Disclaimer: This is a work of fanfiction using characters and elements from the Pitch Perfect movie series and Sense8 by the Wachowskis and Straczynski. This is meant for entertainment, not part of either source's respective narrative. I don't own any of it nor intend any copyright infringement or profit from this. Also, I don't own any of the songs mentioned below.
AN:
And here is the second update!
I apologize for how long this took. I was going to post it the same day, but I got sick and hit my head snowboarding (all in a day) that I wrestled with for a couple of weeks. I also wanted to revise a few scenes in here because y'all have been super patient with me and you deserve it.
So besides life, I aim to get the next one posted as soon as I have it done (I don't have a timeframe yet).
Thank you for your reviews, follows, and kudos, it means a lot. This chapter will answer some the speculations and questions you have, not all but some (good ones by the way!).
Now without further ado, to the rescue!
And hope you had a happy holiday and New Year!
LILLY – 7
It was quiet.
Beca could hear a series of soft beats from a monitor in the room registering her vitals. The leather straps around her ankles and wrists would squeak when she shifted every now and then. There was even an irritating humming noise coming from one of the lights in the room. Hints of blood mixed with the stale smell of chemicals made her nauseous.
But it was nothing compared to the silence in her head.
It felt strange hearing her own thoughts again. Usually there'd be someone else's ramblings or feelings bouncing around like Stacie's or Emily's excitement. She always knew when Chloe helped a new animal at the clinic. A wave of happiness would bombard her being and every time Beca would grin and roll her eyes.
But now, as she stared at the ceiling, it was just her.
And it left her feeling more alone than she's ever felt in her entire life.
She grew up with a different version of loneliness. The one where she relied on herself and kept people at arm's length. It was apparent by her lack of friends and how she saw her Dad less as she got older and he met Sheila while her mom put all her energy into work after the divorce.
College was no different, except for a few friends like Jesse that taught her a thing or two.
She didn't have to get used to living alone when she moved to New York because nothing changed.
Until the same redhead who made her sing Miley Cyrus barged into her shower.
She didn't think everything could change so suddenly, that she couldn't imagine a day when Amy wouldn't tell her stories of jelly wrestling during one of her meetings or have Stacie recite all the scientific ingredients of Advil when she goes to the pharmacy. It wouldn't even feel right making a mix without Lilly's tinkering in the background. That now she had a group of people she felt like she belonged too and could come home to, figuratively speaking.
Except this time, the unsympathetic feeling that washed over her had a different touch. Whereas her loneliness growing up was by choice, this was forced. It felt like she was trapped in a pitch-black room and no matter how far she searched and stumbled in the dark, there was no way out.
The lack of timekeeping didn't help the matter.
There were no windows, no clock in this cold, lifeless room to indicate how much time has passed. She's guessed that's it's been maybe a few days now? All she knew was the routine they set for her. They've kept her on sedatives most of the time, resting until some assistants calmly marched in and injected a drug that would leave her body vulnerable to pain.
She instinctively tensed up at the thought of it, and the straps rubbed against her already raw skin. The sounds of a metal door swinging open and close with a loud clank and the scuff of plastic wheels set her on edge every time.
She remembered when she woke up in the room she calls her prison.
First, she panicked, overwhelmed by her last waking memory of BPO and Luisa. She took in her new surroundings, sounds, and finally the two men in lab coats hovering over her.
"She's awake." The one to her right calmly said as he flicked a finger against a syringe full of an amber-colored liquid.
"Perfect. We won't have to waste any time."
"Where's the doctor? Is he going to be here?" Both didn't acknowledge the frantic storm blue eyes bouncing between them.
She didn't notice it at first, but there was tightness around her head and from what she could tell it was a web of wires and tubes. It didn't hurt, but it only made her more nervous. Then she decided to warn Chloe and the others to take the blockers – to forget about her and remain safe.
The brunette fixated on Chloe, it was easy, the redhead was always the first thing on her mind. She popped into the kitchen, accidently knocking the mail off the counter.
Chloe was there and staring straight at her, but whether it was in concern or surprise, she wasn't sure. It warmed her heart, being around Chloe that is and she almost smiled at the sight, and solidified her resolve. She won't lose any of them – Chloe, Amy, Stacie, Flo, Lilly, and Emily – to BPO.
It's only unfortunate she didn't finish her message.
"He's at another facility. He'll be here later. Right now, he wants us to test his modifications." The other finally answered. He picked up two paddles, ones that Beca registered as a defibrillator.
"Ready." The assistant said, nodding to the other one who still held the syringe.
Then he leaned over and pressed the syringe into her neck. There was a pinch, and she flinched as the man injected the rest of the liquid out of the plastic case.
Suddenly her veins were on fire and it became hard to breathe. Breaths came out fast and hard as her eyes watched the paddles connect with her chest.
Then there was pain.
A merciless pain that Beca's never experienced before.
Her body shook with each cycle, the straps preventing her from escaping as she bounced against the chair. She swore her heart stopped. Shouts of pain and groans echoed in the room as the current continued for what felt like minutes.
