Page 63 of Heart’s Prisoner

Lana pointed to the cargo elevator. "That should take you straight to the docks."

Ben didn't fight her as they made their way over. Sarah, though sobbing, followed closely behind. They hurried into the dark warehouse full of tank-sized crates and motionless robots until they reached the hulking elevator at the back. Lana let go of Dahlia for a moment so she could pull the latch and press the button for the elevator. They could hear the elevator moving down as they waited. The shouts of the guards grew closer and when Lana shot her eyes around she saw one of them go flying to land in the hall. When their elevator car came to a stop, the door slid open along with a metal slide and Lana allowed the others to step in before her. Gunfire grew louder but less frequent though the shouts never ceased. Lana could see some of the guards from the warehouse door as they backed away, some fleeing with the others into the main elevators.

Heart pounding, Lana hit the button to close the elevator door. As it began to slide close, Xerus came into view, taking up the doorframe to the warehouse. He towered over the others even with legs bent. His head was turned to search the crowd of screaming people until he twisted around and saw her. And their eyes locked. She stared, body draining of heat, as he bent his head and his eyes tore into her, full of fire and something else she couldn't guess. He didn't bother to rush for her as the door shut completely but Lana backed away regardless, fear twisting her stomach.

"Fuck," Ben whispered. They were all shaking. Lana took a few deep breaths then went over to the level pad and pressed two buttons. She then went back over to the others and carefully supported Dahlia once more with her body. The cargo elevator moved way slower than the rest as it was huge and heavy. It trembled underneath their feet and made a low humming sound as it rose upward. It felt like years before the elevator finally began to slow and come to a stop.

"Why are we stopping here?" Ben asked. "I thought you said six wasn't safe."

Lana gently grasped Dahlia's arm then gestured for Sarah to take her. They swapped positions, with Sarah holding the woman up. They all looked to Lana as she stepped to the door. "I will meet you at the docks. But I need to help a friend first."

"You're going in alone?" Ben asked.

Lana nodded. "I shouldn't be long. Take the elevators up to the top and don't stop."

The elevator opened to darkness and slow flashing yellow lights. The medical bay warehouse was empty save for a few pieces of equipment. Lana stepped out and peered around but saw no movement. She turned back to them and forced a smile. "It's okay. See you guys."

They said nothing, only looked at her gravely, as if they didn't expect to see her soon. Lana turned from them and started to walk away.

"Lana, wait."

Lana looked back and saw Dahlia straighten. "If you are unfortunate to see Asset T...use fire."

Lana gave her a single nod. The doors to the elevator began to slide close.

"And whatever you do, don't get caught."

The door shut and Lana stood silent and still in the dark. She heard the elevator moving upward, its humming noise slipping away. She turned from there and made for the warehouse exit.

Beyond the room, Lana saw the flickering of lights down each hall, debris and equipment scattered over the floors forcing her to weave. There was no sound save for the soft beeps of machines in some of the rooms. Lana tried to keep to the wall for balance, letting her hand slide across, trying her best not to make noise as she felt glass crunch against her feet and metal scrape along the floor. She found a pair of medical scissors on the ground. Grasping it firmly in her free hand, she crept down one hall and carefully peered around the corner.

There was no one in sight, not even security. Lana quickly made her way down another hall and turned once, looking up at the cameras every so often to gauge their angle. When she made it to one end and went to turn another corner, she quickly jumped back, pressing herself against the wall as a blue raptor whisked by at the other end. Heart pounding in her ears, Lana checked the hall again and saw the raptor had disappeared down another way.

"You can do this, Lana," she whispered to herself and with a deep breath, pushed herself from the wall and scurried down the hallway.

That's when she saw her first set of dead bodies. Limbs bent the wrong way, slumped against the wall and curled on the floor, blood soaking the ground. The scent of blood made her gag and Lana clamped a hand tightly over her mouth as she stepped carefully over the corpses. Some partially devoured. She dared not investigate but continued on. Hoping she didn't find Nicole in the same awful state next.

As she came to a larger waiting area, she spied a sign pointing her to surgery. A few Scibots lumbered about aimlessly as she passed and she could see into various rooms through wide windows. She crouched low as she went by one in particular where a few blue raptors were feasting on remains of a medical tech.

The door to surgery slid open and Lana stepped though, recognizing the space immediately from the video feed. She went over to the door to the operation room and saw it had deep gashes down its metal front but the door remained intact. Relieved, Lana pressed on the door latch and the door shuddered open only to stop midway. Lana squeezed herself through and stepped into the dark room, it's only light a blue glow from a prep room in the back.

"Nicole," Lana whispered. "Nicole, are you here?"

There was no response and Lana tried her best to step lightly, her arms outstretched. When her eyes began to adjust to the room around her, she could see the operating table at the center and the medical equipment surrounding it.

There was the sound of grating metal against the floor and Lana swerved around, scissors raised.

"L-Lana?" Nicole cried softly.

Lana dropped the scissors on the ground and rushed to her friend who, by what she could tell in the dim light, was pinned under some kind of large robotic machine. She crouched down beside her and took her hand as Nicole reached for her.

"Oh, god, you're really here," Nicole breathed.

"I came to get you," Lana said.

"You shouldn't be here. Those creatures are still outside. And the base is–"

"I know. But I wasn't going to leave you here." Lana gently tugged her hand away and bent down so she could examine the machine pinned against Nicole's leg.

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