You press the button going up, and you swear that you feel your heart about to pound out of your chest. This is it. 

Maes is still looking up at you, and you give her hand a squeeze for strength. 
  

MAY: Seriously, it’s gonna be okay.
MAY: You’re gonna get out of here and we’re gonna have a new life.
MAES: ...away from Mom…
MAY: ...yeah. Away from her.

 
There’s a moment of silence before she speaks up again. 

MAES: She’s going to be really mad at me for going away.
MAES: I had stuff to do with her, and now I’m not going to do it.
MAY: Y-yeah?
MAES: She was going to teach me more about reading. I’m still learning.
MAY: Well hey, we can learn together out there.

 
Her eyes widen. 

MAES: You don’t know how to read?
MAY: Nope. Never got taught.
MAES: Oh...I thought all grown ups knew how.
MAY: ...not all of us were lucky enough to get classes, kid.
MAES: Mom does say stuff like that a lot…
MAES: That me and Mel and Mason are lucky, because she’ll teach us things and take care of us and give us food…
MAY: Yeah.
MAY: Lot of us didn’t get that. So...I guess I’m gonna start doing that for myself, now.
MAY: And I figure we can do that other stuff for you three too. Somehow.

  
She smiles a little, and you feel relief wash over you. Maybe you’re not so bad at this.
  

 
You hear something going on behind you, and your ear twitches as you listen in.

FULLER: Not now. 
FULLER: Leave her be.
NELSON: I just want to check on her-
FULLER: She’s talking with one of the kids, have some decency and give her some space.
FULLER: Frankly the two of you shouldn’t be attached at the hip anyway, you’re playing a dangerous game with your whole...relationship, and I don’t like it.
NELSON: But-
FULLER: But nothing.

  
You catch a sigh, and from the corner of your eye you can see Fuller massaging their temple. 

FULLER: I appreciate you stepping in and fighting for us earlier.
FULLER: You clearly want to be a part of this team and you’re willing to make things happen.
FULLER: But I do not trust a guard who’s willing to get into some kind of messed up, whatever you have, with another maybecat. 
FULLER: I may not have grown up with the others or gone through the mutation process, but I still have the collar to prove I’m considered one of them.
FULLER: And I know enough about us and my own studies on psychology to know that what you’re doing is wrong. 
FULLER: So don’t test my patience-

 
Their voice is like ice. 
  

FULLER: Or you’re going to be sorely missing having a doctor around to help you specifically.
FULLER: Understand?
NELSON: ...got it. 

  

 
They grow silent, and your urge to eavesdrop continues as you listen for what else is going on in the hallway. There’s a sudden noise of alarm from your other side, and you whip around to see Melanie stagger and nearly collapse.

Chance is already on it. He reacts quickly and scoops her up, then winces in pain, having to catch himself on the wall with his other hand.

CHANCE: I got you. You okay?
MELANIE: I'm o-okay-!
MELANIE: Just feel weird, I think...

 
She looks up at him, startled when she sees the bruises on his arms.

MELANIE: You're hurt!
MELANIE: Why-

 
He follows her eyeline as he sets her down.

CHANCE: Oh this?
CHANCE: I got hurt earlier, from Bazil.
CHANCE: But I'm okay! Promise.
CHANCE: It's no big deal at all.
MELANIE: Bazil? 
MELANIE: Who's Bazil?
MELANIE: What happened?

 
Her brows furrow, the kid clearly distressed. Chance opens his mouth, the words not quite coming out yet.

CHANCE: ...Bazil's the person we met earlier.
CHANCE: We had a disagreement, but he turned out to be nice.
CHANCE: ...You don't... remember at all?
MELANIE: No...
MELANIE: I'm sorry...

Melanie seems to droop a little, upset with herself- but you swear there's something off about it, where things are just a bit different than when she got upset earlier.

You can't put your finger on it, though.

Chance's shoulders drop almost imperceptibly. 

You catch a glance at his face. It's difficult to read, but he seems almost... despondent. His eyes are sullen, the smile he usually has around the kids eroding away.

But, it picks back up again quickly. His tone grows quieter now, though; as if how he responded suddenly became much more important.

CHANCE: ...That's okay. It might've been a little scary, so you forgot, that's all. 
CHANCE: It happens. You don't need to worry.

  
He looks down at his bruised arms.

CHANCE: ...We're both having a little trouble right now, huh?
CHANCE: But we can work on it together, right?
MELANIE: Okay...okay.
MELANIE: We'll be okay.
MELANIE: Right?

 
He nods.

CHANCE: We'll be okay.
CHANCE: Just have to ride up the elevator, and we're out of here.
CHANCE: ...I've always got you, okay?

Chance notices her still-worried expression.

CHANCE: Here.

He crouches down, putting his hands behind him.

CHANCE: For old time's sake.
CHANCE: How's that sound?

  


She nods and immediately goes for it, clambering up onto his back. 

MELANIE: I'm ready!

 
He hops up with her in tow, paying no attention to any pain he might've felt from holding her.

