The Disparate One

Chapter 78 - Return

Ray and Oxford were walking back to the facility, they noticed that the floor has water. They both looked around and continued to until they returned to the A-3 where it is being flooded like crazy. The pods for the Hyperloop are now underwater and the water level has already reached the second floor of the area. Ray looked up and saw a vast amount of water coming down from the ceiling and it looked like that it is not going to stop any time soon. Oxford also was looking up and told Ray that he hasn't seen this kind of problem before especially if it is not zero hour.

"Is there another way?", questioned Ray when he found out that the elevators have been flooded.

"That way.", answered Oxford as he was pointing at a hallway which the current of the water is going.

"I hope you can swim.", said Ray to Oxford as they were walking down the stairs carefully.

Oxford lets go of Ray when they started to swim towards the corridor when they were near it, they let the current take them but also they were closer together when they positioned themselves near the walls. The got stopped when they ended up in front of a pair of steel doors. It was slightly opened, but it looked like that it is stuck. Ray and Oxford tried to pry the doors open but it didn't work. Ray felt something round in one of his pockets, he investigated and discovered that there is an explosive grenade hiding with him. He cannot recall that he grabbed one of this. He just ignored it and just focused on the current problem.

"Where did you get that?", asked Oxford when he noticed that Ray was holding a grenade and was just standing next to him, quietly.

"I have no idea, to be honest with you.", answered Ray with his eyes wide open.

Oxford didn't say a word when he started to move away from the door, fighting the current. Ray followed him and when they got to a safe distance, Ray pulled the pin and gently threw it on the current that is flowing towards the doors. Oxford and Ray quickly covered their ears at the exact time when it exploded. Oxford was surprised when suddenly he got tackled to the floor and drowned underwater for a few seconds. He quickly got up to his feet, wiping the water off his face and found out that it was Ray who did it.

"What is wrong with you?", questioned Oxford before he finding out, just by looking, that Ray took a few and small flying debris just for him.

Ray leaned against the wall as he was trying to pull them out one by one. Oxford was shaking, disgusted when he was in the process of doing it.

"You got something... here.", said Oxford to Ray when he quickly plucked a medium sized shard out of Ray's right shoulder. Ray stared at the man when he almost screamed in pain. Oxford knew that what he did was a mistake, he should've told him first before pulling it out. Ray placed his hand on the wound as they started to walk again. Oxford was glancing on the man in front of him quietly, still regretting to what he has done.

"Do you hear that?", Ray let out a question when he came to a stop.

Oxford looked around and discovered a whole in a small portion of a wall nearby.

"The gas pipes have been damaged.", said Oxford when he moved in a closer for a few seconds before moving away from it.

They can clearly hear the gas spurting out of the small crack that has formed on the surface of the pipe. Oxford couldn't see what kind of gas that goes through the specified pipe but just after half a minute, both of their voices started to get higher and higher. Oxford turned out with a small smile on his face when he heard Ray's voice.

"Hydrogen.", said Oxford to Ray gently covering his mouth for some unknown reasons.

"Why are you laughing?", questioned Ray with a cute voice. He doesn't know why people laugh when they heard someone's voice that inhaled hydrogen and sulfur hexafluoride.

"Nothing, we should be going.", answered Oxford when he began to lead the way.

They started to hear explosions coming from the other end of the hallway, there are also screams mixing with it. Oxford announced that they are close and Ray nodded at him. They slowed down when they got to the darkest part of the hallway. The temperature also changed, it started to get cooler and colder as they inch forward. It was so dark that Oxford couldn't see a thing so he let Ray move in front since he told him that he can see through the dark. Ray told Oxford to place his hand on his other shoulder, the one that is not injured so that they will not lose each other in the dark environment.

Eventually, they came out of the darkness and were found by Chap and the others. Chap was speechless when he saw Ray's current condition. The white general uniform that he is wearing has some red spots throughout his body, but there is a huge part that has been completely turned red and that part is Ray's right shoulder.

"I thought you two already left.", said Chap when he started to approach the two.

Chap caught Ray glancing at the man next to him when he was approaching them. At that moment, he already knew why they decided to return. Ray was counting everyone that is in his view whilst Chap was handing a weapon to Oxford.

"What's the plan?", Chap suddenly asked a question when he looked at Ray who didn't notice him immediately.

"There isn't any.", Oxford spoke and everyone looked at him with a confused look. "Some of the exits have been completely destroyed and the rest are completely flooded. I'm guessing that a lot of lives have been already lost?", he added and everyone looked at one another before nodding at him.