Nothing Would've Ever Happened

Chapter 3

MOVE MOVE MOVE!

SECURE THE AREA!

A loud explosion from the entrance at the front of the building and heavy footsteps began to march down the hall, an army of men charging for the door. Many of the scientists hustled as they started running around, papers fluttering everywhere. Justin was aware of this because he was slightly irritated by a high-pitched noise that followed with the explosion. He began to hear the scientists panic, their voices beginning to rise.

After a couple seconds, he finally managed to open his eyes and observe his surroundings. The marching started getting closer, echoing through the main laboratory doors. He looked around to try to find David in the chaos, the last couple of scientists running behind the chair. Justin ripped off all the wires and pushed up the helmet, getting up from the chair. He turned around and noticed the last scientist running through a backdoor. Just as he got to the handle the heavy steps stopped. He froze, not wanting to make any noise to cause attention. He heard a little rustling from outside the main lab doors. He began to hear a high-pitched frequency, his cue to run.

He closed the door behind him and ran through some testing rooms and reached the main halls of the laboratory, the explosion booming loudly and footsteps not far behind. Strangely, the scientists that he was trying to chase after disappeared, considering how fast he was running and the assumption that he would've caught up to them at the moment. As he reached a four way intersection, he heard the door open into the hallway.

"W.A.T.T.!" their voices echoed, "WE KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE!"

Justin ran right towards a secured door, only capable of being opened by an I.D. card. He ran to the scanner and swiped his card as the footsteps of the W.A.T.T. crept closer to his location. The scanner beeped in acceptance, a green light blinked. The double doors unlocked, the mechanisms of the unlocking and the machines opening the doors opening boomed through the halls. The doors slowly as the motors pushed the heavy doors open.

God damn it...

"HE'S DOWN THE HALL! MOVE!"

Justin ran through the small crack it made and ran down a couple more halls that lead to the scientist's offices. He ran into an office and hid under the desk, completely covered by paperwork, books and computers. His breathing started slowing down, not just for the fact that he finally found a hiding spot, but for the sake of him not getting caught from his heavy breathing.

"Search the area! He couldn't have gone far!" One agent yelled. Three agents passed his room and continued down the hall. Two agents slowly walked down the hall towards his door, talking to each other.

"Where'd you think he's gone?"

"I don't know, but he is really clever, so he's gotta be around here somewhere..."

"How will we get him?"

"Get Justin Cortez where it hurts: see if his family's home. He's got a seven year old girl, eight year old boy and his wife..."

"Got it." he said as he radioed in a team.

What the hell?! Why would they want me?!

He quietly took his phone out of his pocket and texted Elaine, making sure that his phone wouldn't make any noise.

Elaine, something went wrong at work. There's W.A.T.T. out for me. Get the kids to safety, they're on the way to the house ASAP.

He peered around the cracks of the stacks of paper. He saw the pants of the W.A.T.T. agents pass the door. He noticed across the hall was a meeting room that had a door that exited to the parking lot. He also saw the scanner with a red light, awaiting his card's approval. Slowly, he crept towards the front of the door. He peered to his left and saw the agents walking down the hallway. After waiting a couple seconds, he crept towards the door and moved his hand towards the scanner with his card in his hand.

"FREEZE CORTEZ! DON'T MOVE!"

He froze, stunned by his failed escape attempt. He heard agents from both sides surround his back side, guns cocking and weapons being armed.

"Turn around slowly with your hands up!"

Justin slowly moved his hand up, making the card move in the direction of the scanner. He allowed the card to be close enough for the scanner to read it, making a beeping noise. The door clicked unlock. He turned the handle and pushed the door open.

"HE'S ESCAPING!"

Gunshots fired as he tumbled underneath the long meeting table. Agents followed right behind, trying to aim at him. Just as Justin lunged for the emergency door, he felt a painful stinging on his back, unbearable to even describe. He fell flat on the floor, unable to move anything. As the W.A.T.T. agents surrounded him, he felt a small prick on his arm. His vision started to become blurry as he slowly went into a deep sleep.