CHANCE: Elevator should be here aaaany minute.
CHANCE: We can ride up like this, if you want to!

 
Melanie seems cheered up immediately, all signs of distress gone from her face. 
  

MELANIE: Yeah!!

 


...you file this interaction away with a sense of unease, and turn your attention to the last two members of your party.

DWAYNE: Hey, kiddo.
MASON: ...don’t call me that.
DWAYNE: You got it.
DWAYNE: Just wanted to know how you’re holding up after all that.
MASON: I’m...fine.
DWAYNE: You weren’t scared-
MASON: No.
MASON: I could have helped if the doctor let me.
DWAYNE: I dunno about that, though your guts are appreciated.
DWAYNE: Good to see that kind of courage on the team.
MASON: Yeah?
MASON: You think I’m brave?
DWAYNE: I mean, you walked right up to that guy after he kicked the sh- the tar out of Chance. 
DWAYNE: I couldn’t have done that. I was terrified of him!
DWAYNE: Braver than me, at the very least.
MASON: Heh…
DWAYNE: Hey, I got a smile out of you.
DWAYNE: First time I’ve seen that.

Mason doesn’t give a response, and there’s a moment before Dwayne starts up again.

DWAYNE: You really need out of here, huh?
MASON: ...yeah.
MASON: I don’t...want to leave Mom, but she’s…
DWAYNE: Mean?
MASON: Yeah...she hurts me a lot.
MASON: I end up getting all bloody and messy when they do the tests and everyone makes a fuss but they keep doing it…
DWAYNE: You won’t have to deal with any more of that.
DWAYNE: I’ll punch anybody who starts anything with you, got that?
MASON: I thought you weren’t brave.
DWAYNE: Well...I can learn.

The elevator dings as the doors start to open, and everyone freezes. It’s large and completely empty.
Nobody moves at first.

MAY: Come on. Let’s go.

Everyone starts filing in, spacing out throughout the elevator. You stand by the buttons, ready to push- until you realize you can’t read any of them. 

MAY: Uh...help, somebody. Reading.
FULLER: I got it.

 
Fuller presses the top button, and the doors close. The elevator starts moving slowly, and you feel a bit woozy at the feeling- you’d only been on these when they were transporting you around the cell blocks growing up, and you don’t think you’d ever get used to it. Blech. 

But then-

It stops, jolting everyone around. 

NELSON: What’s going on?!
FULLER: I- I don’t know, I didn’t touch anything-
DWAYNE: We can’t be close to the surface already-

The elevator is cast in red as a light above the door flickers on, and the voice that comes from the speaker nearby is unmistakable.
 

ANYA: You all thought you could make your way out of here just like that, didn’t you?
ANYA: I knew I couldn’t count on Chelsea to clean things up.
ANYA: You may have gotten this far, but I’m not letting you progress any further.

ANYA: IT-573-

 
Nelson’s frown deepens as his old number is called, twisting into a snarl.  

ANYA: You’ve gone against your orders as a guard and let one of our candidates escape- though to call her a candidate really is pushing things, as she never had a chance anyway.
ANYA: I suppose I shouldn’t have expected better from your performance, considering you choose to sleep with something like her.
NELSON: Don’t talk about her like that!

 
Anya doesn’t respond, pressing forward. 
  

ANYA: IT-966, IT-394...you really have disappointed me as well. You had clean records up until this point, enough to the point where I allowed 966 to interact with my daughters.
ANYA: Words cannot describe the betrayal I feel at your mutiny-
ANYA: But I suppose my actions will make those feelings very clear.

 
Dwayne says nothing, gripping the straps of his backpack tighter.
Chance grits his teeth, but can’t hold his tongue.


  

CHANCE: They’ve always deserved better than you.

 
His rebellious streak peaks, going for a low-blow without raising his voice.

CHANCE: Really, anyone who could actually get things done for them.
CHANCE: Not some deadbeat.

His eyes widen, surprised at himself as he quickly shuts up. There's a moment of irritated hesitation before Anya presses on.

ANYA: MC-157...tch.

 
Fuller’s ears flop back, their gaze to the floor. 

ANYA: I knew raising one of you creatures as a doctor without my supervision would be a mistake.
ANYA: I always suspected your treachery, but to have it confirmed like this…Disgusting.

ANYA: And MC-173...oh, 173, you’re the real problem here, aren’t you?
ANYA: After all I’ve done for you.
ANYA: I’d say you could have had a chance at being one of my daughters, but any time spent on testing and training you was a waste.
ANYA: I’m glad I never bothered teaching you anything academic, because that would have been a completely futile effort spent on something that could never amount to anything. 
ANYA: And yet, I tried for years despite this, and you repaid me by
ANYA: KIDNAPPING 
ANYA: MY
ANYA: DAUGHTERS.

Her voice seems to nearly bust the speakers, everyone wincing. You think Maes is starting to cry a little, and you give her hand a squeeze, trying to look stronger than you feel right about now. Your blood is boiling and it’s all you can do to keep yourself from screaming right back at her, but judging from Nelson earlier, it wouldn’t do any good. 