Then it ceased, and she fell back against the cushioned chair with a thud. Warm blood pooled in the back of her mouth and she felt some running down her nose. She greedily took in air, trying to calm her racing heart. A drop of sweat rolled down from her hairline.
The assistant who injected the chemical shook his head as he scribbled some notes on a tablet, "Nothing. Try again."
Beca couldn't prepare herself for what came next.
There was only one shred of hope that she latched onto like a vice. Hours, maybe days of her time here, and Chloe and others haven't visited, nor could she feel them on the edges of her mind. Maybe they got her message.
Maybe Stacie finished the blockers, and everyone was safe.
That could be why she re-experiences memories instead.
Beca expects – knows - she's going to die here. What else can she do? She's restrained, sedated, and watched 24/7. She'd be lucky to get out of the restraints, and even luckier if she had the energy to escape without being seen.
Or end it like Mitch did.
As she lays here, the noises in the room becoming dull, she couldn't escape her deepest fears.
Afraid of succumbing to the darkness and not waking up, leaving the people she loves behind.
But most of all, terrified of leading them to her same fate.
She sees them in her off-and-on dreams and memories.
They start out light-hearted and morph into fear and helplessness. The ones she dreads the most are when BPO captures her family and friends. She sees men in white latex suits knocking down doors and pulling an unconscious body through the threshold. Sometimes its Emily, Amy, or even Chloe. They'd always end with a heavy shut of the door and a scream before everything goes black.
She's scared of the fact that it's only a matter of time before the clock hands stop ticking - for herself and them - and she won't know when.
There's one good thing about her situation, if you can call it that. It was more like, "it could be worse". At least Whispers wasn't here, or else things could be worse, much worse. It meant Chloe, Amy, Stacie, Flo and the others were safe – for now.
In the time she's been pondering, her gaze never strayed from the small air pocket in the smooth grey colored ceiling.
Nothing changed. Not the beeping of the monitor, the squeaks of the leather, and even the irritating humming noise. The smell of her own blood made her sick. Some of it dripped from one of the cuts on her arm. There were most likely red speckles that dribbled off her face at some point that stained the ground too.
She drifted off, eyes traveling over the metallic tables and colorless room as weariness seeped into her bones.
Then a familiar vanilla scent hit her senses, one that sparked a recent, and dreaded, recollection.
"You are still alive? Feisty mouse is right."
Sharp blue eyes made their own trip around the brunette's confines before finally landing on hers. She tried to glare back with all the energy she had left.
"Not many of us survive long here, and yet you live." The tall blonde inspected the wounds littering her body. Beca felt a hand ghost over her right arm, from the crook of her elbow to her wrist.
Why can't she leave me alone?
Her storm blue eyes watched the German carefully as her long fingers pricked at a fresh bandage and finally paused at the old blood painting her skin. Turns out, a scalpel was just as effective as a defibrillator and the stinging cuts lasted longer than any bodily shock did. She licked her thumb and with too much pressure, crudely wiped the red fluid off.
"Ugh!" Beca groaned and tried to pull away to no avail, flinching as the woman pressed harder on her tender wound.
"I think I spoke too soon. Don't cry, it only makes eyes puffy," She taunted, patting her check carelessly.
"Do you regret your decision yet?" The blonde finally pulled back and crossed her arms when the brunette didn't react.
Beca chose not to answer and threw the most defiant glare she could muster. Her blood boiled as the woman didn't seem to care.
"I see," she said, calmly stepping closer into the light. She was still as tall and intimidating as the moment they met.
A rush of air and hinges creaking turned their attention to a mumbling figure pushing a cart full of supplies entering the room. The young man was a new piece in her schedule. She only noticed it recently during one of the few waking moments she had. Just on time, he peered through his glasses as he carefully reset the drugs flowing through her veins.
Undeterred by the interruption, Luisa whispered into her ear, "The Cannibal is coming, and he will break you. He always does."
The heart rate monitor sped up, the beats fast and wild.
The man didn't notice, finally putting the items back on the cart. One thing she knew in her defined routine here was that their drugs acted fast and this time she was grateful for it.
Combined with her weariness and the sedative, her eyelids fluttered open and close. Her thumping heart slowed. Luisa's figure blurred as a result and she barely heard the door shutting.
The darkness consumed her, and Luisa's last words drifted off along with her consciousness.
"Everything must come to an end, even for you and your cluster."
A squeaking sound brought her back from the ocean of unconsciousness. It grated on her ears.
Everything was the same. The machines still emitted whirs and beeps, the straps were still as scratchy, and the light still hummed. Almost everything.
Instead of the three assistants she's come to know, in their place was one man sitting on a stool.
It squeaked once more as he turned to the table next to him. The one Beca knew laid the source of her wounds. And based on the tightness around her head, she was wearing the helmet again.
From her viewpoint, he was an older gentleman, white hair and a full well-kept beard and wore a clean white shirt and dark blue tie. It sparked a memory of her own – and one of Stacie's. Stacie once gave this man, Mr. Brandt, a tour of her work.
