What Are You Willing to Risk?

by P. L. Camery

  “My thoughts exactly,” Mavis said, nearly jumping onto the ladder and beginning their ascent.

  Keeping their heads down in the nearly pitch dark of the night, they scurried invisible to the guards patrolling the perimeter and rooftop of the building. Once twenty feet from their target, they crouched to a crawl. As they inched forward Lawrence tapped Mavis on the shoulder then made exaggerated gestures of annoyance at the guard standing at their entrance door. Then he wiggled his way closer to her, “On my signal, make a little noise and I’ll take him out from behind.”

  Without waiting for a reply, he positioned himself three feet to the left of the vigilant figure. Mavis had to force herself to take a slow breath to contain her annoyance as he crawled away. He gave her the slightest nod and she banged her hand on the dirt ground three times. Immediately the man’s head turned. He listened for a moment but did not move. Lawrence mouthed the word “more” and she did it again. This time he reached for his weapon and began taking slow measured steps forward. “Show yourself,” his tone was low yet full of such menace it gave Mavis chills. He was nearly on top of her when Lawrence rose to his feet and stabbed a small needle in the back of his neck, tranquillizing him.

  Lawrence removed the tranquilizer and placed it inside the inside pocket of his jacket when Mavis got up and complained, “Thanks for waiting for my agreement. You know how much I like being told to play bait. Now what are we going to do with him?” She gave the man a slight kick.

  “No problem,” the boy winked at her with exaggerated cheer then handed her his skeleton key card, “If you let this thing start opening the door, I’ll take care of him for you.”

  Rolling her eyes, Mavis snatched the card from his hand and held it up to the scanner. As she waited, she had to bite her lip, worried that the door might not take it and some alarm would go off. She released her breath as the door slid open and Lawrence said, “Ta-da!” Mavis turned and had to suppress the urge to laugh at the man, his legs drawn up, head slumped on his knees, arms haphazardly tossed about the arrangement, and gun still in hand. He looked more like a rag doll rather than a deadly individual. “It’s a work of art!” her accomplice finished proudly.

  Mavis shook her head, grinning at his puffed-up expression, then responded, “Come on Picasso. Let’s go.”

  “Okay,” Mavis whispered, pressing on her microphone as the door slid closed behind them and Lawrence punched in the lockdown code, “we’re in.”

  “Even though you cheaters are getting a head start,” she heard Cal say, “I bet we are still going to get the specimens before you hack the old man’s computer.”

  Mavis smiled at Cal’s playful tone, but Lawrence straightened at the challenge and responded, “You’re on!” The girl rolled her eyes, idiot men.

  “There was a guard outside our entrance point,” Mavis said, back to business, “we made it look like he fell asleep. You two might have to do the same. But there’s no telling if any patrolling agents will buy it so it’s best we get this done quickly.”

  “To think,” Lawrence said as he scanned the area, “I almost took this career path.”

  “Why didn’t you?” Mavis teased, “Crazed scientists, mad experiments, sounds right up your ally.”

  “No way,” the boy responded as he began forward, “I’d contribute too much. I don’t think my conscious could cope with that.”

  Now running through the polished brightly lit halls of the Facility, Mavis felt her dark outfit was a honing beacon for the security detail. Yet, to her astonishment, there seemed to be no signs of life as they navigated the maze. Then they turned a corner and Mavis stopped dead in her tracks and had to cover her mouth to keep from squealing at the sight of a hallow bloodied face through an open door. Caught off guard, Lawrence crashed into her and they stumbled forward. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

  “There’s someone…” she pointed in the man’s direction.

  The boy followed her gaze and his complexion paled slightly, “We can’t worry about them baby, they’re test subjects.”

  “Test subjects?” Appalled, she strode into the room and stared. There were four of them total, all male and dressed in tattered medical gowns. They were situated as if on display behind soundproof glass in empty grey rooms. The man she had initially spotted stood staring in the same direction, eyes hallowed and empty. The second and forth were on rampage, throwing themselves against the walls, lashing out at empty air, clutching their heads, and seemingly ranting at the top of their lungs. Then one of them rammed head first into the glass, causing the girl to take a step back and gasp at the sight of his blood. This can’t be real, maybe a projection or a nightmare but not real.

