Leaving Level Five

by L. S. O'Dea

Charlie reached in his pocket and stopped. “McBrid took mine. He didn’t trust me not to sneak Glassick out of the lab.”

  “Smart Almighty,” mumbled Louis.

  Charlie made a face at him. “What are we going to do?”

  “I’ll go back to the dorm and get my key.”

  Rufus shoved them aside, twisting and bending the key from the Rattus lab until the thinnest part broke free.

  “That’s metal,” said Louis.

  “He bent it like it was soft as fresh bread,” said Charlie.

  The lock clicked and Rufus stepped aside, smiling. It was a gruesome showing of long, sharp canines and rodent teeth.

  Charlie took a step away but Glick smiled. This was going to be fun. He may be too small to inflict his vengeance himself, but his new friends were going to be a great help.

  CHAPTER 42: McBrid

  McBrid stared down into the opening of the Brush-Men cage. His nightmare had come to life. If he didn’t think fast, he was going to be torn apart and eaten alive.

  “You’d better start talking. Your secrets will only help you if you share them,” said Scottsmoor from the safety of the floor.

  His mind raced, unable to focus on anything but the waiting beasts below. “I can’t think up here. Let me down and I’ll tell you everything.” Fersia’s face flashed through his mind—not her face now, but the bright smile and sparkling eyes from when she was a Servant. He couldn’t do it. He wouldn’t betray her again.

  “No. You either tell me now, or you take that one small step forward.”

  Topper shook him.

  “Wait. Wait.” He teetered on the edge. He had other information. “Parson. He’s been spying on everyone. That’s how he’s made such progress. He’s been stealing everyone’s secrets.” If he lived through this, he’d find a way to warn the other Almighty, but right now, it was Parson or him.

  “I knew he wasn’t that smart. What else?”

  The door to the lab burst open. Louis and Charlie raced into the room. Topper and Stink turned, their grip on McBrid’s arms loosening a bit. It was the only chance he was going to get. He rammed his shoulder into Topper as he threw himself backward.

  “Get your hands off me,” shouted Scottsmoor.

  McBrid landed on his back a few feet from the hole in the top of the cage, his arms and legs tangled with Stink’s.

  “Help me!” Topper swayed on the edge of the opening, his arms flailing.

  “Topper!” Stink scrambled to his feet, reaching for his friend.

  “Help!” Topper’s fingers brushed against Stink’s as he tumbled into the enclosure, his screams ripping through the air.

  McBrid rolled to the edge of the cage and then right over the side. He hit the floor hard, his teeth rattling from the impact.

  Topper’s screams amplified and then fell silent.

  McBrid rolled to his stomach, gathering his legs under him.

  “You...” Stink raced down the ladder, jumping the last few feet and landing on McBrid’s back, his fists flying. “I’m going to kill you for that.”

  McBrid slammed his head backward, hitting Stink in the face. The Guard grunted but kept punching. McBrid couldn’t do much with his hands tied behind his back except try and dodge the blows.

  “This is your fault. Yours!” Stink hit McBrid’s face and head.

  McBrid curled into a ball, protecting himself the best he could.

  “Leave him alone,” shouted Louis and then Stink was gone.

  McBrid sat up.

  Louis held the other Guard by the shirt and punched him in the face before shoving him against the side of the cage. “Do you hear me?” He hit Stink again.

  Charlie grabbed McBrid’s arm and helped him to his feet before starting to untie his hands.

  “That can wait.” He tried to go toward the door, but Charlie had a firm hold on his ties. “Charlie, we need to get out of here before Scottsmoor warns—”

  “Scottsmoor isn’t warning anyone.” Charlie untangled the knot and began unwinding the rope.

  McBrid looked around the room for the first time and his legs buckled. The two male Rattus specimens were in the lab.

  Charlie grabbed his arm, steadying him. “You okay? Stink hit you pretty hard.”

  “You set them free?” he whispered.

  “They helped us. Didn’t they, Glassick.” Charlie’s finger tapped his neck and the little Brush-Man poked his head from his hiding spot in the Guard’s hair.

