The exit led to an open hallway. Beyond that was another set of doors. And beyond that would be the front doors. Cassius slid down and looked out one more time before he sat. There was no time left. He was pushing it the longer he thought about what he was going to do instead of actually taking action. But his racing heart told him how he really felt. He tried to push down his uneasiness and tried to place his mind somewhere else. He thought maybe if he thought about nothing but escaping, he would be able to cure his nervousness. As expected, it didn’t work.

He pushed his shaky hands under his thighs and waited for his heart to settle. After a minute, his fingers stopped their trembles and his heart wasn’t high in his throat. The courage he’d had back in the glass office was gone, replaced by the fear of being caught. This would be worse than anything he’d ever had to endure in his life. No beating by Iza would compare to what he would get if he was caught now. Rexton would throw him to the dogs and after that, he might keep him for his team. If he fucked up now, it would be all over. He couldn’t let that happen. He was done living this life, caged until they needed to use him. He was tired of being the Mekiah instead of Cassius. He was nothing here, but out in the world, there was place for him. All he had to do was shed his chains and cut away from his old life.

But his chance was cut short when he saw the shadow of five men. They marched out from the opposite corner, arms loaded with military issued pistols. Cassius caught the Xtavia symbol on the side of the guns. It was a bee-hornet hybrid with its body curled and wings straight up in a position to strike. It glowed a faint purple hue that only happened when the gun was turned on its magic absorption mode. When it was on that setting it could render any magic user useless for any allotted time. It just depended on how strong the user was and how much electric shock they could handle. The bullets were made of silver and enhanced with magic from the hands of the Exteru. Mostly they were used for Mekiah because they were easier for non-exterminators to handle. But they were fool proof. The Mekiah would have to be weaker than normal for one bullet to weaken them, that reason being why the guns were mostly used on escaped house slaves.

Cassius watched them walk past the door before he hid himself from their line of sight. He waited for them to keep walking, but they stopped just a few feet away from where he was. His breath caught in his throat and for a brief second he thought he might give himself away with a frustrated scream. He pushed his fist into his chest, his teeth gritting as his anger tried to take over him. His raging emotions would do him no favors right now. There were fucking five of them. He had no chance against them and their weapons.

Cassius peaked out, risking it just this once. His eyes fell on who he thought was the leader of the group. She had her gun drawn and pointed up. She gestured for the four others to take the lead. They nodded and followed the order, walking around the next corner. The woman surveyed the area and after a long minute had passed, she starting moving in Cassius’s direction.

He stood up and pushed himself back agains the wall as close as he could. The woman’s footsteps grew near and as the foot falls got louder, he held his breath. He waited for the right time. The seconds slowed to an agonizing pace.

The tip of the gun edge into his sight. She came around the corner, gun pointed and ready to shoot.

He took the chance. He grabbed the gun and swung her around. They slammed back into the wall, knocking heads together. She was stunned for a moment, but she gained back her balance and flung the gun back. It hit Cassius in the face and before he could push her back again, she flipped him over her shoulder. He landed on his back. The gun clattered to the ground to his left. Gasping, he turned over on his side. She came after him and as he spotted the gun, still glowing its signature purple, she slammed her boot clad foot down on his back.

“Ah! You fucking bitch.” He grabbed the gun and whirled around. Her foot pressed into his back, but it wouldn’t matter once he put a bullet through her head.

The gun pointed at her face. His eyes met hers and for that brief moment, he saw the fear rise in them.

He pulled the trigger.

Her head snapped back. Blood splattered out from the wound, painting the wall in a grimy red littered with small chunks. Her eyes rolled back, lids fluttering. Suspended in time, Cassius watched as her body crumbled. It started in her knees. They buckled and then her back gave out. She fell face forward and before he thought about what was about to happen, she came tumbling on top of him.

His eyes stared widely at the ceiling. A screamed began to bubble in his chest and the feeling of blood pooling at the base of his neck, made it much worse. He pushed her body off of him. The gun was still in his hand and not willing to let it go just yet, he fumbled to move her body. He was covered in the blood now and a little shaky over what had just happened.

He’d met her eyes. Those lifeless eyes that just creeped the fuck out of him.

He searched her for any other weapons of use but found nothing. They must have heard the gunshot and the four others would be heading back here soon. The sirens were still going and maybe that had muffled the shot somewhat though he didn’t know if they were tracking each weapon that was being used.

Taking his chance, he rushed towards the doors. They were open, thank god, and without much trouble, he slipped through them.

“Hold it, Mekiah!”

Three shots were fired. One hit him in the shoulder, one in the leg, and the other flew past him. He fell to his one good knee.

“Drop it or I shoot again!”

His energy was dropping fast, but these shots wouldn’t knock him out. This was it. This was all he had now. The chance he’d been planning for so long was gone in a second.

He turned. His hand shook, but the will was there, strong and healthy. The gun felt like a hundred bricks in his hands. He raised it.

He was ready for it to end. It didn’t matter how.