Author's Note-

It's the 8th chapter! Infinity chapter! ∞∞∞∞∞∞

I dunno. It's summer break, so I should be updating a lot more, but... nope. The ideas are changing constantly, and it's hard to keep track of them.

Anyway.

Happy reading.

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Floor 12

21 August, 0028 A.V

22:14 (10:14pm)

~~Audra~~

As soon as the radio was quieted, a powerful clamor of noise began behind Audra's head.

The hallway door erupted open, gray figures flooding out of the exit. Audra couldn't attempt to see who it was. Every person around her was older and taller than her, blocking her view completely.

Her confusion was put to a devastating halt as she realized what was happening. The all-too-familiar gas masks, mixed with orders being called out from each figure, gave her the answer she was searching for.

The Alliance has found us.

"What are all of you starin' at?" Lennon shrieked from the back, her voice laced with icy panic. "Get a move on! Go! Go!" She obviously didn't want to be captured any time soon. Neither do I.

Audra hesitated, not sure which way to run. The crowd around her condensed, a hum of chatter rising above their heads.

The soldiers were getting closer.

Closer.

The thunder of their feet caused the entire hallway to shake, and yet still the group held their ground.

She heard a grumble of frustration erupt from Sena.

"You three. Come on!" Sena grabbed Eve's arm, who instantly grabbed Audra's shoulder as she was moved away. They pushed through the crowd of people, the tight hallway making their way all the more difficult.

Conan seemed to follow suit. He crashed through the crowds with them, a wild expression drawn on his face.

The Known were once again running blindly for their lives.

A gunshot sounded behind them, and a catlike screech caused Audra to wince. Was that Lennon? Or that other blonde girl? What if-

Her worries wouldn't help her. The stairs descended ominously in front of them, and with the army behind her getting ready for another encounter, she would have to run yet again.

"Okay." Sena panted, sweat pouring down her face slowly. "You all go sprint as fast as your scrawny legs will take you down these steps. We only have a few more floors. I'll be right behind you."

More sounds from the sudden ambush rumbled towards Audra's ears.

"Did you hear me?" A snappish Sena demanded of the shellshocked teens.

"Yes, ma'am." Audra's eyes flashed to Conan as she heard him mumble a response.

Sena's dark hair whipped them in the face as she turned. She was back to the chaotic side of the hallway before they had even blinked.

"Audra, come on." Eve whispered, and started down the stairs slowly. Without another word, Audra turned her back on Floor 13, Sena, Lennon...

She gulped.

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Floor 7

21 August, 0028 A.V

22:25 (10:25pm)

Sena wasn't with them yet.

It was getting unnerving now. Audra's feet were sore as they ran across the cement floor, going down the stairs over and over. Occasionally, they would hear a loud rumbling noise from a couple of floors up, but they couldn't stop. Not now.

They passed hallway after hallway, seeing more of the Tower than they ever had before. It was all the same- emotionless grey walls, stretching endlessly with secure doors every few yards.

Conan was in front of them at almost all times, talking almost incessantly to himself about various things. The color green, puppies, even why he liked to take apart the scissors in their cells and use them to create a game for him to play.

It was almost as if they weren't in a prison break, and just taking a leisurely stroll through dark and depressing hallways.

At least someone is having fun, Audra thought with a rueful grin. A prickling feeling shot up her spine as he continued talking, and she clenched her fists. And being annoying. Can't he shut up? She craved conversation, not ramblings. She tried to ignore him- it wouldn't serve her well to murder him before they left the Tower. Maybe afterwards, though.

They climbed down to Floor 6, as was indicated on the wall of the staircase in faded red lettering.

"Is it just me, or does this all seem a bit too easy?" Eve spoke up, pausing at the foot of the stairs. Conan stopped talking. Audra eased up, the tension gone. Finally.

"Do you not remember the ambush just a few minutes ago?" Audra retorted, standing in front of her. "I'd call that an effort against us."

"Yeah, but we're walking through these hallways, without a single guard in sight... aren't there supposed to be, I don't know, security or something?" Eve's voice was becoming high-pitched in its excessive use. She wasn't used to speaking this much at once, Audra noticed.

"I'd just count our blessings," Conan interrupted, his arms crossed. "I'm pretty sure all of the guards are up fighting Sena and the others. They offered us a distraction to get us out of here. So let's be grateful, shall we?"

His last words rang through the silence of the hall. Eve huffed her reply, and turned around and continued onward.

"Stupid Conan... thinks he knows everything... just because he's taller..." Eve stalked by Audra, dangerous muttering being spit out as she went.

Audra nearly chuckled at the two. If she weren't trying to keep them calm and collected, she'd anger them both more often, and see what happened.

A crash behind them interrupted her thoughts, and put her instincts in overdrive. What if it's a guard? What if it's a Known? What if-

Sena?

Sena stood abaft the group, a crooked grin on her face. Behind her, around five stragglers remained. Only two of which Audra recognized- Lennon and the blonde girl.

I really should learn her name.

They all appeared to be straight from the heat of battle. The blonde's left arm was bleeding, a long gash from her elbow to her shoulder seemed to only be getting worse. Lennon's hair was in a frizzied mess, but all in all, she seemed to actually be all right. Her once-pure-white shoes- which said something along the lines of Converse- were bloody and unkempt. Sena was limping on one leg, but Audra couldn't see what the matter was. The others- the ones she couldn't recognize- seemed to have injuries along the same lines.

"Is this really how far you've gotten, kids?" Lennon asked sarcastically, surveying the Hallway. "I mean, seriously."

The blonde gave her a grave look, but moved towards the three teens. "You all have done okay. Under the circumstances, I wouldn't expect anything more." Conan seemed to beam at her praise, as if he had done all of the work. All we did was run, you dimwit.

Sena gave him an exasperated glare.

"Shall we go, kids?" Lennon asked, beginning towards the other end of the Hall. Not a word was said in response, just the sound of bare feet scuffling on the floor. The blonde walked beside Audra, keeping a moderate pace. "What's your name?" Audra dared to ask, feeling like a child.

A surprised look dawned on the blonde's face. Oh, no, have I insulted her or something? "Oh, I guess I never did introduce myself. We did sort of meet in the middle of a battle, if you might call it that."

Audra let out an invisible sigh of relief. Thank goodness.

"I'm Cassidy. I'm a spy, if you would call me that."

Audra nodded, taking in her name, trying to remember it. "I'm Audra." Do I have to add something about me? She wasn't used to this introduction business. "I... like to read."

A long, drawn-out chuckle resonated from Cassidy. "Well, Audra, Good luck." She tucked a piece of dirty hair behind her ear, and continued walking.