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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.