Escaping Elysia

Chapter 35 - Not Easy

"Impressive, isn't it?" Sheer says. "And you're planning to burn it all down."

I look over the many switches and lights. I have no idea what I'm looking for. A giant flashing sign that reads 'Alarms' would be nice, but no such luck. I spot a small switch, near the top, labeled 'Security'. Could that be it? What if I'm wrong? What if it doesn't turn off the alarms, but calls security into the control room instead? I don't have time to scrutinize every single button on the panel. Dale and the others are waiting for my signal.

This is it. If we don't get out now we'll never have another chance. I eye the gun in Sheer's hand. I might not make it out of here at all. I have to give them a chance.

Sheer continues, "I should have just killed you the first time you tried to escape. I would have, if it weren't for the pills." Her eyes take on a wild gleam. "The pills should have worked!" She slams the gun against a screen that shows Leah waiting in her room, shattering the image. Glass falls to the floor and I jump, holding back a scream.

Turning her back to me, Sheer presses her forehead against the wall, banging her fist against it. Now's my chance.

I bolt forward, and before she can stop me I flip the switch. As soon as I do her cold fingers wrap around my wrist. I look up to see her studying my hand, her face flushed.

"You," she whispers. 

Dale

It's time.

I signal to Nadya and she nods, striking a match. She pulls the alcohol bottle from behind her back and lights the fuse, tossing it into the foliage to her left. The branches and leaves flare brightly, and around the room similar bursts of light burn. I watch the solar room, waiting for the walls to explode and crumble.

They don't.

What is Weston doing? Nadya runs toward me, and as she does I notice her tucking something into the bag at her hip. It's one of the stone ducklings from the fountain. I groan. It will only weigh her down. Taking her hand, we turn to the solarium doors, ready for the guard to evacuate us.

Brandt hasn't moved.

He stands at the door, arms folded, a smirk smeared across his face. Test subjects crowd the door and I push to the front.

"The smoke," I gesture. "We need to get out of here."

"No one's leaving." Brandt's smirk turns into a sneer. "Do you think we're stupid? We knew what you were planning."

The words are ice in my veins. How did they find out? There's still no explosion from the solar room, and I shift, pressing my lips together. Come on, Weston. Set it off.

Brandt laughs, loud and full of bluster. "You're all going to burn alive." He backs through the doorway.

"Wait!" Weston pushes his way through the crowd. "I made a deal. We get out alive." He grabs Nadya's wrist and pulls her forward. I blanch, my mouth slackening. No. He didn't. He couldn't.

Brandt exhales. "Fine. Let's go." The fire crackles behind us, edging closer.

Nadya yanks her arm out of Weston's grip. "I'm not going with you."

"Don't be stupid." Weston grunts, grabbing for her arm again. I jolt forward, ready to shove him away, but Nadya holds up her hand.

"I've got it." She turns to Weston. Her lips press tightly together, but her shoulders are back. The top of the duck's head peeks out from her bag. "We trusted you."

The other test subjects look nervously behind us and push toward the door. Brandt takes out a gun and waves them back. "Let's go, kid. It's now or never."