  The smaller of the two rat brothers hopped toward them. McBrid stepped in front of Charlie. The Rattus-Man paused, his small, beady eyes gleaming and his nose twitching furiously before he moved around them.

  “That’s Lee. He won’t hurt us and neither will Rufus.” Charlie pointed across the room where the other Rattus-Man had Scottsmoor pinned against the front of the cage.

  “They want them.” Louis grabbed Stink by the collar and half-lifted the other Guard, offering him to Lee.

  “No, Louis. Don’t do this,” begged Stink. “Please. I ain’t never done anything to you.”

  “No, you haven’t but”—Louis shrugged—“just like you couldn’t help me and Charlie, we can’t help you.”

  Lee grabbed Stink’s shirt, replacing Louis’ large hand with his long, slender one. Stink punched at the creature, but the Rattus-Man’s paw caught the Guard’s fist as if Stink had moved in slow motion. Lee bared his teeth, bending Stink’s wrist backward.

  “Ouch! Stop.” Stink dropped to his knees, tears streaming down his cheeks.

  Ruffus squeaked and Lee tightened his grip on Stink’s hand and collar, dragging the Guard across the room toward his brother.

  “We need to go.” McBrid hated Scottsmoor but he had no desire to see this. He headed for the door.

  “Please McBrid, help me,” begged Scottsmoor.

  McBrid spun around. “You were going to feed me to the Brush-Men.”

  “No. I wasn’t. Not really. I swear. I was going to let you go as soon as you told me where my files were.”

  Rufus turned to him, baring his teeth.

  McBrid didn’t understand the Rattus-Men’s language, but that look was clear. “I couldn’t help you if I wanted to and I don’t want to. You deserve this.” They all deserved death like this, but he wasn’t going to add that part. He was done. He’d never mutate or kill another creature.

  Rufus snapped his two, large front teeth together and Lee dragged Stink to the door of the enclosure. The Brush-Men were done with Topper and waited at the glass, clicking and chirping in excitement.

  Rufus squeaked at McBrid and tapped the door of the cage.

  Again, McBrid knew exactly what the Rattus-Man wanted. It was what he’d want if he were one of these creatures. “You have to move them into the other cage or”—his eyes darted to Stink—“feed them from top.”

  “Please, no,” whimpered Stink.

  McBrid couldn’t tamp down his pity. “The Guard only did what he had to.” He pointed at Scottsmoor. “What he made him do.”

  “You traitor.” Scottsmoor lurched forward, but Rufus’ grip was strong and Scottsmoor was weak.

  Lee squeaked, slamming Stink against the wall.

  Rufus glanced at his brother before his eyes locked with McBrid’s as he tapped the door again.

  “If you open that, they’ll kill all of us.” They needed to get out of there because the Rattus-Men didn’t care about anything but revenge.

  Rufus bared his teeth and slapped the door.

  “I don’t think he cares,” whispered Louis who had moved to stand behind McBrid.

  “On the wall. Three buttons. First one closes the doors. Second one locks and the last one opens them.” He pointed to the controls by the door. “But I’m not lying. They will kill every one of us, including you and your brother.”

  Rufus’ gaze darted to Lee and then back to McBrid.

  “I know you’re siblings and...I’m sorry”—his gazed traveled to the Brush-Men and then to Glassick who was on Charlie’s sho
ulder—“about all of this.”

  Rufus looked at his brother again and pointed to the door that led to the hallway before squeaking and wiggling his fingers.

  Oddly enough, McBrid understood. “I’ll lock it behind us.” But just in case he was wrong. “Can we go now?”

  Rufus nodded.

  “McBrid, please. Get help,” whimpered Scottsmoor.

  Lee shifted toward the door.

  The selfish bastard was putting them all at risk. “I won’t do that.” He had to convince the Rattus creatures or they were all dead. “I swear. I don’t owe him or anyone anything.” He nodded at Scottsmoor. “He was going to kill me and the others...Conguise already blew up my house.”

  “He did?” asked Charlie, eyes wide. “How did you survive?”