Then it clicked. Whispers, Cannibal, Mr. Brandt, the man hovering over in New York were all the same.
She clenched her fists and peered up anxiously when he finally noticed her awake. She couldn't turn away, petrified with fear as her own eyes met a faded blue through wire-framed glasses.
"Hello Ms. Mitchell. It's a pleasure to meet you." He casually said, no malice evident in the kind sounding greeting. The fear spread through her body like wild fire as he pulled the table closer. The plastic wheels nosily rolled across the floor. Her heart hammered in her chest.
"You know who I am. Kommissar must have told you. She never plays well with others." He tutted as the heart rate monitor caught up. He handled a syringe in a gloved hand.
"But we do have an understanding and she follows through each and every time." Whispers wore a smug smirk and had a predatory glint in his eyes.
She was speechless, unprepared as the worst had come.
The familiar heat dancing across her skin and what felt like her lungs constricting started as the liquid followed its well-worn path. In the meantime, she tried to put up every mental block she could think of.
He spun a dial on the defibrillator farther than what she's seen and picked up the silver paddles.
"Let's not waste time. I want to know who else is in that head of yours."
With a wicked smile, they connected with her chest.
It was worse than any of the other times put together.
Then he pulled away and she fell against the chair, panting heavier than before. Her head lolled to the side and he leaned over, his eyes drilling into hers. The taste of copper in her mouth was strong.
"What's the first thing you think of?"
Any mental blocks she put up shattered to pieces and her thoughts surfaced without resistance as they usually did.
Chloe…
But she couldn't reach Chloe. It was like she was never there. Instead, a memory bubbled up again. A memory that she failed to stop.
"I said no Chloe." Beca firmly stated, snowflakes gathering on her thick, black coat and beanie.
The other woman challenged, a puff of air visible in the winter temperature. "Why? We spent Thanksgiving with my family, why can't we spend Christmas with yours?"
Regardless of their argument, they walked hand in hand.
Beca exhaled, still staring down the walkway they decided to traverse for an evening walk.
The pristine white snow, decorative lights and ribbons adorning the trees only meant it was a prime December night in New York.
Christmas was everywhere. Every business, billboard, and street were decked out in evergreen trees, bright colored or white lights, and decorations.
Central park was just as festive and drew tourists and residents alike.
The brunette didn't really celebrate the holidays, but so far this year was already different.
"Because my family isn't like yours. It won't turn out how you think it will."
The redhead turned to look at the music producer, brows furrowed, "What is that supposed to mean?"
The brunette didn't talk about her immediate family much and if it wasn't for the fact that Chloe had taken classes with her Dad, professor Mitchell, she wouldn't have ever tied the kind professor to his sarcastic daughter.
The snow crunched under their boots and no matter how many layers Beca wore she couldn't keep herself warm. The producer hung her head, staring at the snow with a conflicted expression.
"I don't care that your family is different from mine, I'm not expecting that. Why does that matter?" The redhead argued.
Then Beca snapped.
"Because there's a reason I moved out here with just my Dad's help okay?! Happy now?"
They stood in the middle of the walkway, a few inches apart. The brunette didn't notice she let go of Chloe's hand, too caught up in her emotions.
While one's chest heaved up and down the other remained still, as resolute as the glare she received.
"If that's how you are going to act, I think I'll spend Christmas with my family by myself."
Then Chloe disappeared from sight, leaving Beca alone in Central Park.
"What's got their panties in a bunch?" Amy asked Stacie when the Australian visited the scientist.
Both noticed that the couple of the group weren't acting as couple-ly as before. Once when Amy went to ask Chloe a question about dying her hair, Beca wasn't there. Beca wasn't much help either, she hid in her covers when the performer stopped by her apartment. And now Chloe was particularly more demanding and Beca was brooding more than what was healthy for a person.
And to be honest, it was getting on everyone's nerves.
"Chloe wants to meet Beca's family, but she doesn't want her too."
Amy nodded, "This is almost as bad the one they had over who was the best singer."
"Beyonce is the best, that is a fact," Stacie said, thumbing through a stack of papers before putting it down. "Chloe's been visiting me a lot recently though. It's starting to worry me."
"Hmmm." Amy hummed in thought. Stacie raised an eyebrow and shifted her chair closer.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. Nope, nothing at all. Thanks for information, bye."
Stacie sighed and shook her head as the Australian disappeared in a hurry.
"Wake up Sawshank!"
Beca groaned as Amy drew open her curtains and the light flooded in.
"I'm sleeping, go away." She turned to face the wall, ignoring the fact that Amy was physically in her apartment right now.
"It's 3 in the afternoon. Don't make me come over there." Beca sighed, knowing she would do it.
She grunted as she pulled the covers off her and her eyes adjusted to the light.
"How'd you get in here anyway?"
"Jesse."
She should have taken that key back.
"What do you want Amy?" She finally asked.
The woman in question faced her, "You need to talk to Chloe."
