Artificial Mates - Chapter 121

The door banged when we burst into the lab. Dr. Churchhill and Olga were standing close to each other with one hand on her arm. She stood rigidly with an inverted smile. Looked like we interrupted something. they stepped away when they saw us.

“He took him away!” yelled Grant, enraged. Olga lifted her head with a perplexed expression on.

“Who took what?” she asked.

“Atlas!” his voice rose a pitch higher as he pointed towards the ceiling. The information took a second to sink in. Then both stared in shock.

“Wait—” started Dr. Churchhill. He placed a finger on his chin and stay silent. We waited for the rest. The old man paced back and forth before he stopped in his tracks.

“That’s enough, I going to get him back!” snapped Grant out of impatience. I stood there, heart hammering and ready to explode. I couldn’t get rid of the dread that something terrible happened to Demos and now Grant might be in danger too. And it was all my fault. I was the one responsible for making Atlas angry, that’s why he was taking revenge. I held my lunch bag tight until my hand hurt.

“Grant,” called Olga, her tone dry and strict. He paused at the door.

“Please, don’t tell me not to go—I can’t obey that order,” he said without looking at her. Olga let out a deep breath.

“Very well, I’m coming with you,” my head sprung up in her direction. My heart skipped a heat in anticipation. This was my moment. I dropped my lunch bag on the table by the door turned to them with a determine face.

“Then, I’m coming too,” my voice broke as I tried to sound strong. I clearly failed. Silence fell over the room.

“I’m waiting for you. You are all welcome to join us on our weekly board meeting,” a voice erupted from the ceiling. Breaking the stillness. I nearly jumped out of my skin. I scanned around at my companions and was happy to know that I wasn’t the only one scared shitless. Grant reached out his hand, I rushed to his side and held on. The contact felt solid, safe. I nudged against him, he wrapped one arm around my wait with eyes fixed on the ceiling. Damn, we were waiting for the whole room to blow up any minute. We waited for Atlas to say something but he didn’t. The shivers subsided yet the dread remained.

“You have to stay here,” he whispered, his eyes searching mine. Creases deepened between his brows. I frenetically shook my head. It was out of the question.

“What if something happens to me while you’re gone?” his body tensed, he opened his mouth to protest but closed it and looked away. He was as scared as I was. “I-I’ll be safer with you,” I tried to reassure him. “We won’t be alone,” I peeked at Olga. He stared at the floor, lost in his thoughts. His mind buzzed as such a speed it was impossible to follow his calculations.

“I’m not going,” Dr. Churchhill crossed his arms over his chest. He glared at us with open hostility. “I like my job and I prefer being alive,” Olga slowly turned.

“We didn’t expect anything else from you,” she snapped. She crossed the room in large strode. Her red peep-toe sandals clicked as her legs crisscrossed under a red summer dress with tiny white flower print. Olga was a lot of things but she was damn reliable. I came to appreciate that fact about her. And she was tougher than she looks especially in combat.

“Let’s go,” she tossed at us as she marched to the door.

The elevator door closed on us. The lights blinked and died then it came back on bathing the tiny space in red light. I clung to Grant who stared at the ceiling.

“What’s—” I started but was cut by the omniscient voice from the ceiling.

“I’ll guide you to me,” his tone was calm and pleasant. All the reasons to be cautious. The elevator went down at a slow pace then it stopped. I gasped, Olga and Grant stepped before me ready to strike whatever was behind the door.

“This is only for your safety,” announced Atlas as the door slipped open. Two tall cyborgs glared at us. They were carrying impressive guns, they stepped in making the elevator creaked under their weight. I instinctively stepped back, back glued to the wall and Grant moved next to me. Olga was forced to do the same. The cyborgs took half of the space with their massive bodies. They kept their fingers in the trigger. My breath was choppy. Safety, my ass. Atlas clearly wanted to let us know we didn’t stand a chance.

The elevator door closed again and the descent was faster this time, almost nauseous. It came to a halt after ten suffocating minutes. It felt like hours that we were trapped in this tiny space with the red glowing rectangles on the cyborgs’ blank faceplates staring at us. Grant held my hand to help me relax. It was useless, still, I remembered Olga’s training. I was the only one who could make a difference with a dire situation. I was the only one who allowed the enemy strike if I panic. I took a deep breath and it slowed down my racing heart. Now was not the time to feel faint. Demos needed me. The elevator slowed down in a hissed, we all looked up expecting the voice.

“Follow the cyborgs and don’t stray,” said Atlas. Behind the doors was a gray wall marked SUB135. Olga gave us a quick look over her shoulder, Grant slightly nod at her.

-This is the Sub Levels. We are deep into the island.

I swallowed, for me, it only meant one thing. Whatever happens here, there’s no way of going back up. This elevator controlled by Atlas was the only escape. I silently pray to all the gods out there for our safety. The cyborgs led the way, soon we were in a dimly lit corridor, bare of any markings. The heavy footsteps of the machines echoed in the wide space. Sweat dripped along my back.

-It’s going to be ok.

I hate it when Grant lies just to make me happy. Every fiber in my body screamed danger. We took a sharp turn to the right and emerged in a vast hangar-like room with concrete steps leading down. There were several vehicles, more like large carts parks on the side. The room was filled with towers of boxes of all sizes. The cyborgs stepped in one of the carts, one in front and the other at the back. Olga sat next to the driver and we had to sit facing the other cyborgs. I curled against Grant, he didn’t protest.

The vehicle lifted off the floor and zoomed forward in the silence of the room, there was no motor sound just my own heavy breathing. I fingers squeezed Grant’s hand.

-It will be—

I frowned at him.

-We’ll get Demos back.