  “I wasn’t home.” His gaze moved to Rufus. Charlie’s disbelief wasn’t helping him sell this. “I swear, I won’t betray you. All I want is for us three—”

  Charlie cleared his throat, tipping his head toward Glassick.

  “Correction. All I want is for us four to escape.”

  Rufus’ beady eyes were hard as he studied McBrid, his long fingers flexing.

  “Can we go?” Or did he need to beg more, because he would.

  Rufus nodded.

  “Thank you.” He turned toward the door. “Let’s go.”

  “Glassick, get back here,” yelled Charlie.

  Holy Araldo, these two were going to be his death. His hand trembled on the doorknob. His instincts screamed for him to run, get to safety. The others could follow if they wanted, but he couldn’t. The Guards and the little Brush-Man had risked everything to save him.

  Glassick ran down Charlie’s body and across the room, stopping at the cabinet and pointing under it.

  Charlie followed him, bending to peer underneath. “He wants his eggs.”

  “Just grab them and let’s go.” He didn’t have time to worry about the world and loose Brush-Men.

  Charlie grabbed the container. Glassick chirped, pointing to the vials of serum.

  “It’s not ready, Glassick. That will kill them,” he said.

  Glassick chirped again.

  Rufus squeaked, his tone loud and irritated.

  “Fine. Bring that too.”

  Charlie slipped the vials into his pocket and put Glassick back on his shoulder.

  McBrid peeked into the hallway. It was still quiet. “We have to move fast. The scientists and Guards will be here soon.”

  “Got it,” said Louis, slipping into the hallway behind his brother. “Go to the back stairwell.”

  He closed the door and hurried after the Guards, trying not to listen to Stink and Scottsmoor’s screams.

  CHAPTER 43: McBrid

  McBrid followed Louis and Charlie through the back hallways.

  “There’s a utility closet that leads to the sewers,” said Louis.

  That wasn’t exactly his first choice for escape. He’d heard too many rumors about the creatures they’d dumped in there not being as dead as they’d been believed to be, but there wasn’t another option. He couldn’t risk anyone else knowing he was alive.

  He staggered to a halt, his eyes on the cameras.

  “McBrid, come on,” yelled Louis.

  “We have to erase the tapes.”

  “What are you talking about?” Louis wasn’t happy.

  “They’ll see me. They’ll see Glassick.” Oh Araldo, what had he done? He’d turned off the cameras in the Brush-Men lab when he’d first discovered Glassick, but the cameras were on in the Rattus room. Conguise would see Glassick. He’d know.

  “We don’t have time.” Charlie practically danced with nervousness.

  “Go. I’ll catch up.” He turned and headed toward the control room.

  “McBrid...” Charlie called after him. “Don’t.”

  “We aren’t leaving you,” said Louis.

  McBrid almost wept. They were the best friends he’d ever had. He couldn’t risk their lives, but if Conguise found out about Glassick, so many others would suffer. He stopped and turned toward them. “I have to do this. Wait for me in the sewer. If I’m not back in a half hour, find my father and uncle.”

  “No, McBrid, please come with us.” Charlie’s voice was cracking.

  “I can’t.” He turned and ran, stopping a moment later when he realized someone was following him.

  Louis plodded around the corner.

  “What are you doing?” Araldo, Guards could be so damn stubborn.

  “You’re not going alone.”

  “You left your brother?” He’d play to Louis’ weakness.

  “Charlie knows what to do.”

  “Charlie can find trouble anywhere.”

  “He knows what to do.” Louis’ jaw was jutted out in determination. “You said you’re supposed to be dead. The Guards can’t see you.”

  “There’s no other way.”

  “There is with me here.” Louis started down the hallway.

  “You need to go back.” The plan had merit but he didn’t want to put anyone else at risk.

  “This is the best idea and you know it. I’ll get the Guards to leave.”

  “And then they’ll see you.”

  “That’s not a problem. Conguise will know Charlie and I escaped anyway.”

  “He might think you were eaten.”

  Louis swallowed. “I hadn’t thought of that, but it doesn’t matter. He’ll look for us in the city slums and he’ll never find us because we won’t be there.” Louis stopped in the hallway. Around the corner was the control room. “For you, he’ll look other places. This is best for all of us.”

