On The Other Side

Chapter 17 - The Devil

NICK
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From behind, George's strained voice cuts through the tension. He weakly warns, "Behind you!" it's evident that he's struggling against the man who has his hands wrapped around his throat.

I quickly duck, narrowly avoiding the swing of the gun. Swiftly, I turn to face my attacker. He tries to grab me with one hand, but I grab his hand and stop him. He struggles with his other hand, but I block that too. I take the gun from his hand and hit him with it, making him fall to the ground.

I glance back at George, ready to rush over and assist him, but just as I'm about to move, Clay springs into action. He delivers a precise and brutal kick to the man's stomach, hitting him right in the plexus. The man crumples to the ground, his hands clutching his abdomen as he pleads for air.

I scan our surroundings, taking in the sight of four unconscious bodies sprawled on the ground, while three of us remain standing.

"Are you alright?" I look at George, but the question is for both of them.

George nods, his grip on the chair leg he's been using for defense tightening. I glance at Clay, who responds with a subtle nod. With a shared understanding, we all break into a run, dashing towards the end of the hallway.

"Here's our escape," I whisper, pointing to the vent at the bottom of the wall.

Once more, my gaze shifts to Clay. His eyes hold a flicker of hope as they rest on George. A spectral smile crosses his lips, and he offers a reassuring nod to George.

"Nick!" Pablo's voice echoes, slicing through the tension. The rhythm of Clay's heartbeat pulses visibly on his neck, and his gaze swiftly shifts to meet mine, trailed with a mix of urgency and horror.

A surge of dread courses through me. My gaze sweeps across the dimly lit hall, and without hesitation, I swiftly lower myself to the floor, my eyes fixed on the vent. With a determined grip, I extract the screws using the knife tucked in my belt. I lock eyes with them, a resolute nod passing between us before I gesture toward the vent's opening.

George takes the lead, followed closely by Clay. As they disappear into the vent, I begin to seal it shut. Just as I'm about to secure the vent, Clay's urgent voice pierces the air, his head popping out of the opening. "What's going on? You're coming with us!" he shouts.

I shake my head and give Clay a gentle yet firm push back into the vent. Swiftly, I reinsert the screws, securing the opening. I lower myself to the ground, so it looks like I'm hurt.

"Proceed ahead and take a left at the end. You'll reach trash containers. Drop into them," I whisper urgently, making sure they hear my instructions. With a calculated move, I smear the blood from my forehead wound across my face, so it looks like Clay and George attacked me and got away.

"We can't just leave you!" Clay's voice is a forceful whisper. I strain my eyes to see him, but it's too dark in the vent.

"Stay in the containers and wait for me. I'll pick you up with my car. If I'm not there within thirty minutes, don't wait – just run," I convey with determination, his head moves in a quick nod.

"Sapnap!" Pablo's voice echoes once more, and I respond with a grunt, my hand clutching my stomach, so it looks like I'm in pain.

"Help! I'm over here!" My voice carries a desperate plea as I call out to him, the sound of his approaching footsteps growing louder. It's a risky move, but there's no other choice.

"Be safe, man." Clay's whisper reaches my ears, and I nod back. The faint sounds of their movement in the vents gradually fade away, leaving me alone in the tense stillness.

"What happened to you?" Pablo asks as he rushes down the hall, his gaze taking in the scene of unconscious bodies. He hurries over to me, extending a hand to assist me in getting back on my feet.

"Clay managed to escape," I mutter through the pretense of pain, allowing a hint of frustration to creep into my voice. "As for George... I'm not sure." The uncertainty in my tone adds a layer of authenticity to the deception.

Pablo's gaze sweeps over the fallen men, and he shakes his head in disbelief. "There's no way he took all of you down alone," he remarks, his voice tinged with skepticism.

I nod, my mind working quickly to make up a plausible story. "He had a hold over some of the men, forced them to turn on each other," I explain, my tone trying to sell the tale. "And... they did," I add, hoping it's all making sense for him.

"Of course they did," he scoffs, his disappointment evident. "They're fucking pussies." With a dismissive tone, he darts down the hallway, gesturing for me to follow. "Clay won't leave George behind. We need to move."

We sprint to George's room, finding the guard stationed in front still unconscious. Our pace slows as we take in the sight. Pablo's disappointment is palpable as he clicks his tongue and shakes his head. "He got out as well."

I shake my head and gesture toward the door leading to the room where George had been locked in. "The door is still locked," I remark, relief evident in my voice. I'm grateful that I remembered to lock the door behind us.

"Go and check," I suggest, my tone earnest. "I'll track down Clay – I have an idea of the direction he took." With a swift motion, I toss the keys to George's room over to Pablo.

He nods, intent on unlocking the door. Just as he swings it open, I seize the opportunity and sprint toward him, forcefully pushing him into the room.

His gasp of disbelief fills the air as he pushes back against the door, preventing me from closing it completely. I'm on the verge of shutting it when he slides his foot into the gap, blocking my attempt.

"You fucking dick!" he groans, exerting all his strength to forcefully push the door wide open.

He's very strong, but I am too and he knows it. I didn't go to the military, just to come out a pussy.

"Hey!" The man who was previously unconscious shouts, his voice filled with surprise as he rises to his feet.

I'm fucked.

My heart skips a beat as he sprints toward me, a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. There's no way I'm taking both of them. He's one of Pablo's strongest.

I tear my hands away from the door and sprint away, the distinct sound of the doors forcefully flinging open echoing behind me.

"You're a dead man, Sapnap!" Pablo's voice rings out angrily from behind. Dodging through the corridors, I race ahead, my determination fueling the hope that I can successfully escape them.

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