Backstab
Chapter 17: Panic Switch
A/N: Hey everyone! I know it seems pathetic that even though we're off of school I still managed to post only a day early, but I've been swamped with Christmas chores, shopping, and cookie-making all this week. It seems my work never ends. Regardless, hear is your chapter.
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"Dinner," said a gruff voice at the door, opening it just long enough to shove in the platter of food before slamming it shut again. I sat up from where I was laying on the bed, walking to retrieve it. 'It' was a plate of potato-like mush with some shriveled bits of meat substance on the side. Sighing, I took the dish back to the bed and slowly picked at the food with my fork, chewing it half-heartedly. I didn't have the stomach to eat after my chat with Blue, but I hunger compelled me to do so anyways.
Yet, at the thought of my own hunger, my mind flashed back to SweetPea, Rocket, and Tyler, slowly starving to death as I selfishly dined on my provisions. A wave of nausea suddenly rising in my stomach, I pushed the plate away. It had already been two hours since Blue locked me in the cell, and about seven since my friends had last eaten.
Sighing, I swallowed the guilty bile in my throat, knowing the longer I waited to give Blue the answer he wanted, the longer they had to suffer. Somewhere within me, I knew we couldn't let Blue win, not after all SweetPea and I had gone through to escape. Yet, I also couldn't let my friends starve to death. Caught in a stalemate, I had settled on simply waiting, waiting and hoping.
But now I realized that waiting would only postpone my surrender, and torture my friends in the process. My mind flashed back to a conversation I'd had with SweetPea when Blue had first caught us. I'd assured her that we would get out, that Blue hadn't won.
But he has, I thought bitterly to myself. Blue finally has me right where he wants me. And there's nothing I can do to stop him.
I let out a shaky breath, unwilling to give Blue the satisfaction of making me cry. Instead, I walked slowly to the thick metal door that separated me from the hallway, and rapped on it twice until I heard the guard on the other side grumble a "what?".
"I'm ready to give Blue his answer."
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"We still have the key," SweetPea breathed excitedly, holding it up for them to see.
"What? How? The guards took all of our stuff as soon as they caught us," Tyler said, his expression incredulous.
"I hung it around my neck to make sure I didn't lose it," SweetPea explained, "and I forgot about it until just now."
"Does it work?" asked Rocket.
In response, SweetPea stood from her position on the floor, walking over to the door to the hallway.
"Wait!" Tyler cried, realizing what she intended to do. He rushed to intercept her, stopping her only a few feet from the thick metal door. "Don't open that door. More than likely there are armed guards just outside there. If they catch us, if anyone catches us, it will ruin the one chance we have to escape."
"Who said anything about getting caught?" Rocket asked calmly, swiping the key away from SweetPea. She slowly pushed it in the lock, turning it until it gave a sharp click. She grasped the handle tightly, turning it and opening the door just a crack before she kicked out and the door flew open. Where it should have hit the wall, there was a loud and painful thump instead, followed immediately by a red-haired guard sinking to the floor.
"What, John?" the guard on the door's other side cried, before turning to face them. He quickly raised his tranquilizer gun to fire, only to be cut off as a hand buried itself in the base of his neck. Soundlessly, he crumpled to the floor, revealing SweetPea standing triumphantly behind him.
"Where did you learn that?" Rocket asked, unmistakable admiration for her sister in her voice.
"It doesn't matter," she said doggedly, glancing at Tyler.
Tyler, who had been watching with silent respect for the girls, quickly regained his male dominance. "Grab their guns," Tyler commanded, taking one and giving the second one to SweetPea. "We have to find Baby and get out of here, quickly," he insisted.
"Hold on, gimmie a sec," Rocket demanded. As SweetPea and Tyler looked on curiously, she searched the unconscious bodies of the guards until she found two key rings, keeping one for herself and throwing the other to Tyler. Then Rocket dragged the guards into the makeshift cell they came from, shutting and locking the door.
"Good thinking Rocket, now which way do we go?" It was SweetPea who asked, examining the confusing maze of hallways.
"Follow me, I think I know the way," said Tyler. He hesitated for a moment as he retraced his steps from earlier, before suddenly bolting to his right. After exchanging a glance, SweetPea and Rocket trailed behind him.
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After walking a good ways through many corridors, about half of which had been pleasantly empty, they approached a four way intersection bustling with Blue's men. Looking down the intersection, farther down the hallway they were currently walking on was Blue's office.
"We'll never make it without being seen," Rocket whispered, peering around a nearby corner. She drew back around to face Tyler and SweetPea. "Are you positive that's his office?"