  “Okay, but if they won’t listen to you, I’m coming in.”

  “They’ll listen.”

  “Be careful.”

  Louis nodded and headed around the corner. McBrid paced, stopping at the sound of a door banging against the wall.

  “Quick! The rat-monsters escaped. Th-they got Stink and Topper and...and Scottsmoor.”

  “What? Calm down.” It was one of the Guards from the control room. “Tiny, check the Rattus lab.”

  “No. Not there. The Brush-Men lab.” Louis’ voice was panicked. “Come on. They need help now.”

  “Holy Araldo, he ain’t lying. Look,” said Tiny.

  There were gasps and murmurs from the Guards.

  “Call Laddie and Scar,” said the first Guard.

  “We don’t have time,” yelled Louis. “If those things escape...”

  “Yeah. Okay. Let’s go.”

  The voice of one of the Guards calling for help faded along with the sounds of footsteps running in the opposite direction.

  McBrid peeked around the corner. No one around, not even Louis. He hurried into the control room, closing the door behind him. He sat at one of the desks. Luckily, he didn’t have to log on. Conguise knew the Guards weren’t smart enough nor curious enough to access anything except what they were told to monitor. The professor also trusted that no one would get past his Guards. His arrogance would be his downfall today.

  He started searching for the files for the Rattus lab but there were hundreds of folders all filled with videos. He didn’t have time to locate specific ones. He selected all of them and deleted, drumming his fingers as they disappeared group by group.

  The door flew open and McBrid jumped.

  “Ready?” asked Louis, his chest heaving from his run.

  “One minute.”

  The computer beeped, having completed its task. Weeks of videos gone. Conguise would be livid and this was going to piss him off even more. McBrid started shutting down the cameras.

  “Come on. They’re going to notice I’m gone.” Louis glanced down the hallway.

  “Just turning off the cameras.” He pushed away from the desk. “The hallway ones are off. Let’s go.”

  They ran out of the room and to the sewer to meet Charlie and Glassick. Soon, they’d all be free.

  CHAPTER 44: Glick

  Glick sat on Charlie�
�s shoulder, clutching a strand of the Guard’s hair and enjoying the sea breeze. He wasn’t a huge fan of water, but he loved the ocean. Didn’t make much sense, but the salt air, the vastness and the power made him feel more alive than he’d ever felt, even as his strength waned. The pain was constant now as his skin became more brittle, cracking and breaking as his enlarging insides grew too big. He tapped Charlie’s neck. It was time.

  “You sure about this place?” asked his friend.

  Since every day it was harder and harder for him to move, he and Charlie had come up with their own system to communicate. He tapped the Guard’s neck twice—once meant no and twice meant yes.

  “Pull ashore here,” yelled Charlie to McBrid’s father.

  He rested his head against the Guard. Although he’d been dreading this for days, part of him was eager to go into the forest. This would be his first time. The other trip didn’t count.

  After escaping the lab, McBrid had led them on the shortest path through the city. They’d traveled mostly in the woods, but they’d moved fast and Glick hadn’t had time to do much but gape. His mind had spun with the abundance of colors, sounds and scents.

  It was where he and his kind belonged. Where they should’ve been born. He slowly crawled down Charlie’s shirt, his arms and legs aching from the strain. He slipped inside the Guard’s jacket pocket and ran his hand over the container of eggs. This place, this forest would be where these eggs would be born.

  “Is he sure?” asked McBrid. “We can go farther up the coast.”

  “Yep, but ask him yourself.” Charlie’s hand slipped into his pocket.

  Glick climbed onto it, wrapping his arms around the Guard’s pinky as he was lifted.

  “Are you positive you don’t want to go past Harbor Point. It’s right around that bend?” McBrid pointed to a jut of land sticking into the ocean like a large finger.

  Glick raised his right hand.

  “Then let’s go.” McBrid headed to the side of the ship. Charlie following. “Dad, Uncle Rob, depending on how deep into the forest he wants us to go, we may be gone a day.” He looked at the sky. “It’s early, so if we aren’t back by noon tomorrow, leave without us.”