Broken

Chapter 3: Escape

Carlos Quinn stepped into the room with several foot soldiers and two scientists came forward, wearing government lab coats. That couldn't be good. What are they gonna do to me know? I tried to move off the bed, but pain shot in my side again and I cringed painfully, falling back on the bed.
"I see you've notice our little, 'operation'."
I quickly whip my head and glare venomously at the man.
"How do you feel?"
I didn't answer him. He came up to the bed and stared right into my eyes. He had a weasely smile across his face that was kind of disturbing to me. Then again, everything about this man was disturbing.
"Do you feel any pain?"
"What do you think?!" I snapped, "what did you do to me?!"
"Something we thought was necessary. I guess the morphine wore off sometime ago." Quinn stepped away from the bed and looked over into Raquel's containment. "I see you two are getting acquainted."
"You filthy scum bucket!" Raquel spat and banged her fists on the glass.
"What have you done to her?!"
"That girl is none of your concern...at least not at the moment. You should be more concerned about your test results."
"What test results?" I sneered.
Quinn nodded his head to the soldiers and motioned them to come forward. The scientists rushed over and pulled out my IV tubes. The soldiers came up and drug me off the bed. I screamed in agony as the searing pain tore into my side. I could barely stand and the men were trying to hold me up. I leaned up against the bed for balance.
"Leave him alone! Let him go you fuckers!" I heard Raquel yell and bang against the glass furiously.
As they led me out of the room. I turned my head to look back at Raquel's cage hoping to catch a glimpse of her, but I couldn't see anything. I wondered if this was they last time I was going to see her. I didn't even say goodbye. I hope she'll be okay.
They took me back to the lab and locked me back inside the cage. Only this time, they put cuffs around my wrists and tied my arms up to the tubes and wires that were now hooked to the sides of the cage. All of the lab equipment was activated. They hooked me up to a heart monitor,more IVs and on the right side of me was a large X-ray machine. A woman scientist went to stand next to Quinn.
"We're ready sir."
"Very well, proceed."
And so it began. They started the medical procedure. The IVs began pumping clear liquid into my veins. I instantly began to feel more energized. It must be injections of adrenaline. I looked at the heart monitor, my heartbeat was slowly increasing, which made me a little nervous. The woman wrote on her clipboard, thinking out loud as she wrote.
"Adrenaline injection...heartbeat increasing...breathing's stable..."
Then it was the X-ray. I didn't expect the two scientists to come onto the cage and start taking off my gear and pants. Now I know why they had my hands cuffed. They quickly unbuckled my belt and pulled down my pants. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I have never felt so exposed. My face felt hot as I scanned each of their bewildered faces. Two of the scientists came and dressed me in a raggedy hospital gown. They left the strings in the back untied so my shell could fit. One of the men pushed the X-ray around all side of me. I looked up to the monitor screen and I could see my entire skeletal structure. I was surprised to see my own bones. How I really changed after 17 years. From the time I was just an ordinary infant turtle.
"It's quite amazing really...how mutation really changes you." He turned his back to the monitor, he seemed to be admiring my anatomy. "Incredible...how mutagen can change a low life form like a turtle into something almost humanoid. Extraordinary isn't it Leonardo?"
I turned my attention to Quinn. "Why exactly are you doing this?"
"Would you believe that it is research for the future good of society?"
I snorted. "Probably not."
The man slightly chuckled. "Well, as you may have found our from Miss Cross, it seems that the mutagen,mixed with your DNA, has an ability to mutate humans... imagine what a turning point that would be for the United State's government."
I was a little confused at what he was trying to get at. "What are you talking about?
"They don't know it yet, bit I am actually working for the government. For research to...improve the human race. Think of what your DNA could do for mankind. American soldiers in the armed forces, with fast healing properties, impenetrable pullet proof shells..."
I was dumbfounded at the insane statements coming out of this crack lot's mouth.
"You mean to tell me you would mutate innocent people into freaks of war?"
"Of course not. I would have to get it approved by the government in order to continue my research. Because unfortunately, asset 002 was a complete dead end."
"You're talking about Raquel?"
"Let's just say she's... deformed."
My blood began to boil and my hands clenched into tight fists. How dare he speak of her that way!
"The only reason she is the way she is is because of you!"
He started laughing, which caught me by surprise.
"I am surprised you care so much for the girl. Why is she so important to you? Because your blood run in her veins? It's really because of you she is a freak of nature."
"SHUT UP! Don't use reverse psychology on me! You had no right to do what you did to her!
"No matter. She is a failed experiment and will be removed from the project. It seems your DNA can be merged, but is still not ready for human trials."
He kept yammering on. I closed my eyes tightly and focused on the white noise in my head, trying to block him out.
"Onece Mr. Sacks sends me the results from your brothers, I can then get a better idea of how to approach the matter."
Sacks has my brothers?!
"But until then, they will remain in containment. It's a shame really, never being able to see them again..."
That did it.
