The Race Against Time

Chapter 29

Brooklyn 

Almost immediately after I tagged the girl two tumultuous buzzers went off. I must be dreaming, I can't be the one determining the fate of my team. The thoughts were accelerating inside my head. I want them to slow so I can breathe but they won't. My heart is hammering inside my chest as it belongs to a rabbit running for its skin. The room spins and I squat on the floor, trying to make everything slow to something my brain and body can cope with.

Why do I keep having these panic attacks? I took deep breathes calming myself. I need to get myself together before I get tagged. I stood up securing my laser in my hand and began to walk around making turns at every corner. However, as I curved one corner, I came face to face with Andrew himself.

I can't get a break from him, can I? Both of our lasers were pointed at each other. Who was going to strike first? We stared hard into the eyes of each other, if looks could kill he would be 6 feet under.

All of a sudden, I began to feel nauseous. Why is this happening? Please, not now. My breathing suddenly became more rapid and shallow. I looked over at Andrew and saw that he had also dropped his laser and was hunched over. I couldn't draw in my usual lung-full, it was as if concrete had been poured into my airways. My chest burned, begging for air and my head erupted in pain. I dropped to the floor in anguish.

Abruptly, my body began to shake. I screamed, convulsing and trembling like a rabid animal. Nausea clawed at my throat, and I tried to force down the bile, but it was too late. Chunks of partially digested food and a slimy yellow liquid spewed out of my coughing, choking mouth. My stomach kept on contracting violently and forcing everything up and out. My face was pale and dripping bile, sweat, and tears.

My eyesight blurred, and not because tears were welling up. Everything became fuzzy; then I saw nothing at all. My consciousness was floating through an empty space filled with a thick static. Throughout the inky space, my heartbeat pounded loudly, echoing in my ears, alongside fading pleas for help. Feeling in my body drained away until finally, all was black.

***

I wake suddenly, every thought in high definition. my eyes take in every ray of light and without a doubt I know I've been out too long. However, I was in a small hospital bed and not on the ground. I could hear someone talking in the room but I didn't know who. When I looked at the door Esmerelda and a man stood by the entrance speaking and now, they were coming my way. I quickly shut my eyes pretending that I was still asleep.

Esmerelda POV

"This is a setback that is not supposed to happen, Victor. How could all of their bodies reject the serum now of all times."

"Their bodies realized that the serum was foreign from the time we injected them with it however after some time the body rejected the serum because the immune system is made up mostly of white blood cells meant to destroy germs such as bacteria and viruses and help fight other diseases. The reaction of the body to unknown cells is known as an antigen-antibody reaction. Antibodies are proteins found in your blood that are always trying to protect you from any foreign invader. They are quick to try to destroy anything they don't recognize as part of you" Victor stated

"That means that they will be back to normal again. Putting the serum back in their bodies would make no sense because their bodies will simply reject once again."

"We can't just let them go back to their normal lives, it's too risky. If anyone found out about our organization we're toast."

"Then we have to get rid of them," I said.

"We can't let them know or else they'll try to escape, when they are awake, we'll send them to their rooms. We'll release a gas that will kill them in minutes." Victor announced

"Tomorrow by 2 a.m. on the dot we'll infuse the gas in the air conditioning vent so don't be late with the gas. Have it ready by morning."

"Yess ma'am."

End of Esmerelda's POV

When they were finished taking and had left the room, I let out a huge breath of air. This is what I had feared the most. Xander and I weren't even prepared for what was going to happen tomorrow. Just like that, they were going to kill us, no remorse what so ever.

When everyone is awake, I need to warn Xander. I can't let all these innocent people die. At the same time, I need to figure out a way to get everyone out of the building without making them panic or else Esmerelda would know that I heard her and Victor when they were speaking.

***

About half an hour after I woke up everyone was awake and feeling okay so we were brought back into the rooms we were previously in before the second challenge. I was way too scared to tell Xander and the rest of them about what I had heard because if Esmerelda suspected that I knew, she'd definitely get rid of me first and I will never get the chance to apprise everyone. 

I know I'm scared when those possibilities of death run through my head. My mind is replaying everything that could happen if I did nothing. Sarin rising in the air, everyone lying on the ground foaming at the mouth and dying.

I took in deep breaths trying to calm my racing heart. I stuffed my head in my hands making sure no one saw my face. I wiped my eyes of the tears that were already flowing but it was no use I couldn't hold it back. The tears burst forth like water from a dam, spilling down my face. I feel the muscles of my chin tremble like a small child. There is static in my head once more, the side effect of constant fear, constant stress I'm going through right now. 

I hear my own sounds like a distressed child, raw from the inside. My walls, the walls that hold me up and make me strong just.... collapse. Moment by moment they fall. Why can't I stop crying? 

A hand connected with my back and rubbed it trying to soothe me.

"It's okay, don't cry."

I looked up only to see a concerned Yori along with all the others around me. Yori embraced me and I cried on her shoulders soaking it with my salty tears.