Before I left, I knew I would have to somehow say goodbye to Donald without telling him I was leaving. I stayed up for nights in a row trying to formulate a way to say that, but nothing came to mind. All the while, I had to endure Donald's visits. Every time I saw him I wanted to tell him that in a few days I would be leaving. I wanted to tell him that I would always love him, and nothing could change that, but, I had to leave. I couldn't stay in a place like this, with white walls and white everything. I needed to live. But, I couldn't tell him any of that. And that broke my heart. So, the days went by, and I did nothing.
Then, it was the day. The day I would help Laura escape from Doctor Rice. I felt cold and numb, as if I had been lying in the cold Michigan snow for too long, and now there was nothing left but the cold. It wasn't a happy feeling, and not to mention the fact that the moment Donald brought me breakfast, I felt swarms of wasps enter my stomach. Butterflies could not explain how I was feeling.
Donald and I mainly sat in silence, he seemed to be deep in thought, and I didn't disturb him. Maybe he was trying to find a way to say something to me, as I had desperately been trying to do for the last few days. Yet, whatever it was he was trying to figure out, he didn't share it with me. Before he left, he planted a kiss on my forehead. It felt like a good enough goodbye for me, even if I didn't say anything.
The day seemed to move slowly, but, at noon, Gabriella stopped by, and left me out of my cage.
"Thank you," I whispered. We headed towards Laura's cell, quietly, but something happened on the way there that made us stop dead in our tracks. We were walking, when we heard the voice of Doctor Rice,
"X-24 is completed. I have no further use of the children. Dispose of them." I held my breath, I was wondering what that meant for me.
"What about Liz- I mean, X-25?" Donald's southern voice said. I swallowed. I felt happy that he was asking about me, but scared for Rice's answer.
"Keep her, she has proven to be a valuable asset. We just need to find a way to control her," Rice replied.
"Yes, sir," Donald said, "Come on, boys, we've got a job to do." I felt Gabriella tug on my arm, and she ran through the compound until we arrived at Laura's cell. Gabriella spoke to a few other nurses, who spoke to others. Everyone quickly started opening cell doors and running. I grabbed hold of Laura's hand as soon as I could, and made a run for it with her as guards started to appear.
I followed Gabriella's instructions to the t. I ran down the left corridor, then the right, up two flights of stairs, down another corridor, then up a twisting flight of stairs, to the roof. All the while, Laura and I were being shot at. It was scary, and I could feel adrenaline pulsing through me. Before I went up the twisting flight of stairs, I shoved Laura into one of the the rooms, and I hid with her in it, until the guards had left. Once the coast seemed clear, I helped Laura out, and we began up the stairs. Before we reached the top, we ran into a slight problem- Donald Pierce.
"Donald, let us through," I whispered. Donald looked up at me. He seemed perfectly calm.
"You know I can't do that. It's a huge security risk." I took a deep breath, and let my hand slip away from Laura's.
"Then you know what I'm going to have to do," I said. Donald nodded,
"You're going to have to kill me." I stared up at him, and sighed.
"Damn it," I whispered. Before Donald could even think about what I was going to do, I had sped up next to him. He didn't have time to pull out his gun. I kissed him, and sped away, still holding onto him. When I stopped running I was on the ground floor.
"Good-Bye," I said, leaning my head against his chest. I sped off before he could respond.
Once I made it back to Laura, guards were on our tail. I pulled her up the steps, and we rushed towards the edge. I smiled at her, and gave her a reassuring nod.
"You'll be fine," I yelled over the sound of the door opening and feet pounding. Laura hugged me, and jumped. I turned the face the guards. They were holding guns. I didn't fear guns, because I would just heal, so I laughed, and yelled,
"What are you going to do? Shot me?" One nodded, and shot me. I winced, and climbed onto the edge. I saw Donald appear from the doorway. I felt tears pool in my eyes. Another shot rang out, this one hitting me again. I jumped.