Chapter 62: 61 - Brandon
I heard hybrid footsteps coming back in my direction. "Now shut up before you get me killed," I whispered one last time into the earpiece and shut it off.
I took a deep shaky breath in through my mouth and tried not to vomit.
(A/N: mental block timeeeee)
Do I let them pass by?
Yes, I'll just let them pass and get some distance between us before -
Unless they smell me and kill me.
Before I make another ruckus and start the process over. Just let them pass.
Unless they smell me and kill me.
Yes I heard you the first time.
I doubt they'll pass by again without noticing anything.
. Ugh.
Better go now while they're still far enough away that I might have a chance to run.
But it's so fast outside. It's slow in here.
It's because of the lack of oxygen intake. And I thought I wanted out of here.
What if I just stopped breathing? Then I wouldn't hate it in here.
Then I'd be dead.
Darn it.
(A/N: I know that was confusing but Maria's mind gets a little crazy when she's in these sorts of situations)
The footsteps are closer now. Too close.
Time to run.
So I ran.
I made sure to be as light on my feet as possible to lessen the noise. Not that that's going to do me all much good, but it's the thought that counts.
Okay the hybrids got sick of my distracting way earlier than what would have been convenient.
"Okay guys, how we doing? Most of the hybrids have broken off to find y'all so you need to get it done fast if you haven't already," I said as I turned back on the earpiece. "Ah, Maria, nice of you to join us again," Brandon was the first to speak, and by the malice in his voice, I can tell he is not happy with me.
"Yeah you little sh*t, welcome back," Rose chimed in.
Yeah... They've never been too fond of when I switch up the plan on them.
"Haha," I awkwardly laugh, "Are you guys almost ready?" I made sure to move on.
"We've been ready," Cali snapped.
"Well okay then, everything can move on as planned. Go out the assigned exits —"
"We know," I bet you can guess who snapped.
Geez.
"I know you know. Sorry, I just get carried away sometimes."
"Well -"
"Hey, where's Jason?" I cut her off.
(A/N: that moment you forget if one of your own protagonists' names is spelled Jayson or Jason because he's literally just Wolfie to you)
"He's right here," Happy's voice came through, "We just had to take his ear and microphone piece because he started freaking out when you stopped responding." "I turned it off," I frowned.
"We all knew that but he kept yelling into it like an idiot."
"Dude!" I heard Wolfie yell at Happy.
I giggled, "Awww," I cooed.
"Yeah, awe it up," Stephan spoke up. "It was freaking annoying."
Wolfie growled in the background.
I stifled another laugh.
"Well, Can you tell him I said, uh... Um... Hi?" I cringed at my own awkwardness.
"Maria said hi," I heard Happy deliver.
"He just glared at me," He reported.
I snorted, "Sounds about right."
"Alright enough chitchat, let's get going," Cali announced.
I nodded, "Agreed, while you're spreading the powder, run as fast as you can and avoid as much confrontation as possible."
Since each pair of people — except for Cali, she's on her own — are taking a different exit - okay, I feel like it's important to specify that putting Cali on her own was not my doing, it was the others — the powder will be spread enough to bring down the mainframe of the facility and the rest will fall with it.
Wolfie will have to manage without me.
"I'll meet you all out there," I told them.
"You better," I could imagine Rose's glare.
I smiled, "I will."
"Good luck everyone," I heard Wolfie finish off.
Rose's POV
D@mn, I didn't know I could run this fast.
I guess being chased by hybrids really awakens the track star in all of us.
I looked over at my love as he emptied his respective bag of explosive powder along the floor of this h3ll hole.
I had to stifle a giggle.
He's all frantic and waving the bag around like a fool.
I smiled. My fool.
My smile immediately fell when I looked back ahead of me.
I guess it could have been worse. We could be running straight into hybrids.
But this is pretty sh*t too.
There's a fork in the hallway where there's not supposed to be a fork in the hallway.
Crap, we must have taken a wrong turn.
Brandon and I looked at each other and knew we were in trouble.
I can feel the anger and hatred and power radiating off the hybrids that I know are following our scent.
"Which way?!" Brandon whisper yelled to try and avoid the hybrids hearing.
"Um, uh, right," I said back.
But luck decided to f*ck us gently with a chainsaw today and once I crossed the threshold of the doorway on the right, a bunch of crazy crap happened.
First, and probably the worst part, a metal door came crashing closed and my eyes nearly flew out of my head in surprise.
"Brandon!" I called out to my mate who was still on the other side.
"Rosy!"
I dropped my bag and banged my fists against the door as another weird and ear splitting alarm sounded.
What the f**k?!
This is definitely not where we're supposed to be.
I felt the fear fill him before he even said anything and it made the fear in my own chest grow and my fists clench.
"They're getting closer, Rosy," I heard his muffled voice.
I banged on the door again, "Hold on, I'll figure out how to open it, I —"
"There's no time -"
"No Brandon," I gritted my teeth and tried not to lose it.
"Go Rose! They're coming, I'll meet you out there!" And before I could convince him to stay with me anymore, I heard his footsteps dash off.
His pain over this sh*tty situation matches mine.
I felt the tears fill my eyes but dug my nails into my palm, picked up my bag and ran towards the smell of fresh air.
He'll make it.
If he dies, I'll kill him, and he knows it.
But if I die I'll have him on my ass too, so I've gotta figure out where the hell I'm going.
Maria's POV
"Okay, I'm out of the facility," Wolfie announced through the com.
Thank the goddess.
"So are we," Happy and Stephan came through.
"I'm out," Rose panted, "but Brandon and I were separated."
"What?" I frowned as I skidded out of the building. "I'm out too, but what happened, Rose?"
"We took a wrong turn and triggered some sort of lockdown system and ended up on opposite sides of a door."
"S*it," I mumbled. "You went deeper into the building, hopefully Brandon can find his way out."
Oh please moon goddess.
"Oh f*ck," Rose grunted, distressed.
"He'll be fine, Rose, he's got a good nose. He'll find us."
She audibly swallowed, "Mhm."
I sighed.
Please find a way out Brandon.
"I'm almost out guys," Cali's voice appeared in my ear. "But they're right behind me we have have to blow this place right when I get out."
"Brandon, where are you?!" Rose came in.
Nothing.
"I'm out," Cali confirmed, breathless.
"Brandon!" I called into the microphone.
"Blow it! Now!" Cali yelled.
"BRANDON!!" I heard Rose's actual voice scream from somewhere near by.
"Now guys!" Cali persisted.
"Brandon! Are you clear?!" I yelled.
There was a second my heart wasn't beating.
"Yeah, I'm clear," came Brandon's confirmation.
I let out a sigh.
Thank you again.
"Here we go," Stephan announced as he presumably triggered the explosive they left in the lab.
"Hey, babe, where'd you come out?" Rose immediately asked Brandon into the microphone.
The first big boom went off.
I started jogging toward where Rose's scent was coming from. She came out the closest to me.
"Brandon? Where are you?" She asked again when he didn't respond.
Only static followed.
The second boom went off and it was at the same time we were finding each other through the trees.
We made eye contact.
"... Brandon?" She tried a third time.
Oh no.
She turned to look at the facility the second the third — out of I don't even know how many-booms went off.
Time froze for a second and neither of us even breathed, both assuming the worst.
Then she booked it toward the entrance.
"ROSE!" I hollered.
I went to stop her but Wolfie's arms yanked me back.
"Jason! No! Lemme go! LEMME GO!" I screamed. "GET THEM OUT —"
The fourth boom went off, and the roof of the building my best friend in the world just ran into to find some of the only other family I have left, collapsed in on itself.