| 11:26 pm |

Laura's POV

"Thank god, you're finally awake. We've got major issues." Ada helped me up off the cold tiled ground—handing me back my rifle and utility belt overloaded with all kinds of grenades and remote bombs. As I hang both my utility belt and the strap of my rifle over my shoulder, I notice the corpses of two Tricell operatives laying beside my feet. Blood pouring out of the bullet holes in their heads—seeping onto the ground.

"Setting difficulty to level 2. Opening cages: E4, E5, and E6." A female robotic monotone voice announced. 'That didn't sound good.'

I glanced all around the room—seeing Piers and Tyler leaning over one of the desks, as the younger brother of the two was typing away on one of the computers at the desk. All while I'm obviously oblivious to what they're doing, or what's going on. In the background, I hear intense gunfire along with the sounds of moans and groans coming from the testing room. 'What the hell is going on?!?'

"Here, come help me with this Laura!" Ada called out to me.

I redirected my gaze over to the doorway, seeing Ada trying to push a massive metal cabinet to block the doorway. Our only safe way out of here. But, that all changed when I started hearing several heavy foot steps coming from far down the hallway. So, I rushed over to Ada—helping her push the metal cabinet until we've completely blocked the doorway with it.

"Ada, what the hell is going on???" I asked her.

"It's complicated, but I'll simplify it for you," Ada started off, as we began walking over towards the large rectangular window. "While you were out unconscious, two Tricell agents found us, they alerted the rest of their team about our whereabouts, and attempted to abduct you while you were still unconscious. Luckily, Piers and Tyler killed both of them and saved your ass before they could even take you away. Meanwhile, your uncle Chris and a friend of his somehow got themselves inside the testing room. And when they did, the testing sequence was activated. Not only locking them inside, but also trapping them with a whole horde of infected." Both of us arrive at the large rectangular window.

I briskly looked through the window, seeing Chris killing multiple B.O.W.s at once. Using a pattern consisting of stabbing with the knife attached at the end of his weapon, striking either with his elbow or the butt of his rifle, then shooting them until they fall dead onto the floor. Sometimes, he'll mix it up a bit, to help improve the outcome of the situation.

While his friend dealt with a fewer quantity of them.

As I got a better look at the man, I recognized him right away. 'He's the cop that interrogated me about the incident that happened in my house a couple days ago. I remember! Now that I'm seeing him in action, there's no way in hell that he's actually a cop. His aim, agility, strength, and perception is far more superior compared to the skills of a normal cop. He could be a government agent for all I know! Actually, now that I remember... he is one! He saved me over six years ago when I was in quite a jam. How could I've forgotten!!!'

"Long story short, if we don't deactivate the testing sequence soon, they aren't gonna last for much longer," Ada finished.

I turn away from the window—dashing over to the Nivans brothers, while they were trying to shut down the testing sequence.

"Guys, you having any luck over here?" I questioned them.

"Yeah, barely any Laura," Piers answered.

"I've managed to bypass through all of the firewalls the program had set up, but it's also password protected. I can't figure out the passcode," Tyler said.

I peer over at the screen, seeing five small empty spaces where the password would be entered. 'Great! How the hell are we gonna figure out the password?!? At this rate, we won't be able to save the guys in time!'

"That won't be a problem," Ada poke up as she directed her gaze at me. "Laura, do you still have that red USB drive I gave you?"

"Yeah, I do," I answered. I dug around in my pocket with hand—pulling it out.

"Use it. It'll help allow us to access the testing sequence and shut it down for good–"

"Over here! They're on the other side of this door!" Someone yelled from the other side of the blocked door. The large metal cabinet began to barely wobble back and forth, the sounds of banging coming from the other side of it. Signs of the enemy was trying to break in.

"Shit!" Piers cursed. He sprinted towards the large cabinet blocking the door—using both of his hands to hold up our temporary barricade and keep them from coming inside. Ada copied his gesture, going over there to help him hold it up.

"Laura, we'll hold up the blockade while you two work on shutting down the testing sequence. Now hurry, we don't have much time left!" Piers stated.

"Okay, we'll hurry." Tyler and I rushed back over to the computer, with the USB drive in hand.

When we reach the computer, I plug it in into one of the plugin ports on the computer. As soon as I plugged it in, a small tab opened up on the screen showing a percentage bar while reading,

Transmitting passcode information...

It started at 0%, quickly advancing to 34%, 57%, 96%, and finishing at 100%.

Passcode transmission complete. Inputting passcode.

After the tab closed by itself, certain numbers were beginning to be entered automatically.

9...2...8...9...9

"Setting difficulty to level 3. Opening cages: E7, E8, and E9." 'Oh fuck, we have to hurry!!!"

Right after the passcode was imported, I pressed the 'enter' key on the keyboard.

Access granted...

Once we've gained access to the testing sequence, I shut it down right away using the computer.