ANYA: I will get them back.
ANYA: Maes and Melanie will be mine again, and you’ll sorely regret even thinking of crossing my path. 
ANYA: You foolish, idiotic mistakes.  
ANYA: But as for Margaret…

Mason flinches, his eyes welling up with tears as the next words leave the speaker. 

ANYA: You can keep her.
ANYA: She serves no use to me anymore.
ANYA: I’m sure you’ll get along well in your final hours. The two of you have so much in common, 173.
ANYA: Absolute, total failures.
ANYA: A waste of goddamn oxygen.

 
The elevator jolts, a sudden downward motion sending the party staggering.

ANYA: You will all pay for what you’ve done.
ANYA: And it will be a long, torturous death.
ANYA: Not at my hands, though, no.
ANYA: I can’t bear the idea of washing off your filthy remains.
ANYA: Enjoy your bodies twisting into horrid flesh, all before being eaten alive.
ANYA: Goodbye.

 
You decide to go check with Fuller to see how Chance is doing, and to your relief, it looks like he’s starting to come to. 
 

MAY: How’s he holding up?
FULLER: Well, he’s alive. 

 
The dog gazes up at you as you approach, looking dazed.
 

CHANCE: ...the kids?
MAY: They're safe. 

 

 
You lift up your tail, Melanie reaching out with her little paws to give Chance the best hug she can reach.
 
Chance's grip is weak, but he squeezes her back as best he can, relief washing over his face as he spots Maes and Mason just to the side.
 

CHANCE: I'm glad.
CHANCE: What happened to--?

 

 
He spots the monster as he turns his head back, and instinctively pulls Melanie close.
 

MAY: He backed off when he noticed the kids. 

 
You make sure to whisper this next part.
 

MAY: He's kind of an ass, but when it comes to them, I'm betting he's as soft as you.

 

 
His expression softens, and he lets Melanie go, letting out a big sigh.
Chance, surprisingly, addresses the towering figure who had previously knocked him out.
 

CHANCE: I'm glad we were able to work things out.

 
The beast avoids eye contact.
 

????: ...yeah. Sorry about that.
CHANCE: It's okay, I wasn't knocked out for very long, I don't think.

 
The dog struggles to get to his feet, but you quickly help him up.
 

CHANCE: I'm Chance, by the way.
CHANCE: What's your name?
????: ...Bazil. 
????: Not that it matters, you're never going to see me again one way or the other.
CHANCE: You could always come with us, Bazil.
CHANCE: We could use the muscle, and I doubt you wanna stay here.
????: Tch...

  

 
He stretches out, the bulk of his form fading with a crackle across his skin. Before long, he's back to the karacel form he was in earlier, staggering a bit as he loses his balance. 
  

BAZIL: No can do.
BAZIL: There's a million reasons as to why that couldn't work, and you don't have time for me to go over all of them.
BAZIL: You're best off just leaving me and going ahead before they come for you.
BAZIL: Chances are they're already on their way to clean up after us.

  
Chance is quiet for a moment, then gives Bazil a nod.
 

CHANCE: Just... get out when you can, okay?
CHANCE: And if you change your mind, there's a spot for you.
BAZIL: I'm not gonna make promises I can't keep. 
BAZIL: Now stop yammering and get yourselves patched up before you get killed. 
FULLER: R-right...look, Suplex, I have to patch you up now, too- you're going to bleed everywhere and I don't need you passing out either.
MAY: Wh- no, I'm good.
FULLER: You are not good, and the more blood you get everywhere, the worse we’re going to look. For god’s sake. Come here.

 

 
You begrudgingly let Fuller take some bandages out and get to work on your arm, wincing as the wound stings. Whatever medicine they’re putting on it stings like hell, but they keep telling you it’ll keep it from getting worse. 
 

FULLER: I really wish I could stitch it up here, but this is going to have to do for now...

  

 
As the doctor works, you can’t help but let your gaze sneak back over to Bazil, your blood running cold as you notice Mason wandering over to bother him. 
 

MASON: You’re not so big and tough anymore.
BAZIL: You’re not too big and tough yourself, kid.
MASON: I’m bigger and tougher than the others!
BAZIL: Guess that’s fair, you the same age?

 

 
He nods, and Bazil smiles a little.
 

BAZIL: I stand corrected, you are relatively big and tough.
BAZIL: You, uh...you keep at it and you’ll probably get big enough to flip a car or something someday.
MASON: What’s a car?
BAZIL: ...don’t worry about it, kid. Just know that you’ll be able to flip one.

 
You exhale in relief, only to have Fuller wrap a bandage around your hand especially tight.
 

MAY: Watch it!
FULLER: Sorry! 
FULLER: You’re all done, anyway.
MAY: Sheesh…

 
You get to your feet, dusting yourself off and watching as your party comes together again.
 

MAY: Everybody ready to go?

 
There’s a collective murmur of agreement, but nobody seems as enthusiastic as before- considering you just got the shit kicked out of you, you can’t blame them.
 