  The third man sat on the floor rocking back and forth, muttering to himself. As a yellow puddle formed beneath him and flowed to a small drain to his left, Mavis felt her stomach churn with anger and outrage. Then this man turned his head, a desperate look dominating his features, and mouthed the words “help me” over and over and over. She could almost hear a voice with his plea and was about to cover her ears when Lawrence caught her hand.

  “Mavis,” the boy took her hand and squeezed, “there’s nothing we can do for them. We have to go.”

  He gave her a gentle pull, but she stayed planted to the ground. “Please Mavis, we have a mission remember. Dr. Lance’s gas did this to them, we are finding a way to stop it remember? We have to go.”

  The girl said nothing, but she let herself be led away. When they were clear of the room, she could finally find her voice. “No one deserves that,” she shook with fury as she spoke, “no one deserved to be experimented on and made to be like them, so confused and crazed, so miserable, so much pain.”

  “They probably don’t even feel the physical pain.”

  She shot him a glare, “How could you…”

  “Because they probably don’t,” the boy continued flatly, “The worst of the pain is in their heads, I doubt they are very aware of what is happening in real life.”

  “That’s supposed to make me feel better?” Lawrence flinched from her rebuttal then hung his head and said nothing.

  When they reached Dr. Lance’s office, Lawrence opened the door with the skeleton card and they slipped inside. Spotting the computer immediately, he slipped a flash drive into the keyboard and a hologram monitor sprang to life. In the meantime, Mavis turned to the door and took a small gun from her jacket, lifting it to eye level.

  “I’m sorry I snapped at you,” she said as the boy began typing.

  “It’s not a problem, I deserved it.”

  “True, but still…”

  “And besides, I know you weren’t mad at me,” Lawrence interrupted, “You’re mad at the bastards who authorized the testing, and we are getting some payback right now aren’t we? So it’s all good.”

  Mavis smiled, “Well I wouldn’t say all good, a little more payback wouldn’t hurt.” There was no response as Lawrence immersed himself in his work, and Mavis busied her mind by reviewing their exit plan as she listened to the steady tapping of his fingers.

  “Okay, done!” Lawrence finally said, as he pulled the flash drive free and slipped it into his pocket.

  “Perfect! Now let’s… Lawrence, what are you doing?”

  “What?” The boy gave her the most clueless look he could muster, “I’m setting up Cal’s bombs.” With that he peeled off the plastic off another small rectangular device and slapped it on the desk under the computer.

  “But if that goes off, they’ll know we, or rebels at least, were here. It will be a mess.”

  “But I promised him- I can’t flake on a friend!” the boy replied in protest. “Plus, you said yourself we need a little more payback.”

  Mavis shook her head, taking him by the arm, “Come on, we need to find the others and get out of here.” The she pressed her fingers to her microphone and said, “We’re done here, what’s your status?”

  “Wrapping up,” she heard
Destiny’s voice say, “Cal is just setting up his stupid bombs.”

  “Hey Lawrence,” chimed a cheerful Cal, “How are we gonna set these off anyways?”

  “Voice activated,” the boy responded, grinning at Mavis’s annoyed glare, “when I say the magic word, boom!” He made a dramatic gesture with his hands.

  “Let’s just save the explosion for when we’re far away,” Mavis said. “So, start heading for the second south exit, Lawrence and I will meet you there.”

  “Negative, we need you guys here,” Destiny said.

  “Ignore her,” Cal protested, “we can handle four little crates, we found them in the corner and started loading up vials of the stuff. We have four hands between us and they have handles.”

  “Destiny is right,” Mavis cut in, “If you meet a guard you won’t be able to draw your weapon in time. Just sit tight, we’ll meet you there.”

  They left the room at a silent jog. As the two neared the room Cal and Destiny were stationed, Lawrence caught his girlfriend by the wrist, “Wait.”

