-:- Chapter 12 -:-

"Where's C block anyway?" I asked as we walked back into the stairway.

He looked at me, "Think of the floors as the alphabet. Instead of 1, 2, 3 its a, b, c. Understand?"

"O ok." I said with a laugh.

He grabbed my hand with a tight grip. We walked up the steps, toward the third floor. Jorge reach to open the door and i smacked his hand. "Are you nuts!" I hissed at him.

He looked at me, "If it opens, Its clear." I sighed, "I dont want to die, Jorge." i said quietly.

He grabbed me in a large hug, massaging the back of my head, "Look. I know your scared."

I gave him a stern look, "I never said I was scared."

"But you said you didnt want to die."

"That doesnt mean I'm scared. Just means I dont want to die."

He sighed, "Its the same thing, corazon."

I felt slightly offended but ignored it, "Drop it."

I heard the door click and a distant voice could be heard in the hallway. "See? It just unlocked. You were wrong."

He squinted his eyes at me a bit and stuck out his tongue. I laughed. Even when we were in near danger, He still looked at life as it was. I guess... he didnt want to make this hard on me. I guess... he didnt want me to be scared. He wanted me to go through this easily. This wasnt a video game... this was real life.

He opened the door and tooka peek inside and coughed, "The airs clear, but it smells weird." He said.

I took a step back, "Then I wont go in."

"Foxy?" He turned around, letting the door close and grabbed my hand, "If the door opened, then its clear. Its safe to go inside."

"But its only been about five minutes. How could it clear in five minutes?"

"I dont know... but it did..."

"But you said the air smells funny." I said, tightening the grip on his hand.

"Its probably the after affect. The second floor had a strange smell too." he said, moving closer to me.

"It was full of dead bodies though... it wasnt a strange smell. The air carried the smell of the blood." I said, a slight tone growing in my voice.

He sighed, "How about this then? I'll go in and look around and assure you when its safe."

I put my head down, "I dont want to leave your side at all."

"Foxy..."

" Jorge... what if something happens to you and I'm left on my own here. What do I do then?

He gave me a hard hug, "Ok. we'll wait five more minutes. If it makes you happier. I'll wait with you til your ready to go in."

"But...but what about Julian?" I asked, leaning my head on his shoulder.

"I dont know. He's still in the building. he has to be. But we'll get him sooner or later."

I sighed against his shoulder, "We'll go now. The faster we finsih this and get out of here, the better."

He smiled and cupped my face, "Of course."

He opened the door and I followed him into the third floor. The air smelled a bit funny, but like I guessed, it still carried the smell of blood. I hated the smell of blood... (Mom). I backed into a wall and slid down to the floor, "Foxy?"

Jorge came up to me, "Babe? Are you okay?"

"...I hate the smell of blood...I hate it...its stronger here..."

"Foxy..."

-:--:-:- Flash back -:--:-:-

"Mom, Mom? You home?"

Twelve year Evangelina "Fox" Santiago walked into her mothers apartment. (( She was innocent then... Full of life... )) She walked into the living room and held her hand to her nose. A weird smell was in the air. "Mom," she said as her mouth muffled her voice, "I figured you car broke down and you couldnt come get me so I walked over here, If thats ok? Mom? Mooom?"

No one was answering her calls. The smell was growing stronger the deeper she walked into the apartment. "John? Are you in here? If you are, please stop kissing my mom and tell her to come out."

Still no answer. She started to gag on the smell and walked toward her mother's bedroom, "God, whats the smell?" she asked herself.

Opening her mother's bedroom door, and backed away, tears building up in her eyes. "Mom..."

Her mother, Carmen Louise, lay dead on her bed. Blood both fresh and dry was all over her face and neck. A few stab wonds were in her chest. Evangelina then ran to the bed and held her mother's dead body in arms, ignoring the terrible smell, "Mom! Mom! Please wake up! Mom! Please!"

Still her mother did not move. Tears rolled down her cheeks, "Mom! Mom Please!"

Footsteps were coming up the stairs. She ignored them and continued to hold her mother. A face peeked into the room, "Oh, Vangie..."

Evangelina looked up at the face of her father. He walked to her and took her away from her mother's body, holding her close, "Shhh... its okay... just cry... its best to cry..."

He took her out of the room and sat her on a chair, gently wiping away her mother's blood from her face. "I"m going to call the police ok?"

She didnt move. She watched her father walk to the phone and dialed. Slowly her hand went up to her nose and slowly...she began to cry..."

-:--:-:- End Flash back -:--:-:-

"Foxy... are you ok?"

"...I found my mother dead when i was twelve..."

His expression changed and grabbed her in his embrase, "Oh my god...I am so sorry, Foxy."

I held him close to me. I didnt know what else to do. The memory was flashing in my head. It wouldnt go away...it just wouldnt go away...

"Foxy.. Look... I want you to leave. i want you to take a truck from one of the garages and drive away from here. Okay? Thats what I want you to do.."

"Jorge, I dont want to leave you."

"Look, Foxy, I'll be fine, okay? All I have to do, is blow this place and I'll escape. Okay? I want you to go."

I thought about it. i didnt know whether to say yes or no. I wanted to leave, but then, I didnt want to leave Jorge. "If I leave, where will we meet?"

"In San Highway, you know where it is, dont you?"

I nodded. "I'll do everything I need to here, alright?" he told me. I nodded, "I'll go then." I said.

"okay. Can you make it to the garage on your own?"

"Ummmm..."

He grabbed my hand and helped me stand. He lead me back to the stair case and together we walked down the stairs. I couldnt belive I was actually going to leave. I cant believe it... I promised myself that i was going to stay by his side, no matter what. but now, I find myself leaving and letting him do everything on his own. He stopped at the last step. "See that door?"

"G1" I read. I looked at him, "The garage?"

He nodded, "Yes."

"How do you know where the garage is?"

"This umbrella building was built on the exact same plans the old umbrella building was based on. I figured it would be in the same area."

I nodded. He opened the door and let me inside. I saw one jeep and imeddiatly ran to it. I turned to look at Jorge one more time. He smiled at me, blew me a kiss, "You'll be fine, " I heard him whisper. I blew him the kiss in return, "I love you." I said. "I love you too." he responded. with that, he slowly closed the door. I opened the jeeps door and sat inside. I stared at the steering wheel, "I'll be okay. He'll be okay. San highway... due north... I think." I whispered to myself.

The keys were sitting on the dash board. I didnt think about it and slipped the keys into the ignition and drove off. (Jorge, I love you. Be okay for me.)