One Step Outside [Book 1]

Chapter 16 B and E 102

Bianca pulls her way into the vents. It was surprisingly large and spacious. She lays Heather down in the vents.

"Should I really leave you here?" Bianca worries.

"Honestly, I don't really want to die. I'll be fine, you need to get that antidote, I'm just slowing you down."

Bianca nods and hugs Heather gently, "I'll be back soon." she promises. Bianca starts crawling through the dusty vents, she takes one last look at Heather and opens a nearby vent. It swings open without a sound. She slips through the vent to land in a gray room with clear tubes, it seems to be a testing room. Bianca peers out of the room to see a hallway. Two guards walk by.

"Hear the new movie coming out, Luke?"

"No."

"It's about how PAAIIN beat stupid SUITA. It's based on a true story."

"We haven't done that yet."

"I know, Luke, "One of the men snaps. "One of their teammates are dying and they're frantic right now. And plus, we have the antidote.

Bianca winces. They were talking about Heather! How did they know? She slips through the hallway, behind of the two babbling guards. She pauses when she hears the guards stop walking.

"Why is the vent open?" It was Luke's voice.

"Eh, who knows?" The other man rasps.

"Mark, someone could be here. Don't you hear the heavy breathing?"

"That's me! You idiot." Mark coughs.

"Stop breathing." Silence.

Bianca's eyes widen, they know she's here. Bianca scrambles down the hallways, looking right to left.

"Where could it be?" She mutters to herself. Bianca wanders into a large testing room. Loud voices boom inside She instantly ducks behind crates. Bianca pokes her head around the box. In a large tube with a small vial, blue substance was inside of it. That must be it.

"Excuse me, PAAIIN scientists! We have an intruder, please make your way to the safety room." The speaker thunders overhead of Bianca. One of the scientists in a black lab coat places his hand on a large button.

Please don't be a lockdown button, please, please! Bianca prays. The scientist presses down on it and leaves the room with the other dozen of lab workers. The lights turn off. Bianca steps out from the boxes.

What was that button? Bianca ponders quietly as she steps closer to the tube. Reluctantly, she pulls the little door open and mist flows out like a river. Beep! Beep! Beep! Deafening speakers blare in her ears. Bianca grabs the vile and charges for the vent where Heather was hidden. Thundering steps pound after her. Bianca turns a corner and leaps over Mark and Luke, who were still arguing back and forth.

"Told you!" shouts Luke. Bianca panics as she climbs her way into the vents. Heather lays in front of her, wheezing.

"Bianca. You aren't dead." She rasps.

"Not yet!" Bianca huffs as she holds out the vile. "Hurry!!" Shouts and stomping sounds below them. Heather grabs the vile with all her strength and drinks it.

"Wow, I feel better already." She comments. Bianca blinks.

"Let's go!" Bianca grabs her by the arm and pulls her out the way they came. The girls fall out of the vent on to soft grass. Sirens were wailing. Feet were stomping. They had landed in front of...