Chapter Seven:

Suddenly the lights went out. At the same time, the tiny pager that she kept hidden vibrated against the skin against her upper thigh, a signal that she'd been preparing herself for. Dr. Crosby's team were finally assembled and they were about to come in. Her heart jumped as adrenaline slowly began to flow through her. It was finally happening. Her eyes quickly became acclimatised to the deep darkness, the green glow from the light fitting the only illumination. No doubt the security camera was equipped with infrared vision. Then alarms began to blare. Anna looked down at Clark. They would be here soon and it would all be over. She turned her head as the cell door slammed open and at the same time emergency generators began to kick in, flooding the room with weaker light than before. Instead of seeing Dr. Crosby's rescue team, she saw that it was Richard Graham and his team and they seemed frantic to get Clark out of there. Anna quickly looked back at Clark. Instinctively she knew that he wouldn't, couldn't survive another experiment. She felt Richard Graham grab her arm and haul her to her feet. She was slammed up against the wall and she gasped as her breath whooshed out of her. She tried to straighten up but his arm against her chest prevented her from doing so. She frowned.

"What's going on?" she choked, pulling air into starving lungs.

"This is all your doing!" he hissed, so close that spittle flecked her face. She clenched her fists as anger rose but instead frowned.

"What is all my doing? What are you talking about?"

"Didn't you think I'd realise? That I wouldn't know who you were really working for? You've been interested in this specimen ever since he arrived here, you were assigned to my team for a purpose and I think I know why," he turned his head and looked down at Clark briefly before returning his attention to her. His expression remained accusatory.

"You won't succeed, he's mine, I won't let you take him from me!" he sounded like a recalcitrant child being separated from a favoured toy.

"What you're doing is wrong, you're slowly killing him, and for what purpose?" she demanded, deciding to drop the pretence.

"I just do as I'm told Miss Vale. Just like you do," It was Anna's turn to frown.

"Which makes me wonder who you're working for? Anyone we know?"

"Someone very powerful, someone you don't say no to" he responded. Anna could hear doors slamming, running footsteps. It sounded like utter bedlam was breaking out and she needed to get Clark to relative safety. Something slammed against the cell door, catching Dr. Graham by surprise. Anna realised her opportunity and she used her body weight to push herself away from the wall. The movement caught him unaware and he fell backwards. Anna ran towards Clark. As she did, she crouched down and picked up her clipboard, using it as a weapon to hit Dr. Graham with all her might as he lunged towards her. He went down.

"Don't make me hit you again," she yelled. He stayed down and in that moment people were pouring through the door into the cell. Anna watched the craziness ensue as the scientists battled to get out of the cell, Dr. Graham included. She used the opportunity to go to Clark, to pull him with all her might to a semi reclined position against her body and she wrapped her arms around him protectively. He slumped against her.

She didn't recognise any of them but they identified themselves as being the team that Dr. Crosby had arranged. They certainly knew who she was. It was only then that she released her hold on Clark and allowed him to be loaded onto a gurney.

"Could someone please do me a favour?" she asked as one of the men helped her to her feet. She pointed to the light fitting still glowing with a weak green light.

"Someone please destroy that?" And she watched as her request was carried out.

She stood beside the gurney and watched him being strapped in. Someone had placed a blanket over him, a red one at that. She watched him, watched as consciousness began to claim him. He groaned quietly.

"Clark? Can you hear me?" she asked him and despite the sound of the alarms still going off, he turned his head and slowly opened his eyes. They were a vivid blue colour.

"You…?" his voice was weak; it took all of his strength to form the words.

"I'm Anna, Clark, you're going to be okay now," she assured him and watched as he was whisked away.