MAY: Look, we’re almost there. We just need to get to that elevator.
MAY: Then we’ll be on the surface, and we’re home free. 
MAY: Right?
DWAYNE: Right!

 

 
Dwayne’s enthusiasm catches a bit, and peoples’ energy starts to pick up. You sigh and head over one last time to Bazil, extending your good hand.
 

MAY: Thank you for letting us go.

 
He just kind of stares at you.
 

BAZIL: Don’t thank me when I beat your ass.
BAZIL: We’re not the kind of people who deserve that kind of appreciation, and the shit we’ve done here today even aside from just now would make me feel dirty shaking somebody’s hand, even if it wasn’t me who did it.
BAZIL: Just go. 
MAY: ...yeah.

 
You pull your hand away, giving him a nod.
 

MAY: Hope you get out of this someday too, man.
BAZIL: Not planning on it. 
BAZIL: Now fucking, go already! God!
MAY: Alright, alright!

 


You turn and start moving, the rest of your party already having picked up their backpacks. You sling yours over your shoulder as Nelson hands it over, and the whole party books it down the hall.

And there it is.

The elevator.

You set Maes down, the maybecat hesitating for a moment before reaching for your hand. She looks scared, more at the prospect of heading through those doors than the situation that the party was just in. 
 

MAES: Is this the way out?
MAY: ...yeah. It is.
MAES: Oh…
MAY: Hey, chin up. 
MAY: It gets better from here on out, yeah?
MAES: Y-yeah...

 
There’s a button going up, and a button going down.

 

MAY: We have a chance- not a big one, and we could always die or worse.
MAY: But we gotta try.
MAY: Yeah, this started as a suicide mission and I don’t think any of us expected to get this far...or pick up these kids either.
MAY: But this is something bigger than just us now.
MAY: We can try to help give some kids a chance at a less terrible life. And screwing over the people who kept us here is a bonus. It's worth a shot.
MAY: I wanna be a part of it, and I guess at this point I’d do a hell of a lot to get us out of here. 
MAY: I’m sorry you got a rough deal and all, but you’ve got the chance to help us out now.
MAY: Or just...let us go. 
MAY: Look the other way. Anything.

  

 
The beast sighs, rubbing his face into one of his massive hands. 
 

????: It won’t do you much good.
????: They’ll find you, and they’ll catch you.
????: And when they do, they will kill you.
????: If you somehow manage to avoid that, it’ll be a miracle. 
????: But I can give you a shot at getting out if you’re so determined to try.
????: Just...don’t expect that hope to last. It never does, not when dealing with these fucking people.

 

DWAYNE: Thank GOD.

  

You peek over, the pockitt having interjected from his spot looking over Chance. 
 

DWAYNE: I mean...no offense, I just don’t think we could take any more beatings from you.
DWAYNE: Or...whoever was around earlier. Chelsea, I think.
????: ...yeah.

 

 
Doc Fuller leans over, doing their best to whisper in your ear.
 

FULLER: Keep an eye on the other kids. I’m going to go take a look at Chance.
MAY: On it.

 

 
You shuffle a little closer to Mason as the doc tries to sidle away, the beast following with his eyes and saying nothing. You get the feeling that he understands the situation enough at this point, and you swear that there’s...a bit of guilt in his eyes. 
 

????: The wall that Chelsea put up’s gotta be weak by now thanks to both me being out and the one in specs hacking away at it.
????: I’ll tear it down and you’ll have a clear shot at the elevator to the surface.
????: But that doesn’t change the fact that you’re covered in blood, and one of your group’s knocked out.
NELSON: Maybe someone will help us!

  
You startle a bit at the softbody’s sudden intrusion.
 

NELSON: I mean...fuck, I don’t know. 
NELSON: If we’re trying to get out of here, I’d hope that things are better up there.
NELSON: People might see us and try to help us through if we explain-
????: You tell anybody about this place, you’ve marked them good as dead.
????: Anya and Spit will do whatever it takes to silence people who know about what goes on down here. 
????: If you have to say something, lie. 
????: Even that might not be enough, but it’d be something.
NELSON: A-ah…

 
The beast doesn’t wait for Nelson to come up with any kind of response, straightening out his back and stepping forward. 
 

????: Wall’s not going to tear itself down.
????: Move.

  

 
You pull Mason out of the way with your good arm, Melanie still wrapped up in your tail. Both you and Nelson watch as the monster pushes on the flesh wall with a single palm with a derisive snort, almost mockingly, before slashing through the entire thing with a single motion.

The barrier that prevented you from leaving this hellish corridor is gone now.

 

MAY: Yeah, kids!
MAY: All of this is an attempt to get as many people out of here as possible. But, more than that, it’s turned into getting some kids out who need it!
????: …

  
His gaze is entirely focused on you now, but it isn’t as cold as before. 
 

