That little shit is fast!

You'd think his tiny build would put him in a disadvantage, and me with my long bounds would catch up to him in no time, but it's quite the opposite. He's getting away from me!

I curse under my breath as I try to pick up speed, but soon I realize that I might have a chance to catch him. If that damn doll will keep running straight ahead, there will be a dead end - a balustrade with stairs on each side. He'll definitely slow down to descend.

As predicted, the android reached the balustrade soon after, and stopped in front of it for a moment. It looked back at me.

"Gotcha!" I think to myself and smirk.

But my smile fades quickly, replaced by fright. I can literally feel my face becoming pale, as the doll just turns around and leaps over the railing.

"Eight!"

I shout after him, and it sounds more like a desperate cry. Come on, that balustrade is at least two stories high!

I can hear a heavy thud somewhere below.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

I finally reach the railing, and clench to it clumsily. I lean over to look down. My heavy breathing echoes through the hall, my eyes scan the floor beneath.

I gulp.

There's no trace of a smashed android. Not even a loose screw lying around.

Nothing.

Of course. Those damn things are so durable, a jump from that height doesn't bother them at all. But it bothers me. A lot.

"Shitshitshit!!!"

I have no other option but to use the stairs. I pick the ones on my left.

"SHITSHITSHIT!!!"

I leap through few steps at a time to shorten the descend, and stop when I'm directly under the balustrade.

Ok, what now...?

I look around as I catch my breath. The glass door in front is still closed shut. The only other way to pass by would be to just smash right through it. And I think that doll would do just that, if not for the fact that the door is made out of a bulletproof glass, so...

I turn around and look at the dim corridor behind me. Yep. It must've went there.

This.

I don't like this at all. I really don't want to continue pursuing him, because I know damn well I'm at a huge disadvantage here. And who knows what goes through that damn doll's mechanical head?

Anyway, I need some backup.

And just as I hought that, one of the other guards calls me through the radio.

"Wilhelm! Just what the hell was that wild chase right now?" he asks.

He saw me and Eight through the security cameras. I explain that the android went nuts, and asked him if I can get some help. If he could follow the movements of Eight through the cameras, I'd be at least prepared for any surprise attacks. The other two guards should keep an eye on the entrances to their blocks. I also order him to call the company that sent us the dolls. If anybody is able to take care of this mess, then them. Maybe they can hack in Eight's brain and remote controll him or something. Or send more of those hellish dolls after him.

We do have 3 more of them here, but I request that they stay away from Eight. Who knows what kind of malfunction he has? If that's some sort of virus, I don't want to deal with any more trouble than I already have.

My buddy in the radio says that following the cameras will be difficult. Some of them turned to static white noise. Must been smashed to pieces or jammed.

That little shit... the fuck is he doing...?

I sigh and ask which cameras are damaged. After getting the answer, I put the radio back, grab a gun from the holster and head in that direction. Eight must be there somewhere.

I really, REALLY don't want to confront him, but someone has to. And who knows when the scientists from the company will arrive. I can't risk any more damage to be done.

Maybe I'm thinking too much into this. Maybe I just saw too many movies of robots turning hostile. And granted, all Eight did was "cry" and run away, he didn't harm me... but I just have to be prepared for any possible situation here.