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McBrid slipped into the lab, avoiding the cameras as he headed for the stairs. He wasn’t going to risk being trapped in an elevator, the stairs would be bad enough. The hallways were empty. Most of the employees gone for the day. A few Guards were assigned to patrol but they only did their rounds on the hour, making them easy to avoid.
He entered the stairwell and headed for Level Three—the barracks. He was used to the quietness of the place, but tonight the silence was eerie as if waiting for him to make a mistake. He stopped at the third floor, punched the code and opened the door. The hallway was empty. He hurried toward the dorms.
All he had to do was get Louis and Charlie and get out of there. It’d only take a moment and then they’d all be free—on the run, but free. Retrieving a Guard this early in the morning wasn’t unheard of but it also wasn’t common. The scientists who worked late seldom required the assistance of Guards at this hour. If he didn’t want to draw attention to himself, he had to appear the confident, powerful Almighty. He slowed his pace, taking a deep breath.
He opened the door to the dorms. The room was filled with Guards sprawled out on cots. A few opened their eyes as he entered but closed them again when he strode past. Luckily, he knew where Louis and Charlie slept. He stopped in the aisle. Their cots were empty.
Maybe, they’d gone to the bathroom or...It didn’t matter. He couldn’t wait. He shook a sleeping Guard on a nearby cot.
“Yes, sir.” The Guard started to sit up.
“No. Stay. I’m looking for Louis and Charlie.”
“Who?”
“The two Guards who sleep there.” He pointed at the empty cots.
“Oh. Them. They’re gone.” The Guard started to close his eyes.
“I can see that.” He had to fight to keep the panic from his voice. As it was, the Guard’s nose was twitching, probably catching his fear. “Where did they go?” He filled the words with command.
“Don’t know. Left with another Almighty.”
“Who?”
“Don’t know, sir.” The Guard did sit up this time. “I’m sorry, but I work in the back. Deliveries. I don’t know any of the Almightys by name.” The Guard kept his head down in subservience.
“Okay. That’s okay.” Actually, it was great for him but not for Louis and Charlie. “Do you know when they left?”
“Not sure. Maybe, an hour or so ago.”
Right about the time his house exploded. “Thank you.” He turned and strode away. He had to find them before they were fed to something if it wasn’t already too late.