Chapter 9: Nightmare II
Law was engaged in a conversation with the young woman, trying to impress her with his charm and wit. As the night wore on, he made a conscious decision to refrain from consuming any more alcohol, opting instead for a glass of water, which he had been sipping on for the past hour.
As they continued to talk, he found himself increasingly captivated by her intelligence and beauty, and he hoped that the feeling was mutual. Despite the temptation to order another drink, he remained steadfast in his resolve to stay sober and focused on their conversation.
"That's when I had to tell him that his elixir for immortality that his "alchemist" was giving him was just mercury, and so if he wanted to keep his hair, he didn't need another "potion" but to stop drinking the mercury." Law spoke with a lightness in his voice.
The bartender let out a chuckle, her eyes sparkling with amusement. As she continued to talk to Law, she couldn't help but feel drawn to him. She gazed into his eyes, a hint of tenderness in her expression. "You know, Law, you're not like anyone else I've met before," she said. "I'll be off my shift in an hour. If you're interested, we could go back to my place and continue talking."
Law's heart skipped a beat as he processed her words. He glanced up at the clock and realized he only had ten minutes left before he had to be in front of the prison. His mind raced as he weighed his options. On the one hand, he couldn't deny the attraction he felt towards her. It had been so long since someone had looked at him with such adoration. But on the other hand, he had a job to do and couldn't risk being late.
He hesitated, his gaze locked with hers, and felt a wave of conflicting emotions. The temptation was strong, but he knew he had to stay focused. With a heavy heart, he spoke, "I appreciate the offer, but I have to pass. I have an important commitment I can't miss."
The bartender's expression fell slightly, but she nodded understandingly. "I get it," she said. "Well, maybe another time then. Let me check you out so you can be on your way."
"Don't bother worrying." Law replied, opening up his tin can and placing down several bills on the table
"Woah! Look Law this is way too much, you only bought a few drinks?" her confused look rises to be met by Law offering a light smile.
"Consider it a tip for your excellent customer service." He grins, and leans in close to whisper, "Trust me, once I am done with this job. I will be back for another round of those gorgeous eyes of yours." pulling away, he watches her eyes soften once more as she grabs the cash. He winks at her before sauntering out the door, his suitcase in tow.
Law shook off his disappointment and took a deep breath of the cool midnight air. As he looked around, he couldn't help but notice the two types of people who were out at this time. First, there were the tired night guards, who always seemed to be slightly buzzed as they trudged through the streets, waiting for their shift to end. They only seemed to come alive when they had the chance to bully the second group: the drunken revelers stumbling out of the bars and late-night taverns. These rowdy individuals jeered and cheered along their way, filled with drunken glee, only to be occasionally stopped by a curb or a night guard.
Law walked straight past all of them, the guilt he had suppressed with drinks steadily rose once more with each step. He arrived at the prison in no time, and made his stroll around the prison. Watching the red glare of the Robotron piercing through the darkness of light and following his every step. One glare after another until finally ceasing altogether. Looking down, he recognized this small patch of grass as the dead zone Dante spoke about.
His focus changed to the suitcase, Law's thumb hovered over the switch hidden neatly along the lock. Inside the suitcase was a device that Dante estimated would shut down the power to any electronics within a twenty-foot radius. Although it was not enough to engulf the entire building, it would still be effective. He was unsure when the power would return, if at all, but he hoped that this window would be enough for Iris to escape.
Turning his gaze back to the city, he spoke, "All I have to do now is wait for Dante to…"
BOOM!
The daisy chain of explosives ignited, unleashing a series of bright flashes that enveloped the entire city. The ensuing silence was deafening as fires erupted and smoke billowed upwards. It was a brief moment of utter stillness that felt like the world had come to a halt to process the magnitude of the devastation that had just taken place.
As Law observed the aftermath of his actions, the once-peaceful town was now filled with chaos and terror. The residents had rushed out of their homes, while guards scurried around frantically searching for the culprits. The streets were filled with the cacophony of screams and shouts, which were barely audible over the blaring alarms that resonated throughout the town.
Law turned his gaze towards the prison, and a red light was flashing inside the building, accompanied by the shrill sound of a fire alarm. Without hesitation, Law took a deep breath and flicked the switch, causing everything to plunge into darkness and silence.
"It's up to you. Let's see if you live up to the Informant's standards."
