CHAPTER TEN

Peter's Plan

The evening meal and the few hours after seemed to take forever. I lay on the bed pretending to read, ignoring the passage of the ghosts as they marched, some of them literally, through my room. Thankfully the distraught mother and disemboweled soldier were no longer there. Either that or I was no longer aware of them. Whatever the reason I was sincerely grateful I could no longer see them. The crushing headaches and dreadful sense of loss of control had lessened too since the injections had been exchanged. Something else I was sincerely grateful for.

The hours dragged past and by the time Peter showed up I was considering going it alone.

'Where have you been,' I hissed

'I'm right on time.'

I led the way to the door. When I got in the passage he was ahead of me.

I huffed my annoyance.

'You ain't seen nothing yet,' he said with a grin. His mood had lightened considerably.

'Jenny went off okay then?'

'She dropped her notice in at reception smiled sweetly and said goodbye. She was a true star.'

'Told you she would be fine. So what are you going to do now?'

'There isn't much left for me. I can't hang around Jenny forever.'

'Are you going to move on?'

Peter snorted, 'Maybe, if I had the first idea how to do it.'

After that, Peter drifted ahead and waved me forward when each corridor was clear. As he had predicted the passages were surprisingly empty of guards. We reached the service elevator tucked away at the back of the building without incident.

I pulled the metal grates open, flinching as they squealed loudly. I stepped in and dragged them shut again with another excruciating squeal.

'Press, boiler-room.'

'You don't say.'

'Smart arse.'

The lift stopped and I once more pulled the grates open and closed. The sound of the squealing grates echoed around the semi-dark stone tunnels. The air was damp and smelled moldy and stale.

'Sort of cold and damp to be a boiler room,' I noted.

'The boiler room is at the other end. These tunnels aren't used anymore as far as I know.'

'You surprise me.'

'Come on.'

He led the way through the tunnels which seemed to stretch away in every direction. It seemed as if there were miles of them covering far more ground than the footprint of the clinic. There were doors leading into small rooms on either side with old rusty keyholes and metal bars built into viewing panels. A rat padded past and I sidestepped out of its way. The ghosts down here were still and silent watching our passing as if we were the intruders. Thankfully they were barely visible in the dim safety lights on the ceiling. The lights were modern and looked out of place in an environment that could have dated back to the last century.

'How do you know this place?' I whispered not wanting my voice to carry in the echoing darkness.

'I spent a long time looking for a way to get Margery out. I couldn't exactly use the front door.'

I found the flaw in his plan. 'But you didn't get her out. You got caught.'

'Relax. We didn't make it to the tunnels. We were caught way before we got here. She was in a far worse state than you.'

'Comforting.'

'Wait, I hear something,' he said holding up a hand to stop me.

I listened and I heard it too. A soft tread of feet, just audible above the drip of water and the scurrying of a dozen rats racing toward us. I almost managed to stifle my gasp of horror as they skimmed around my feet and ran off down the passage the way we had come. But the sound of feet stopped and I had the distinct impression their owner had heard my almost soundless intake of breath.

The sound of more feet, many noisy feet, echoed through the passages.

'Quick get in one of the rooms,' Peter said but before I could do as he suggested Ross came around the corner.

Ross pushed me into an open doorway. 'Stay in there, don't move,' he said, just loud enough for me to hear. The sound of running feet was getting louder and Ross stepped out into the corridor again.

'What's going on?'

'That Grace girl, she's gone missing.'

'Tell Leon to organize cover for the guards' entrance, side door, and main entrance in case she's stupid enough to go that way. Go,' he barked when they made no move to do as he ordered.

'But...'

I could swear I heard a low growl before he said, 'Are you challenging me?'

There was genuine fear in the guard's voice when he said, 'No, we're going. Com'on mate let's go.

'But,' the second guard protested.

'I said move, now.' There was the sound of the stumbling steps of someone being pushed then I heard their feet leaving as hastily as they had arrived.

Ross came back to my doorway.

'What in hell are you doing down here?'

I stared at him. Unable to decide whose side he was on I was at a loss how to answer. Granted he had just stopped those two guards from finding me but was I any better off?

'Right back at you,' I said playing for time and glancing toward Peter for ideas. Ross didn't answer. He scowled at me instead. The yellow safety lights cast acid shadows over his furious features.

'I want an answer.'

'Err, would you believe I was looking for the loo?'

