Number Left Behind

Weeks of planning had brought them to this moment. The plan was set, their escape was imminent, but the tension was almost unbearable. They had studied the facility, mapped out every corner, every security measure. The building had two exits: one at the top, where the most heavily fortified and guarded area was, and one at the bottom, a less conspicuous exit that they had to aim for.

00359 sat in front of the screens, tapping away at the control panel, adjusting the spider-like devices that had been silently spreading throughout the building's systems. Each one was strategically placed, gathering data, breaking down security measures, causing chaos where it was needed most. The plan had been meticulously laid out, but there was still the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Would it be enough? Would they really make it out?

"Ready?" 00359 asked, glancing back at the others.

00009 nodded, the cool, calculating expression on his face betraying no fear, only resolve. 00006 stood beside him, his hands clenched at his sides, ready to unleash his explosive abilities at a moment's notice. Meanwhile, 00351 and 00097 exchanged glances. The last few weeks had tested their patience, their resolve, but now there was no turning back.

The air in the room was thick with anticipation as 00359 activated the system. The spiders had done their work; now it was time to make the final push.

The instant the system was triggered, the alarms erupted through the building. Sirens blared as the entire facility went into lockdown mode.

"Shit!" 00359 cursed as he saw the radio message flicker on the screen. "All guards, move to the first exit. The children are attempting to escape. Repeat, all guards to the first exit."

The message sent a wave of confusion through the group. Why were they being told to head for the top? The first exit was the most heavily guarded, and now the guards were rushing there in droves. The bottom exit—where they needed to be—was left almost unprotected.

00351 frowned, his mind racing. "This doesn't make sense. Why aren't they coming here?"

00006 stepped forward, his fists clenched. "Doesn't matter. We still have our shot."

00359 quickly adjusted the system's controls, trying to redirect the guards' movements, but it was no use. "I can't override them. They're too focused on the first exit. We have to move fast."

They scrambled to change plans. The backup generator was still running, but it would be a matter of minutes before it would turn back on. If they were going to make it, they had to act fast.

"Three minutes," 00359 said, eyes scanning the screens. "That's how long we have before the backup comes back online. We need to make it to the exit before then."

They raced through the facility's corridors, the sound of boots pounding behind them. Every step was a desperate push forward, but as they neared the exit, their hopes began to fade. The guards were everywhere. There were too many of them.

00351's heart pounded in his chest as he stopped in his tracks, eyes darting from the retreating group to the crowd of soldiers now closing in on them.

"You need to go," 00351 said, his voice heavy with regret. "Now."

00006 stared at him, disbelief in his eyes. "You're not staying behind. You can't. We're not leaving you."

"We don't have a choice. It's either you make it out or all of us die here. Go. I'll hold them off." 00351's voice was final. His body was already positioning itself, taking up a defensive stance as the guards closed in.

"00351—!" 00006 started, but 00351 cut him off with a sharp shake of his head.

"Go," he repeated, but the command was laced with a bitterness he couldn't hide. "I'll be fine."

For a split second, there was silence between them. The weight of their bond, the years of surviving together, hung thick in the air. Neither of them wanted this. They couldn't bear the thought of separating, not when they were this close to freedom. But there was no other option. 00351 wasn't about to let them all die here.

00359, seeing the stalemate between them, gave a grim nod. "He's right. We need to go. We're not getting out if we all stay behind."

The seconds were ticking down, but even with the urgency, 00006 still hesitated, his eyes lingering on 00351. There was a reluctance in his stance, a tension that screamed of unspoken words.

"I'm staying with you," 00006 finally said, his voice quiet but firm. "We can't leave them behind."

"No. You can't." 00351's tone was hard, his eyes filled with an emotion he couldn't express. "You're too important. I've already made my peace with this. You need to make it out."

"Not without you," 00006 countered, his voice resolute.

00351 stepped closer, gripping 00006's shoulder. "This isn't your fight. It's mine. You have to survive. I'll do what I can to buy you time. That's all I can do. You—you—need to go."

"Get out of here!" 00351 shouted after him, but his voice cracked with the weight of it all.

00359, 00009, and 00097 made their way toward the exit, leaving behind their comrade and friend. The pain of leaving someone behind was unbearable, but there was no other choice. They couldn't risk it. Not now.

00097, wide-eyed and trembling, glanced over at the others. "Shouldn't we—? Shouldn't we go back for him?"

00359's gaze hardened, the raw edge of fear and pain etched in his eyes. "No. It's too dangerous. We can't risk it. He made his choice. We keep moving forward, or this whole thing will be for nothing."

And so, with a heavy heart and a mind filled with uncertainty, they pushed forward into the unknown, the weight of their comrade left behind weighing heavily on them.

00351 turned to face the guards as they closed in. He knew there was no way out. He had given them a chance to escape, and now it was his turn to hold the line. He planted his feet, preparing for the fight of his life.

The first wave of soldiers arrived in full force, blocking their path. 00351 braced himself, feeling the rush of adrenaline as his abilities surged within him, ready to create a diversion. His mind focused, and just before the guards could reach him, the air around them warped. The space between him and the soldiers twisted, shifting in a surreal way, and with a flash, the guards were gone—teleported far away, into the facility's labyrinthine hallways.

00351 barely held himself up, his head spinning from the exertion. But the guards weren't done. They kept coming, more and more of them filling the corridor.

His body trembled from exhaustion, but his resolve was unshaken. He had to buy them time.

He closed his eyes, his vision blurring as the guards pushed forward. His body was ready to give out, but he wasn't finished yet.

With a forceful effort, he reached out again, tapping into that small well of power inside him, pushing it farther than he ever had before. He closed his eyes, teleporting—this time with his last ounce of strength—and grabbed 00006, pulling him into the vortex.

00359 and the others reached the exit, breaths ragged as they skidded to a halt in front of the heavy iron door. None of them dared to look back. They had to believe 00351 and 00006 would hold the guards off long enough.

00097, trembling and pale, glanced toward the others. "Shouldn't we—shouldn't we go back for them?"

00359's gaze hardened, though the strain in his eyes betrayed him. "No," he said sharply, his voice thick with barely contained pain. "We can't. They knew what they were doing. If we go back, we waste everything they're risking for us. We have to keep moving."

The group hesitated, the weight of their comrades' sacrifice pressing heavily on their shoulders. But there was no time to linger. 00359 motioned forward, and with reluctant steps, they pushed into the unknown.

The memory of that moment stayed with 00359, lingering in the recesses of his mind as they made their escape. Every step away from that door felt heavier than the last, but he shoved the thoughts down, focusing only on survival—for their sake.