????: Go on.
MAY: You know Anya, don’t you?
????: Course I do. Hate her guts.
????: She’s one of the worst people alive, if you can even call her either of those things. 
????: ...I know what she does, I know what this place is, and I know that trying to get out of this place in your position is a suicide mission.
MAY: We got this far, didn’t we?
MAY: Further than anybody else-

FULLER: For the- stop running!

  

 
Before you can really process it, a tiny karacel comes running up to both of you, and your blood runs ice cold. Your tail reaches out to stop her in the nick of time. You try not to let the panic show as you realize just how dangerous it is for Melanie to be this close to the beast, but you can’t stop her from wiggling away from your grip enough to poke her head out and sniffle. 
  

MELANIE: S-Stop it!
MELANIE: He’s hurting Chance!

 
Just what I need right now. Great.

 

  
You look up to see Fuller trailing behind, struggling to catch up- Mel must have gotten a hell of a head start. Mason struggles to keep up while holding Maes in his arms, not wanting her to run in her sickly state. 
 

MAY: Doc, keep ‘em back! This guy’s dangerous!
????: I’m not gonna hurt kids!
MAY: Chelsea threatened to kill them!
????:  That’s her, not me. She’s not calling the shots right now, and I...I don’t do that.
????: Those kids... Those are Anya’s kids, though.
????: ...you’re even more suicidal than I thought.
MAY: They need out. Doesn’t matter who they are.
????: I’m not gonna deny that, but no fucking wonder you’ve got us on your tails. You just painted the biggest possible targets on your backs. 
????: I’ve wanted to do what you’re trying to pull off for years, but it’s impossible.
????: Even with how far you’ve come, even if we let you go right now, you still have to make it through the surface levels undetected.
????: ...and we just covered one of you in blood.
MAY: We’ll make it work. We’re getting them out of here. 
MAY: I’m not giving up. None of us are.

 

 
No one else says a word. You get the feeling that it’s partially out of fear of the beast, but partially out of agreement- but maybe nobody wants to say it outright. In the silence, Dwayne sneaks over to check on Chance, who still isn’t moving.
 

????: I...didn’t know the kids were here. 
????: I wouldn’t have fought like that if I did. Especially, uh…

  


He glances down at Melanie, who looks up at him with wide, tearful eyes.
  

????: ...especially not somebody who seems to be important to them. 
????: All I knew is that somebody was fighting us, and when we get shocked or burned or shit like that, I tend to get dragged in. 
????: Just along for the ride.

 

MAY: So what, we don’t have the right to defend ourselves?
MAY: Or maybe you’re just pissy because somebody’s actually fighting back, and not rolling over and dying to make this easy for you!

 
The creature turns to face you, his snarl intensifying as you goad him. You get a glimpse of Chance’s face- he’s staring at you, wide-eyed and nervous.
 

MAY: Yeah, smartass, we’re just dirty work for your poor, tortured soul. 
MAY: Has it ever fucking occured to you that it’s actually people down here getting fucked up like this?
MAY: Or do you just pretend like that’s not happening, to help you sleep better at night?
MAY: You’re just a tool getting used like everybody else here!
MAY: Let us leave and maybe do something good for once in your life!
????: What do you know about my life?
????: You don’t know shit about me, kid!

  

 
He tightens his grip on Chance, enough to get a high pitched yelp out of the dog. 
 

DWAYNE: Uhhh, Suplex?!
DWAYNE: Might wanna… be careful with how you talk to him! Considering Chance is… y’know...
MAY:  ...Well, he’s wrong, anyways!
MAY: There’s one person in there that I care about!
????: Oh yeah?
????: You care, you little runt?

 

 
He tosses Chance aside. You wince as the ruffneck hits the floor and skids. He doesn’t get back up. 
Now the monster’s attention is all on you, looming in and baring his teeth in full, electricity starting to crackle around his collar. 
  

????: Tell me, how the fuck do you care about any of us?
MAY: Harvey gave me hope.

 
At the mention of Harvey’s name, he scoffs, tossing his head.
 

????: That old windbag-
MAY: She gave me a name! She let me think that someday, things could be better!
????: I’m sure she did! I’m sure she filled your head full of fucking rainbows and daydreams, and made you feel like the world was gonna be perfect outside of these halls!
????: Guess what? It isn’t!
MAY: It’s probably better than being in here, still!
MAY: And you’re just gonna tear that possibility away?
MAY: For us?
MAY: For the kids?

   

 
He freezes.
 

????: ...kids?

MAY: We’re not trying to fuck with you, we’re just trying to get the hell out of here!
MAY: You’re the one throwing meat at us!
????: Oh, I’m the one doing that?
????: If you’re gonna start throwing accusations around-

  

 
He whips around and grabs Chance in a sweeping motion, gripping the dog in his giant fist.
Chance gasps as he’s lifted high into the air, ending up face-to-face with the creature. Beads of sweat roll down Chance’s brow as the canine starts to look panicked.

????: At least get the right goddamn person!
????: Not so tough now without your little stick, huh?
????: I have half a mind to fucking fry you right here in my hand, give you a taste of your own goddamn medicine-

 
 

Nelson darts forward and tries to whack his shock stick against the monster’s ankle, getting a snarl out of him. 
  