"What?" Beca balked.
"I don't want you guys to fight, you're Beca and Chloe. Together you're Bhloe."
The brunette stubbornly shook her head, "I'm not doing that. She doesn't know what they're like."
The bed dipped as Amy sat next to her, "You guys have to talk about it and I'm not leaving here until you do it."
Not an hour later and Beca appeared, still in her pajamas, at Chloe's work.
"Chlo..?" She called, fiddling with her hands as she waited for the redhead to turn around from a cabinet full of vaccines.
"Beca?" She spun around, "What are you doing here?"
There was an icy tone in her voice.
"I wanted to talk. To apologize."
The vet crossed her arms and gestured for her to continue. Nervous, Beca licked her lips and hung her head before meeting her eyes.
"I should have told you instead of pushing you away and I'm sorry. I've never felt so welcome and loved like I did when I met your family and I was afraid what would happen if you met mine."
When Chloe didn't say anything, she followed up.
"Okay, so my mom doesn't like the holidays. She did it for me when I stayed with her. Then my dad and stepmom celebrate with Sheila's side for Christmas. After a while holidays and family didn't feel like they did when I was younger."
Beca shuffled her feet.
"But that changed this year when I met you, Amy, and everyone. And now you're all like family to me."
Chloe's expression softened and took a step forward.
"Um so what I am saying is that I know I'm a pain in the ass and I'm sorry. We can-"
Then before she could stop to think what just happened, Chloe interrupted her.
"Beca?"
"go to my dad's…" She trailed off, eyes flicking to the redhead.
The redhead was smirking, "I'd love to meet your dad and his family. And your mom if you want me too. I'm not going to judge you based on your family because I love you for you."
Then she planted a quick kiss on the cheek and walked past the pajama-clad producer, who was grinning goofily, and said, "Plus, I think Amy wanted to meet your brother."
"Tell me what you're thinking."
A chilling voice broke her reprieve and she suddenly remembered where she was.
Did he see the memory?
"Where are they?" He held the paddles in one hand, looking down at her in suspicion as she realized he didn't experience her was relived, so relived she could have laughed out loud. If they were taking blockers, he couldn't find them!
A surge of protectiveness rushed through the brunette. She shook her head with a burst of energy, "Like I'd tell you."
He narrowed his eyes and leaned away. She hadn't spoken much in her time here, it didn't surprise him, but it did surprise herself.
"You will in time, Ms. Mitchell I promise you that. Now let's try again."
The predatory smile returned and so did the defibrillator.
This was the point of no return.
Whispers was crueler, harder than she could have imagined. He didn't let her rest until he left with a frustrated tone and Beca lay there bloodied and unconscious.
Every time he met her eyes and asked about her first thought, to know who else was in her head, nothing would happen. It felt like the people she could once talk to were gone, like they were never in her head to begin with.
As lonely as it was, it did stop Whispers. However, she was bombarded with more memories than before, more vivid and lucid moments, and now they've leaked into her dreams.
They teased her, lulled her into a false sensation of safety. Then she would be violently pulled back into the cold reality of four cold and unfeeling concrete walls.
There was one with Chloe in it and it wasn't like the others.
Everything was a blur when she first cracked her eyes open, adjusting to the harsh light, but what woke her was what felt like someone was holding her hand. The skin was soft, and it radiated warmth like none other, it reminded her of someone. Then the fuzzy figure to her side came into view and she finally recognized who was leaning over her.
It was Chloe and as Beca took in the rest of the sights and sounds, she realized she was still trapped. It was one of those dreams, the ones that she thought were just her subconscious reminding her of her promise. Dream Chloe rubbed a thumb over her hand and used another to smooth a few wild hairs sticking up, softly smiling.
But no matter if it was a dream or not, it somehow washed over the growing doubts.
But what caught her attention was that the woman was on the verge of crying. Tears were threatening to spill out of her bright blue eyes. All Beca wanted to do was to stop the tears, to wipe them away and make her smile again, but she couldn't reach her. It was like she was miles away.
Then the redhead said something about saving her and fear instantly gripped her heart. She wouldn't let Chloe be within five-hundred miles from this hell-hole. A thousand even! That's how she knew this was a dream.
No one was coming for her because she told them not to.
They'd be risking their own families, friends, and livelihood if they did and she wouldn't let them do that for her.
Saving her was not worth the risk they put themselves in.
Dream Chloe was insistent though and reminded her of a promise. One that Beca knew like the back of her hand. When she started to slip into a new dream, there was a hint of a kiss on her lips and for a fraction of a second, it felt like Chloe was actually here.
She didn't get much time to think further of it before she returned to her usual routine.
Adrenaline was coursing through her.
And probably Amy too.
They were sneaking into an armed secret research facility after all.
The two had managed to follow the plan perfectly so far. Stacie and Lilly were keeping a lookout on their planned exit while Denise, Cynthia, and Flo watched the cameras nearby to let them know if any guards cross their path.
