Yaryu moves down the corridor, eyes tracing every nook and corner for danger. If only we could stay here forever," she mutters under her breath.

Her footsteps echo through the silence, and she wonders how many had passed through these halls, unaware of the danger lurking outside.

"It's strange... Crow said it wasn't safe, and so did Teresa, but..." Yaryu pauses at a set of heavy double doors. "They both still came here." With a grunt, she pushes the doors open, revealing a grand ballroom. Crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, their dim light flickering like distant stars. But the room is deserted, save for a few overturned chairs and a shattered glass table.

"What's so special about this place?"

A faint rustling sound breaks the stillness. Yaryu crouches low, gripping her knife tightly. She moves closer to a curtain where the noise came from, heart pounding, and pulls it aside.

A familiar head of curly hair disappears into a nearby staircase. Teresa? What's she doing here alone?

Yaryu quietly follows, climbing to the second floor. Her nose wrinkles at the sharp scent of fresh blood. She freezes at the top of the stairs, her breath catching in her throat. Hundreds of bodies lie scattered across the ballroom floor, lifeless and still.

What happened here?

She steps forward, her stomach churning. As she rounds a collapsed dinner table, she spots a man in a lab coat, his round belly straining against the fabric. His balding head glistens under the dim light as he chuckles, his words dripping with sarcasm. "Ah yes, nothing says 'safe haven' like dodging undead hordes while babysitting brats. Just your average Tuesday."

Who the hell is this guy? Yaryu narrows her eyes, keeping her distance. Is he with Teresa?

She listens intently as Teresa's impatient voice cuts through the eerie quiet. "This isn't a joke, doctor. If we don't act soon, we'll lose everything. You know how dangerous they are."

"Dangerous? It's the worst game of hide and seek imaginable," the doctor laughs, his belly shaking. "But we need to make sure the kids are ready. Last time was a disaster, and I don't want a repeat."

"Last time?" Teresa snaps. "People died. This is not some minor incident."

"Well, I thought it was entertaining. Watching them try to escape was like a bad heist movie. But hey, they managed to get away."

"This isn't a game! People's lives are at stake. They know the danger. We're not dealing with lab rats anymore."

The doctor's grin fades. "Fine. I'll get my team ready, but don't expect miracles. We'll have to be rough on them."

Teresa grabs him by the collar, her voice low and dangerous. "I found the kids you lost. They're here. Do your job and capture them."

"I said I'd handle it," he grumbles, brushing her hand away.

Teresa watches him leave, biting her nails. She pulls out a small transmitter. "Move out. Now."

My god. Yaryu let herself slide to the floor. "Teresa is..." She covers her face, jaws clenching tightly. "So that's why Crow brought me here," she thought, the realization hitting her like a punch to the gut. Orion and the children. Are they... She shuts her eyes, anger simmering in her heart. Experimenting? Lab rats? Even Teresa?

Yaryu storms back down the corridor, her mind racing. I can't let this happen. If they have the children—if Orion is here—

"Teresa!" she shouts.

Teresa spins around, her eyebrows raised. "Yaryu? I told you to stay on the first floor—"

"Who was that man?" Yaryu demands, stepping closer. "Where are the children?"

Teresa slips the metal transmitter into her pocket, a frown curving her lips. "You shouldn't be here, Yaryu."

"Enough." Yaryu steps closer, her hands trembling with anger. "You have them, don't you? Give me the children."

"You're mistaken if you think you can protect them."

"They're children, Teresa! This isn't some twisted game—"

"They're already in danger," Teresa shoots back, her voice steady. "The world is not what it used to be. If I don't act, they'll end up like that."

"By turning them into lab rats?" Yaryu shakes her head, horrified. "You're just as bad as the monsters outside."

Teresa steps closer, eyes narrowing. "You don't understand—you're not supposed to be here."

"Where are they?" Yaryu's voice sharpens.

"I can't tell you that—"

"Where the hell are they?!" Yaryu grabs her from the collar, knife pressed against her throat.

Teresa flinches, her eyes darting to the ground. "You don't understand." Her voice wavers, barely above a whisper. "If I tell you... they'll kill all of us. Me, you, the children."

"I don't care." Yaryu's grip tightens. "Tell me or I swear—"

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this." Teresa's hands shake as she raises them. "I wanted to help them, but everything got out of control. They made me do it. They—" She cuts herself off, tears pooling in her eyes. "You don't know what these people are capable of."

