Raze {Wolf Rebellion II}

Chapter 10~Start A Fight~

If you wanna start a fight,
You better throw the first punch,
Make it a good one.

-Panic! At the Disco, "The Good, The Bad, and The Dirty"

Chapter 10~Start A Fight~

I flashed the card in front of the keypad, nearly sighing in relief when the light turned green and the door swung open. I already knew this card would work here, but seeing it gave me some small measure of reassurance.

C'mon! Go! I needed to get as far away from here as possible, before the guards came. It was inevitable that they would.

I had to force down the terror that wanted to blind me as I darted into the hallway. Claret had to know I was out. Someone had to be watching me.

I flew down the hallway, my feet nearly silent on the linoleum. I clutched the scalpel tightly in my hand as I focused on keeping my balance. Setting my sights on the turn ahead of me, I pushed my legs until they burned. I didn't care that my entire body rebelled against the idea of running, that my lungs felt like they could collapse in the next second. All I could focus on was the thought of freedom. The thought of getting as far away from this place as humanly possible.

I barely slowed as I rounded the corner to the left, shifting my balance so I wouldn't hit the wall. The lights lining the floors flashed by in a blur and I glanced back, suddenly feeling as if they were already chasing me. Focus.

I didn't even know where I was going. For all I knew, I could've been headed deeper into the compound.

I clenched the card in my fist as another door appeared at the end of the hall. I'd been lucky to make it this far. Keep going. Don't let them catch you.

At that moment, two things happened simultaneously.

I reached for the door.

And a blaring alarm began ringing through the hall.

No no no! I yanked the door opened, worried the alarm would lockdown the doors. I paused for a split second, listening for footsteps approaching from either direction. Adrenaline made my body shake and I fought to keep it under control.

I pushed myself forward again, red filling my vision. I had to be close to something. This hallway couldn't go on forever.

The faraway sound of boots on tile reached my ears, and my breath hitched in my throat suddenly. I wasn't ready. My body still ached with every step I forced myself to take. How would I fight them? Because that's what it would come down to.

You know how.

The passing thought wasn't entirely my own, but in that moment I was grateful. I latched onto it as I forced myself further down the hallway. I had to keep as much distance between us as I could.

I came to a split in the hall and darted to the right, praying that it would be the right choice.

It wasn't.

The sound of footsteps grew louder over the alarm, and I realized they were in front of me. Not behind. Damn!

I twisted around, only to pick up the same sound from the other direction. Go! I started back the other way, keeping straight this time instead of turning back.

I kept my eyes on the walls. I needed another damn door. If this was a dead end...I wouldn't think about that right now.

My heart pounded in my ears as I chanced a look back, just as the first guards appeared at the end of the hall.