"Terminating test trial number 0115. Deleting all combat data acquired from test trial. Closing all cages in the testing grounds." The female robotic monotone voice announced.

I glanced up from the computer screen, peering at the large window in front of us. Seeing the room is practically covered with blood. With countless corpses of infected, Hunters, and even Lickers littered all over the floor. In addition to the room being a complete mess, so were the guys. They're completely covered from head to toe with small specks of blood, as tiny drops of sweat trickled down both of their faces. Not doubt they're gonna reek of sweat, blood, and death afterwards. While all of the cages were closing automatically, Chris and Leon met with one another in the center of the room.

"Test trial number 0115 deactivated. Unlocking all doors and exits until further notice." Both of the doors unlocked automatically, right after the announcement.

"We did it," I thought happily aloud, as I glanced at Tyler. "Thank god," He added.

"You guys alright?" I asked them.

Chris looked up at me smiling. "Yeah, we're still breathing. Thanks to you guys."

"Laura, Tyler, we can't hold this up for much longer!" Piers yelled at us. He had his back pressed against the metal cabinet—trying to hold up the makeshift barricade. Tyler and I shifted our gaze back at them momentarily.

"Laura, we need to find another way out of here and quick!" Ada stated.

"Okay, just give me a minute!" Tyler and I turn back around.

As I glanced around the laboratory, I look up at the ducts. 'No! That won't work! It would take too long to get everyone up there. Even if we do, I doubt that it would even hold up with all of our combined weight.'

"What's going on up there Laura?!" Leon yelled at us.

I gazed down at him through the window. "Oh, we're just having some major complications right now. Like a bunch of Tricell agents are about to break in and assault us. That's all," I stated, as if it wasn't a problem at all. "By the way, don't think this conversation is over yet Mr. Kennedy. Because you've got a lot of explaining to do once we're out of here."

The look of pure shock written all over Leon's face was absolutely hilarious! You should've seen it! Along with confused look Chris had at the same. 'Stop it Laura! You're getting off-task! You need to focus on the problem right now! Or else things won't end well for us, for all of us!' I thought to myself.

As I continued looking around, Tyler spoke up,

"Hey Laura, look at this," Tyler pointed at something on the computer screen.

I glanced over at the computer screen—seeing Tyler open up a tab revealing the entire layout of the testing grounds. What caught my eye was a secret passageway, located in the testing grounds. Not only was it a safe way out of here, it was also a shortcut that would lead us straight to cell block A, where Mom's being held.

I directed my gaze over to Tyler. "Tyler, you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Definitely," He responded.

I looked back at the computer, as I use it to unlock the door that leads to the secret passageway.

Right after I pressed the button on the touch-screen computer, part of the wall behind Chris and Leon began sliding open. Revealing the very door connected to the passageway that'll lead us straight to cell block A. The guys flinch—reacting by turning around and aiming their guns at the door.

"Don't worry guys, that's our ticket out of here and straight to cell block A—"

"Laura, we can't hold this up for much longer!" Piers yelled at us.

Peeking behind us, we see the metal cabinet rocking more aggressively back and forth. As both Ada and Piers were having a hard time holding it up against the door.

"Guys, head over to the testing grounds! I'll meet over there as soon as I can!" I say to them, as I grabbed the red USB drive and store it in my pocket, then take out a remote bomb off my utility belt. Placing it down beside the blocked doorway.

Ada and Piers do what I say without any objection—dashing over to the room next door. Where Chris and Leon are waiting for us. After I place down the bomb, Tyler and I hide behind one of the desks' close to the other doorway, with our guns in hand.

When the Tricell agents were able to push the large cabinet aside, they immediately charged into the room. Their guns trained lowly at the ground, as one after another entered the large laboratory. After most of them pile into the room, still unaware of the present I had left them on the floor, I hold up the detonator in hand. Ready to trigger it. As I about to press the button, one of the agents gazed at the ground—noticing the bomb right away.

"Oh shit–" I pressed the button—sending various chunks of debris in all shapes and sizes flying all across. Including the majority of the agents who were standing near the bomb. The soldiers grunt and holler out in pain upon impact with either the wall, a desk, or the ground. Large amounts of blood splattering everywhere in the process—staining the flawless white walls surrounding the lab. Once the coast is clear, I slowly and cautiously peek out from desk, only to get pulled back by Tyler as several bullets glided by the desk.

"Thanks," I whisper to him.

"Anytime."

"That's her! That's our target, men. Get her!" One of the agents ordered his fellow soldiers, as more of them come into the room to assist with their current objective.

The sounds of heavy footsteps draw closer with every breath I take. With my AK-12 223 rifle in hand, I turn around and aim it at the incoming soldier. Ready to unload my whole clip into him. When all of a sudden, out of nowhere someone else fired their gun at the soldier—killing him instantly as the numerous bullets penetrated through his armored body. After he died, his corpse instantly collapsed onto the cold-tiled ground, with blood rushing out of the bullet holes and spilling onto the ground.