His expression froze then there was the tiniest relaxing of the muscles around his eyes. A smile? I hoped. Maybe.

'You're looking for a way out.'

It wasn't a question. I shrugged.

'On your own?' He raised his head and I could have sworn he sniffed the air.

'Of course on my own,' I snapped. 'People aren't exactly queueing up to help me.'

He grabbed my upper arm and pulled me back along the corridor the way I had come. The way the guards had gone. I tried to pull my arm free but his grip was painfully tight.

'What will they do to me?' I asked despite myself.

'Now you have tried to escape? Lock you up probably. They will continue the tests though. One way or another. It was just easier on you and them while you cooperated.'

My insides felt as though they were melting. The sounds of the shouting and running feet seemed magnified. The dim moving shadows, my constant companions now, seemed to be leering at me. I swallowed the terrified groan aching to leave my throat and blinked back the tears. I would not show them how afraid I was. I would not! With my anger came courage. With the courage came more anger.

'Why me?' I hissed low and fierce. 'Why is this happening to me?'

Ross stopped and pushed me through an open doorway releasing my arm. I stumbled against the wall of the filthy room and rubbed the place his fingers had bitten into me. The dust kicked up by our feet mingled with the smell of damp and stale urine which stung my nose.

'You really have no idea do you?'

'No, I have no idea, but feel free to enlighten me,' I snapped.

He stared at me, the dim light from the corridor filtered through the partially open door giving just enough light to see the filthy room. I quickly stepped away from the stained wall. Ross' face was serious but no longer angry. He scanned my own face as if looking for something.

'I believe you,' he said finally. 'It turns out that you are their best chance of completing a... project which is very important to them.'

'I know that, they want to help...'

'No, Grace, you really don't know.'

The sound of running feet and loud voices filtered down from the floor above. We all looked up. Hooks, chains, and brackets festooned with cobwebs dotted the stone roof.

'Grace, I am so sorry,' Peter said. 'We can try again, I won't forget what you did for Jenny.' I glanced at him and gave a small nod.

Ross grabbed my arm again and pulled me back to the door. This time I managed to yank my arm away from his grip before he locked on.

'Don't worry, I won't run off. Where would I go?' I didn't add running would be pointless as I stood no chance of outrunning him even if I did have a destination.

Ross hesitated then led me back into the corridor. This level was a warren of narrow passages and abandoned rooms. Old cells most likely if the last one we had been in was anything to go by. But Ross didn't hesitate. We wound our way through narrow access tunnels and empty storage rooms, always going up, toward ground level. Eventually, we stepped out of a narrow stone passage through an old, but suspiciously silent, door into a well-lit, if shabby, corridor.

'Where are we?'

'The service area,' he said without slowing his pace.

The service area? 'Why?' I asked stopping dead. Why could he possibly want me in the service area? It was exposed, and one of the first places the guards would look. He reached for my arm again but I pulled it out of his reach.

He scowled at me, impatience evident on his face. 'You wanted out didn't you!'

'Yeah, but...'

'Then you'd best be quick and make your mind up whether you trust me or not because believe me we don't have much time.'

I hesitated.

'Don't trust him, Grace,' Peter said.

'Come with me willingly or I drag you back to the clinic. You...we, don't have another option.'

I saw his point. Not much of a choice really. I nodded and waved my hand for him to lead on. After a brief appraisal, he jogged off down the corridor his feet making no noise on the painted concrete floor. When he turned his back I shrugged and raised my hands helplessly to Peter.

'I suppose you're right. Not much of a choice. But be careful.'

The air became cool. I could smell oil and stale exhaust fumes. The next corner we turned brought us to a loading bay. The wide opening onto the bay was screened with narrow opaque plastic strips. Ross indicated for me to wait and moved aside a swinging strip of heavy plastic to lookout. After a second he waved me forward and grabbed my arm again. The sky outside was dark, the loading bay lights dim. No deliveries were expected at this time of night. The wrought iron gates at the opposite side of the loading bay were closed and padlocked.

'Get to the gate but stay in the shadows.'

'The gate is locked,' I hissed. 'Unless you can squeeze through the bars there is no way out.'

'Not the main gate. To the right behind the dumpster, there is a small door. Go.'

'I won't follow you, Grace, I want to stay here and make sure Jenny isn't targeted,' Peter said. 'Good luck.'

'Alright,' I said answering both Peter and Ross.

Ross pushed me forward through the plastic curtain and I ran.