????: You little shit!
CHANCE: Sorry for-

  

 
Chance stammers, trying to maintain composure while the monster's grip squeezes the air out of him.

CHANCE: We didn’t… know it was anybody else. 
CHANCE: The other person was… She was just here.
CHANCE: ...Who are you?
????: Why’s it matter to you? All you care about is taking us out!
????: And in the end, you’re no different to me.
????: You’re just another mark on our hitlist. 

  
Chance tries to respond, but only ends up coughing, the ruffneck squirming in the monster’s grip.
 

 
Nelson goes for another whack, and the monster simply swats him away with his massive tail. Dwayne just barely manages to catch him before he hits the ground, breaking his fall. 
  

????: Just more fucking dirty work that gets shoved onto me!

You risk taking one of your paws off the stick to yank down your face mask, Nelson making a noise of distress as Chelsea starts pushing back hard. With your mouth newly freed, you lean forward and chomp down on one of Chelsea’s hands, getting a face full of twisted raw flesh.

It’s not the worst thing you’ve ever tasted in this hellhole by a long shot, but it’s up there.

It’d probably taste a lot better if she actually fucking let go, though. All it seems to do is piss her off, getting a loud, spitting snarl out of her and not much else. Most people would have gone into shock when faced with your teeth, so you can’t help but feel more than a little insulted. You let go, leaving rows of tooth marks in your wake. 
 

MAY: Have it your way!

 

 

You back up and yank on the staff as hard as you can without warning, knocking Chelsea off-balance as she stumbles towards you. Not wasting time, you wind up and slam your foot into her lower legs as hard as you can. She’s sent straight to the floor, along with Nelson and Dwayne. As everyone topples, you reach out and do your best to snatch the staff out of Chelsea’s grip, just barely managing to wrench it from her meaty claws. 
 

MAY: It’s nothing personal, I just want to live today-

 
You can’t get the words out- Chelsea shakes Nelson and Dwayne off with ease and lunges for you.
 

MAY: Oh shi-!

 



You back the fuck up, holding the staff close to your chest, heart pounding. You try to ignore the stinging pain in your arm, blood dripping everywhere.
 


 
Chance catches Chelsea in the shoulder, driving a shock into her and holding it there as she goes down. You breathe a quick sigh of relief.
 

And she stays down.



But she does not stay the same.




 

????: ST-STOP FUCKING WITH ME!

Okay, you’ve got this. You’ve got numbers, you’ve got weapons, you’re just against an enemy that could kill you all way, way faster if she wasn’t so tired. Easy peasy- but it’ll be way easier for the others to get hits in if you can distract her, and there’s not much else you can do right now with that wounded arm and no weapons of your own.
 

MAY: Hey, you’re missing a couple organs there! Where’d your stomach go, huh?!

 
No response, the monstrous karacel completely focused on watching your party tensed up around her.
 

MAY: Even with all those eyes, you can’t see everybody coming at you at once! 

 
Nothing.

You’re not great at this- but something comes to mind.


 

MAY: What would Harvey think of the fact that you’re trying to kill kids?!

 
Chelsea jolts in surprise, and Chance takes the opportunity to rush forward and shock her side, the tusks flashing in for sure this time as the ruffneck narrowly avoids her retaliating swing. Something’s definitely up, but you can’t think about that now. 
 


 
Dwayne makes his move, going for her legs. He slams them hard to stagger her-
 

 
 -and Nelson actually takes the initiative to go for her arms, holding them and putting his weight down on them. Fuck waiting around at this point, actually- you’re not going to miss this opportunity yourself.

 
With Chelsea restrained, you dash in and try to wrestle the scythe away, getting the best grip you can on it with your thumbless paws. You pull as hard as you can, but still can’t quite pry it away from her. You keep at it, and make full eye contact with her, unable to stop yourself from baring your teeth from under your mask- her expression matches yours, and you know more than ever that she is fighting just as hard as you are. 

You only have a few seconds to act before she throws both of you off.

You feel the urge to run, but look behind you to see the wall of flesh - still mostly intact.
 

MAY: How’s the wall going?!
FULLER: We’re making progress, but- 
FULLER: Still can’t get through!
FULLER: Could maybe get a kid over if I tossed one through…

  
You hear one of the kids start to protest, but you don’t have time to babysit. You have to get in there and do something, now.


You break away from Nelson and run past Chance, the dog moving out of the way with a startled expression. You’re not entirely sure what you’re doing, but in the heat of the moment you go for a tackle-


Chelsea counters with a swipe and you wheel back at the last second, taking a shallow blow that otherwise might have killed you. Dwayne ducks just in time as well, narrowly missing his head getting sliced off. 
 

DWAYNE: FUCK ME.

  

Chance takes the opportunity to get a jab in with his shock stick, the transformed karacel jolting for a moment as the shock courses through her body. In that instant, you think you see a glimpse of sharp fangs extending from her mouth, but they’re gone as soon as you get your bearings. Must’ve been seeing things, and you don’t have time to dwell on it, anyways. Your arm stings.


