E.C.H.O.

Stage 10 "Escape"

"Jeeze," Lucas muttered as he turned away from the window. He couldn't explain why he was going to do what he was about to...couldn't understand it. Ignoring Rick's voice, he headed for the other door, the one that lead to the pool. He was sure that there would be no one there as the men were most likely heading in the direction Peter had gone. He shoved the thoughts of how in any other situation with ECHO his actions would have compromised the mission in such a way that he would face dire consequences. You never look back, a voice echoed in his head. Never go back. One shot is all you have, so you better make it count.

Lucas snorted. He pushed the door to the pool area open a crack, not making a sound. Peeking through he saw there wasn't a person there. The pool had been completely covered once more, showing no trace of the boys' earlier presence.

Opening the door further, Lucas slipped through and headed for the door leading into the rest of the building. He had to act fast if he wanted to build a distraction big enough to help Peter out. A plan was already forming in his head. He needed to do this in a way that looked like he was just another high school student to anyone watching the security cameras. Anything that could give him away for who he really was had to be left out.

I could go for the supply room...but that alone might not give Peter the time to escape... he scowled as the layout of the area flashed through his mind. He would only have around thirty seconds to get back to the window...unless... a grin spread across his face as he remembered the lasers in the trophy room. The more chaotic, the more confusion.

He slipped through another door into the next room. As expected it was the volleyball room. He heard voices and footsteps elsewhere, coming from the corridor he knew was next door.

His feet not making a sound, Lucas sprinted across the room. He reached the door just as it burst open. In one smooth movement Lucas had turned and pressed himself against the wall just in time.

A figure burst passed. Lucas recognized Peter at once. He stayed where he was, watching silently as Peter made his way to the door leading to the pool. He was on the way to make his escape, yet then door at the other end began to open. Someone had run around to cut him off. Another figure ran out of the door next to Lucas. With two options out, Peter turned and ran for the third door.

Lucas stayed as still as a statue. They wouldn't notice him, not when he wasn't moving. It was human nature to not take note of ones surroundings when fixated on something else. Another person burst out of the door leading to the pool.

"That way!" the person who had run past Lucas, yelled as he pointed at the door Peter had disappeared through. The two ran off after Peter, the beams of their flashlights going all over the room.

Lucas resisted the urge to snort. Looks like their security guards are just from some firm in the area...then again...who knows.

That was when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He resisted the urge to search the area and find the new presence.

Don't make a wrong move, he told himself. Instead, he turned and headed through the door Peter had burst out before, showing no sign that he had noticed the presence of someone else.

So...their security is better, he noted, for he was sure that the figure was someone watching from the shadows...evaluating the situation. Or perhaps not just the situation, Lucas thought. Looks like they're more suspicious than I gave them credit for. A smile spread across his face, Maybe this situation was a better opportunity than he thought. Time to prove I'm nothing but a normal high school kid, Lucas noted as he ran across the basketball courts.