A Second Chance

Missing Files Found

Chapter 56

Caden stopped and closed his eyes from the pain in his hand. He would rather fall with her than let her go. Amari grabbed the wire as well with one hand, let go of Caden's hand, then held on with both.

"Thanks." Amari said breathing heavy.

They climbed to the closest elevator door and jumped back onto the floor. They looked up at the top of the open doors.

{Floor Nine}

"Great." Caden muttered.

Then the screen that showed what floor they were on flickered and cut off. The power went out for the elevators but not like it mattered. Caden did not plan on trusting another elevator anytime soon. Both agents caught their breath but just sat on the floor for a minute.

"Caden your hand!" Amari noticed.

She scooted closer to him. He held his left hand tightly over his right.

"It's nothing." He claimed.

"Do not be ridiculous! You are hurt." She told him.

She reached behind her and took some things out of the pouch on her belt. He slowly moved away his hand. A deep gash was in his hand and he saw her eyes sadden.

"You got hurt, saving me." She noted sadly.

"Amari I'm ok." He assured her.

She would not look up to make eye contact though. Amari gently removed his glove and cleaned the cut and wrapped up his hand in a bandage. She did not make it to thick so he could still use his hand. Amari then stood up, collecting her things. It seemed to really bother her that he got hurt. Was it because it was in the process of saving her?

"We should find Anthony." Amari said, still looking at the floor.

"Amari look at me first." Caden requested.

She did not.

"Shields?" He called more sternly.

Still, she kept her gaze some where else.

"Amari!" Caden raised his voice just a bit above normal and just a bit bellow yelling.

He placed both his hands under her face and titled her head up to look at him. Her eyes gleamed, tears barely there threatening to fall. He had never seen her cry before and now he has nearly seen her cry twice in one night. He wanted to kiss her. Even more than he did at the party. He leaned just a tad closer. She smelled sweet. Like a perfume or flower.

"Rogers, Amari!" A voice made Caden back away.

They turned to see Anthony found them instead.

"Anthony! How did you find us?" Amari wondered.

"I heard the elevator crash and became concerned." Anthony explained.

Neither agent questioned how he knew what floor. They both assumed he just guessed.

"Right I guess we should take the stairs now then?" Caden said.

"Um about that-" Anthony said.

Caden rolled his eyes.

"What's wrong now?" Caden wondered, slight irritation in his tone.

"The stairs won't take us to the top. Not this stairway anyway." Anthony explained.

Caden sighed.

*Great. Just great.* He thought.

"Fine we'll find another way then." Caden compromised.

It was something you had to learn to do in this job. So the group then went looking around. Caden figured he should contact HQ.

"Rogers to HQ." He spoke into his mic.

"We're here." Dave responded.

"We found Thomason, but we're a bit lost at the moment. There was a lot more to this place than expected." Caden explained.

"Good work. Is back up required?" Dave asked.

"Negative. We'll be fine. If we don't contact by midnight, or don't find our way out by then, send for help." Caden told them.

"Copy that."

Then Caden pressed the button on his ear piece to end the line. Amari listened through her ear piece so she knew what was up. They started down the hallway looking for a different stairway. It seemed to go on forever when something caught Amari's eye. An open door.

"Caden over look here." Amari said, walking into the room. The room looked like an office and Amari walked up to the desk with no chair. It had stacks and stacks of files on it. Caden entered the room too. Amari started looking through them.

"Caden-" Amari paused to look over at him.

He looked back at her to see her worried, confused, expression.

"I recognize this file." He looked back, matching her confused expression, taking the file from her.

He looked down and read over the first part quickly. He did not reorganize it but the team and writing style did seem familiar. Caden picked up a different one. This one he remembered. Quickly he shifted papers around and speed read over a few, just to catch a glimpse of familiar writing.

"These are ARRO files." Caden confirmed.

They looked at just a few more. ARRO files about missions, personal profiles about whoever worked for this person, then a few about tragedies before ARRO was even formed.  Caden pulled out his phone and took a few pictures.

"I really think we need to get out of here now." Amari said, actually starting to become afraid of the place.

Caden nodded in agreement. The two turned behind them to see Anthony was no longer here.

"Anthony?" Amari called.

Caden looked out in the hallway and after checking he ran back into the room.

"He's gone!" Caden told her.

Amari looked around. What was wrong with this place! Then Amari heard something. A low high pitch sound. Like air busting out of a pipe or hissing. Amari looked around a bit more. She still heard it. She kicked over a stack of papers in the floor and under it revealed a snake. Amari gasped and the snake looked even more angry uncovered. She tried to back away slowly but the snake was already too angry. It was getting ready to lunge at her.

"Amari!" Caden shouted.

He put one arm in front of her pushing her to the side and more behind him. He fired at it and killed it with the first shot. Though he kept firing. He fired a whole clip of handgun ammo and even after he still pulled the trigger.

*Click* *Click* *Click* *Click* *Click*

Amari placed her hand on top of his wrist and slowly lowered his hand. The clicking died down and soon altogether stopped. It was silent and neither one spoke.

"Thank you Caden." Amari said.

She did not mention his overkilling. Caden felt slightly better. He did not even know why. He then put his gun back in his holster, not bothering to reload his weapon. The two did not make eye contact. They both just walked away from the room and continued their search for stairs, and now apparently Anthony.. Again.

Well they are both still alive but the night has not ended yet. Why does Anthony keep disappearing on them? Don't forget to comment and vote if you liked this!