"Laura, Tyler, this way!"

I shifted my gaze over towards the other doorway—seeing Chris and Piers standing next to it with each of their selected rifles in hand. The ground beneath them completely littered with assorted bullet casings.

As Tyler and I were about to move from behind the desk, more bullets fly right us—towards Chris and Piers. The guys took cover behind the heavy metal door, as the sound of gunfire engulfed the entire room.

"Shit! What are we gonna do now!?" Tyler asked me, as we covered our ears with our hands.

"Don't worry, I've got an idea!" I responded. I pull the strap of my gun over my shoulder, and take out a flash grenade and a hand grenade from the utility belt. Chris, Piers, and Tyler eyeing me and the grenades I had in hand.

"Get ready to move!" I pull the pin from the flash grenade—chucking it over the desk at the group of Tricell agents.

"Move!" One of the agents shouted at the other end of the room.

As the grenade went off, distracting the soldiers for the moment, Tyler and I got up and sprinted as fast as we could towards the door. When I glanced back, one of the agents was about to fire his gun at us. To prevent us from getting away. However, Chris and Piers were able to provide us with cover fire as we ran—killing the agent right away, as Tyler and I made it over to the doorway.

"You two alright?" Chris questioned both of us, with a worried tone. We both nod, feeling slightly out of breath.

After we've regrouped with Chris and Piers, I pull the pin from the hand grenade and throw it the incoming group of Tricell agents. The four of us shut the heavy metal door behind us, as the grenade went off in the lab.

"Hurry! Before they catch up to us! Come on, move it!" I ordered everyone, as I began descending down the staircase. With Chris, Piers, and Tyler following right behind me.

When we reach the bottom of the staircase, we raced across the room over towards the door, where Leon and Ada are waiting for us. The instant we arrived at the entrance, I take out the keycard out of my pocket and head over to the keycard panel hanging on the wall beside the door.

After I swipe the keycard through the keycard slot, the door unlocked and slid open automatically. I placed the keycard safely back into my pocket. As the door in front was opening, I hear the one behind us open too, along with continuous barking of the soldiers trying to capture me. One by one, we all go through the open doorway—all of us except Ada.

The moment I realized she isn't with us, I turn around. Seeing Ada shut the door behind us—locking automatically once it was fully closed. I dashed up to the door, banging on it with my bare hands. Glancing through the built in circular window as I yelled,

"Ada, what the hell are you doing?!?"

"Saving your life, I'm not gonna let them get their hands on you. You're more important than you think Laura. The key to your significance lies within your very blood," Ada told me, as she quickly glanced behind her, then looking back at me.

"What...? What are you saying?!"

"I'm saying go. Go find Claire. Go to your mother while you still can!" Ada turned around, with her shotgun in hand.

"Laura, we gotta go now." Tyler delicately grabbed onto my shoulders, gently trying to pull me away from the door.

"No! Let me go!" I shouted, as I jerk out of his grasp. Rushing back over to the door as the wall was slowly closing behind her. The last thing I see is Ada looking back at me one last time, with a smile, almost as if everything was okay. While she was being surrounded by Tricell agents within seconds, with their guns trained on her.

"Ada! Ada no!" Tears are trickling down my pale cheeks, as I stopped banging on the door. Slowly, I slid down to the ground. Some of my tears spilling onto the cement ground.

'Why am I crying...? Why can't I stop crying...? Why am I shedding these unnecessary tears??? Is it because of how many times she has saved me in past couple of hours? Or is it due to fact that she has gone out of her way to help me find the one person I need most right now? My mother. Maybe it's because she's become a important idol to me, almost like a mother-like figure, in such a short amount of time. Caused by lack of one in my life in the past year.'

Chris's POV

Laura was kneeling beside the door, with her head hung low. Tears spilling continuously from her eyes. I've never seen her like this. I've never seen Laura cry before, and it pained me seeing her this way. Including the rest of us, especially Tyler. It reminded me of all the times Claire weeped and balled her eyes out when we were younger. Even over the simplest things. Whenever Claire got upset, I would always be there by her side. Whispering to her and telling her that everything was going to be okay. Doing whatever I could to help her calm down and stop crying.

Yet, I was confused on why Laura was crying. 'Did Ada make such a huge impression on her, that Laura didn't want anything bad to happen to her? Despite knowing my apparent hatred for her for what's she done?' This I didn't understand at all.

Leon walked over to her—placing his callused hand serenely her shoulder. Laura flinched at first, she sniffled and relaxed as she turned her head around—looking up at him from the ground.

"Laura, we have to go," He murmured softly to her.

Laura stopped crying, wiping away the remaining tears flooding down her cheeks.

"Alright," She said as she stood up, her voice sounding hoarse after crying for a bit.

Tyler offered his hand to her, which she took without hesitation. And we all set off to find Claire and get her back.