Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 89: Setback

Both Lain and Mallix froze as they entered the room with panic and exhaustion apparent through their heavy and deep breathings. It wasn't much long after when they heard a loud slam from the outside of the door. They all tensed as the Hound against the door pushed their feet against the floor trying to hold the door with no lock in place.

Unhooking his arm from Lain's, Mallix rushed over to the door helping keep it shut from whoever desperately wanted to be let in. "Guess that distraction didn't last as long as we were hoping. What happened?!" He shouted over the loud yelling from the other side of the door.

"We...we b-booked it over here...but they saw us. It was my fault...I wasn't fast enough." Alex heaved as he was on all fours trying to catch his breathe looking down at the floor.

"OPEN UP!" They heard come from outside sending them all in sheer panic mode. Mallix and the unknown contact just held their backs to the door using all their might. Luckily for them in between every hit was a few seconds worth of a pause while they prepared themselves to hit again.

"Alright...it's alright. Just look for another way out!" Mallix shouted slightly annoyed as they all began looking for another way out.

As the group began to look frantically around the room, only now did Alex see whose feet were right besides his head. Forcing himself up to his feet he nearly tripped on himself before engulfing Lain into a tight hug.

"You're ok! Oh thank god!" He whispered loud enough for her to hear as she hugged him back. Tears were pouring down both their faces, under no circumstances were reunions easy. Even in this moment of great stress they couldn't help but shed a few tears about being back in one another's lives.

"Thank you for everything! Mallix told me this wouldn't be possible if it weren't for you!" She hugged him tighter thankful for the close friendship they had.

"Oh please I would do it all over again if I had to!" He said a little louder than before.

"Well let's not make that anytime soon! Hurry and help us look for a way out!" The distorted voice caught them both off guard having heard Alex from the door.

Both of them knew that the door wasn't going to hold much longer. Every pound coming from the outside got stronger by the second. To make matters worst each hit had enough force to send Mallix and the figure away from the door with its strength. But with their quick reflexes they swiftly threw themselves back against it, they readied themselves for the next wave of hits as Lain and Alex looked for another exit.

The kitchen had the typical appliances in it with a large crystal island in the middle of the room. In the far side of the kitchen we're boxes stacked as high as could be without tumbling over. But there was no other door in sight. "Hurry!" Mallix pleaded as another hit came through sending a sharp pain through his spine upon impact.

Even with one being physically exhausted and the other mentally drained, the two friends both ran around the room searching for any way to escape.

"Guess this wasn't part of the plan?" Lain somewhat joked as she and Alex dug past the massive mountain of boxes against the wall.

"Definitely was." He smiled tossing a box labeled cutlery onto the floor behind him.

After getting past the wave of cardboard they both stood shocked as they saw a bright red sign over the tower of boxes. Rushing to remove the remaining boxes in front of it, they happily continued on as the sign came into view. It was an exit sign above a door. "Aren't we lucky?" Alex commented as they finished removing the last of the boxes.

As he went to twist the handle but grunted as he found it locked. Irritated he aggressively tried pulling the handle, but it was no use the door didn't budge. "Guess not completely lucky." Lain frustratedly said trying to think of someway to unlock the door.

"Did you find something?!" Mallix pleaded from the door unable to see them as the boxes they moved earlier had piled into a large mess obstructing his view of them.

"Yeah it's a door! But it's locked!" Alex shouted back trying again to pull hard enough on the knob to get the door open.

"Locked? Leave it to me! Someone get over here and switch with me!" The figure besides Mallix called out with a strained voice as most of their energy was focused on keeping the door shut.

Quickly Alex ran over and swapped places, helping Mallix keep the swarming group of Hounds outside the door out as the contact ran over and froze momentarily upon seeing Lain. Shaking it off they got back on track and before anyone knew it the door was popped open.

Quietly opening it and looking out the contact made sure the coast was clear before announcing to the men about their savior. Once it was confirmed the contact just waved the men over as they grabbed Lain's wrist running out to safety. "Go on I'll hold them!" Mallix yelled to Alex.

"No we go together!"

"Alex just go!" He shouted with finality in his voice. Grunting Alex knew better than to argue with him. Taking a quick breathe he waited until a plow was sent against the door helping Mallix keep his stance before dashing off into the distance.

Mallix spread his body weight evenly to hold the door in place until he knew Alex was out. Taking a couple deep breathes he hyped himself up. As another impactful hit came through he wasted no time using that force to propel himself forwards.

In the blink of an eye he was out the other door, slamming it shut behind him just as the Hounds broke down the other door. Thankfully for Mallix, his escape did have a lock on it. And not just one, but two. Securing both a bolt and chain lock the growing group didn't want to stick around for them to break through this barrier too.

Looking around Mallix saw he was standing in the middle of a grey hallway. Everyone turned towards their guide for help. "This way!" They took off running down the long corridor to which they all followed. Alex wasn't far behind but Lain was dragging far behind. She felt sick to her stomach and her legs felt like they were going to give out on her at any second.

She forced herself to go as far as she could before she just couldn't. Her body stopped her even when her mind was telling her to push through. Mallix saw this and instantly stopped and ran back over to her. Without needing to think he lifted her up bridal style and picked up his pace catching up to the other two.

Lain went to argue against his help but before she could he looked down at her giving a look that already told her not to say it. Just giving in and accepting the help, she allowed him to carry her over to a room Alex's contact had opened using their key card.

Swiftly they all entered the room as the figure shut the door giving them each a moment to rest up briefly and discuss what that setback did to their plan.
——————————————————————————
Let me know what you think about that setback. Thanks Lexx signing off