Inside the prison, Iris sat, observing the commotion both inside and outside the facility. The explosions had woken up everyone, and the power outage had left the inmates in darkness. So, like what all scared people do, they panicked, screaming and hollering from within their cells.
"What is going on?"
'What is happening?"
"Are we under attack?"
The clanging of metal against metal reverberated through the cell block as the guards approached. The sound grew louder and more ominous as they drew nearer, their footsteps echoing off the concrete walls. The hallway quickly filled with guards, their uniforms standing out against the dark backdrop of the prison. They marched down the row of cells, their faces set in grim determination as they searched for any sign of trouble.
"Get back, you filthy animals!" one guard screams. His voice echoing off the walls in the cell block.
One guard approached Iris' cell, his face contorted with rage as he raised his club. He slammed it against the metal door, causing it to shake on its hinges. Iris steeled herself to hide her fear, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced for the worst. The guard paused for a moment, as if contemplating what to do next. But then, with a frustrated grunt, he moved on to the next cell, leaving Iris to catch her breath and wonder what would happen next.
Then it ceased, as the thundering sounds of footsteps echoed down the hall. Iris recognized the sound, it was the Warden. The grizzled old man entered the cell block and began to stroll through, taking his time to peer into each cell at the frightened convicts. The red glow of the emergency lights exaggerated his figure, making his shadow tower over them.
The warden strode confidently into the center of the hallway, his gaze scanning the rows of cells and the frightened faces of the inmates peering out from behind the bars. Without addressing the guards who followed him, he spoke in a commanding voice that echoed down the corridor, "I don't know what's happening outside, but you are all safe within these walls."
His words brought a moment of relief to the inmates, but it was short-lived. The warden continued, his voice growing more stern, "However, if any of you try to cause harm or threaten the safety of this prison, we will not hesitate to take action." He raised his hand, and the guards immediately holstered their clubs and drew their weapons, pointing them directly at the prisoners.
The air was tense and still as the warden held the inmates in his gaze, making it clear that any disobedience would not be tolerated. The prisoners shrank back into their cells, knowing that the situation had become even more dire.
Iris suppresses a chuckle as she realizes the warden's words are nothing but empty promises. She locks eyes with her guard, who appears uneasy under her penetrating gaze, even with a gun in hand. Iris rolls her eyes and turns her attention to the window, watching as smoke billows up into the dark sky and the sounds of sirens and chaos filter in, sending a chill down her spine.
"All this chaos is just for little ole me." She thought with a sly grin.
Iris's fingers dug into the tiles, lifting them slowly and nudging them back. She felt around for the flat metallic shard she had hidden there weeks ago, a remnant of a broken lunch tray she had used to defend herself against another inmate. She finally found it and grasped it firmly, hoping it would prove useful in her escape.
As she looked back at the guard, she noticed the woman's blank expression and realized that she had not seen anything. Iris took a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves, knowing that she had to act quickly and decisively if she wanted to make it out alive..
"Alright Iris, what now?" Iris thought, eyes closed as she mentally began navigating through the various escape routes she theorized, all viable if the conditions were right. "For this one, it should be…"
She was lost in her thoughts when she suddenly realized that there was complete silence around her. As she opened her eyes, she was greeted with pitch darkness as the emergency lights had gone out.
"This changes everything," she muttered to herself. Her eyes strain to adapt to the sudden darkness, as the guards before her turn into shadows.
The guard's shadow disappeared into the darkness, prompting Iris to cautiously move towards the door and peek outside to investigate. Despite the pitch-black environment, she could make out the figures of all the guards as they huddled together, attempting to conceal their anxiety. Even though they spoke in hushed tones, the absence of any sound made their whispers reverberate like deafening screams.
"Somebody tell me what happened."
"Something must have happened to the back up generator. Should we go check?"
"…"
"Sir?"
"We are already low on men as it is. Damn! Garrison, Mark, go outside and find out what's going on. Taylor, how long would it take for the generator to kick back in?"
"If I go now and start it up, it shouldn't take more than six minutes."
"Does that include you going down several flights of stairs?"
"… make that fifteen minutes."
The warden grumbles, "Just go."
"What about the rest of us?" asks another guard.
"Filter out and maintain control."