Yaryu hesitates, watching Teresa's face. For the first time, she sees fear and something else—regret. But is it enough?

"Talk." Yaryu mutters, her words a low whisper.

"You're just going to get yourself killed." Teresa's bright blue eyes swirl, red and wet. "I told you, these bastards use us!"

A laughter echos behind them. Doctor Bent steps out from the shadows, gun pointed at Yaryu. "Who's the pretty lady, Teresa?"

Yaryu yanks Teresa's shoulder, using her as a shield. "Back off."

"She's important to our program." His voice calm, almost casual. "I'm the one with the gun."

"Try me."

"Don't be stupid, you can't dodge a bullet."

"I don't give a shit." Yaryu presses the knife harder against her skin. "Where are you keeping the children?"

"Children? Ah, were you the one in the truck?" He chuckles, "wow, call it karma."

Color recedes from Yaryu's face. They are alive. She gasps on her breath, almost relieved. I found them.

Teresa snaps, "Put the gun down, Bent."

The man chuckles, the sound devoid of warmth. "And let her disrupt our plans? Not a chance."

"Stop it!" Teresa snaps, her composure wavering. "I'll handle this, doctor."

"You?" The gunman scoffs, "I don't see a need, Teresa."

"Doctor Bent—" Teresa begins, but Yaryu jerks her back.

"Another word and I'll slit your throat," Yaryu warns.

"If you want answers, you have to calm down."

"He's got a gun, what makes you think I'll comply?"

"He's just doing his job," Teresa replies, frustration creeping into her tone. "And I don't want you hurt, Yaryu."

"Why?" Yaryu demands, disbelief etched on her face. "What's stopping you from letting him pull that trigger?"

"Because I am not like them," Teresa says, her voice dropping slightly.

Yaryu's eyes flick back to Teresa, confusion and anger still swirling within her. "Nice try. You lie about people going missing while you were all along behind it."

"I am not."

"Then why are you with them?"

"Look around you Yaryu, this is what happens when you try to fight back. "

"Just tell me where the children are and maybe I'll let you both live, goddammit."

"This isn't getting us anywhere." Doctor Bent discards his transmitter, and levels the gun at them. "Dead or alive, she's worthless to me, Teresa."

Teresa stomps on Yaryu's foot jabbing her back with her elbow. She then pulls out her own gun, aiming at his shoulder. And doesn't hesitate to fire. Doctor Bent falls on the ground screaming, his blood tainting the floor red.

"You shot me?!" His voice wheezes.

"I've had enough of you bastards," Teresa mutters, lowering her gun. She faces Yaryu, who stares back, wary. "I'm not who you think I am."

"Then who are you?" Yaryu's voice is icy.

"I told you, I was a surgeon... until they showed up." Teresa glances at Bent, who is still clutching his shoulder. "They dragged me into this."

Doctor Bent's finger tightens on the trigger.

"Watch out!" Teresa shouts, pushing Yaryu out of the line of fire. Just as he fires, a deafening explosion erupts, shaking the ballroom's walls. The sound crashes through the air like a thunderclap, sending shards of glass cascading from the chandeliers above. The floor trembles beneath their feet, sending them stumbling over their own weights.

Doctor Bent's grip falters as he staggers back, eyes wide with shock. "What the hell—"

"Stay down!" Teresa lunges toward Yaryu, pulling her away from the debris that begins to rain down. "We need to get out of here! Now!"

Before Yaryu could protest, Teresa shoves her toward a nearby exit, the gunman stumbling behind them, his voice shattered. "Where do you think you're going, Teresa?" he shouts, recovering his balance. "You can't get away with betrayal!"

"Not if we make it out first, asshole!" She shouts back, her mind racing as they sprint through the collapsing corridor. The sound of more explosions echoed in the distance, sending tremors through the ground.

Yaryu pulls back from Teresa, confusion and anger still swirling within her. "What the hell is going on?"

"Get out of here while you can. You'll just get in the way." Teresa nudges at a doorknob but it's stuck. She pulls again frustrated, it doesn't budge. Annoyed Yaryu kicks it open. The door shatters falling off the hinges.

"Who is in who's way?" She snaps.

Teresa meets her glare then continues running. "Dammit. Listen, the children are in danger, and if we don't act fast, it'll be too late."

Yaryu pulls her to a halt. "First you bring in those psychopaths, and now you what? You are against them? What are you playing at?"

