JP - Walking out of MegaCorp

“Thank you.” Bronte said gratefully, peering in the bag.

The bag literally held everything Bronte had been missing, including a few extra things like a change of clothes, some snacks, and even an extra pair of reading glasses. “I am not happy about what they plan to do to her,” The guard said, staring at Bella with worry.

“What are they going to do to her?” Bronte asked, setting down the bag.

“They want to put her in the breeding program.” The guard said as he used his fingers to brush some knots out of Bella’s hair and fur. She let out a whine, but let him do what was needed.

Bronte had heard about the breeding program, even more in the five years out of MegaCorp than he did while he was in it. “Isn’t it just an excuse to rape meta women on a schedule?”

“They plan to pair her up with another dog meta…” The guard pulled off his helmet and shook out his wild hair, looking at Bronte. “I want you to get out and take her with you…”

“If I can get out I will take her with me.” Bronte promised. “She helped me escape some terrible people.”

Looking at Bronte, joy in her eyes, Bella barked and went to Bronte, nuzzling against his side.

The guard chuckled. “Let me get the name tag off her collar and get your collar off so we can get this whole escape plan started, then.”

“Thank you.” Bronte said gratefully.

The guard took off his armor and uniform, handing them to Bronte. “You’ll need to change into this to get out.” He said calmly and got the collar off Bronte. “Your old collar is in the pocket of the pants.” When Bronte’s power hit, he would see that the guard was being honest and true to his helpfulness - there was no ill intent. He just wanted to help them.

Bella’s tag was difficult for the guard to get off, though. She kept snapping her teeth at him any time he dared to even touch the collar, but he eventually distracted her with a snack and was able to slip the collar off her. Removing the tag, he slid it under the bed along with Bronte’s MegaCorp issued collar. Putting Bella’s collar back on because she was whimpering about it being off, he attached a leash to it.

“You’ll have to carry her out because of her leg.” The guard told him, but keep the leash on her until you both have gotten a good distance away on the truck outside, okay?” He handed him a key.

Bronte switched his collar on and put it on. All those thoughts were more of a distraction than a benefit.

“Thank you.” He said gratefully to the guard and gently scooped Bella up.

The guard handed Bella a map and the ball. “Be good for him, okay? And help him follow the green line, got it?”

Bella stared at the map and looked at the guard, confused.

“You’re color blind, aren’t you?” He asked.

She nodded.

“Okay, this line.” He pointed and made a small note along it for her. “Just help Bronte here follow that and get out. I’m going to be a distraction.”

Bronte studied the map, trying to commit the green line to memory. “Thank you again, uh-” He did not know the man’s name.

“Cook,” The man said with a smile. In fact, he looked a lot like the Cook that saved Klaire and Tzeitel back in the day.

“Thank you, Cook.” Bronte said and began following the invisible green line.

Bella made sure to keep the map set on her lap in a way that Bronte could look at it easily, leaning gently into him with her ears folded back. Her side was aching and the broken leg…it just hurt too much to focus.

“We’ll be out of here soon.” Bronte softly told Bella, trying not to walk too fast and attract attention.

They would, thankfully, make it outside without any trouble, but the moment they did, there would be an odd noise to the left. It sounded as if something were eating…

“Uh…” Bronte edged carefully away from the sound of eating.

It was dark with nightfall having hit and the dim lighting along the walkway only showed a strange animal-like shape over what appeared to be a dead human. Bella let out a soft whimper, smelling the danger and death as she pressed into Bronte and pointed in the opposite direction.

Bronte did not need to be told again, he walked hurriedly in the direction Bella indicated.

A gurgling noise was soon followed by a screech and scuttling, claws scraping along the floor of the walkway.