As the inmates chattered amongst themselves, the guards tried to hush them, but the noise only grew louder. It was clear that there weren't enough guards to manage the prisoners effectively in the dimly lit conditions. Despite it they returned to their shouts of violence and banging of their clubs to hold up the illusion of control.
Disregarding the commotion caused by the guards, Iris marched towards her cell door with the metal shard in hand. She knew that the doors were designed to thwart any attempts of escape by utilizing an electronically activated magnetic locking system. Nevertheless, with the power outage, it only took a few strategic pushes and movements of the metal shard to disengage the lock, causing the door to creak open. She swiftly grabbed the handle and held it only slightly ajar, keeping a firm hold to prevent the lock from snapping back into place.
Iris waited patiently, listening to the guard stumble in the hallway. She remained still as the sound of footsteps grew closer, passed by, and eventually faded into the distance. This was her chance. She slowly pushed the door open and slipped out, moving quickly into the surrounding shadows.
Observing the nervous guards shuffling along the wall, Iris gazed down the narrow hallway of the former dormitory. She took a look past them, at the elevator with its rusted metallic doors glowing in the moonlight. The power outage ensured that the elevator shaft was cleared, but she knew that it was a steep drop. She quickly turned her attention to the stairwell.
"Okay, let's weigh my options," Iris thought to herself. "Option A: I take the stairwell all the way down to the first floor. Pros? I avoid this room full of idiots. Cons? I'll probably run into more idiots on the way down. On the other hand, option B: I climb down the elevator shaft and make my way to the first floor through the elevator. Pros? It's the quickest way to exit, and I can avoid any potential threats. Cons? I'll have to sneak past these idiots first." She paused, considering her choices.
As Iris looked around, she saw that some of the other prisoners had become aware of her presence. Despite the darkness concealing her from the guards, the other inmates, a mix of murderers and thieves, were adept at navigating the shadows. Iris gave them a quick nod, and without a word, they understood her intentions. It was a tacit agreement among criminals: if she succeeded, she would help them escape as well.
Just as Iris was about to make her decision, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the stairwell. She froze in place, her heart pounding in her chest. She peered out into the dimly lit hallway and noticed that some of the guards had also taken notice of the noise, their heads turning in the direction of the stairs.
"Shit, that leaves only Option B. Now how am I-" She did not need to think further, as suddenly the inmates began shouting out from within their jail cells. Hoping to distract the guards and create an opening for her.
"Hey, you filthy pigs, you can't treat us this way!"
"Yeah! How about you let us out!"
"The darkness is scary!"
"Ohh, this guard is just my type, how about I take you on a date?"
As the guards turned their attention to the shouting inmates, Iris took advantage of the distraction and quickly scanned the corridor for a way out. She spotted a clear path and moved past the inmates, who were swinging at their cell doors in a panic. Iris deftly dodged the guards, who were struggling in the darkness and focused on intimidating the other prisoners. She made her way down the hallway and reached the elevator doors unnoticed. However, just as she was about to enter the elevator, the door to the stairwell at the other end of the hall suddenly opened.
The heavy sound of boots echoed down the hallway as the new guards made their way towards Iris. Within moments, she heard the latches on some doors being disengaged, followed by screams of pain and terror from within. The new guards clad in padded riot gear and moved methodically down the hallway, entering each cell and quelling the resistance with force.
Iris whispered a curse under her breath, feeling helpless as she heard the screams of pain and terror from the other inmates. She knew there was nothing she could do to help them at this point. With a heavy heart, she turned her attention back to the task at hand and focused on forcing the metal shard into the gap between the elevator doors. She worked as quickly as possible, readjusting her grip on the shard and pushing it firmly until she heard the creak of the door giving way.
Confused by the noise, a guard called out, "What the hell was that?" The sudden movement caught the attention of a few other guards, causing Iris to freeze in place. She remained deathly still, hoping that the cover of darkness would be enough to conceal her presence.
Iris felt a chill run down her spine as the sound of bones breaking echoed down the hallway. She knew the guards were capable of extreme violence, but the brutality of the act still made her uneasy. She waited in silence, hoping the guards' attention would remain focused on the commotion they were causing among the inmates. After a few tense moments, she cautiously moved towards the elevator doors, trying to keep as quiet as possible.
"Gary, go check out that noise."
"Yes sir." Gary responded, shuffling carefully in the dark towards the metal doors, nervously peeking over.