It could've been the adrenaline rush or just the building rage, but I finally unloaded. I yanked my wrist and arms free of the cuffs and tubes. I punched my fist right through the glass and jumped out. I didn't even notice the pain in my knuckles or the blood dripping from my fingers as I charged right at Quinn, grabbing him by the collar of his suit. I lifted him off up to look he straight in the eyes. His feet didn't even touch the floor. His face was pure terror.
"I've had about enough of you!"
I threw him against the wall, knocking him out of consciousness. Why haven't I done this before? I have no fucking idea, but it felt good. One scientist pulled a lever on the wall that sounded an alarm and a blaring siren blasted through the building. I rushed through the door as quickly as I could. I dashed out of the room and ran down the hallway.
"I gotta find Raquel and get the hell out of here!"
There were no guards in sight. By the time I made it to the main lobby, I barged through the entrance doors to be met by 30 Foot soldiers armed with AK 47's blocking my way. Bright spotlights blinded me. I put my arms over my eyes to block the light.
"Did you really believe it was going to be this easy?"
I whipped around to see Quinn come through the doors, adjusting his collar."
"I wish you wouldn't have done that. I just got this dry cleaned."
"How-how did-?"
"It doesn't surprise me that you tried to escape, but this did give me the opportunity to test your tracker. And it seems to work nicely."
"W-what tracker?
"The one my surgeons placed in you of course."
I ran my fingers over the stitched and tender area. "You put a tracking device inside me?!"
"I cannot afford to lose my most important asset to this project...boys!"
Just then several soldiers came towards me. When another siren echoed through the building.
WARNING! ASSET 002 IS OUT OF CONTAINMENT! WARNING! ASSET 002 IS OUT OF CONTAINMENT!...
Raquel..
Everyone stopped dead and looked frantically around the area.
An explosion erupted out of nowhere and the ceiling lights went out. Everything was pitch black, except for the red alarm lights rotating up and down the walls. The smoke from the explosion reached my senses. I could taste the chemicals in my mouth and I immediately started gagging. It was dark, I couldn't see anything and the toxic fumes were burning my eyes and consuming my lungs. I heard guns fire blindly. Thank God my shell was virtually bullet proof, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt when they hit my plastron. I had no idea where to go. I started searching with my hands cause my eyes were closed due to the burning sensation. I was pretty much blind.
"Come with me." I felt a hand wrap around my wrist, and started pulling me around the lobby. I was somewhat relieved at the familiar voice.
"Raquel."
She did answer me and continued to lead me through the eerie hallways.
"Where are we going? And how are you seeing?"
"Question and answer time later Leo." She quickly yanked me closer behind her as we got closer to the back exit.
"Wait! How did you know were the exit was?"
"Don't get me wrong Leo, I'm all for conversation but right now you need to shut up and run!"
She was right, this was not the time to talk. We ran thought the back exit doors and into the parking lot. I was still in my hospital gown. It was so cold and my feet felt almost numb on the wet concrete. The sky was pitch black and only the light posts gave us some light. I suddenly felt Raquel release my wrist and as she went and smashed her elbow into the window of a Chevy. She somehow managed to start it and hoped into the drivers seat.
"Get in! Hurry!"
I quickly ran to the other side of he car and crawled in the back.
She backed out and stomped on the gas pedal, squealing the back tires as we made it our way out of the woods and to the main road.
After a while we turned onto the highway and Raquel drove slower from then on. The whole time my mind was trying to process what just happened. My breath was shaky and my nerves were shot. It was only a few seconds until my mind finally came to a realization.
We escaped.
I have never felt so much relief before, like the way I was feeling now. I sank back in the seat and closed my eyes. I was free, we both were.
"You okay back there?"
I flinched at Raquel's sudden response. "Yeah... I'm okay."
"How's your hand? Is it still bleeding?"
"My hand?..."
I looked down at my hand to see dried blood covering the knuckles on my right hand and it was still seeping. I had completely forgotten about it, and I didn't even notice the pain until now.
"Y-yeah..."
"Here."
She caught me by surprise when she threw a roll of paper towels at me.
"Found them in the glove compartment."
"Thanks."
From what I could tell from my backseat driving position, I could only see the back of her head and her arms on the steering wheel. I could tell her arms were slightly pale green...and scaly.
I stared out the window and tried to get an idea of where we are. Looking for highway signs.
"So, where are we headed?" I finally asked.
"We're not that far from Raystown. Just a few hours from here. My family has a rental cabin near Raystown Lake. We can hide out there."
I had to think about what she said before it finally registered.
"Raystown?... Isn't that in PA?"
"Duh, where did you think you were?"
My eyes grew wide and my mouth hung open. I slumped back in my seat. I was in Pennsylvania! I knew I was far from home, but I didn't know I was completely out of New York. This made my hopes of finding my brothers dissipate. There was not much I could do at this point, I mean, we've only just escaped. We need to regroup and form a plan. As much as I want to find my brothers and go home, I guess the best thing to do is lay lo, for now.
"A few hours huh?"
"Yep. Don't worry, I'm a bit of a night hawk so I don't mind driving at night. We'll probably be there in about three hours. You can sleep on they way if you want."
I gladly took her advice and rested my head on the window and closed my eyes, letting my exhaustion take over me.