After crying his heart out for a few minutes, Alex began to calm himself down. He had to save Camryn. He couldn't go home with out her. He couldn't give up on her. He took in deep breaths and began to think. Then he remembered the gadgets Smithers had given him. They were in his pocket. Alex took out the tube of zit cream and squeezed it into the lock on the door. In a few seconds, Alex pulled the door open.
"Alex!" Daisuke exclaimed. "I was just going to break you out. I guess I don't need to."
"I need to find the antidote for Camryn," Alex said.
"Mahiro and Akira are on that. Hikaru, Yahiko, and Bakura found Camryn. She's on the second floor. We're going to have to battle hell to get to her."
"I don't care. I'll do anything to make sure she's safe."
"Me too." Daisuke handed Alex two guns and a knife. "Let's go."
The two ran into the stairwell and began descending. The sixth, fifth, and fourth floors had already been cleared out. Alex was impressed. He and Daisuke stopped at the door leading to the third floor of the building.
"Welcome to hell, Alex," Daisuke muttered glumly.
Alex couldn't help but smile a bit. "Thanks."
The two entered the third floor and were immediately under fire. Daisuke sprinted down the hall. Alex followed close behind. He turned a corner and dropped to one knee. He fired back at the men with machine guns. One by one, they fell to Alex's deadly aim. Alex stood up and followed Daisuke again.
"The other stairwell at the other side of the building is clear," Daisuke informed Alex.
"I thought you said this was going to be hell."
"Yeah. We'll be lucky if we get to the stairs."
"Great…"
Alex heard a soft hissing sound behind him. He turned around but didn't see anything. He looked down. He grabbed Daisuke's arm and ran down the hall to the right.
"Get down!" Alex yelled. He and Daisuke dove onto the floor and covered their heads and necks with their arms. An explosion rocked the entire story. The two scrambled to their feet and began running again. Suddenly, Tai stepped in their way. He raised an automatic.
"Daisuke, don't make me use this," Tai warned.
"You bastard… You traitor!"
Tai switched off the safety catch. Alex went down in a full sweep, knocking Daisuke off his feet. He drew his gun again and fired three times. Tai slumped to the floor in a puddle of blood.
"Nice move," Daisuke said breathlessly.
"I learned it from Camryn," Alex said. "That's the first time I actually did it right."
"Congratulations."
They got up again and advanced toward the other side of the building. They turned left, right, right, and then left again. They finally reached the stairwell.
"That wasn't so bad," Alex said. "Not quiet hell but almost."
"Move!" Daisuke threw open the door to the stairwell and shoved Alex inside. Confused, Alex stumbled backward. He caught his balance and ran after Daisuke down the stairs. Another explosion shook the building. The shock wave from the explosion sent Alex and Daisuke into the wall. The impact knocked the air out of Alex's lungs. Alex laid face down, trying to regain himself.
"Okay, what I just said about it not being so bad," Alex panted, "I take it back."
Alex and Daisuke slowly stood up and descended to the second floor. Alex put his hand on the doorknob, but Daisuke stopped him.
"What?"
"We have to wait for Mahiro and Akira. We can't go in there alone. They'll rip us apart in seconds."
Alex sat down and leaned his back against the wall. Daisuke sat on the steps. The two were silent for a while. Finally, Daisuke spoke up.
"Alex, I want to ask you something."
"Sure. Go ahead."
"Are you Camryn's boyfriend?"
Alex was shocked by the question. That was the last thing he expected to be asked. He wasn't really sure what to say.
"Tell me the truth," Daisuke said.
"Yeah. I'm her boyfriend."
Daisuke chuckled and put his face in his hands. "I knew it. I was right."
"Right about what?"
"I just knew that you and Camryn are together."
"You can tell?"
"Yeah. I see the way you look at her, and the way you talk to her. You really love her, don't you?"
"More than anything."
"I can tell that you two are really good together. Make sure you take good care of her."
"I will. I always do – or at least I try."
Suddenly, footsteps came pounding down the steps. There were at least maybe three to four people. Alex reached for his gun.
