Happy New Year!

I'm really sorry that this is SO late, I've had a lot of stuff going on in my life lately. So my uploading might not be as regular, I promise to get back to it soon! I hope you all enjoy!

It felt like a long time before the lock clicked and the door to Dan and Phil's cell screeched open. The young girl, who had earlier assisted Dr. Brooks, stepped into the room, balancing two trays on in her arms. Phil recalled her name to be Clara.

The door slammed shut behind her and she carefully placed a tray in front of Phil, and then crossed the room and placed the other in front of Dan. The tray had a plate with unidentifiable sludge on it it that was supposed to represent some kind of food food and a small cup of water. Dan raised an eyebrow as if to say, Really?

Clara glanced at the one-way mirror at the front of the room and squatted down in front of Dan to be at eye level with him. "I'm going to get you out of here." She whispered.

Dan looked up at her in disbelief and Phil perked up from the other side of the room, although he didn't move as to look suspicious.

"Under your plate," she continued, gesturing to Dan's tray of glop, "You'll find my keycard. When they shut down tonight for lights out, use the card on the lock on the door and get out as quickly as you can. Don't go back home, they'll find you again and just bring you back here. You'll need to run."

Clara stood up and crossed the room, having taken up too much time already, but before she left Dan quietly called out, "Why are you doing this?"

She smiled warmly, "How could I betray the two men who inspired me to be the person I am? Good luck to you both." And she left without another word.

It was hours until the time came, and all the lights were shut off. Dan and Phil were still left curled up on the floor of their room, their 'dinners' were hardly touched save for the keycard that was safely stashed away in Dan's pocket.

Phil counted to sixty in his head as many times as he could stand until he finally looked over at Dan, "Are you ready?" he asked impatiently.

His brown haired companion glanced back at him, he was eager to escape but a bolt of fear was holding him back.. Dan glanced over at Phil, who was crouched against the wall in anticipation. He knew that he had to protect him, just like Phil had to protect him. They were so close to each other, calling Phil his best friend seemed like an understatement to Dan. They were so much more than that, they had a connection.

I can get us out. Dan thought confidently. "Let's go." He said out loud this time.

The two stood up and softly walked to the door and held Clara's key card to the fob. The small light turned green and beeped, and the door was miraculously unlocked. Phil had almost been sure that it was a setup.

Dan yanked the door open and peeked back at his and Phil's cell, hopefully it was the last time the two of them would ever see it. Having no more time for reflecting, the two started down the hallway following the red emergency exit signs.

Everything was going smoothly, too smoothly. They looked as inconspicuous as possible for as long as they could, only passing a few people in the endless labyrinth of corridors. But something had to go wrong sooner or later.

It was sooner.

They rounded a corner and came face to face with the guard that acted as their escort. For a second everyone froze, Dan and Phil had a mini staring contest with the guard both sides not sure what to do first. Then as soon everyone had stopped, it was like someone had pressed a play button and the three jumped into action.

"THE PRISONERS!" The guard shouted as loud as he could, "THE PRISONERS ARE ESCAPING!"

Dan and Phil tore past the guard, sprinting down the twisting hallways taking turns at random. It wasn't long after they started running that an alarm started blaring which alerted everyone to the fact that the two of them were breaking out.

Dan became acutely aware of people chasing them. His breathes heaved in and out of him like never before, as exercise wasn't one of his favorite pastimes. They turned one more corner and saw their salvation, an exit. At the end of a long corridor their long awaited exit door sat in front of them.

"DAN!" Phil suddenly shouted in distress.

Dan twisted around to see his friend sprawled on the ground, the men chasing them weren't far behind and he could hear their shoes pounding the tiles as they fought two catch up with them.

"I think I twisted my ankle!" Phil said breathlessly.

"Can you make it?" Dan asked hurriedly.

Phil nodded and managed to pull himself to his feet but after putting a little weight on his ankle, he winced in pain. "I don't think I can walk on it."

Dan's mind raced to find a solution, "Get on my back." He finally demanded.

"Excuse me?"

"Get on my back." Dan repeated, more firmly this time. "I'm going to carry you out."

Phil snapped into action and hopped on one foot to Dan, where he mounted him piggy back style. Dan ran down the corridor, struggling under Phil's added weight.

"Hey!" A shout came from behind them.

Phil swiveled his head to see the guard from earlier racing down the hallway, only a few steps behind him and Dan. Following the guards was a pack of about half a dozen police officers.

"Freeze!" The guard called out again, but this time he raised up a gun. "Freeze or I'll shoot."

Dan stopped dead in his tracks, they were now only steps from the exit. Only a few feet away from their freedom. He turned around so the both of them were facing the pack of opponents. Once again, everyone was frozen. Dan and Phil were hesitant to move, the guard was hesitant to shoot and the officers were eyeing them with suspicion and fear.

"Phil," Dan whispered, Phil still on his back, "Do something."

"What can I do?" Phil replied, but no sooner had the words left his mouth did he realize what Dan meant. The only thing in the way of he and Dan escaping was the fact that the guard had a gun, so the solution was simple: make the gun disappear.

He barely had to focus on making the gun vanish, as he already wanted so passionately for it to happen. And before anybody could stop him, the weapon popped out of existence, the guard looked down at his empty hands in disbelieving anger, while Dan took his chance and turned around sprinted to the exit.

"You little shits!" The guard yelled after them after he escaped his shock.

Dan became vaguely aware of them beginning to to chased again. Finally, they got to the exit door and pushed their way to the outside into the frigid air.

It took a moment for them to gather their bearings, but after a moment it occurred to Dan that they were in a parking lot. They were surrounded by trees on all sides, save for the giant government facility behind them. The only way out was a long dirt road that lead directly into the forest. And across the lot there sat a truck, already running, practically waiting for them.

They didn't have time to ask any questions, so Dan, using the last of his energy, ran across the lot and set Phil down on the passenger side of the car while he got into the driver's seat.

The keys were in the ignition, ready to go. They didn't have time to think about whose car this was, or why it was magically waiting for them. Dan threw the truck into gear and tore off down the dirt path, the sound of alarms and shouting fading into the distance behind them.