Zero Encounters

I'm Sorry

A/N: Didn't realize when I was transferring my data that the first half of this chapter didn't go through! Only found out when I was editing the chapters. Sad my final version was erased so I had to rewrite what was left of the previous draft :(

--- 

All Zero could do was desperately hold onto Nana. Her surroundings ceased to exist besides the pounding of her heart and the erratic behavior of their drugged out gunman. He began to dose isoprofol onto anything deemed flammable. It took her a moment to realize the heavy sets of footsteps coming from behind them belonged to the SWAT team.

"On the ground!" Captain Lee commanded which snapped her out of her trance.  Before she could react, the gunman ripped the girl out of her arms and lighting the curtains aflame.  

"C-Cover your eyes!" She shouted at the girl who did just that. "Please let her go. Please stop this." She got on her knees, "Take me instead." She pleaded.  The assembled team began to escort the remaining hostages out one by one while accounting those injured. 

"Please...save my daughter..." Nana's father said with blood seeping from his lips. 

"There's someone here! Please help." Zero called out to the closest SWAT member. They helped the man to safety and tried to take her with them, but she refused to leave. A medical team was on standby and rushed the man to surgery in the next building. The gunman was surrounded, but had no means in surrendering. "D-Don't open your eyes until I say you can, okay?" She said to the girl who nodded her head.

"You, get over here." The gunman waved her to stand. She shakily stood despite the protest around the room. "Follow us and they'll die. Got it?" He threatened Captain Lee. Zero pulled Nana into her arms again and watched the flames grow. He pointed the gun at the back of her head and held her by the shoulders. She couldn't bring herself to look at the Captain knowing she disobeyed his orders. They had worked through these scenarios before and she always followed protocol unless she was the one being held hostage. She knew he would be disappointed and angry with her.  She thought that if the result of today's incident worked in their favor, she'll face the consequences with him later on.  "Walk." He said, dragging her backwards towards the stairs. She picked Nana up and continued to cover her face. 

"Stop moving!" Captain Lee shouted, but the man tore the fiery curtain down to cover the rest of the liquid he poured, creating a wall of flames. The Captain tried to run after them, but his subordinates held him back to prevent injuries. "Is anyone blocking the exits? How about the other floors?" He barked orders into his radio as he directed another who scrambled to find a fire extinguisher. 

"All other floors are secured. We're making our way up from the parking lot."

Zero's mind raced with all possibilities to escape, but she couldn't fight the man off in such an enclosed space without Nana getting hurt. She couldn't let the girl go either. Her head pulsed from being whipped previously and her arm seared from holding the girl. By the fifth flight of stairs, she had nearly fallen over with Nana. The blood seeping from her arm dripped down to her hands which made it difficult to secure her grip. The pain was excruciating, but she had to fight her thoughts knowing the team was just around the corner.

While she took a break at the landing, the man screamed at her to pick up the pace, but she knew where they were going they would be met with another team. She tried to reason with him and to side with him so that it would keep his panic at bay. He had no way out besides surrendering or a shoot out with the police. He hoped the car would still be waiting for him, but she couldn't bring herself to tell him they would be long gone by now. 

"Sis...are you okay?" Nana asked in a whisper, hearing Zero's panting. 

"Eyes are still closed, right?" Zero asked and felt the girl's head nod from her shoulder. The man tried all the doors to realize they were locked in. The only other means for escape was returning to the street level floor just before the first floor of the parkade.