Super short chapter, I know... I'm sorry D: Also it's been ages since update, again soz. Time has been hard to find lately - I'm filming a movie for University which is taking up lots of time. But don't worry, I shall keep writing whenever I find time :D Still have more chapters to go :)

- Hannah

Chapter 10 - The Step Outside

It was silent in the elevator.

Chell didn't know exactly what to say. She had so many questions.

How was Cave still alive? Why did GLaDOS need to find him? Why was she bringing her along?

There was no way GLaDOS couldn't protect herself - she was a super computer in an indestructible robotic body, like she needed protection from a human! But despite all these questions buzzing around in her head, Chell remained silent. Looking over at the robot beside her, she wondered if GLaDOS actually had a plan. It was all well and good to say she was going to find Cave, but did she even know where he was? After much thinking, Chell concluded that GLaDOS must have some sort of tracking device built into her system. The girl turned forward once again, watching the buttons of the elevator flash. The last time she was here, she was alone and terrified. She remembered the feeling knowing that she was being sent to the outside world, all alone. Even thinking about it now made her feel sick. But at least now she wasn't alone.

"I should warn you," the robot started, breaking Chell out of her thoughts. "It's not going to be easy for me to leave this place."

"Well it's pretty much your house, so I can't imagine it would be easy to leave," Chell observed, turning to face the robot. She couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to leave though. It may be GLaDOS' house, but it certainly wasn't a home. Homes are warm and comfortable, unlike this cold, metal facility. Although, to a robot, metal probably is quite comforting and homely.

"You misunderstood." GLaDOS continued. "I'm hardwired into the facility, so leaving here is going to hurt. A lot. Maybe more than when you murdered me. I suggest that you take cover when we arrive at the surface."

Chell nodded, noticing that GLaDOS had remained still whilst speaking, as if she didn't know exactly how to move. After all, it had been decades since she was last in control of a body. Perhaps she had forgotten how to move appropriately.

"Take cover?" she suddenly questioned, unsure of what GLaDOS had quite meant.

"You heard correct."

Chell had observed that the robot hadn't blinked at all either. Although, there was no reason too. She had no eyes to protect, just optics.

All of a sudden, the elevator grinded to a halt. They had arrived at the surface. There was a pause before the door violently swung open. The light once again blinded Chell, and the warmth of the outside air wrapped around her like a scarf. GLaDOS' warning to take cover suddenly came back to her memory, and taking one last look at the robot who had remained still, Chell bolted outside. There was nothing except corn around her, no trees or buildings to take shelter in. Chell didn't know exactly what was going to happen, but seeing as GLaDOS has warned her to take cover, she assumed it would be something big. She ran around the back of the metal shed as fast as her shaking legs would take her.

And there she saw it - her companion cube! She raced for it, wrapping it in a tight embrace. Sure, it was just a cube, but it had gotten her through so much and she had never been happier to see it. She ran with it as far away from the shed as she could before the explosion shattered through her. There was a blinding flash, and a huge ball of fire and electricity roared upward. Chell was thrown backwards into the corn, the cube ripped from her hands.

A ringing in her ears finally awoke her. At last opening her eyes again, Chell could only see flames. The shed was nowhere to be seen and neither was GLaDOS. She pulled herself back to her feet, leaning on the cube beside her for balance. The entire cornfield, or as far as Chell could see through the flames, was engulfed in a sea of red and orange. She was surrounded by flames and tongues of smoke reaching desperately into the sky, trying to escape the blazing inferno below. The smoke started to choke the girl as she desperately searched for a gap in the fire to escape. But there was none. If only the companion cube had a built in fire extinguisher...

She collapsed back to her knees, coughing profusely. The air was black now, she couldn't even see the fire surrounding her, only the smoke. Now it might have just been her hallucinating as she lost consciousness, but Chell was sure she could see a figure running towards her through the smoke. As it got closer, it got bigger and bigger until it was right in front of her. But it didn't stop, instead it grabbed the weak girl, slung her over it's shoulders and continued running. Chell felt the flames burn her as she was hauled through their tongues. She closed her eyes, waiting for it to end. Ash floated around Chell, showing onto her face like red hot snowflakes. Everything burned. And then, darkness.

I know it's short, and by far not my best writing. I'm having trouble finding motivation and time lately. Hoping to find both of these things soon. I'll try and update again within a fortnight.