Project Genesis

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Corvus limped through the hallway, the bandages on his leg hindering his stride slightly. He knew he had to find Orion and tell her that everything was okay; that he was okay. He smiled to himself thinking about how he was going to take her by surprise. Getting his memory back was the one good thing that had happened to him since he had woken up in that pod. He moved through the hallway, scanning the numbers on the doors. Ren had told him that Orion was in room number thirty-one, and he was only at room number six. He sighed as he limped on, wincing slightly each time he put weight on his injured leg. He had almost reached number thirty-one when a loud bang caused him to jump. His stomach dropped in realization.

It was a gunshot.

He hobbled faster down the hallway, reaching the room and trying to open the doorknob. It was locked.

"Orion!" Corvus yelled, slamming his body against the door. The door wouldn't budge, staying securely latched in place. He continued to throw his body against the door, ignoring the pain screaming in his leg.

"Somebody, help!" His voice echoed throughout the hallway, attracting a few people who ran to his assistance. He backed out of the way as a few others tried to push at the jammed door with no prevail. Much to Corvus' relief, he caught a glimpse of Ren's short hair, pushing her way to the front of the group.

"Out of my way!" her authoritative voice commanded.

"Please, she has to be okay," Corvus said, his voice breaking slightly as he spoke. He could feel his heart rate quickening as he watched Ren work, punching in numbers on the keypad beside the door.

"This shouldn't be locked, why is this locked?" Her normally composed demeanor had cracked as panic caused her voice to raise slightly in tone. In what seemed like an eternity later, the door beeped, a green light signaling the unlock. People had begun to crowd around the door and Corvus could hear hushed gasps as the group fell silent.

"Move, get out of my way. That's my friend in there." Corvus pushed through the group, wincing as he bumped his leg in the process. There was nothing in the world that could have prepared him for the sight that lay on the other side of the door.

He walked slowly through the doorway, his breath hitching at what he saw. Two people were lying on the ground face down, one of them he was immediately able to pick out as Orion, but the other was unfamiliar to him.

And then there was the blood.

There was so much blood, Corvus almost couldn't fathom how that much blood could come from one person. It felt as though time had slowed as he watched Ren run to Orion's side, flipping her over and checking her pulse. He could see her barking out orders, but it was as though his ears had been filled with cotton. All he could focus on was Orion. Her face was paler than usual, the friendly blush drained from her cheeks. She was so still.

Corvus was moved to the side as people came into the room with a stretcher, making their way to where Ren knelt with Orion. They scooped her small frame from the floor, placing her on the stretcher and carefully wheeling her out of the room. Corvus watched as they took her away, his eyes still lingering as she disappeared from the room. He turned and found himself face to face with Ren, a solemn look on her face.

"Is she going to be okay?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"Honestly Corvus, I don't know. She's hurt pretty badly." They both watched as one of the doctors covered the man's corpse on the floor with a plastic sheet.

"Do you know who did this?" He coughed slightly, trying to maintain a level tone.

"Yes, I know him. I never expected this to happen Corvus, you must believe me." Corvus only nodded in response.

"Why would he do it? Why Orion?" Corvus asked.

"His wife and daughter were both killed in an Excel Corp raid," Ren said, her face falling as she continued.

"Excel Corp has taken so much from some of these people, he probably thought you both were a part of Excel Corp voluntarily." She turned to Corvus, wrapping her hand around his and squeezing.

"Don't worry, I will make an announcement tonight. People need to know that you weren't willingly involved with Excel Corp. Then maybe they will understand." She smiled, before walking away from Corvus and out the door.

Corvus swallowed the lump that had been forming in his throat.

How was he going to tell them that he had volunteered to be a part of Excel Corp?