You've chosen to trust the tortured android. In the words of Maya Angelou, "I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it." I agree that it was indeed courageous that you trusted this stranger, but will it pay off in the long run? Let's see.

"F,f,f,f,follow me. P,p,p,please f,follow Edward." His skeletal hand loosens, pointing to himself. He marches to the far door, to uncharted territory. "Let's wake P,p,p,Pete."

My chest tightens at the mention of his name. Such a sick joke.

Pete?

The banging from the bathroom gets closer. Luther's close proximity pushes me forward, running into another dusty room. This room is surprisingly still, no limbs or tortured souls dragging themselves around. "So where's Pete?"

"H,here, Miss." Edward points to a cube, draped in blue tarp. "He's in t,there."

The cage easily takes up a third of the room, and I wonder what monstrosity lay in wait.

The android pokes his bladed hand into the sturdy material and tugs. The crinkle of the plastic echoes through the room. If Zlatko and Luther weren't sure where we are, we've just rang the dinner bell.

I jog to his side and pull at the material, finally breaking it free.

"ROAR!" Pete and my eyes connect, and I freeze.

A freaking polar bear?

The beast's snout sticks out of the too-wide bars and sniffs at my face, before pulling back. His teeth glisten in the residual lighting, reminding me of how deep I'm in. Pete's pure coat of white paid homage to the animal he's designed from. Zlatko had removed the top layer of his skin, exposing his robotic innards. In this moment I'm thankful that androids don't feel pain.

"We're going to get you o,out, P,P,Pete." Edward's hand reaches for the lock. "G,g,g,gonna give Zlatko what he deserves."

Is he serious?

"Wait a second!" I hold my hand over the latch. "What if Pete attacks me?"

"H,he won't," the android whispers, placing his good hand through the bars.

The polar bear bows his head underneath, letting his companion pat him, a low rumble rolling from his throat.

"H,h,he's not the monster. We're not the m,m,monsters." These two beings looked at me, waiting for my verdict.

Don't think about it. You'll back out if you think about it.

"This is crazy," I chant, pulling the latch upward and pulling the cage door toward me.

Pete exits the cage, cowering as he looks in my direction. Better that than attacking me, I guess.

BANG!

The door handle explodes, and I roll into a ball. The shrapnel shoots across the room like knives. I scream out as a large shard plants into my forearm.

Zlatko waltzes in the room, armed with a pump-action shotgun. "Now I'm fucking pissed!" He looks at the meek polar bear and points the barrel at Pete's face. "And when did I say you could leave your cage, huh?"

I slowly lower my arm to my belt, and I clip my holster. Get him while he's distracted.

"And you, Eddie. Have you been a naughty boy?" Zlatko's face mushes into a wolfish smile. "I'm going to have to teach you some manners."

I pull my pistol out and pull back the hammer.

The click might as well have been a firework. Zlatko's attention shifts to me, and he pumps his shotgun. "Now why would you do a silly thing like that, baby?" He walks toward me, clicking his tongue. "I was hoping I was gonna get some time before we hit the road, to get acquainted."

"Stay back!" I hold my firearm up, my arm screaming at me. "What have you done with Hank and Connor?"

The prick cackles. "Well, I couldn't have them ruining our fun, could I?" He towers over me, the pistol is apparently making none-too-worried.

Finding an inner calm, my aim stays true and my voice drops a whole octave. "Lower your weapon, or I will use force."

"Will you, buttercup?" He holds his shotgun out, exposing his chest. "Well, why don't you do it? I would absolutely love to see that."

I shoot.

Blood gushes from his bicep. He falls ... right on top of me. The fat bastard squishes me, flailing around while a reel of expletives spit out of his mouth. His clever hand wraps around my throat as he kneels over me. "You fucking bitch!" His other bloody fist connects with my head and my vision blurs. It doesn't even hurt to start off with.

This is not good.

"Help," I breathe, but Edward And Pete just stand there, cowering in the corner. "Please."

Zlatko looks over his shoulder. "Please, little girl." Turning his back to the androids, he continues. "I'm their master and they obey. Just like you're going to learn too."

His grip tightens around my neck, so much so that my eyes bulge out of my head.

I fight for consciousness, but the battle can't be won. My lack of air trims at the edges of my vision until all but the center are blackened.

"I'm going to have so much fun with you," Zlatko says. But I can only hear the echo. Everything is so far away.

I look up at Zlatko, as a rush of air enters my lungs. Pete's mouth encapsulates his master's head, and he bites down, flattening his head like a grape under a boot. Edward stabs what remains of the creep's body, until he's a mutilated mess, just like his creations.

"Jesus," I pant. But I can't rest. Not now. Not when Connor and Hank are nowhere to be seen. My arms shake as I try to pull myself up, but I fumble.

"Come on, Inara. They're counting on you," I whisper, slowly pulling myself this time. Everything hurts, but my left legs stabs every time I put weight on it.

I've got to get to them.

I limp a couple of steps before Edward runs to me for support. "I,I,I,I'm sorry that w,w,we h,hesitated."

"Don't worry, we've got to find two guys I came here with."

We make it down the grand staircase before the smoky scent hits my nostrils. But I can't pinpoint the source and my blood pressure rises.

"Help!" Connor's voice sirens from downstairs. "Zlatko locked us down here and I am unable to break the lock!"

I turn around to toward's Hank's voice and find the source of the smoke. Black billows of smoke swirl from under the basement door. I run for the door but Edward pulls me back. "G,g,get out of here. I'll retrieve your friends."

"No!" I protest, pushing him aside. "We both should go."

The android shakes his head. "S,s,survival rate for this is n,n,n,not in your favour. Go with Pete and I I I I I'll meet you out there."

Choices:

Choose wisely, you've got until Friday 18th.