Shit, you’re bleeding. She got your arm good, but it’s not gonna kill you. You bet the doc could patch this up fine, as long as you make it out of here alive.


Chelsea’s still standing, and she looks pissed- but with the extra help, you’ve got her surrounded.

 

MAY: C-chance…
MAY: Get her, shock her, d-do whatever!

  
Chance darts around you, going after Chelsea.
 
You try to struggle to your feet, but the effects of the shock stick are still taking hold of your body. All you can do is stumble and crash back down onto your ass, swearing at your own inability to stand.

Goddamnit, Nelson.
 

MAY: DWAYNE, GET OVER HERE AND HE-HELP TOO

  

 
Nelson leans down to try and help you up, but you have bigger things to worry about.
 

MAY: Don’t worry about me- she’s gonna get that fucking stick!
NELSON: The what?
MAY: Th- the stick!
MAY: The staff!
MAY: Whatever! Get it!
NELSON: Don’t worry about that, we need to make sure you’re okay first!
MAY: For the love of-
MAY: Nelson! Put me down and go get it!
NELSON: But-

 

 
Nelson helps you up.

Dwayne rushes past in the chaos, and you’re thankful that at least someone other than Chance is being useful-
 
    

 
But no one’s fast enough. 
 
Electricity crackles through Chelsea’s form just as she arms herself, flesh creeping up the staff.
 
It doesn’t do much.


Chelsea turns, her attention now fully on Chance.

You’re not sure what the fuck to call her weapon, but it isn’t a staff anymore.

MAY: Then turn the power down or use the other end!
MAY: I don’t know, just do SOMETHING!

   
Chance hastily apologizes under his breath, wincing just a bit as he lands a blunt strike on Chelsea’s nose. She snarls and tries to wrestle away as he goes for another, Chelsea narrowly avoiding the blow. 
 


You focus on Chelsea’s ribs in the meantime as she struggles, trying to hit where you think you heard a crack- only to hit a completely solid mass. 

Chelsea’s gritting her teeth, clearly strained by whatever she’s doing to keep you from going apeshit on her ribcage. 

CHELSEA: F-fuck you.
MAY: Have it your way.
MAY: Chance, move!

 
   

Chance pulls back and you go for her horns- unable to grab them properly, you settle for shoving them downwards towards the floor, Chelsea’s head far enough up to make for a small slam. It’s enough to daze her, allowing you to turn your hands and get a decent grip on her horns. You waste no time, lifting her head up high and crashing it back down with your weight.



Her face is not the same when she hits the ground, twisted flesh and horrible clustered eyes staring blankly up at you as she spits blood in your face. She doesn’t quite look stunned, but there’s some weariness to her face now. She’s dazed, but definitely not out for the count. 

That probably would have killed anyone else.
You’re starting to think you might be in over your head.
  

CHELSEA: You’re going to regret that-
CHANCE: Nelson, wait-!

 
Nelson swoops in from the side before she can finish, delivering a shock- non-lethal, thankfully- directly into her side...which courses through you as well. 
  

 
You topple, writhing momentarily- but Chelsea’s only briefly deterred before she knocks you and Nelson away with her other arm- now also transformed. 
 

As she gets to her feet, you can see that her body is half encased in flesh, and you bet the rest is on its way. She’s backing away while you lay sprawled, but you don’t think she’s retreating- she’s going for that fucking staff. 
  

CHELSEA: E...enough playing around.
CHELSEA: You’ve...had your fun wrestling me.
CHELSEA: I told you to surrender and let me make this merciful, and you didn’t listen.
CHELSEA: I didn’t want you to suffer. 

Looks like diplomacy’s out, and you don’t like the look of whatever’s happening with that arm. You tense up before rushing her, her eyes widening and the red on her arm stump growing as you slam into her body, knocking her to the ground and sending her staff clattering across the hall. 



You’re pretty sure you cracked at least one of her ribs in the impact, but she’s barely reacting past a menacing snarl on her face as she struggles against you. Her body’s practically starved and her claws aren’t sharp enough to leave much more than light scratches on your arms, and you are making sure to hold her back so that she can’t bite.

Why isn’t she immediately going for her weird magic?

Couldn’t she kill me right now-



As if to prove you right, her arm stump bursts, raw, red flesh exploding out from it into a massive meaty claw, gripping at your head and desperately trying to push you off of her. 

MAY: CHANCE?
MAY: HEY, CHANCE?!
MAY: COULD USE SOME HELP OVER HERE, CHANCE
MAY: PLEASE
MAY: SHOCK HER OR SOMETHING

 

 
Chance rushes over, using his weight to help pin down her newly-made arm.

CHANCE: These things are lethal, it could kill her!
CHANCE: Or hurt you, you're on top of her!
CHANCE: Do you--

 
He's cut off for a moment as he struggles to keep atop the giant claw.

CHANCE: Do you REALLY want me to do that?

