Unreal

P16: Sacrificing For Love

Autumn's POV:

My hands ball into fists as I stare at him long and hard.

"I don't want her harmed, but if she puts up too much of a fight, kill her. Kill them all if you have to," Dr. Daring says.

"Wait!" I stop the men from advancing towards us. "Take me instead."

"What? We had a deal!" Dr. Martinez hisses from behind me.

"In exchange for what?" He ignores her cry of outrage.

"Let Darren and the children grow. I'm the most successful and the oldest. Use me and let them go."

He scoffs. "That's not very appeasing to me, Autumn."

"Fine. What do you want?"

He grins. "Your submission."

I swallow hard, knowing that this may be the worst plan ever. "Okay." I walk towards him.

"You promised me!" Dr. Martinez screams.

I keep walking. Yes, I've made deals with both devils just for the safety of the others. Worst case scenario, Dr. Daring can have me and after some time, I self terminate. It's not like I can explain that to Dr. Martinez in front of my dad. The click of her gun echoes in the room. I freeze.

"Take one more step and I will shoot you." Martinez growls.

"I'm trying to do the right thing here, Dr. Martinez. Get these kids out of here."

"You're an abomination and I refuse to let you continue to live."

My father narrows his eyes. His eyebrows pinch together. "Don't be so stupid. I will have you killed you before you pull the trigger."

A gun goes off. I don't know who it hits or who pulled the trigger, but I don't feel the familiar piercing pain, so I'm safe.

"Screw it." I mutter.

I shoot laser into the first guy I land my eyes on. Shoots go off wildly as kids with all sorts of abilities attack the guards. We outnumber them not by much. Two to one. It really is a pointless massacre. IT doesn't even last long.

Dr. Daring's men aren't equipped to defend themselves against super humans. Dr. Martinez's men didn't even have to help. When everyone finally stops, my father is the only one standing on his side with a hand pressed to his side. I assume that's where the bullet from before went to.

"It's over."

"It's never really over, Autumn. You and I both know this."

"I think you're wrong, doctor." Dr. Martinez steps forward with a device in her hand.

On the screen the numbers keep descending. I frown. What is it? Dr. Daring's eyes widen.

"What have you done?"

"What needed to be." She spits through clenched teeth.

"What--?"

"This is a bomb that's set to go off in 90 seconds. Bye-bye lab." Dr. Martinez cackles.

Without missing a beat, I turn around to all the kids.

"Run!"

Thousands of footsteps rush out of the room. Dr. Daring tries to leave, but I grab him and snap his neck without hesitation. Dr. Martinez looks at me.

"It ends with me. I promise, but I have to get these kids out of here." She grips the detonator a little more firmly than I'd like.

"Please."