Beyond The Sea Blue Light

Let's Go In Style

I clamp my hands over my ears as the explosion goes off, the force of it shaking the whole ground. Jack crouches next to me, flinching slightly as the next one goes off. Yells cut through the air, followed by rapid gunshots as the guards charge toward Andy and Craig.

"Clear!" Gerard yells in my earpiece. That's our cue. Jack grabs my hand, turning us invisible as we run toward the back door. My hands are shaking as I pull out a length of wire, picking the lock as quickly as I can.

"Hurry," Jack hisses as I nearly drop the wire. At last, the lock clicks open and I shove open the door, bracing myself for gunshots, but there are none. I exchange a glance with Jack, who shrugs as the two of us race down the hallways.

It's almost as if we're back in the other Facility. This one has nearly the same layout, the same crushing gray walls. But there aren't as many rooms in this one. We run past the familiar-looking Study Rooms, the sight of them making me feel weak. Memories tug at my mind, but I push them away. I can't get caught up in that now, not when we have a job to do and people to rescue.

We race up the stairs in the back, our sneakers squeaking on the tile floor.

"There," Jack pants as we skid to a halt at a familiar-looking black door, this one painted with a shadowy seven.

I pull at the latch, wincing at the screech of metal as I get it undone. Jack pulls the gun out of his waistband, aiming it down the hallway as I pull the door open, walking inside.

It's like I've stepped into the past. For a moment, I actually fear that I'm back in Room 5 at the Facility, the room so familiar with it's gray walls and pale lighting. But its not Vic sitting on the bed like I'd expect it to be. Instead, there's a different boy, his hair an unnatural shade of bright blue, though it is faded a lot. He looks quite a bit younger than me, maybe around fourteen.

"Who are you?" he asks, his voice trembling slightly.

"I'm just like you," I say. "We're here to rescue you."

He nods, still looking at me apprehensively.

"I'm Kellin," I say. "What's your name?"

"M-113," the boy replies.

"Your name," I say. "Not your number."

He smiles at my words. "I'm Awsten."

"C'mon," I beckon him forward. "We're getting out of here."

"Hi!" Jack gives Awsten a little wave. "I'm Jack."

"Awsten," Awsten replies, his voice quiet.

"Jack, can you help out?" Alex's voice crackles in my ear. He sounds out of breath.

"Yeah, what's going on?" Jack asks.

"We need to fall back," Alex yells. "Can you get over here and help?"

"On my way," Jack replies. He glances over at me. "Will you be okay?"

I nod. "It's fine. Go. I'll get Awsten out."

Jack turns and sprints down the hallway, disappearing as he runs. Awsten and I go the other direction as I lead him down the stairs and onto the first floor. The two of us sprint down the hall as we get to the pair of double doors. I frown. I thought Jack and I propped them open earlier.

"Shit." I pound on the door, trying to get it open. Just as I do, I see Awsten's eyes widen in surprise and I look behind me just in time to see the guard charging toward me.

"Run," I say, shoving Awsten forward.

The gunshot rings out as I dive forward, tackling the guard to the ground. I can feel warm blood flowing down my skin as I struggle to my feet, gritting my teeth.

He reaches for the gun, even as I lunge for it, yanking it out of my grasp. My shoulder jars against the ground and I let out a gasp of pain, the wound in my stomach screaming with pain. "Too late," he sneers. The guard points the gun at me and I reflexively close my eyes, waiting for him to shoot. It'll be okay, I can heal. I just have to keep him occupied enough so Awsten can get out.

A gunshot rings out across the hall and I tense, expecting the pain to come, but there's nothing. Instead, the guard stumbles backward, clapping a hand to his neck. Blood spurts across his hands before he collapses to the ground, scarlet pooling around him.

I stare in shock, before I whip around, trying to see who is there, but pain suddenly digs into my skull, making me scream. I drop to the ground, pressing my hand against my stomach as the world tilts around me.

"Get out of here." I hear a familiar voice and register Vic pulling me to my feet as I struggle to keep upright. His grip on my arm doesn't relax as he tugs me down the corridor.

"How—" I wince as he shoves me into the storage closet, slamming the door shut, just as the sound of footsteps pounds by. I open my mouth to speak but he pushes me down, sitting me on some boxes before he pulls open my shirt.

"Shit," he mutters. He presses something—a white towel against the wound, making me hiss with pain. He's dressed in a black guard's uniform, the sight of it making me tense. Everything about him seems so stiff, lifeless, so unlike him.

"I can heal," I push him away. "How the hell—what—"

"I'm sorry," Vic says, cupping my face in his hands. "I'm so sorry for leaving."

"No, how—" I suck in my breath, wincing in pain. "What are you doing here?"

He avoids my gaze, examining the wound. "It should be healing faster," he mutters. "Why isn't it?"

"I just need time," I gasp. "Just, answer my question."

He shakes his head. "Where's your escape?" he asks. "I'll get you out."

"Just answer me," I plead. "Why?"

"Kellin?" Alex's voice sounds in my ear. "Are you almost out?"

"Yeah," I breathe out. "Give me a second." Vic seems to realize I'm talking with Alex because he nods.

"You should go," Vic says.

"Come with me," I beg. "Whatever you were doing, does it matter? We've destroyed this Facility and the old one. Please, just come with me. We saved your family. They're safe."

"You did that?" Vic asks softly.

I nod. "You told me and Gerard organized it."

Vic hesitates, and I can see how much he wants to.

"It's finally over," I whisper. "Please." Pain suddenly flares in my stomach, burning and sharp.

"Shit," I hiss, doubling over, gasping. Vic's at my side immediately, holding me up as I struggle to catch my breath.

"Are you okay?" he asks. I wave him off, unable to speak through the pain in my stomach. Why aren't I able to—what's going on? Something's terribly wrong—I don't know exactly what but I know something bad is happening. Vic's saying something, but I can't quite make it out clearly.

"Kellin?" Alex's voice echoes in my ear.

"Yeah?" I manage to gasp out through the pain.

"Get out of there," he says. I hear Alex grunt before a loud crash sounds, followed by a string of curses. "They're onto us and Andy's going to blow the place. Get out!"

"Do you have Awsten?" I ask.

"Yeah," Alex sounds panicked. "But we need to get out now."

"Kellin, what's wrong?" Vic asks. I shake my head, forcing down the wave of nausea as the pressure tightens around my head. Something's wrong.

"We have to get out," I gasp as the pressure heightens until it feels like my head is about to explode.

Vic nods and I half-expect him to turn away, but he instead lifts me up into his arms. I grit my teeth to stop myself from crying out as the pressure tightens again. Darkness presses at the edges of my vision as I struggle to keep myself awake.

"Hold on, okay?" he murmurs. "Just hold on."

I register that I'm being carried out of the building, into the fresh air. Out of the corner of my vision, I see Alex running toward us, his face streaked with tears, but before I can see what he says, I black out.