I close my eyes and brace for the two impacts, one on the floor and for the robot crushing me. Before that could happen, though, I feel something, or someone, catch me in mid air, bridal style, with their arm cradling my head. 

I felt the sensation of moving very fast, and all too suddenly, I was still, listening to the sound of the robot crash into the ground. I open my eyes, and stare up at Liam’s helmet. It was as if we had teleported from underneath the robot to beside Jacqueline.

“I-what?” Liam puts me down gently. I sit there blankly, trying to process what just happened. After a moment of silence, I point to where the robot lay.

“I was over there. I was going to be squished by the robot.” Jacqueline watches, and Calvin blinks. Liam nods encouragingly.

“And then I was here.” I point to the ground where I sat. I look up at Liam, then at Jacqueline. She hesitates, then brings up a holograph of Liam’s suit.

“Super speed. That’s his power. Remember, we have a copy of the instruction manual in the ‘Settings’ section of the suit. I checked just now.” I nod slowly, processing the words.

“So-Liam… he saved…?” I stutter. Jacqueline nods.

“He saved you from being squished.” She explains I breathe out slowly. Liam rubs the back of his head awkwardly.

“How did you…?” I start but trail off, not knowing how to phrase the sentence. Liam seems to understand me, though, and answers.

“I’m not sure. I moved without thinking. Apparently, I used the power as well.” I nod, still in slight shock. I hear a small groan and look over to Calvin who was still in the corner. I crawl towards him and plop down next to him, pressing the button for my visor to go up.

“Calvin, let me see that.” I peel his fingers away from his left side, and like magic, the chest plate and suit dissolve into the sides, revealing bruised skin underneath. He winces as I press gently, feeling along his ribs, my fingers slightly shaky.

“It’s just a really big bruise. No broken bones or anything. Unfortunately we don’t have anything cold right now, so you’ll just have to endure the pain a little okay? Also, there might be some swelling. Thank goodness for the suit, otherwise that would have been a lot more than just a bruise.” I explain, as I withdrew my hands. The suit covered the skin and the chest plate slid over it once again. Calvin slides his visor up, and smiles. He then pokes my nose.

“You’re crazy. Don’t ever do that again.” He reprimands me. I brush his hand away.

“Right. As if I didn’t just save your life. Besides, Liam can save me. Right bro?” I gesture to Liam. He gives me a thumbs up.

“Wait. How did you know all that just by touch?” Liam asks. I shrug.

“Medical school for a year. Was considering to become a nurse, actually. Then I quit.” I explain. The moment is interrupted when a red flashing holograph comes up on all our gloves, with the timer counting down from 5 minutes.

“Calvin, can you stand?” Liam helps him up. Calvin does, grimacing slightly as his side is stretched. I look towards the piece of debris still blocking the opening to the other hallway. I gesture towards it.

“And we’re supposed to move this how…?” I hesitantly ask. Calvin stretches his hand out.

“Get behind me.” Liam, Jacqueline and I oblige, with Jacqueline casting worried glances at his side. He unfurls his fingers from his fist and the giant piece of debris groans. It floats a few centimeters of the ground, scattering dust, and drifts sideways, leaving a mere opening for us to pass through. Jacqueline leads the way, Calvin following her, with Liam and I bringing up the rear. I gently touch my hand to Liam’s arm, stopping him.

“Hey. Thanks for saving me back there. I mean it.” I say softly, looking down at my feet. He smiles, and knocks gently on my helmet.

“That’s what friends are for. C’mon, let’s go.” He nudges me towards the opening. I jog after Calvin, hearing Liam’s footsteps behind me. Calvin and Jacqueline were already ahead.

“Alright. We have to go a little faster now, so keep up the pace alright? There’s only 5 minutes left.” Jacqueline reminds us via helmet.

“Yes ma’am!” Liam salutes. I speed up a little, feeling my heart race faster, and I wondered if running was the only reason why. A moment later, I turn the corner and catch up with Calvin and Jacqueline, who were standing at the exit door.

“I tried telekinesis! It didn’t work! This door must be built to ward off our powers or something.” Calvin was frantically explaining. Jacqueline looked frustrated.

“Then how do we get out? The base—“ The red holograph popped up on our gloves again, this time showing 1 minute. I feel my nerves acting up, my hands starting to shake. I look around frantically, trying to see any other sort of opening. None. As my breaths starts getting shorter, I feel warm hands on my shoulder. I look up at Jacqueline..

“Breathe, Hailey. Breathe.” She says in a firm voice. I obey, my shaky breaths evening out slightly. I look up at her helmet, noticing her eyes clearly visible. Steady, brown eyes filled with concern and panic, but I admired how she stayed calm in this situation. Liam was messing around with a control panel near the door. He pulled at a wire, and it sparks. He winces.

“I can’t get the door open. There’s eye recognition and finger scanning, so I guess only people of authority could pass through.” Calvin punches the door. He yells weakly.

“Damnit. Is this the end? Is this all?” He punches the door again and again. Liam immediately tries to stop him, but ends up joining him. Jacqueline rubs my back slightly, and then goes over to try to stop the boys. I stand there.

“I can’t die here.” I whisper. I clench my fists. The helmet glows slightly.

“Something. Anything. I can do anything…” I mutter. I close my eyes. Without meaning to, my mind goes back to the picture of the woman I had seen on the plaque outside the room. 

A sudden, bizarre sensation comes over me, like something was crawling. My skin was crawling, tiny spiders and insects with hundreds of legs slid over my skin. I shudder, feeling my limbs stretch and change, and there was obvious discomfort in my eyes. When the feeling passes, I open my eyes, still seeing through the helmet, but my vision was distorted. 

Immediately I drop to my knees and fumble with my helmet, pressing the button for the visor to go up. I tear off my glasses and blink, the world crystal clear, seeing the shocked faces of Calvin, Liam, and Jacqueline. Without saying anything, I scramble up and run to the control panel Liam was messing with before, and press a button I knew was going to be there, lining up my eyes with the camera. A brief red light flashes while it scans my blue irises.

“Dr. Amelia White. Exit authorized.” With a rumble, the exit door slowly moves, opening to a forest. From the corner of my eyes I could see the timer counting down still. 

15. 14. 13.

I shove Jacqueline out the door, not trusting myself to speak. Spotting a boulder some 50 meters away, I point and take off running without waiting for their reply. I feel the wind in my face, my strange, new features, and I duck behind the boulder. 

6. 5. 4. 

I feel someone crouch down beside me. 

3.

2.

1.

BEEP. The timer flashes on my bare wrist. I take a breath.

The base explodes.