"Down this hall." Chloe said, directing Amy with her who was pushing a gurney along. They both wore white hazmat suits with the matching black helmet courtesy of Liam. Only he was surprised by how helpful he actually was. Not only did he smuggle one of their vans but also procured the BPO attire, the path to Beca, and all the information he held on the guards and security ID.
"How much farther is it? This building is huge! They couldn't have more elevators." Amy pondered.
"Turn left here and it's the first door on the right. Come on Amy, we're almost there." Chloe repeated from memory, completely focused on the mission.
And as simple as that, both found themselves right in front of the last obstacle blocking them from Beca.
They stopped short of a simple black door, Chloe hesitating mid-step as Amy slid the badge across the black scanner. She unconsciously tensed up, shoulders lifting as she remembered her last visit.
The light flashed green and the lock unlatched.
Amy rushed in gurney first, Chloe following, but both gasped at the same time as they saw the brunette.
"Oh crikey. Chloe you weren't kidding. She doesn't look good." Amy said, concern ringing in her voice as she stood on the brunette's right side.
Beca was resting, her chest rising and falling, but she looked like she was on her last legs. Even with the tinted mask, Chloe could see that the bags under her eyes were bigger and the gown was just as bloody as she remembered. The one difference that she noted was that her face was clear of the red liquid.
Beca was like a shadow of her former self. Chloe could see the same person, the same features, but the familiar loving and determined nature she's come to know weren't there.
She wondered what this place stripped from her. She could feel the will to fight slipping the last time she visited. If that was missing what else could be gone?
How much of herself is left?
She gingerly took the limp hand and rubbed it longingly.
"Beca…"
She felt a trickle of warmth as they touched, softly smiling as she could feel a stronger connection to Beca than before. She was glad they got to her in time before anything else could happen.
She's not gone, not if I can't help it.
"You have a few minutes left. Two guards are on patrol and I'm losing some of the cameras." Denise called over the earpiece.
Startled Chloe, snapped her attention back to the mission at hand and the strap covering one of her wrists, quickly undoing it. Amy freed the other wrist and was already working on the ankle. After that they removed the tubes embedded in her arm.
"Okay, now to the gurney."
Between the two they were able to lift the small woman and secure her onto the gurney. Throughout it all she remained unconscious, a role she needed to play if they were to pull this rescue off.
They knew Whispers was here, Liam told them as such, and not only was he connected to Beca so was Kommissar. Liam was as pale as a ghost when he relayed the news. The infamous man had been stalking around the facility for a few days now and unfortunately Denise, Flo, and Cynthia weren't able to find him on the cameras yet.
Which is why Beca had stay unconscious.
Chloe felt the familiar weight of a syringe safely tucked in her pocket. A back up plan if they found her awake.
"We got her D and she's out for the count. What's it like out there?" Amy asked.
There was static and a response, "It's clear."
"Copy. On our way." Chloe replied back this time as they rolled into the open hallway. Maybe it the creak of the gurney's frame, but Chloe swore she heard a light groan. And it appeared she wasn't the only one.
"Just hold on Sawshank, we got ya."
Chloe wished getting out was as easy as getting in. With Beca on board, it was only a matter of time before BPO knew she was missing.
While Amy pushed the gurney with Chloe on the side, they just had to keep their heads down and walk fast.
"We lost the cameras." Cynthia popped up next to them, matching their stride, "she was able to take them offline before they found her. They won't be down long."
Emily and Flo appeared next, and the smaller woman pointed to the hall nearby, "There are a few guards coming from there."
And true to her word four men in green jackets and a taser and police baton strapped to their belt barreled in from another hall, the same one they needed to take. Stoney expressions met the two women's tinted helmets as each party came to a stop.
"We have a breach. Show me your badges." The bald one demanded with a rigid posture and a hand at his belt. He looked down at the unconscious passenger.
"And your transport schedule."
Chloe froze and shared a glance with Amy. Liam only gave them one badge, the other was with Stacie and Lilly. It was hard to see what the Australian was thinking with the helmet in the way, but Amy was tilting her head, eyes darting to the side. Her brows furrowed as she tried to decrypt Amy's message.
Another guard came closer, this one was taller than the rest. "No one leaves until we check."
Then the blonde pushed the gurney into the tall one, effectively making him keel over while Chloe jumped backed in surprise. In a flash the rest of the guards reached for their weapons, but they stopped short as Amy dashed forward with a battle cry.
"AHH!"
The blonde caught the doubled over guard and smashed her knee against his head. With a grunt he slumped to the floor and Amy launched herself at another one.
Covers blown, Chloe grasped her helmet and tossed it to the ground with a plastic thud as she reached for the forgotten gurney. To her relief, the brunette didn't appear to be harmed. After scanning for any new injuries, Chloe turned around to see Amy duck a well-aimed fist from one of the three remaining guards.
She didn't duck fast enough, and it caught the top of her helmet, causing her to stagger back.
"Ha!" The guard shouted as he grabbed her from behind.