 

MAY: ...you all might want to step back.
FULLER: Don’t need to tell me twice.

 
You let go of Mason and set down Maes, Chance doing the same with Melanie. You notice a look of recognition in the kids' eyes as they hurriedly huddle back with the others.



 
The doctor backs up and turns towards the flesh wall, reaching into their backpack’s side pocket and taking out their scissors. You grimace as they start hacking at the wall, Dwayne making a similar face as the wall makes a horrible noise in response- but he starts going for his own bag, drawing his shock stick and attempting to fry the flesh with it.
  

FULLER: Sh- Warn me next time, you could have fried me too!
DWAYNE: Just don’t touch it when I do, we’ll alternate strikes!

  

Chance gets back long enough to grab a shock stick, then steps forward with you, ignoring your advice. Nelson tries to follow his example, but Dwayne quickly catches him and pulls him back to help with the wall.
 

Chelsea continues to approach, and you tighten your stance.   
  

MAY: I don’t want to fight you.
MAY: I’m not letting you hurt anyone either, we can just talk-
CHELSEA: You have no choice.
MAY: We’ve talked before! Years ago!
CHELSEA: …

   

 
She stops, pausing to look at you intently. You pull your mask down as best you can with one paw, showing your face. There’s a slight flicker of recognition in her face, but it’s gone as quickly as it comes.
 

CHELSEA: I see a lot of kids here.
CHELSEA: It doesn’t change anything.
CHELSEA: What I’m going to do to you is still ideally a mercy, and I’d like to make it quick.

 
Chance speaks up, gripping his shock stick tight but keeping his tone stable.
 

CHANCE: So you’re going to kill the kids now, too?
CHANCE: If you can disobey your orders to do that, then why is it such a stretch to let us try and make it out?
CHELSEA: Because you will get caught.
CHELSEA: And they will torture you, and they will make you wish that your escape attempt ended here with me.
CHELSEA: The lives of these children are not going to get better. If they survive the hell that their mother is going to put them through, which is a very big “if”, they will live a life full of suffering and likely serve in the same position that I do now.
CHELSEA: I would not wish this life on anyone.
CHELSEA: Allow me to carry this burden and spare them from it.

  

 
Something shifts across her form, red flesh bubbling along her amputated arm.
 

CHELSEA: Let me prevent them from sharing my fate.

You’re not about to disobey the Doc’s orders on this one. Now’s not the time for panic, but you need to get out of here, now.
 

MAY: Fucking book it!

 

 
Chance goes for Melanie, swooping down to pick the kid up into his arms. He gives you a glance, and you go for Maes, fumbling a little at first with no thumbs to grip onto anything- you have a fleeting thought about how light she is, but you don’t have time to dwell on it. Mason’s a hell of a lot heavier, but you get him in your tail with a yowl of protest, his claws digging in as you startle the shit out of him. 
 

MAY: Sorry kid, no time for warnings!
 

 
With the kids quickly secured, you both take off running.



 
Dwayne, Nelson and Fuller are already ahead of you by the time you’re moving, having no kids to carry. There’s another huge crash behind you and your best guess is the safe room door getting kicked off its hinges, confirmed by the sound of something hitting the ground, hard. 
 

DOC FULLER: Oh shit oh shit oh fuck oh god
DWAYNE: Stop panicking, just keep moving!

 

 
You feel Mason’s claws grip deeper into your tail as you pick up the pace, your heart pounding hard in your chest. There’s someone starting to run behind you, and the smell of blood and rot fills the hallway-

A wall of raw flesh rises in front of your party before anyone can do anything about it, and everyone skids to a stop. 
 

DOC FULLER: Oh god, oh no-
NELSON: Wh-what is that?!
DOC FULLER: It’s her mark, it’s hers-

 
Someone’s approaching.
 


  
You turn away from the wall, and you feel a knot twist up in your stomach as you recognize the bloodstained form coming towards you, the hall around her staining with red as she gets closer. Her staff drags along behind her, scraping loudly against the tile. She almost seems to prop her weight against it, looking exhausted but no less intimidating.
 

CHELSEA: …
CHELSEA: I really wish it didn’t have to come to this.
CHELSEA: And if you’re smart, you’ll hand over the kids and let me finish things quickly.

 
Chance pipes up, looking more resolute than you’d seen him before as he squeezes Melanie tight to his chest.
 

CHANCE: They’re not staying.
CHELSEA: My orders are to bring them back alive and to kill the rest of you.
CHELSEA: It would be more of a mercy to cut you all down as quickly as I possibly can, and spare you whatever tortures you’d endure in the case of you either defeating me, or in the case of the children, returning to their mother.
CHELSEA: I’ve been here longer than you have. I’ll be here longer than you ever will be.
CHELSEA: I've seen how these kinds of things play out.

 
Her eyes have an almost glazed look to them as she approaches, nowhere for you to run.

 
CHELSEA: Don’t make me fight you.
CHELSEA: I’ve already taken so many today.
CHELSEA: Please let me make this easy.