The Ghost

Chapter 15 - Breakout

There was one more interested party inside Room 6, but this one wasn't on the list of names. She could have made a run for it when she finally freed herself from her shackles. But Lexi knew she was all alone in the world. The only person who could possibly help her was Ryan.

She had taken care of the theatre assistant quickly enough in the female locker room with a choke hold that should have put her to sleep for long enough. Lexi had dressed in her full scrubs and the surgical mask had covered enough off her features to allow her to pose as a member of the theatre team.

She had to fight back the tears and the shock as she saw what they had done to Ryan. He appeared to be painted from head to toe in iodine, the disinfectant and antiseptic used for skin disinfection before surgery. She knew this was to make him visible. He was sedated and strapped to the bed and there was still some swelling to the face.

As the door opened and Falconi entered, she turned away from him and conducted an instrument check. It must have been convincing because nobody questioned her. Looking up, she was presented with a host of unfamiliar faces. Military for sure. Eastern Europeans and possibly Chinese or Japanese. Then her heart sank when she saw HIM walking amongst them, chatting amicably. It was the man who had brutalised her beloved father that day in his office. The one with the scar. Rage consumed her but this wasn't the time or place for it. She composed herself and listened as Falconi engaged with the men above.

When the 'auction' had ended and the men stood up to leave, Lexi waited by Ryan's side.

"Nurse, take the patient to Ward 4."

Lexi did as Dr Xi requested and wheeled Ryan out of Room 6. It was a long corridor with security positioned outside all doors. She passed by the wards until she came to Ward 4. Inside were ten beds, all occupied bar one. She manoeuvred Ryan into position and drew the curtains around them. "Ryan. It's me. Lexi. We don't have much time to talk. I know what's going on and we both need to get the hell out of here."

"Lex. Thank god. Mike said you were dead. I don't understand."

"They killed him Ryan. Beat him. But he never broke. One minute I was watching it happen, the next I wound up here, a bag over my head and tied to a chair. Can you walk?"

Ryan felt the sting of the incision in his chest but other than that, he was ready. Lexi peered around the curtain. All the patients were sedated, shackled and painted. Tubes ran down their throats and machines were breathing for them. Was this Ryan's fate?

"What can you see Lex?"

"These poor guys must've been given MRG-241. The side effects are worrying. They're ageing way too fast." She grabbed the notes from the end of bed 9.

Thompson, Alvin
DOB 13.05.97
Unit Number 724569

She opened the notes and there it was.

MRG-241 administered June 16.

"Shit! That's like three weeks ago. Ryan, we need to get to dad's place and fast.  It's our only hope of saving you."

"Lex. I saw the guards. They're everywhere. We'd be dead the second we set foot outside the door."

She looked out of the window. A twenty-foot drop into the river.

"Who said anything about a door?" She positioned herself behind the entrance, fire extinguisher in hand. "Guard. Come quick. There's a problem in here!" 

As the door swung open, she knocked the guard unconscious with a hefty blow. The next strike was at the glass pane. The shattering was quickly followed by a shrill alarm that rang out. Lexi helped Ryan up onto the window ledge and climbed alongside him. It was early, perhaps 4am, and the cool breeze was refreshing.

Footsteps and shouting in the corridor grew closer. Lexi grabbed Ryan's hand as she heard Falconi screaming at his guards to stop them.

"Halt or I'll be forced to shoot!" screamed a guard.

Ryan and Lexi jumped into the deep blue.