Chapter 420
He stayed by my side all these years.
Michael and Eason were violently knocking on the tiles, trying to get Joel out.
However, I couldn't pry them open, and neither could they.
Zion knelt on the floor, his hands covered in blood. His fingers were still in the gap in the floor tiles, adamant about getting them open. He screamed and struggled in despair. My numbed senses seemed to have gradually sharpened.Content is © by NôvelDrama.Org.
This was what despair felt like.
I knew it for a fact-this was despair.
"The first person who triggers the destructive mechanism can get out of here alive. The price being... everyone else will end up dead," the creepy voice said once again.
I instinctively looked toward the far end. Taylor, who was usually unnoticeable, had already run to the end of the hall without us knowing.
He stared at the red button on the wall. Then, he turned to look at us with a shaky gaze.
"Press it and the exit will appear," the voice said, tempting him to press it.
Everyone held their breath and stared cautiously at Taylor.
He shook his head, sobbing. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm too afraid. I want to leave. I'm so sorry..."
This was human nature-sacrificing everyone else was a valid option if it meant one could live.
"Taylor!" Quinn screamed his name while crying.
But he pressed the button anyway.
"I know I've made mistakes in the past, but I've corrected them," Taylor cried, shaking his head. "I've been doing endless good deeds these last few years in order to make up for my mistakes."
He continued, "I know I shouldn't have left Steve and Simmy to fend for themselves during the fire, but what choice did I have...
"I wasn't as strong as them. I just wanted to live. Where's the fault in that? All these years, I've worked hard at my job in order to live life like a regular person. Why was I brought to a place like this? Why?" He screamed and cried in agony. Subsequently, he bolted for the exit without hesitation as soon as it appeared.
"Autonomous device, on."
Just as Steven grabbed my hand and wanted to escape, a metal barricade dropped down where the exit was. We were all trapped inside. There was no way out.
Behind us, the lights dimmed. Countless red sensor beams were aimed directly at each and every one of our foreheads and chests.
I knew for a fact that there were multiple machine guns being operated in the dark.
There was nowhere to run or hide.
"Let's play a game." The creepy girl reappeared in the dark.
She smiled at me and said, "Stephie, between him and him, only one can stay alive. It's your pick. I'll give you 20 seconds."
She was pointing at Steven and Michael. She wanted me to pick one survivor between them.
My entire body was shaking as I clenched my fists. An impulse to destroy everything was brewing from my anger.
I shot a furious look in the direction of the camera. "I'm going to kill you..."
"I'm helping you out, Stephie. I'm
helping you figure out where your heart lies," the little girl said with
smile. "Don't you want to know if you love Steven or Michael?"
"Counting down-20... 19, 18, 17..."
Neither Michael nor Steven spoke. They just stared at me in silence.
I knew that they were also waiting for my decision.
I lifted the ax and swung it down onto the projector.
"How dare you tell me what to do," I said in a low voice.
Before the countdown ended, I ran diagonally toward the wall in front. Stepping off the wall at the side, I jumped up and tore the infrared sensor down. I smashed it on the ground.
Eason pulled Zion and Quinn out of the way and promptly moved away from their original position.
Steven and Michael quickly stepped aside as well.
The machine guns started shooting in the pre-aimed direction. Without the
ansor, they could only firee 1.9
around blind and aimlessly,
"Stephie." Amidst the chaos, Steven found the switch for the metal barricade.
He guided me away from the line of fire as we escaped.
"Stephie!" Michael had also gotten out. He wanted to reach for my hand, but Steven quickly pulled it away.
Breathing rapidly, he hugged me and shot a provocative gaze at Michael.
"I'd like to know as well, Stephie," he said. "Who would you pick between me and Michael..."
Furious, Michael glared at him. "Are you crazy? We don't have time for this. Go!"
Dragging a dazed Zion in one hand and a shocked Quinn in another, Eason also headed for the exit.
Yasmin, on the other hand, was extremely lucky to be alive.
Michael had to guarantee her safety in order to find out about the Genome Society's secrets.
I couldn't believe she made it to the 14th floor.
"Would you pick me, Stephie?" Like an upset child, Steven asked stubbornly with his red eyes.