"Relax," Daisuke said.
Akira, Mahiro, Bakura, and Yahiko came racing down the steps. Mahiro held a small silver box in her hand.
"What are you two doing here?" Daisuke asked Bakura and Yahiko.
"You guys need more than just the four of you to get through this floor," Yahiko said.
"So are we good to go now?" Alex asked.
"No," Bakura answered. "There are too many people on this floor. Hikaru is still in the Hummer. He just called LAPD."
"What?!" Akira fumed. "Why?! The CIA can't take over now!"
"The CIA thinks it's taking over. By tipping off the CIA and sending in LAPD, they're clearing the way for us. We'll have more of a chance to get through to Camryn alive."
Alex's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out.
"What?!" Alex demanded.
"I just want you to know that you have five minutes to get that confirmation to me," Sabina said.
"Why?"
"Camryn is vomiting blood everywhere. In five minutes, the pain will stop, but her body will start to shut down. Once it does, the virus is irreversible."
Alex took a deep breath to keep himself semi-calm. If he screamed now, he would give away his and Kawasaki's position.
"Sabina, if Camryn dies, I'm going to kill you."
"And if she lives?"
"I'm still going to beat the crap out of you." Alex hung up. "How long will it take for LAPD to get here?"
Gunfire erupted from the other side of the door.
"I guess now," Mahiro said. Then she spoke into her transmitter. "Hikaru, how long will it take for the floor to clear?"
Alex waited nervously for the answer. Mahiro looked up and gave Alex a sorrowful look.
"It's going to take at least ten minutes to clear the place."
"We don't have ten minutes!" Alex shouted over the noisy gunfire. "Camryn only has less than five minutes until that virus is irreversible!"
"Then we're going in now," Daisuke said. "We have to move fast. We'll use the LAPD as cover."
"What if they shoot at us instead?" Bakura asked.
"Then, damnit, we'll shoot back!"
Mahiro handed Alex the metal case. "This is the antidote. It's given like an epi-pen. It will take only five minutes to kill the virus. Camryn should be okay in about ten minutes after administration."
Alex took the case and shoved it in his pocket. Bakura handed bulletproof vests to everyone. Alex reloaded his gun and put his hand on the doorknob.
"Ready?"
Kawasaki nodded.
Alex threw open the door. Bullets sprayed everywhere. Akira ran ahead, followed by Alex, Daisuke, and Mahiro. Bakura and Yahiko brought up the rear. The group ran through the halls left and right according to Mahiro's directions from Hikaru. Bullets flew everywhere.
"Stop! Akira, go left!" Mahiro yelled.
Everyone turned down the left corridor. Akira threw open an office door and everyone filed inside. Yahiko collapsed on the floor, gripping his thigh in pain.
"You guys go on. I'll stay here," he said.
Alex opened his mouth to argue, but Daisuke stopped him. "We can't waste time. Let's go. We only have three minutes left."
Everyone but Yahiko left the office and continued following Mahiro's directions. Just as they came upon the hall where Camryn was being held, they ran into trouble.
"Stop! LAPD!"
Mahiro whipped out an ID badge. "DIH, we're not the enemy."
"Drop you weapons!" the LAPD officer ordered.
Mahiro and Akira dropped to their knees and opened fire on the LAPD officers.
"What the hell are you waiting for?!" Mahiro roared. "Go! It's sixth door on the right!"
Alex sprinted down the corridor as fast as he could. Out of the corner, he saw Bakura fall. Alex slowed down and turned around to help his fallen comrade.
"You moron! Keep going!" Bakura scolded. "I'll be fine!"
He scrambled onto one knee and fired at the LAPD officers.
Alex and Daisuke sprinted to the sixth door on their right. Alex's hand flew to the doorknob, but it was locked. He pounded his fist on the door.
"Sabina! Let me in!"
"Alex?"
"I have the confirmation! Let me in!"
"Alex, we only have a minute left," Daisuke warned.
"There's no point, Alex," Sabina said through the steel door. "I don't have the antidote. I lied."