Teresa buries her face in her hands, muttering, "We don't have time for this. If you had just stayed put then I could've gotten out without a problem. Now everything is ruined."

Yaryu grabs her from the collar, temples throbbing. "Listen. I have no shitty idea what is going on. Are you with them or not?"

"I am not—I never was!" Teresa glances at her wristwatch, sweat beads soaking her coat. "For now all you need to know is that you want to save the kids and I wanted to do that for a long time, too. We can help each other but I need you to trust me."

"What makes you trust me?"

"Because I don't have a choice," Teresa admits. "You're the only one strong enough to help."

Her gaze meets Yaryu's. "I didn't want to pull you into this but everything is ruined and now I need your strength."

Yaryu grips the knife tightly, she shuts her eyes. Orion, Eli, Laura, Ross, everyone. They are all just within reach. She opens here eyes standing face-to-face with Teresa. Someone who's lied. But someone who also has answers she needs. I don't trust her...

"I'll comply since you know where they are." Yaryu begins, "But if you try to pull anything." She stabs the knife deep into the concrete wall and pulls it out, her palm scratched with blood, "Forget mercy, I'll show you hell."

"Then we have to hurry." Teresa opens the staircase doors, "They are all confined in the west-wing of the casino. We have to move fast."

Yaryu grabs her from the collar stopping her from crashing into two armed men running up the stairs. The two meter giants and their refined muscles exchange smirks at one another.

"Damn, they move fast." Teresa steps back, "and they sure as hell underestimate us."

"Seriously." Yaryu snatches the handle of the staircase and leaps over then. She grabs one from the head and whams her kneecap shattering his nose bones. Then spins midair snatching the other in a crowbar choke. He grunts trying to free himself.

"Sorry. Don't have time to be nice." Yaryu tightens her clasp. The guard crashes to his knees falling to the floor.

"Ok." Teresa blinks dumbfounded. She clears her throat,"I managed to help a small number of teenagers, they are playing bait." Teresa walks over the bodies entering the lobby. "The explosion was a trap. A diversion to free the others."

She pulls out the transmitter, "if we can get to Wing B of the casino while the distraction is in play we can get everyone out with ease."

"Teresa." Yaryu clenches the broken window staring outside at the backyard of the casino. Armed men jumping out of trucks with their tranquillisers. Marching in a straight file and surrounding three tall teenagers. A bright light shinning over their heads.

"W-what? No." Teresa bites onto her nails, "this is not what we planned. Why are the capital reinforcements here?" She grabs her mouth, her head felt like crashing. Everyone is counting on her. She has to get them out. "This is impossible."

"I told you." Teresa and Yaryu step back at the familiar voice. From behind the gunman walks in, his head bleeding. "They are just teenagers, Teresa, you really thought they were good enough to be bait?"

"Doctor Bent?" Teresa felt her knees buckle. Fear gripping her waist. "Don't tell me, you knew all along."

"All this time you thought you had us fooled." The doctor laughs, "Your abilities are noteworthy, but we knew you'd fold."

Yaryu clasps the bar tighter, trying to prevent herself from collapsing. A fourth person is there.

"Orion."

She whispers, her head spinning. What is he doing there? Isn't he supposed to be with the other children?

Doctor Bent aims at Teresa first, "Like I said, traitors won't be spared."

"I am not in the mood for all this." They turn to Yaryu, her eyes flickering like a lightbulb. "I need to save my nephew and students—"she vanishes reappearing behind the doctor"—And you're in the way." She punches his face sending his fat body crashing against the cold floor.

"Holy shit." Teresa takes a step back, "You can teleport?"

Another explosion vibrates through the floor, the jolt sending one of the furniture tumbling down from the doorway. Teresa walks back, the undead horde are clawing their way in.

"We have to get out of her now or we'll be meatballs before we can save the children." She opens the emergency staircase. "This way. We can still get to them."

"Shit." Yaryu stops at her heels.

"What's wrong?"

"Anaki." Yaryu glances back, "I can't leave him—"

"If we don't act now, all will be lost!" Teresa glances at the moving trucks, "We can come back for him."

Yaryu glances back at the corridor. Anaki is there, probably safe in the closet. Unless the explosions hurt him. If I leave him behind, I can blink to Orion and get him out at the very least.

She glances outside, in her front, Orion is surrounded by the guards. From behind, another stool drops, the horde pushing harder, their groans growing louder. She has to make a choice. Orion or Anaki?

Yaryu bites on her lip picking up Bent's pistol.