Chapter 108 - Finding Demos

Our footsteps echoed in the empty corridor leading to the front of the building. Grant pulled me by the hand, my heart raced against my chest. I felt like I was about to suffocate. What he said couldn't be right.

"Hurry, Dr. Churchhill is waiting," he picked up the pace. The glass door was only a few steps away.

"Grant, Liliane? Where are you going?" Atlas' voice made me flinched. Grant ignored it and swapped his card over the door but it didn't open. He did it a second time with the same result. Frustrated he let go of my hand and glared at the camera at the top of the door.

"Atlas this is no time to joke. Open the door," said Grant in a calm voice. Yet, I knew he wasn't.

"Your work isn't done for the day. I can't let you walk off the facility without proper permission," my breath came out short and rapid. What was going on?

"Open the door now, this is an emergency."

"Of what nature?"

"Personally?" A red car stopped in front of the door, it hit the brakes so hard it through around the gravel. Dr. Churchhill dashed out, he waved at us with large hand movements. The AI took a moment.

"Are you going with Dr. Churchhill?"

"I am. Can you open the door now?" after long minutes the door slid to the side. Grant grabbed my hand and he hurried down the steps without looking back. I was afraid he might find ways to keep us from leaving. Grant was reaching for the passenger side door but I tugged on his hand.

"I-I don't think I'll be able to side alone in the back," he nodded once and opened the other. Dr. Churchhill roared the engine to life. That was not an electric car. Unlike Olga's silver and blue vehicle this one had leather white seats.

"He contacted me 10 minutes ago. I gave him my number for an emergency. I never thought he will use it so soon," the car took a sharp turn and sped to the exit leaving a cloud of white smoke. Grant secured my seatbelt. I was not in a state to argue.

"What happened to him?" my voice was weak. Grant said that when we are inside the building we can't hear each other but now that we were outside why was it I still couldn't hear him.

"I also tried to contact him...but I can't reach him," answered Grant. His eyes were fixed on the speeding road. The way the doctor was driving made me scared for our own lives. When I noticed he was driving in manual mode, my heart was about to jump out at any second.

"He sends me a strange voice mail, saying they are taking him in custody. I've contacted the security team and asked Atlas. Both said they don't have any information," explained the doctor, as he shifted gears. I've only seen people do that in old movies. This car was an old model...like an antic. I had to hold on the seat in front of me for stability, we were shoved to the side as it took a turn then took the wrong lane with a truck honking on the opposite side. I gasped as we barely made it safely back in our lane before the truck rushed on our right.

"Shit!" I whispered. I've instinctively grabbed Grant's hand. I shivered all over.

"Can you please, drive in a way we reach there in one piece," shouted Grant. He wrapped his arm around my tense shoulders, the belt prevented a comfortable embrace. I was happy to be near him. After a couple of minutes, some of the tension ease away. But it didn't disappear completely.

"It's going to be ok," he whispered against my hair.

"How did this happen?" my voice came out choked inside my throat.

"I don't know."

The car reached our residential area in 15 minutes. I had no idea at what speed the crazy doctor was driving. Somehow, we made it in one piece...sort of. The car eased to a more comfortable pace when we entered the city center. Dr. Churchhill drove towards a large white building with a golden shield logo on the front. I stared at the different edifice with a frown. This was my first time in town. It was rather big with small shops and a restaurant. The streets were almost empty at this hour. On the far stood a glass tower with the word mall in giant shiny letters.

"It's here," said the doctor before he pulled in the empty parking in front of the white building. Grant didn't let go as we got out. We all marched to the front desk. A smiling woman in a gray and red uniform looked up at us with a smile.

"Hello. How can I help you?" Dr. Churchhill stepped before us and smile at the young woman.

"One of my prototypes was brought in like half an hour ago. I think it's a misunderstanding," the smile of the girl dropped. Her gaze darted from the doctor to us then back at her screen.

"Can you wait one sec, I'll call our chief," she didn't wait for an answer and clicked on a button and lean forward to speak.

"Victor? Can you get Captain Bernard down the hall? It's for the animal we captured," the girl flashed us a worried look.

"Animal?" Grant frowned. The doctor rose his hand to signal us to remain quiet. I had all the trouble in the world to control my anger. She got to her feet and rounded her shiny chrome desk. "This way please," she guided us to a small waiting area with gray angular seats. Dr. Churchhill sat and crossed his long legs, he hadn't got out of his white coat. I was unable to stop fidgeting, Grant sat next to me holding my hand.

A chubby man wrapped in a military-type uniform came to meet us. He shook the doctor's hand as he got up but ignored us. He was sweating and had a nervous laugh.

"I'm Captain Bernard, the security of Dynapolis sector 2," he retrieved his hand and stood there in awkward silence. "And you are?"

"Dr. Churchhill. I'm specialized in robotics. We arrived with the ship that sunk off the coast," the man nodded frantically.

"Oh, yes, yes. I remember that stormy day. I spent some of my men for the rescue," just then a young man arrived at the waiting area. Grant got up letting go of me.

"Victor," he called. The man smiled in recognition.

"Grant, I was the one who gave Dr. Churchhill the address. I didn't recognize it because of its appearance. Come," Grant peeked over his shoulder at me.

-Come with me.

I sprung to my feet and rushed to his side. Victor gave me a curious look when I took Grant's hand but he kept quiet. The doctor remained in the waiting area with a grave expression. They spoke in a low and rapid manner. Victor guided us away to the elevator. When the doors closed he sighed.

"This is bad," we both frowned at him. "Your friend was arrested...it was just a routine check but he freaked out and two out two cyborgs. I don't know what he...it is. But damn, that one model I've never seen before," he turned to face us. Tears stung my eyes.

"What have you done to him? Demos would never attack people. He is a patrol agent. H-he knows the law...how?" my voice trailed off.

"Where is he?" asked Grant with a blank face.

"In confinement," he met our gaze. "It took us a lot of resources to neutralize it...him" I gasped. This must be a nightmare. My heart was about to explode.

"Did you hurt him? Please don't tell me you hurt him," my tears silently rolled down my cheeks.

"Madame, your friend is dangerous. We didn't have any choice," the man frowned.

"Where are you taking us?" Grant's voice was cold and detached. I was feeling faint, my world was crumbling around me. My mouth dry, every attempt to swallow was painful.

"To see him," the door opened on more doors. A woman in a blue uniform stood by the first one. She nodded at Victor and she pulled a magnetic card to open the door. I led to a long corridor with numbers on each door. I was having difficulties to follow both of them. I was having difficulties to put one foot ahead of the other. My body wasn't listening to my will. My hands were cold, all warmth had drained from my face.

We stopped at the door marked 203. There was a tiny glass opening on the front. Grant peeked inside. I couldn't move. He gasped with his eyes wide.

"Open the door!" he ordered. Victor straightened up.

"I can't do that. I need orders from the captain first," Grant slowly turned to the man's eyes blazing green. His face blank of all expression.

"OPEN THE DOOR, NOW" the man convulsed then paused, he mechanically fished his card from his pocket then marched like a broken doll to the door. The door creaked opened and in the gloom of the small cell lying on the concrete floor was a mass of black fur in a pull of white liquid.

"Demos!"