  Mavis paused then scanned around the corner for an approaching sentry. Seeing none she turned back to him, “What…” Before she could continue, he pressed her against the wall, and running his hands through her hair, gave her a quick hard kiss. She moaned from surprise and pleasure as his fingers ran down her shoulders, slowly grazing her arms. When he leaned back, she lost herself for a moment in his gaze before coming to her senses, “What was that for?”

  Lawrence shrugged as his fingertips slowly brushed down her cheek, “Just cause, I’m glad you’re here. Even though I’m also terrified something’s going to happen to you.”

  The girl gave a soft chuckle and kissed his fingers, “nothing’s going to happen to me, I…”

  They both snapped their heads up as an alarm sounded, screaming through the halls as the lights shifted to a flashing red.

  “Fire alarm?” Mavis asked in confusion.

  “Trouble,” Lawrence concluded as he took her hand and they broke into a sprint. Within seconds they saw their comrades running towards them, filled red crates in hand. “What happened?” Lawrence demanded.

  “We don’t know!” Destiny exclaimed, “We were getting ready to go, Cal though we could meet you halfway and as soon as we stepped out the door…”

  “The vials or crates must have sensors,” Mavis concluded as she and Lawrence drew their weapons and pointed in the direction of approaching footsteps and shouts.

  “Let’s move,” Lawrence ordered, “and keep your hoods up, we can’t be identified.” But as the group began towards their exit, they heard a new mob approaching from that direction. “Left!” The boy yelled just as the men rounded the corner to attack. Both rebels opened fire as darts went flying around them. “Right then immediate left, take the stairs.”

  “But there are no exits,” Destiny protested.

  “Just do it!” Mavis snapped.

  Lawrence was first to get to the staircase. Without hesitation he slammed into it and used his body to hold it open for the others as he shot at their pursuers. When they were in he yelled, “All the way to the roof, hurry!”

  Lawrence and Mavis continued shooting as they ran; but despite their bullets the men seemed to keep coming at them. “Hurry it up, up there,” Lawrence said, giving his sister a slight shove.

  Destiny turned and opened her mouth to rebuke him by instead yelled, “Watch it!” Then she shoved him away from an impending dart then screamed, dropping the crates with a crash as it penetrated her shoulder. For a moment she seemed to convulse as her eyes rolled back in her skull. Panicked, Lawrence shook her, and her gaze fixed on him.

  “Are you okay?” the boy pulled out the dart from her and threw it at their assailants. Without waiting for a response, he took her by the arm and pulled, “Come on, we have to keep going, we have to…”

  “Let go of me you freak!” Destiny yelled, pulling away from him.

  Lawrence blinked, “What…”

  Before he could finish his question, Cal pushed through them. Making a split-second decision he threw his crates at the oncoming guards and kicked Destiny’s down as well. Then he turned to the girl. She lashed out, but he grabbed her arm and twisted so she rammed into the wall. Having her dazed he wrapped one arm around her body and put his free hand over her mouth. Then Cal dragged her upward and screamed, “Shoot damn it they’re still coming!” This knocked the boy to his senses and he followed orders for the last flight up.

  When they broke out into the cold night air the first thing Mavis saw was a dark blue helicopter. “Is that your plan?” the girl screamed in horror.

  “It’s for emergencies!” the Lawrence responded as he shot the two soldiers guarding it. Then he swung the bunt of his gun across one’s face and flipped the other over his shoulder, “and I count this as an emergency.” Mavis added a bullet to each for good measure.

  “But you don’t even know how to fly that thing!”

  “Minor detail,” he said throwing the cockpit door open then pulling on the side door. “You’ve done more simulations,” Lawrence said to Cal, “much better at the flight games. You’re pilot.”

  Without hesitation Cal shoved Destiny to Lawrence so he and Mavis could drag the struggling girl into the back. Once they were all in Cal yelled, “It won’t activate, it needs a key card.”

  “Try the skeleton key!” Lawrence responded, his voice cracking with desperation. They all flinched at the sound of darts rebounding off the helicopter’s metal exterior.

  Then the engine roared to life and Cal yelled, “Got it!” Slowly, the blades began to speed up and the pilot continued, “Buckle up boys and girls, I imagine this isn’t going to be as smooth in real life.”

