to run faster, I prayed for time. I needed to make it. I had to.
Turning a corner, I nearly fell over in fright. A guard was standing right there. "What the hell?!" the guard's eyes widened, and he raised his gun.
Fight them if you must.
I flew forward, kicking the gun out of his hands and following the move with a blow to the face. I felt his nose break under my fist, but before he could cry out in pain, I punched him in the throat. Choking, he fell to the ground, next to his gun. In a flash, his gun was in my hands and I swung the butt of it into his temple. The guard went limp.
Fear built up in my chest. Don't slow down.
I sprinted away again, turning the last corner and kicking the door to the hangar open. Glancing around wildly, I searched for the small jet they had promised me.
If you don't get out now, you never will.
The hangar doors, leading to the outside world, were still open. I made it. Seeing my small jet, I let out a sob of relief and ran to it.
Only ten minutes.
The jet was ready to fly. Jumping into the cockpit, I stared at the dials and buttons in confusion. Tears of despair sprung to my eyes as I desperately tried to find the one button I had been told to push.
Get to the jet, we'll take care of the rest.
A sob racked my body. My breathing quickened. I wasn't going to make it. I slammed my fist down on a random collection of buttons in frustration. A small part of me hoped I would accidentally hit the right one. Nothing happened.