Tyler nodded, "I'm pretty sure. Also, since it's at the end of a straight dead end hallway, him or the guards could easily see anyone coming to or from it. It's perfect."
Rocket frowned, "That being said, there's no way we could get there, get Baby, and escape all without being seen or caught."
There was a grim silence as the group assessed the situation, looking around desperately for an alternative entrance to the office.
"What we need is another distraction," Tyler mumbled under his breath, his eyes scanning the busy halls.
As if on cue, a young guard suddenly came sprinting down an adjacent hallway, his eyes wild with surprise and fear. "There are two girls running down the Institute hill! We need reinforcements-"
He was cut off by the loud shouts of older, superior guards, and suddenly the hallway was nearly empty as the crowd ran after the young one.
"Wow, what luck," Rocket breathed.
"Come on, we still don't have much time," Tyler insisted, and they bolted down the hallway, quickly taking down the two men left to guard the office.
As Tyler and SweetPea dragged the men into a nearby room, Rocket propped open the door, just to catch in on the middle of a conversation.
"-you'd come around," Blue was saying, his attention on a familiar girl standing nearest the door.
"But you promise you won't hurt them? Tyler included?" Babydoll questioned, her tone anxious.
Blue frowned when she said his name, "I gave my word that I wouldn't hurt any of them so long as you promise to work for me…not even Tyler. But if you try to run, if you try anything-"
"I won't," Baby replied, her gaze lowering to the ground in defeat.
Rocket drew back from the door, shocked and horrified to see her headstrong friend so submissive; especially to…she couldn't stand to think of his name. Turning around, her eye caught on an abandoned gun lying on the floor.
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"I won't," I replied, my gaze lowering to the ground.
"I didn't think so," Blue smiled, cold and triumphant. "Guards," he called out, frowning when there was no immediate response, "guards!"
Without warning, the door burst open like it had been blown by a great gust of wind, and there stood Rocket, holding a tranquilizer gun loaded and aimed at Blue.
"Rocket!" I called, hope flaring in my chest.
Blue swore, standing up from his chair.
"Don't move," Rocket growled, her eyes blazing as she trained the gun at his chest.
Blue didn't, only stared angrily back at her. Clearly we had caught him off guard, and yet for some reason there was no fear in his expression. If anything there was almost mild amusement…
"Wait Rocket don't!" I cried, a second to late. From beneath the table Blue drew out a gun; similar to Rocket's with only one difference, it was real.
He squeezed the trigger, the bullet erupting from the barrel, and at the same moment Rocket shot hers. I almost thought I could see the bullets cross in air, the bigger pointier one from the tranquilizer gun and the small, thicker revolver bullet passing inches away from each other. Both bullets hit there mark, Blue jerking back as Rocket's nestled itself in his jacket, and Rocket collapsing as Blue's flew through her shirt.
"Rocket!" cried SweetPea, who had just arrived at the open door, falling to her knees next to her sister.
Meanwhile, the girl in question cried out in agony, her body trembling from shock. Her mouth falling open, I saw her hand move shakily to her chest, skimming lightly over the blood already beginning to stain her shirt. Then, as if registering what was happening, Rocket's head fell back a little, tears beginning to gather in her eyes.
"Oh no Rocket no no no this can't be happening," SweetPea sobbed, shaking almost as badly as her sister. "Rocket please, Rocket. Don't let me lose you again please!"
Rocket smiled faintly, her mouth falling slightly open as if she meant to say something. But suddenly a spasm shook her body, and she whimpered as fresh blood began to flow from her wound.
"Don't move, we need to get you help," I blurted, sinking beside her on the ground. In desperation, I looked back at Tyler, who had been standing silently in the doorway. "Please, Tyler she needs help." I said rapidly, tears pooling in my eyes. "We can't leave her here she's going to… please she needs help!"
His face full of grief, Tyler only looked on sadly, shaking his head.
Catching his meaning, SweetPea let out a long, hollow cry, burying her head in her sister's chest. Meanwhile, I clasped Rocket's hand between my own, too afraid to let go.
For the next few minutes, Rocket's breaths were shallow and shaky, her heartbeat progressively growing weaker. I sobbed desperately as I watched the life drain from her body, held her hand until I lost her heartbeat and her breath was gone, the only sounds I could hear were the grief-stricken moans of her sister and my own soft sobs.
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A/N: Seemed like a good place to stop, though heartbreaking. Thanks again to all the readers and reviewers! Please tell me what you think!