Page 183 of Sin Like the Devil

“And now I’m freeing him. A fair trade off, don’t you think?”

Working fast, she removes his shackles then gives him a nudge. Lennox moans in response, filling me with relief. He’s still alive, just completely out of it. Alyssa looks equally as relieved.

“It’s time, Ripley,” she declares as she stands. “I have to find Phoenix then meet the team for extraction. Come with me if you want to get out.”

“I can’t leave.”

“We can take Lennox with us!”

“It isn’t just him,” I whisper through falling tears. “I can’t leave the others behind.”

Staring at me in disbelief, Alyssa shakes her head. “It’s now or never. I don’t know when we can free the other patients. Bancroft won’t give this place up without a fight.”

“I know.” My eyes move to Lennox’s battered state. “But I won’t abandon them. Not even to survive.”

“So what will you do?”

I watch his chest rise and fall. “Find the others. Then run.”

She sighs, reaching into her trouser pocket to flourish a black keycard. I recognise it immediately. It’s the same as the one that Elon used to unlock the Z wing’s security system.

The matte black rectangle is tossed across the cell to me. Shakily, I take it, stashing the cool plastic in my bra.

“Wait for us to clear out.” She bends down to meet my eyes, explaining hurriedly. “This part may get messy. Stay hidden until it’s over.”

Before she can leave the cell, I summon my voice again.

“Thank you.”

Alyssa looks over her shoulder. “Sabre will help you, Ripley. If you make it out… you know where to find us.”

Then she’s gone as mysteriously as she arrived. The cell door clanks shut but doesn’t lock. I eye Craven’s practically decapitated body for a second before starting the agonising process of dragging myself across the room.

Traversing his long, powerful legs and the boxer shorts he’s been clothed in, Lennox stirs at my touch. I work on detaching the electrodes from his chest, tossing each wire aside. Some leave burned patches of skin behind.

“Talk to me, Nox,” I throw his words back at him.

A low groan rumbles in his throat.

“Words, big guy. I need you conscious.”

With all the electrodes discarded, I try to wipe some of the blood from his face and neck with my soiled shirt. The jagged slice across his cheek is oozing, his skin flapping open. When I accidentally touch one side, his eyes fly open.

“Argh!”

“That’s it.” I quickly pull the edge of my t-shirt back. “Wake up.”

“R-Rip?”

“It’s me.”

“Where?” he asks woozily.

“Still in the Z wing. There’s some kind of break in happening. We need to find the others and get away from Harrowdean.”

“H-How?”

“There must be a way out. Xander will know.”

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