Clair de Lune

44. Freedom

My footsteps were inaudible amongst the sounds of gunfire and screaming coming from all ends of the facility. Margo and I kept our eyes dead ahead, locked on target as we traveled to our destination. The safe room for employees was located past the S Class containment hall and as far as we knew, was still unoccupied. The elevator doors opened and I strutted out onto the floor, watching as a familiar figure ran by me to release the A Class subjects.

"So, did every agent get taken over by the phantoms?" Margo questioned.

"My guess is that they got over half of them, but most likely not every single one. He's still new to this, I'm sure he's in a lot of pain right now." I sighed, my intuition kicking in as I took a step into the hallway. I held an arm out and stopped Margo from moving any further, the sound of a scream coming closer to us.

We both took a step back as a PASCI agent flew through the air in front of us, the sounds of him colliding with the opposite wall more...squishy than I'd expected. I cringed slightly before continuing to move, seeing as more figures began to gather in the smoke around us. I spotted subjects and agents alike, knowing that we were passing through practically unseen. Eventually we got to an area that was a little more airy, and we began passing by all of the S Class doors. If I had a keycard with me, I probably would've opened a few, but it was probably for the best that we left them inside until it was over anyway. An agent ran out in front of us and Margo didn't hesitate to gun him down, his limp body sliding into one of the doors with a loud thud.

"Good aim." I praised the girl, watching her perk up as we continued forward. I could hear rushing footsteps from down the other hall that branched off of this one, and right as we rounded the corner to the safe room I held up my gun and shot a bullet into the head of the first person through. What looked to be a secretary fell to the ground, dead as a doornail.

I stepped around the corner, coming eye to eye with about seven or eight PASCI employees. They were all wearing business suits and looked well-groomed, as if they sat in a large office every day and had people serving their every need, doing their bidding and dirty work. It disgusted me. One man in particular seemed to be more astute than the others, a very slim frame with graying hair and a pinstriped suit. The crimson tie contrasted against his ghostly eyes. They were filled with fear.

"All of you, hands in the air, into the safe room." I demanded, and they all complied. I followed behind them and listened as Margo closed the door behind us.

"Wh-What do you want?!" One of them called shakily, a woman in her mid thirties. She was sobbing hysterically and not even attempting to hide her wails.

"Well, first off, I should start off by saying none of you are going to leave this room alive." I pulled my mask down, watching the fear dawn on their faces. "Second, does the room have the ability to communicate with the rest of the building?"

"Yes ma'am." A woman replied, looking me in the eye. I liked her bravery.

"Good."

I shot the woman instantly, listening as the other woman screamed while she fell to the ground, blood leaking from the hole in the back of her skull. Margo fired a few rounds into the wall to get their attention, and everyone settled down, sitting there like mortified children.

"Who's the CEO?"

Everyone looked to the man in the middle of the room, the one with a crimson tie. He had to be in his sixties at the youngest, and he looked at me with mock bravado. Truth is the man himself was far too frail to defend himself and instead seemed to be wanting to take his death with honor.

"Margo, that one's yours."

"Thank you ma'am, I'll be sure to 'ave fun with him." She grinned sadistically as she grabbed ahold of his shirt collar and dragged him out into the hall, his scream short as it was cut off by a spurt of blood against the window.