  As they became airborne, Lawrence pressed his fingers to his intercom and said, “Inferno.”

  The moment the explosion came, the roof seemed to collapse beneath them, and Cal whistled. “Well at least we have that beautiful sight.”

  They began to gain altitude, rocking slightly as Cal got a feel for the controls. It was not until they were out of range did any of them dare to relax, and only then when they noticed Destiny had gone still. Lawrence peered at his sister, but she continued to stare blankly ahead, eyes glazed over, as if seeing through him. Then here face contorted with fear and she threw up her hands, “No, no please. I’m not even important, it’s Lawrence you want, my brother not me.”

  “Destiny!” Lawrence yelled shaking her, “Destiny Richardson stop it! There’s no one here except me and Mavis.”

  The girl screamed, “No please. Please, please stop, I’ll talk I swear. Just keep those things away from me.”

  “What? What things? Destiny!”

  Mavis reached in front of him and pushed him back, “Lawrence, Lawrence, baby please calm down.” The helicopter lurched knocking them all to the side. Mavis flinched at the thud of scull meeting the cold metal floor. She may have a concussion, but at least Destiny was silent for the moment.

  The boy took several steps back, pale faced as he stared at his sister. Then and began pacing, whispering to himself “This is my fault…”

  “No, it isn’t,” Mavis said firmly, “this isn’t your doing.”

  “Yes, it is!” he yelled back, “She got hit, the drug, the insanity drug; she’s going crazy because she was trying to protect me, all my fault, my fault.”

  “Stop it right now,” the menace in her voice was enough to halt the pacing.

  But before Mavis could continue Cal said, “Save the psychology session. We aren’t safe yet.”

  The girl looked up and saw what he was referring to; heading towards them, moving faster than she thought possible were three fighter jets, barely discernible by their flashing lights. Mavis swallowed, “How far are we from the Facility?”

  “About a quarter mile,” Cal responded.

  “Any weapons on the helicopter?” Lawrence asked, back into defense mode.

  “Not t
hat I know of and there’s no way we can outrun them.”

  “How far from the tunnels?”

  “Hard to tell,” Cal said, squinting at the navigation system, “I’m going in that general direction, but I don’t have any real way to pinpoint the location.

  Destiny resumed her screaming and Mavis had to press a hand over her mouth. Then she said, “Do you think you can keep us alive until the forest?”

  “Maybe… But we can’t just land…”

  “I don’t think we have to,” Lawrence cut in, pulling three objects from the back of the helicopter, “parachutes.”

  “Someone’s going to have to jump with Destiny,” Mavis pointed out.

  “I’ll do it,” Cal responded, “I’m strongest.”

  “A-alright,” Lawrence said after a moment of hesitation, “here, get yours on before they’re on top of us.”

  While Lawrence and Cal secured their gear, Mavis searched the back for rope. Locating it she returned to Destiny and began tying the girl up. When Lawrence turned, he seemed grim but said nothing. “I don’t want her squirming,” Mavis explained, meeting his gaze.

  The boy nodded then knelt beside her, “I’ve got this, you get your parachute on.”

  Mavis nodded and had just finished securing it when the helicopter jerked, and Cal yelled, “Hold on kids! They’re closing in.” The next jolt was harder than the first, there was a deafening crash as shards flew, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the helicopter. They were losing altitude but still airborne for the time being. Lawrence wrapped the end of the rope around his wrist and grabbed for a handle and Mavis clung to a seat as she used one hand to fumble with her chute. Then Cal jerked the vehicle right, narrowly missing another oncoming missile. “Shit,” the older boy hissed, “I don’t think we’ll have very long before it’s time to jump.”

  “Just do what you can,” Lawrence responded making his way to Mavis, “as close as we can get to the woods.”

  The craft shot up then right and proceeded to zig-zag through the parade of missiles. Then there came a crash even more massive than the first. Alarms sounded in the cockpit as smoke began to secure their surroundings. “Engines took some damage,” Cal reported, “I believe that’s our cue to bail.” The other two nodded.