Page 62 of Heart’s Prisoner

The guards immediately had their guns drawn and pointed at the door. The officers held their hands up, ordering them to wait. The knocking came again with a loud, heavy thud, waking most of the people near the door.

Lana's head shot up as she stared wide-eyed at the entrance. She rose and peeled from the wall to move closer to the entrance.

"Who's there?" called one officer.

There was silence and the officers looked at each other and the guards moved to each side of the door.

"Identify yourself!"

A pause and then, "This is General Vearez. I order you to open this door."

The men went still as did Lana. What was the general doing on level ten of all places? This couldn't be right. Lana hadn't been too sure but she could have sworn he was supposed to leave the base.

The officers looked to one another again in shock and likely wondering the same but they didn't hesitate for long. One officer started for the door latch while the others stepped back. "Right away, sir," the tall officer called, waving the guards away from the door.

Just as they were about to unlock the door, the overpowering scent of coffee hit Lana like a smack in the face. Her heart leaped in her throat and a shriek escaped her lips.

"Don't!" she shouted, throwing out her arms. "Don't open the door! It's not him!"

The officer about to press the button to unlatch the door froze. His eyes leaped to her then peered at the others with uncertainty.

"What are you doing, open the door!" snapped the tall officer.

Lana reached them and tried to block the door when two guards restrained her. "Don't do it. It's not him!" she repeated.

"I've had enough of her. Tie her up and put her by the equipment."

Lana cried and fought as the guards attempted to put her on the ground. By now the whole room was awake and watching but none moved to defend her.

"Please you have to believe me! He can mimic other's voices!"

"She's crazy. Officer Marks open that door for the general now!" ordered the tall one.

Officer Marks, who was at the door latch, paused for only a second before slamming his palm on the button. There was the sound of grinding and a dull click and the door began to slowly slide open.

The door stood wide open and, beyond it, there was no one. The large hall lay empty. Lana held her breath as the guards stepped out and looked around.

"There's no one," said one guard, standing just outside the doorway. He turned to look at them. "Sir, there's no one her–"

A spiny tail whipped out from above and hit the guard square in the chest causing him to go flying.

The others shouted and turned up their guns and started blasting.

The gym filled with the sounds of bullets and screams. People jumped up and began scrambling away, like a huge wave breaking out from the center. The guards who had Lana let her go in order to help the others. They drew their weapons and started firing.

Lana crawled away then fumbled to her feet. As she straightened, she caught Ben struggling to help Dahlia to her feet while Sarah lay in a ball on the floor as the other lab tech left her behind. Lana flew over to them and took Dahlia's other arm to support her.

"Take the elevators up to the city sector and get to the docks," Lana yelled over the gunfire.

"We need to get to the medical bay," Ben shouted.

"It's compromised." Lana glanced at the door and saw the guards were out of the room, firing down the hall and people were fleeing. "Let's go! Come on, Sarah, get up!"

As Sarah got up to follow, they rushed for the door and snuck around the corner, heading toward the elevators. To Lana's annoyance, everyone had jammed themselves at the entrance, waiting to get in a car. She looked back behind her and saw the soldiers firing aimlessly into the dark hall and people still rushing away but she saw no glimpse of Xerus though she knew he was there in the fray. Desperate, she searched around until she glimpsed through an open doorway across a warehouse in the cargo elevator.

"Come with me, come on." Lana tugged Dahlia's arm, imploring the group to follow her.

"Where are we going?" Ben asked.

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