"Ah!" He yelped, jumping backwards in fright.
"Gary, what happened?" A guard calls out, moving quickly beside him.
"Sorry sir, it was a rat. Do you think it caused the noise?"
"Probably, this place is a trash heap, and given the filth that we hold here, I wouldn't be surprised if the rat was one of their cellmates."
The two turned away and headed back to the main cells. Iris let out a deep breath, returning once more to prop the elevator door open, only to freeze upon hearing one of the guards scream.
"A prisoner has escaped!"
A tirade of bodies quickly moved toward her former cell. Looking amongst themselves and at the inmate, expecting someone to explain how she got out.
The warden called forth again, "Don't just stand there, fan out and find that bitch!"
The guards begin to shuffle out, only to freeze upon hearing a loud metallic shuddering. Gary and the warden turn back towards the elevator door, seeing now that the gleaming doors were pulled ajar.
"The elevator!" Gary screams in a panic
The pair rushes over, pulling the elevator open and looking down the gap to see pitch black, with the only sign of life being the small twitches of the cable.
Halfway down the metal cable, Iris bit her lip to suppress a yelp of pain. The searing heat from the friction of the cable burned through her sleeves, tracing her palms with scorch marks. Finally, she landed atop the elevator cart, silently cursing as she shook her hand in a vain attempt to soothe the pain. Suddenly, a beam of light shone down on her, illuminating her silhouette. She looked up to see the second-floor elevator doors opening and guards aiming flashlights down at her.
The guards screamed, "There she is!" and the sound of guns cocking filled the air. Iris's heart raced as she realized she had been discovered. Without hesitation, she kicked open the elevator's roof hatch and jumped down inside. Bullets rained down on the elevator, creating dents on the rooftop and ricocheting off the walls of the shaft. One bullet even grazed the cable, causing a piece to break off.
Her knees buckle upon hitting the ground, with the cart shifting side to side, threatening to break. She looks upwards only to see the cabling threading.
"Damn it!" She curses in panic. Iris's attention shifts to the closed door that stood between her and the first floor. She pushes her fingers into the narrow gap and pulls with all her might, gritting her teeth as she feels her skin tear and her muscles strain. Despite the pain, she keeps pulling until the door is open enough for her to squeeze through. As she tries to step through the doorway, she hears the sharp snap of the cable and feels the elevator drop behind her.
"What the hell?" A woman voice spoke through the darkness
Iris spotted the source of the voice as a guard cowering behind the front desk, clearly startled by her sudden appearance. Amused by the look of terror on their face, Iris advanced towards the desk, illuminated by the sudden return of the crimson emergency lights. The guard, stunned by panic, failed to remember she had a weapon on her. It was not till Iris glanced down and saw the weapon, the guard finally remembered they were armed and fumbled to draw it. But it was too late; Iris had already charged towards them.
Iris vaulted over the desk, using her momentum to collide with the guard, but the impact wasn't enough to bring either of them down. As the gun slipped from the guard's grip and skittered across the floor, the guard kept her gaze fixed on it. In a desperate attempt to reach it, the guard lunged forward, but Iris caught her by the collar and delivered a swift blow to her temple, causing her eyes to roll back. Iris then hurled her against the desk. The guard looked up at Iris, her fear was palpable, knowing that this was a battle for survival.
Iris chuckled at the guard's pathetic attempt to stand back up and raise her fists. She sidestepped the wild swings and swiftly grabbed the woman by the throat, causing the guard to instinctively reach up in an attempt to pull Iris' grip away. The guard's nails scratched deep into Iris' arms.
Iris remains unfazed, speaking in a low tone, "Despite it being our first instinct, you aren't supposed to try to pull my hand away. You are supposed to…" Iris used her other fist and began pummeling the woman's ribs repeatedly. Listening to her screech in pain, and desperately gasp for air before finally passing out. Iris drops her and picks up the gun.
She exhales at the same time as all the lights in the building turn back on.
Iris sighed in resignation. "Just my luck," she muttered under her breath. She quickly checked the unconscious woman's pockets and found the keys she needed. With a deft hand, she inserted the key into the nearby panel box and opened it. Inside, she saw a network of buttons and labels that denoted the prison's basic mechanism. With a flick of several switches, Iris activated the system. She heard the sound of doors being pushed open and the chaotic screams of inmates as they flooded into the hallways, launching a tirade against their captors.
