The Path to Escape

Mila looked up the music playlist as Misa dialed the extension on the phone and the music could be heard above them. Simon opened up the grate to the ventilation system and threw the bloody gauze into it. Within a few minutes, the banging on the doors stopped and the footsteps of the creatures receded. 

“Simon, open the second drawer on the left there. The code is 1165.”

Simon typed in the code. He pulled out the drawer. To his surprise, the drawer was full of knives of all different shapes and sizes. “Woah Misa, wtf is this?”

“That, my brother, is the unit knife drawer. Welcome to the emergency department! Everyone but Max grab one of the bigger knives, put the rest of them in the red bag with the supplies. Sorry Maxie but you won't be able to hold anything for awhile because of those burns”

The siblings all were armed with  6 inch long blades, Misa led the group and signaled with her arm to hold their positions. She slowly opened the door and used the blade as a mirror to check for creatures. None were present. It was time to start moving. 

Misa signaled for the group to press forward. They all followed and in a crouched position made their way to the nearest cover. It was a large pillar that stood between the room and radiology. Misa used her knife again to peer around the corner. She swore that she saw something move but it was gone in a flash. 

In a whisper, “I think one of them is up ahead. Max get in the middle, we go back to back so it won’t be able to sneak up on us. Move out.” The crew shuffled through the hall. They heard the footsteps before they saw them, but three creatures ran towards the group from all sides. The first one jumped at Mila, but this time she was prepared and stabbed it between the ribs before it could knock her over. The one that was coming for Misa caught a blade between the eyes before it could even pounce and Simon stabbed the one that approached him in the neck. With all the creatures down the crew moved towards the guard station. When they approached there was some rustling and everyone assumed combat stances. When they opened the door, a bloodied guard was curled up under the desk shaking.

Misa relaxed her weapon and approached the guard and gestured for the others to follow. The man was shivering and his eyes looked empty when he turned his face towards the group. 

“Hey, are you injured?” Misa asked as she gently touched the guards shoulder. He jumped and briefly the light returned to his eyes.

“They’re everywhere. All the blood, and the big guy who tells them all what to do. I saw him but he didn’t see me. If he saw me then I’d be dead. We have to be quiet. Quiet is best. Quiet is best…” He kept muttering and repeating that over and over again.

“He’s completely delusional. I don’t think that we will be able to get him to move from here. But he does have a gun and I’m going to take it.” Misa took the gun from the guard’s holster.

“We are really close to the exit, right Misa?” Simon asked while looking nervously into the lobby. 

“Yeah why?” Misa turned to Simon who just stood pointing. When she saw what he was pointing at, Misa quickly and silently took the white card out of her pocket and put it into Max’s shirt pocket.

“You all get out of here and I will create a diversion. Wait in the car for me for no more than 10 minutes. If I don't come back there is a map in the glove compartment. Go to the circled location. Please be careful kids.”

What Misa and Simon saw was the captain completely transformed with blood dripping out of his mouth. He made a weird clicking noise that reminded Misa immediately of a bat. She stepped out of the guard station and started firing. Her family moved towards the external doors, used the master cardkey, then left it on the floor near the door. The captain jumped, knocking over several chairs. He picked one up and hurled it at Misa who was barely able to dodge it.  She fired a shot for the captain’s head but it was blocked by a scaled hand. 

He rushed Misa, faster than she had anticipated and knocked the gun out of her hand. He grabbed her by the ankle and threw her against the wall. Misa cried out and tried to get up but the captain monster kicked her in the gut and she hit the wall with a thud. Misa coughed up blood. Her vision was cloudy. She was in so much pain. Her ribs had to be broken. But somehow, she was still clinging to her knife. She knew he was going to pick her up again so this time she positioned herself in a way that would make it easiest for him to grab her by the leg. 

The captain grabbed her by the leg as she planned but this time Misa was ready. She swung her body up and stuck her knife into his empty eye socket. He flung Misa to the ground hard enough to break her bones. Misa’s arm was bent in an unnatural way and there was a bump on her leg on the same side. Still while the captain flailed his head around, it was Misa’s only chance to escape.

Somehow she got to her feet and quickly limped to the door where she found the master key card and exited the building. She began limping to the parking ramp leaving a trail of blood behind her.  When she finally saw the faces of her family she collapsed. Her face hit the concrete directly and all she could do was breathe. 

Simon was the first to reach her. He was saying something but she couldn't hear anything. The next thing she knew she was being lifted and lowered into the back seat of the suv.