Smoking Power

Chapter 36

It isn't until I hear Alfred's soothing words in my ear before I finally calm down a bit and think more clearly, "It's okay, it's okay. That's actually probably a good thing, I mean they'd of had to spot you some time anyway and now the room is cleared too. And besides I got Chelsea and Clinton to make their appearance in the power room so now they think it's just those guys that are here. They'll figure out what we've done soon though so I'd start moving soon if I were you guys, not to rush you or anything."

Ever so slowly, I peel my eyes open a fraction. The lights are bright in the room and it takes awhile for my recently opened eyes to adjust to the brightness of it. I blink multiple times and look over at Charles and Declan. Charles is still pressed against the wall looking shocked. Probably from the scene that just occurred. Declan on the other hand is still yelling the worst language that I've ever heard, at the top of his lungs. Unlike Charles and I who have both crept as far away from everything as possible, Declan is standing close to the centre of the room, hands placed on top of his head with his eyes looking straight ahead at nothing in particular while he continues his long rant of swear words.

Even slower then when I opened my eyes, I lift my hands of my ears. Immediately I feel the cold air hitting my white, blood deprived ears while I feel the blood that had been squeezed out, come flooding back in a rush. Wincing slightly from the weird sensation, I manage to somehow crawl up onto my wobbly legs, numb from sitting in such a awkward position for too long.

"Umm, okay," I stop speaking when I realise that I'm babbling. Taking a shaky breath, I try again, "Alright, you heard him, we'd better get moving. Declan stop screaming and let's go," I walk over to Declan and give him a shove which finally manages to snap him out of his trance. I then wait for Charles to lead the way.

Charles takes his own loud, inhale of oxygen before giving Declan and I an understanding nod and making his way to the door on the other side of the room. Instead of the dramatic-smashing-the-door-open entry, Charles simple uses the big metal bar attached to the metal door and pushes the door open.

The door easily opens to reveal a corridor that's coated in a thin, silver metal. At the end of the short corridor, there's a simple, steel doored lift. My heart rate increases at the sight of it. Somehow it looks like one of those places in horror movies that someone always dies in. Whether there's a goblin inside or someone cuts the steel cables that send it plummeting to the ground far below, this is the carriage to your doom.

"Hey, I got a question," Declan says confusedly while he looks around the place as if he's looking for the answer to whatever his question is to just pop out, "If all those hogmers came running this way, then where'd they go? I mean they didn't really seem like they were capable of waiting over here for the elevator to be ready." As Declan states an actual serious question, I can't help but look around in confusion too. From inside the room it sounded like they were running down a huge hallway or something, definitely not just standing and waiting for the lift to come and whisk them off and up to the nearest pool of water.

"Well that's probably because they didn't get the lift like you guys will be," Alfred says in an amused voice. I open my mouth to ask him what he means but as if sensing Declan and I's further confusion, he continues to explain, "Each hogmer is made with a special identification chip implanted in their neck. That chip is unique to them. It has their prototype number, their job status and the dormitory where they go to re-charge's number. Along those walls that you're  currently walking down, there are varies corridors. Basically what happens is when the hundreds of senses on the door senses your ID chip, it slides open and reveals your dormitory and nutrition centre. That's where they all disappeared off too."

"Oh, okay I kinda get that, I guess," Declan says slowly, thinking it over while slowly nodding his head. It isn't until we're standing in front of the lift which won't open until someone enters the password into the tiny, black keypad that's lit up with light blue lights, when Declan speaks again, "So I take it you have the password for this crazy contraption. I mean you did say that you had passwords before in the dungeon so it will be a little awkward if you don't have it, not to pressure you or anything."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, calm down, of course I have the password," Alfred says annoyed to Declan. Probably from his lack of confidence in him, "Okay the code is," Alfred pauses for dramatic effect, "4-7-0-3, after you type it in you have precisely six seconds to press the small red button that will pop up near the door. If you don't then you'll have to wait another hour before it lets you put the security code back in and you can try again. As I said before, security is a little stricter around here. Now, if you do manage to press the button in time, then you'll have thirty seconds to be inside the box before the doors seal shut again. When you're in, press the top button and it'll take you to the next level. Good luck guys and please don't miss the button because then I'll be forced to sit here for one long and boring hour, okay?"

"Whatever you say boss," I mutter while silently repeating the code over and over again in my head. It would be embarrassing to say the least if Charles asked me to do the code when I couldn't remember it.

Thankfully though, Charles decides to do it himself, "Alright, how about I put in the password while you two find the button and quickly press it, yeah?" Charles asks looking at Declan and I. We both nod at him and I open my mouth to actually tell him that we understand but Charles rushes in before either of us has the chance to get anything out, "Just make sure that you get the button on time, okay? Because I for one do not want to hang around here waiting for an hour so we can try again while a bunch of grouchy hogmers and whack jobs are heading over here to murder us."

"Relax, man," Declan casually dismisses Charles earlier concerns by a lazy wave of his hand, "We got this."

I nod my head, agreeing with Charles and Declan. Charles was right, if we had to wait an hour here, then there's a very high chance that somehow the hogmers and quite possibly, Gareth, will make it over to us before we can leave by another minor entry and exit somewhere. Needless to say, that will not be a good thing if it happens. Saying that though, Declan is right. All we need to do is press a little red button in six seconds when it pops up somewhere on this door.

It's a piece of cake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:

Real short update today, sorry guys. I know that we're really close to the end of the book and this is where all the exciting stuff finally happens, but as much as I hate to admit it, I'm suffering from a mild case of writers block, :(

Some support will be awesome and really will help so please vote or comment!!