On the Run

19 - Brother's Keeper

The guard pulled up his gun, cocking it as he walked, his movements stealthy and slow. He neared the same building Mia had been watching them from like a falcon. He stepped into the shadows, flicking on the torch at the end of his gun, waving it around.

As he furthered into the building, Mia dropped down from the beam she clung herself to, her knee landing right on the guard's face. A wet crack broke into the air as a muffled cry escaped the guard's mouth.

Both fell to the ground, but Mia was quick, spinning around and landing another kick directly into his throat. The guard gagged, falling back onto his back as he clutched his throat that began tightening.

Mia grabbed the knife she had been hiding on her and climbed atop of the man. His face was red and puffy as he continued to choke. He stared into Mia's eyes and all she saw was an urge to kill. She drove the knife into his chest, hard and fast. The blade sliced through the flesh.

He instantly stilled, his hands going limp as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Mia lifted herself off him and started scouring the body when she came across a handgun. Arming herself with it, Mia hastily stripped the guard of his uniform before getting into it herself. She tucked her hair back into the collar and made a makeshift balaclava that she used to cover her mouth, disguising herself.

She exited the building, ignoring the sharp stinging in her knee. The two other guards gave her a quick look before nodding and resuming their duties. She walked straight past them, going right for the entrance. She took one last glance back and saw that no one had figured out what was going on.

The floor opened and revealed the elevator which Mia quickly dropped down into. As the floor closed, she felt the air change from cool and chilly into warm and inviting. The elevator made its descent into the base and Mia took a minute to check the ammo of the gun.

Full. Mia let out a relieving sigh before loading up the gun and placing it in its holster, retaking her stance. After a moment, the elevator came to a shuddering stop, almost making her lose her stance but she quickly composed herself as the elevator doors screeched open, the horrible sound of metal grinding against each other scratching at Mia's ears.

She hastily exited the elevator and wasted no time in walking down the corridor directly in front of her. She kept an eye out on each of the door signs, looking for a room that could lead her to where Piotro was being kept. She passed various amounts of doctors and guards, none of them giving her a second glance. Mia took notice that the security had been drastically improved upon after her first trip to the base.

After several minutes of walking, a sign on one door caught Mia's attention. Making a sharp turn directly for the door, Mia slipped inside, closing it quietly behind her. She pulled the balaclava down from her face, allowing her to take a few deep breaths after having breathed low and shallow for some time.

She searched the office-like room, pulling apart drawers and cabinets as she rummaged through files and other pieces of paper that were being carelessly thrown on the floor after Mia scanned through them.

As she hunted through one of the cabinets, she came across a file that seemed interesting. Pulling it from its place, Mia flipped it open and saw a sight that truly throw her mind into chaos.

A picture of her mother, Italia, was one the first page. Right next to it were her details: her name, past addresses, her stats, everything about her. Mia could feel her hands starting to shake as rage and confusion began ripping through her body.

Turning the pages, Mia discovered that Orabella had inducted her mother into the Potential Program. After many years of believing she was dead, Italia had been alive and well, undergoing a program that was changing her into a ruthless weapon.