BANG! BANG!
"I held up my side of the bargain. The rest is up to y'all." She comments and runs out the front door, only to be greeted by the wide-eyed grin of Law.
Law remarked, "Looks like you caused quite a commotion." Iris merely smirked, grabbing his arm, and hurrying into the chaotic streets. Amid the bustling crowd, Law pulled out a spare shirt and handed it to her. She quickly changed out of her prison attire, concealing herself.
Iris looked around at the frantic civilians and guards, running about, as fires spread across buildings, "Seems you got up to some ruckus as well. This is a lot."
"I might have put in too much gunpowder." Law responds solemnly, the guilt weighing down his voice.
They darted through alleyways and side streets, keeping their heads down and trying to blend in with the crowd. Despite their efforts, they still attracted some attention from the security officers who were patrolling the area. Iris and Law had to be quick on their feet, darting behind buildings and ducking into doorways to avoid being caught.
At one point, they had to sprint across an open street, dodging cars and weaving through pedestrians. Iris stumbled on a pile of debris, nearly falling, but Law caught her and helped her back to her feet. They both panted for breath, the adrenaline pumping through their veins.
Eventually, they found themselves in a quieter part of town, away from the commotion. They slowed to a walk, catching their breath and taking a moment to assess their situation. They were free, but they were also fugitives. They had to be careful, plan their next move carefully.
Law turned to Iris, "So where is the robot head?"
Iris turns and smiles, "Same place as our way out of here, the waste filtration station."
Law feels bile pool upwards, "Why did I agree to be the one to stay with you? Is there no other way?"
"Not unless you are willing to fight an army of guards and robots."
"Waste filtration it is."
"That's what I thought."
"Wait, if you managed to store it there, how did you get caught?"
Iris rolls her eyes, "They realized that it was the only way out as well. All it took was one quick call and my exit was quickly blocked off. The benefit is even if they know where we're going, they are too short on hands to stop us."
Iris comes to a sudden halt in the middle of the road, prompting Law to pause and glance back at her curiously. She gives him a quick look before striding towards an outhouse, with a sign that reads "closed for repairs" hanging on its entrance. Without hesitation, she enters the outhouse and reaches into the toilet bowl. With a quick yank, she pulls out the remains of a robot, wrapped up tightly in a ceramic wrap. She begins to sift through the pieces, selecting a few that catch her eye before handing them over to Law.
Law looks down at the parts and then back at the sign.
"That really worked?"
Iris nods, "You would be surprised how many hidden objects are just left in pretty obvious places. The guild I used to work for had a number of drop points all over the place. Some of the stuff they would hide would make even McPherson nervous, but that's for another time. Now come on, we got a sewer to walk through."
Meanwhile, Dante rested on the charred remains of a gas station pump, staring upwards at the stars in silent anxiety-induced panic.
"They were supposed to be here by now. Hell, they should have been here twenty minutes ago. Calm down. Calm down. Remember the constellation…" he exhales deeply, "From the top, that is-"
"Quit your stargazing and pack up." A voice called out
Dante sputtered in surprise, slipping and falling onto the grass. He looks up and spots two shadowy figures approaching. Entering his line of sight, Dante perked up in glee at Law staring back at him with a cheeky grin and the head of a Robotron.
"I got you an early Christmas present."
"I don't know what Christmas is, but…" Dante runs up in excitement, ready to greet him before stopping and stepping back in disgust. "What the hell, you smell like…"
"Shit? I know. You can thank our new companion for that." Law points over to Iris, who was in the process of inspecting him.
"So this is the mechanic. Didn't expect a subworlder…" she tilts her head slightly, "Especially, one this short." Iris mutters.
Dante looks her up and down, "And you must be the thief. For someone so allegedly talented, it's a wonder how you managed to get caught"
Iris paused at that remake, and the two eyes met in bitter distaste for the other.
Law rolls his eyes and walks past the two, grabbing onto his guns and placing them where they belonged on his body. "You can flirt later. Now come on, we need to be as far away from this city as possible."
The two look at him in surprise, "I would never…" they both call out in unison before returning to glare at each other once more.
Law interjects and loudly says, "Today people! I would rather not be sleeping in a jail cell or a shallow grave."