It took a lot of fast talking to talk my way around why I was out in the commons unguarded, but in the end, I was redirected to my pod, and everything went on as normal.
This morning, we were pulled into a large room where we were each tested for speed, strength, endurance, fighting skills, and gun skills. We now know that Johnathan is the only one in The Facility who can sniper shoot like he does. If we could stay away from him, then we might gain the upper hand.
I asked how he had gotten so good, and the only answer we got was he was trained outside The Facility… no specifics. I wondered if he had ever been a part of The Force or The Elected. Either one of them would have taught him how to shoot like he does. I can’t say I saw many at The Force who shot like Johnathan does apart from Jake and Samantha, but I didn’t get the chance to see many outside of my phase group shoot.
My mother and Dia have joined in on our sessions. As much as we hate to separate, we know we must break up to get out of this place. By the end of the morning’s session, we have decided Jake and I are to get the weapons, my mother and Dia are to follow us. Eli, Mar, Shawn, and Leah are going to get Robert and Samantha. Zac and Magi are going to take the wall of offices. The only way out of here we know of is through the window in the President’s office.
Now, we are laying still in our pod cubbies, counting the minutes to when all of this is going to begin.
“This is going to work,” Jake whispers into my ear, while wrapping his arms around me.
“I know you think so, and I am trying to,” I say, “but this time, we have my mom and little sister with us, and neither of them knows how to pull their own weight in a war.”
“If they stay with us, it will be all right.”
“I hope so,” I whisper.
“This is nothing new to us, Liz.”
“I know that.” I frown. “I don’t like that part either.”
“We can do this together.” Jake smiles into my ear.
Just as he finishes the word together, a low beep comes from the alarm on his watch.
Twenty minutes until all chaos ensues.
Chapter Nineteen
Quietly, I slide out of bed and put on my white tennis shoes. Jake does the same, and yet again, I wish we had our black combat boots back. Jake allows me to walk out first as planned. I approach the opening to our Pod which exits into the commons. This time, I make a bit more noise on purpose to wake the guards.
Burt and Smith wake up, raising off their beds and approach me. It is not uncommon for them to have to get up to walk a soul to the restroom or assist with something medical, but I have not been one of those they have had to help.
“Miss Strong,” Smith says, “Can I help you with something?”
“Why, yes,” I begin, but before I say anything else, Eli and Shawn quietly emerge from their hiding places, placing a choke stance behind the two guards. Their airways are cut off so fast, they don’t have a chance to say another word. Their small guns fall to the floor with a thud. Less than twenty seconds later, Burt and Smith lay unconscious on the ground of the Pod.
We quickly slide their bodies under the bunks, motioning for the others in our group to follow. Shawn and I grab the two guards’ small Colt 45s equipped with silencers. There are four of them in total. I hand one to Jake, and I keep one. Shawn takes one as does Magi.
When we reach the commons, our large group is soon noticed by three guards patrolling the stark white room.
They soon notice our weapons, so they pull theirs out in a defensive stance. You can tell they aren’t used to having to do so. Jake, Magi, and Shawn take them out all at once. Red splatters across the floor of the crisp, white room. Dia looks away from the mess before us.
I am glad for the silencers.
Jake, Dia, my mom, and I run off towards where Nel swears our weapons are being held. Magi and Zac head up the stairs, Magi with a gun in her hand, and Zac with a stark white knife.
Down yet another hall, I can see the rest of our group go off following Eli to find Robert and Samantha.
“Right,” my mom breaths as we run the hall.
We follow.
She turns us down yet another hallway, we go left, right, then left again, until we see the walls turn from white to gun metal grey. We are running full speed towards the room our guns are supposed to be in.
Two guards once sitting, now stand up with weapons high in the air. I aim my small gun, not sure I could go from an AK-47 to a small pistol, but I shoot anyways. Both guards hit the ground.
I look down at both lifeless guards as we run past them. Two more lives I now add to the list of others, five dead people Dia has seen in less than ten minutes.
An alarm rings out from all around us, followed by an announcement.
“Newly integrated
