He lapsed in and out of consciousness. Everytime Alucard's eyes fluttered opened, he began to ramble in a delusional panic. But he only had enough energy for that to last a minute or so before his eyes rolled up into the back of his skull and he stilled once again.
Seras cradled him in her lap and Integra stared at nothing in the dark, obsessed with the ancient vampire's shallow breathing. He should not breathe at all.
Escape seemed impossible now. There was no way they could muscle their way through untold armed guards with Alucard incapacitated. Any attempt to escape meant abandoning him. Agreeing to cooperate or negotiate was paramount to surrender. But splitting up was suicide.
And honorable.
With resolve, Integra lifted her head and decided to say just what she had been thinking: "Escape by any means necessary."
Seras looked up from her master. "What?"
"I want you to regroup with any surviving members of Hellsing and stage an assault and take vengeance on as many as you can. I'll remain here with Alucard, to whatever end."
Seras was aghast. "I can't leave you and master! Don't you think they'll kill you in retribution?"
In the darkness, Integra reached out and squeezed her servant's limp hand. Alucard had fallen back into unconsciousness. "If they plan on killing us, their cold hearts won't be moved by our voluntary surrender. And if they're going to go through the effort of keeping us alive because we're some vital part of their scheme, your escape won't alter their goals. Besides, someone should remain with Alucard, and your supernatural powers give you the greater advantage and better odds of escape." Integra smirked. "I order you to abandon us."
Seras lowered her head. "I can't. I just can't."
"Don't be cowardly!" Integra hissed. "Think of Alucard if you need to summon strength. Understand that without intervention, he is as good as dead. His only chance is if you bring help."
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The unseen enemy returned just as Integra couldn't stand the hunger any longer.
They came just as they had the first time; without warning and in a barrage of blinding light. Before Seras or Integra could jump to their feet and make a stand, swarms of men descended upon the room and Integra found herself restrained and forced to the floor, a boot crushing her neck. "Gutless bastards!" Integra spat. "Who are you?"
Seras backed up into a corner, her eyes wide and gleaming from the horror and hate. As the first man reached out to seize her, Seras's lips pulled back, revealing rows of sharp teeth, and she expelled an unnatural hiss. It was their only warning.
The cell erupted in panic as Seras sank her teeth into the approaching man's hand and promptly bit it off. But the other men descended immediately upon her rather than backing away. They had come prepared to battle it out with a vampire.
Integra had only eyes for Alucard. In the sudden surge of light, she could see his naked and bruised body at last. Horrified, she saw the deep plum and black bruises dappling his skin, just as Seras had described. Faceless men swarm around the old vampire, seizing him by his wrists and ankles and dragging him away.
As he slid by, his eyes rolled open and he focused on Integra. "Integra."
Integra's arm desperatly snaked out from the mens' grasps and she struggled to grab Alucard's hand, but missed it by inches. "Alucard!" she shouted as he was pulled away.
oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
The hood was pulled from Integra's head.
She gasped and wheezed. They had wrapped her neck in duct tape once the hood was secure, and she had passed out once or twice from insufficient oxygen. As she sat, breathless and dizzy, trying to get her bearings, she knew she was sitting in a metal chair with her arms and legs handcuffed. Her mouth was bleeding. Ah, yes. She had been kicked in the face trying to scramble after her helpless servant. Directly over her head was a blinding, bright light bulb. The rest of the room was dark and empty save for one man.
Integra blinked disbelieving at him.
He was a skinny little man, wearing plain black dress pants, a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a half-knotted tie. He had crooked black-rimmed glasses, giving him a weak or geeky appearance. Integra scowled at him. He looked like a janitor or an IT technician.
Integra shook her head. She must be dreaming or drugged. This couldn't be real.
The nerdy man plucked a pen light from his pocket and shined it in Integra's eyes. "Are you experiencing any loss of vision?"
"Fuck you!" Integra spat.
The man paused, leaning over Integra. He directed the light away from her face so he could look into her eyes. "We don't need physically healthy subjects, just genetically healthy ones. If you're going to be difficult, we can rip your jaw out and it won't impact the experiment. Understand?"
Integra just stared at the man.
He shined the light back in her eyes. "Any vision loss?"
"No."
He clicked the light off. "Your blood test and neurological exam checked out. You're clean. You can start right away." He tucked the pen into his pocket and turned around and walked into the dark. "I'll get you some Neosporin for that scratch."
Integra stuggled impotently against the chair. "Who are you? What do you want? Where are Alucard and Seras!"
To be continued…