The other man took advantage of it, stepping close and readying another fist. Undeterred, she kicked the guard in front straight in the chest and thrust her head back with a grunt.
CRACK
Chloe grimaced at the sound and flinched as she could feel Amy's skull reverberate. And just on que, his arms dropped to cradle what sounded like a broken nose.
A black baton whistled through the air, missing the blonde's head by an inch as she side stepped the bald guard's attack. She didn't give him another chance and threw a nasty left hook that made his head whip to the right.
SMACK
THUD
His body crashed to the ground.
From her position, Chloe analyzed who was left standing. Two guards stood side by side, the young one raised his fists and the other pulled the taser from his belt. Meanwhile Amy stopped moving, keeping a wide stance and fiddling with her helmet.
"Amy!" Chloe called as the two marched near them. She shucked her helmet off and tossed it to the side.
"That's better," she gestured with an open hand, "Now bring it."
They hesitated, cautiously taking half steps forward and their eyes never leaving the Australian's. Then once they were in striking distances fists were thrown and heads dodged. Amy ducked after a 1-2 combo and returned one of her own that disoriented the young man who slipped to the left.
Then Chloe heard a crackle of electricity in the air.
Her attention snapped to the man with the taser pointed right at Amy. It didn't catch her off guard though. In a matter of seconds, she grabbed the disoriented guard and thrusted him in front of her.
TSZZZZ
The guard went down without a fight, his body shaking minutely with each cycle. Chloe flinched, she wouldn't want to relive that experience anytime soon.
"Chloe!" Emily got her attention.
Suddenly two arms wrapped around the redhead's torso, pinning her arms to her sides.
"Amy help!" She grunted as the mysterious person pulled her back, but Amy was too busy disarming the last guard.
Chloe panicked as she struggled against her captor. The black boots she wore only slipped against the tiled floor as she tried to find any traction.
"Urgh!" A deep voice responded, tightening their grip and yanking her to the side.
Then there was a hard smack as Chloe found herself staring at Lilly who whipped her head against the man's where she was a second ago. Lilly broke free of his grip, spun and knocked the air out of him with a strong kick to the diaphragm.
"Lilly?" She questioned out loud.
"Hey you alright?" Amy asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Chloe nodded, gaze glued to Lilly's figure ducking and weaving the man's attacks like they were wading through molasses.
Then she blocked one arm with one hand and gave him a right cross to the face. But she wasn't done yet, following up with a kick to the head.
"She's scrappier than I thought." Amy continued, "Right there, yeah! Get'em!"
And it did indeed. Lilly had scrambled on to the stunned man, using his chest piece as a step and rolling him onto his back with a leg behind his shoulder, a pull at his neck, and non-stop energy. He landed without taking a breath, arms up. But he was useless as Lilly finally knocked him out cold.
"Woohoo, those are my girls!" Cynthia shouted while Flo appeared impressed. In turn Emily looked relieved everyone was all right.
"Are you okay Chloe?" Stacie popped in next her.
She hesitated, still in a mix of shock and surprise, "Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks Lilly." Lilly silently clambered off the guy and nodded at the redhead. Her mouth moved, but Chloe couldn't hear a thing.
"Okay, come on. We don't have a lot of time, guards are swarming the place." The tall brunette reminded them.
With their plan blown, incoming reinforcements, and an unconscious passenger Amy and Chloe picked up the pace. Amy grasped the handles on the gurney and rushed forward, helmet long forgotten at this point. Chloe skipped over the incapacitated forms and followed, only glancing back to check if they had any more of BPO's men on their tails.
A wave of urgency washed over everyone but it was like the gurney's wheels couldn't roll fast enough. Doors and other hallways blurred past, their footsteps loud and heavy.
Or that could have been the blood pounding in her ears.
After what felt like a lifetime, Chloe screeched to a stop in front of the elevator they came up and smashed the "Down" arrow repeatedly.
"Come on. Come on." Chloe chanted, waiting for the welcoming ding. Amy glanced around furtively.
Ding
And not a second later did the doors divide to reveal a spacious and empty standing room. They clambered in, fitting the gurney between them. The doors closed, and all Chloe heard was her racing heart.
Amy didn't say anything as they descended and neither did Chloe. Both waited with baited breath as each floor blinked past on the monitor. Both hoped the elevator doesn't stop before they reach their desired level.
6
5
As they watched the floors pass by, the groans coming from the gurney between them went unnoticed.
4
Chloe counted down with each one, only a few more floors left. Only a matter of minutes before they could get a breath of fresh air - as long as nothing else happened.
Then a small voice broke the building tension.
"hmm…who's there?"
Two sets of eyes widened, and one set fluttered open and close adjusting to the light.
"Shh. Everything's alright Becs, we're here to rescue you," Chloe said, one hand digging into her pocket.
"Chloe? Amy?" Their names were the drowsy answer as she came to, her dull eyes unfocused.
"Hey Sawshank, it's good to see you, but can you do us a favor? Just fall back to sleep okay?" Amy chimed in.
No... you shouldn't be here." The brunette shook her head, "Too dangerous."
