Chapter Four

Levi dragged Joey by their arm through the dirty, dark, and rat filled bunker while looking for anything valuable. Joey felt a chill drive up their spine as they stared into the different rooms they looked in. Lab tables with dried blood stains, filthy scalpels, straight jackets littered about the rooms, and hallways.

The two of them walked about the facility, and, as they passed a big room with a panel filled with buttons, Levi noticed that there was a sign covered by a bunch of vines, dust, and dirt. He pulled off the vines and dusted as much of it out of the way. The sign was actually a plate that read: “Base #L1aR”.

“That’s a weird name,” He said aloud.

“Hey! Levi, come check this out!” Levi looked over his shoulder to see his best friend staring at a locked door. There was a small window at the top of the door that should have let you see what was inside, but, for some reason, the window was completely frozen over. Joey tilted their head to the side and touched the door only to recoil from how cold it was. “Why is it so cold?”

“No matter, let’s see what’s inside.” Levi said as he placed his gloved hand on the actual freezing cold door and began picking the lock with his other hand. It took him a little longer than he expected, but he managed to get it open and used his gloved hand to open the door and a wind of cold air hit the two teenagers.

“Woah.” Joey said as they looked upon a slouched over figure sitting on the floor of the freezing room. The figure was in a filthy straight jacket that had several broken straps, but the two holding his arms were still somewhat intact. His hair was messy, frozen, and falling off in clumps. He looked surprisingly bulky for someone who looked like they were in this frozen room for more than a few days. His tattered, filthy black pants concealed his legs pretty well in his criss-crossed position.

“Room #2 has been opened.” Said a robotic voice over the facility’s somehow still functional intercoms. “Reawakening Echo Soldier #2.”

Then, the dark, cold room was illuminated in a blinding white light. The slouched over man’s eyes snapped open as he stood. The two teenagers looked on in horror as the six foot man stared down at them. His eyes were red, and scanned the two. Joey defensively grabbed Levi’s arm while trying to slowly move to the door. They did not like what was going on.

Levi snatched his arm back before speaking, “Hello there, sir. My name is Levi Toronto, and I would like to know what you are doing down here.”

“Soldier Henry,” The man said robotically. “Please state the password.”

Levi looked at the man with a confused look before Joey whispered in his ear.

“Le, let’s go.” They said, “I don’t like this.”

“Nonsense.” Levi said, he turned back to the robotic man. “Listen, tell us who you are and-”

“Incorrect password.” The man said. He began to struggle in his straight jacket, and one of the sleeves ripped. Letting one of his arms go free. “Intruders detected.”

The man lunged forward. Joey moved in front of Levi, but he pushed them out of the way, and they both fell to the floor. The man passed between them, and went outside of the room. He collided with one of the hallway’s walls head first and he was lodged there. He violently tried to push himself out of the hole.

“Come on!” Joey said as they grabbed Levi by the arm and ran out of the room when the man finally pulled himself out of the hole. The two of them dashed for the exit when he screamed in anger and began to dash straight towards them. He was gaining, and fast.

“You aren’t fast enough!” Cried Levi. Joey heard the words fast, and got an idea. They picked up Levi bridal style and looked down at their legs. “What are you doing?!”

“Getting us out of here!” Joey pressed the Energin button, and felt their heart rate accelerate as they ran faster. The man quickly fell behind. The two teenagers quickly ran out of the facility, and Sophia gasped with surprise.

“What are you two doing?!” Sophia said.

“Close the fucking hatch!” Joey exclaimed. Sophia looked at them with confused eyes as she opened her mouth to retort. But, she was quickly silenced when a large hand wrapped around her neck and lifted her off the ground. The sheathed umbrella in hand dangled helplessly, much like the teens as they stood in terror as the hulking man took another step towards them as Sophia suffocated.

“Sophie!” Levi called out. The name made the man stop in his tracks and lock onto Levi. Sophia looked at Joey and threw them the umbrella.

“Kill--him.” She struggled to say. Joey unsheathed the umbrella and noticed a sharp grappling hook at the end of it, and aimed it at the man. They were about to fire when the man stared at them. Those glowing red eyes froze them in place. Not because of fear, but because Joey could see a sliver of humanity in his eyes. The two of them stared at each for a moment, a perceived silence settled over Joey in that moment.

“What are you doing?!” Levi called out. His voice snapped the man out of his sudden stupor, and he closed his fist tighter around Sophia’s neck. She made a small whimper before a loud snap could be heard and she went limp. The man released her from his grip and she fell to the ground, lifeless. “No!”

Levi grabbed the umbrella out of Joey’s hands and fired the grappling hook. It connected with the man’s throat as Levi yanked it back, pulling a chunk of the man’s throat with it. Blood spilled out of the man’s open throat and fell backwards onto the ground. Blood pooled beneath him.

“Sophie!” Levi ran to his sister’s side and touched her neck with his middle and index finger, checking for a pulse. There was none. Tears started to fall down his cheeks as he angrily faced Joey. “What were you doing?! Why didn’t you shoot?!”

“I- I-”

“You what?!” Levi punched Joey in the chest. “You fucking killed my sister that’s what you did!”

Joey backed away from the screaming Levi, and felt the tears coming. They never meant for any of this to happen. It was just a heist for them to get out of going to military camp. Now, Sophia was on the ground, dead. How would they explain this to the cops, explain it to the news, explain it to their dad. Their dad would be destroyed. They could already hear his voice.

“How could you?! I never raised you to be a killer!” Is what he would sound like. Jaxson would grow up with a murderer for a sibling. They couldn’t do that to him. They just ruined Levi’s life.

“I’m sorry.” Joey said as they turned and began to run away. Levi yelled out after his best friend. The friend that he always thought would be there for him.

“Where are you going?!” He said. “Come back! Help me! Joey!”