"We would never leave you, we told you that." Chloe clasped the hand closest to her and the capped sleeping agent in her other.
3
"I love a 'Bhloe' moment more than anyone else, really, but we need -," she whispered and pointed to Beca, miming a sleeping position, "like now."
Chloe nodded, returning her attention to Beca's drowsy one. "I need to give you something okay?"
"What is it?" Beca mumbled peering at the object in her hand. Then she leaned her head up, gaze sharp and clenched her fists when she recognized the shape of a syringe, squeezing Chloe's hand hard.
The vet flinched at the surprising tight grip but managed to keep her voice even. "It's okay, this isn't going to hurt. You'll go back to asleep, that's all."
The brunette only shifted her eyes to Chloe's, still in fight or flight mode. Amy counted down the seconds until they reached their final floor.
"They can't know where we are Becs." She pleaded.
2
A beat later, the redhead felt the grip loosen and Beca set her head back down.
"Okay."
Chloe stuck the needle into her upper arm and push the top down. The only reaction was a small flinch. Once it was empty, she removed and pocketed the empty object.
Beca didn't break her gaze with the other woman, not until she started to feel the effects of the serum. Her fists released, the one holding Chloe's loosening as her body started to relax.
The elevator was slowing down.
Despite the urge to close her eyes, she asked, "Will I see you when I wake up?"
It was a question Chloe didn't hesitate to answer.
"Yes."
1
Ding
The elevator finally came to a stop, an empty hall greeting the Australian, redhead, and incapacitated music producer.
"It'll be all right Red. She'll pull through." Amy said as she placed a hand on Chloe's shoulder, who was lost in her own thoughts.
"It might take her a bit, but we'll be there for her every step of the way. We're family." She finally broke her gaze, nodding at the Australian.
"All right, now let's go. D we're on the first floor."
"Copy, the cameras are still offline but not for much longer." Came the response from their ear piece.
Shaking off the lingering thoughts, Chloe took one side of the gurney and pushed it along with a refueled sense of determination.
Luckily for them, no one crossed their path. They moved as quick as possible, taking advantage of Denise's work.
Feet retraced their steps down a familiar hallway. They passed rooms Chloe and Stacie once snuck into, their secrets still obscure.
"Hey!" Stacie called, standing next to Lilly and their planned exit. The tall brunette waved them down, holding the exit door open for them. It was the same parking garage as before and filled with just as many green vans as Chloe remembered.
Just off to the side were a few figures sprawled on the ground, clearly alive but unconscious.
"Lilly?" Amy asked as they passed the mess of bodies, bruises starting to surface. Said woman smiled, running ahead of them with a skip in her step.
Stacie confirmed it though, "I'm glad she's on our side."
Two backdoors swung open, Lilly at the center of them once they reached the vehicle.
"Up we go." Amy grunted as she lifted the back of the gurney and Lilly the front.
There was a clatter of wheels on the metal floor and thud as Stacie and Chloe closed the doors from inside. The four women sat on either side of the gurney, quiet and focused. Stacie and Lilly took of their helmets.
"In the van, we're ready." Chloe called this time in her ear piece.
They were in the final phase and that was getting past the sentries. For it to work, they needed Denise to work her hacking magic and for Liam's uniforms to do the rest.
"Working on the transport orders."
They heard a familiar strict voice from the driver's side and the rumble of an engine.
"Buckle up everyone. We're on the move." Aubrey said. Like the others she wore the same uniform; the white latex suit and black tinted helmet.
The van lurched forward, rocking the back of the van. The building tension didn't break, everyone remained quiet, and just like the elevator ride, Chloe found herself counting down the seconds until they encountered the final hurdle.
And right on time, the van came to a soft stop. They could hear the engine idle, and gruff voices speaking to Aubrey.
"We don't have a transport scheduled. Where are your orders?
"Here. Dr. Brandt gave them to me."
At this point, she'd be holding out a tablet with the work orders Denise forged.
"We haven't been notified of this."
There was a scoff and, even though Chloe couldn't see it, Aubrey must be glaring. "And when does he ever do that? Look he told me to and unless you want to ask him yourself and explain why you harassed me and mademe late, I'm going."
The man stuttered before sighing.
"Okay, go on through."
Chloe smirked, you can never tell Aubrey Posen no.
Then she caught the anxious expressions on everyone's faces as Aubrey drove away from the facility, the suspension creaking all the way. There were beginnings of smiles, nods, and cheers once they heard the infamous sounds of the inner city.
They made it.
They saved Beca!
"We did it!" Emily cheered with them in the van.
"Yeah! Ooh yep that's my arm, can I get an ice pack?" Amy held one arm, wincing.
"Meet y'all at Stacie's." Cynthia confirmed, "Denise is wiping her computers."
Chloe met everyone's overjoyed faces, even Aubrey's in the mirror.
It didn't stop her from realizing that there were still some tough times ahead for them, but as long as they stick together they'll make it.
Amy's words echoed in her head.
They're family after all.
Something was different the next time she woke up.
As Beca slowly came to, remnants of sleep lingering in her muddled thoughts, something felt off. First, the series of beeps were absent and the obnoxious humming noise. Second, she noticed the room was much warmer than last she remembered, a comforting weight atop her body that felt suspiciously like fabric.
Tick-Tick-Tick-Tick
Third, a mechanical ticking noise not unlike a clock reached her ears and she furrowed her brows in confusion.
She blinked, staring at a white ceiling adorned with crown molding.
Is this…?
Cautiously, she propped herself up on her hands. The comforter slipped down to her lap. Then she noticed the red, angry marks covering her wrists but that's not what made her freeze. As a tingling sensation took over her disused limbs, she couldn't stop the disbelief and what felt like the first signs of hope trickling through her.
The walls were a shade of light brown, almost a light yellow in the light peeking through the gaps in the closed blinds. There was a nightstand to her left with a glass of water.
She held her breath waiting to wake back up in her concrete prison.
But everything simply felt too real to be just another dream.
And her proof was just a foot away
Dozing away in a wooden chair was her redheaded girlfriend.
The instant she saw her, she remembered. The memory played like an old projector, it was fuzzy at first and then after a few clips it became clear. She recalled seeing Chloe and Amy hovering over her in white latex suits and at one point there was a syringe and they were talking about…
Saving her.
The thought hit her like a ton of bricks as did the sudden dryness in her throat.
Cough-cough
"Huh, Beca?" Chloe woke up with a start. The chair creaked as she leaned forward.
Cough
"Here, drink some water."
The glass was pushed into her hand and within seconds Beca greedily gulped down half of the cup. When she finally lowered it, she saw a pair of shining blue eyes watching her with a soft smile.
It felt too real to be a dream, but then again it was starting to become too hard to track. Before she knew it, the words slipped out of her mouth.
"Is this real?" She whispered, staring straight at the vet. The storm blue eyes were silently pleading for the answer.
Chloe's heart almost broke in two.
She didn't know what the other woman must have endured, at how close they were to losing her forever to the hell-hole if they didn't take action. She savored the fact that she was here, that she was alive. It would be awhile for everything to get back to normal, but all she and everyone cared about was that Beca was safe.
"Oh baby. Yes, it's real. You're safe." The redhead said and cradled her hand. It was warm, and something stirred within her, a feeling she had forgotten about.
Chloe wore a small smile of relief of her own as she comforted the small woman, a tear slipping out.
Beca didn't pull away, instead letting the now familiar sensation spread throughout her system and held on to Chloe's like a lifeline.
The brunette frowned, thoughts heavy with concern, "But I told you to stay away."
"And I told you that nothing will keep us apart."
She leaned forward, catching the other woman in an overdue kiss.
It was soft and short, but tender in every way. A wave of familiar feelings washed over her, the ones that made her realize how much she enjoyed moments like this.
It finally ended when the need for air became apparent and Beca was left more awake for the first time in days.
Once they pulled apart, she couldn't help the small smile growing on her face and with hope on the horizon she finally asked.
"So, what happens now?"
Their future was just as, if not, more uncertain than it was before. BPO would most likely search for her using every source they have and Whispers or Kommissar could appear at any time. Based on those thoughts alone, everything just became more difficult.
But it wasn't filled with crushing doubt and fear.
Because as long as she had Chloe, Amy, Stacie, Cynthia, Flo, Lilly, and Emily by her side, nothing was impossible.
Chloe pursed her lips, and shuffled over to the nightstand, "First you have to take this."
In her hand was a black pill, a blocker. Beca took it and drowned it down with a cup of water without a second thought.
"Then?" She flinched as a high-pitched frequency seemed to close in on her.
"Then the others come in." The vet smiled.
The door burst open with a group of bodies barreling into the room.
"Beca!"
The next thing Beca knows eight pairs of eyes staring at her and surrounding the bed.
"Back up everyone, give her some space." A firm voice broke through the shouts and without looking she knew who it was.
Aubrey came into view, beaming at the brunette.
"We're glad you're safe Beca."
She saw Amy, Stacie, and everyone else surrounding her bed and cracked a smile when she met theirs.
"I can say the same about you Posen. I can't believe you guys did that for me."
"Believe it. They mess with one of us, they mess with all of us." Amy chimed in, pounding a fist against her palm. The others agreed, nodding along.
"Yep, we stick together like a family." Emily supplied.
"And we're going to be with you every step of the way." Stacie finished.
She didn't tear her eyes away from the group, overcome with relief and joy, she said, "I love you nerds."
Then they chuckled, going in for a group hug. It sent a sense of warmth through Beca, even though her whole life is going to change, she couldn't help the surge of happiness rushing through her.
"You should have seen Amy and Lilly fight, it was crazy!"
"Flo snuck into that place like a ninja!"
"Denise is here, you have to meet her."
As everyone launched into their own stories and thoughts, laughter and smiles filling the room, Beca could only think of one thing.
She was home.