Jace's POV Cont'd
Jace lunged forward, gripping the pocket knife he had. And with all the strength he had, he swung it and managed to leave a shape scratch on Dr. Kessler's face, blood splattering. He cursed under his breath, holding his face.
Jace then felt multiple hands, dragging him to the floor. The knife skidded away. Guards yelled for restraints.
Then a gunshot echoed.
Jace froze.
The guard who had given him the key earlier, stood in the hallway holding his shotgun, pale and shaking, leaning heavily against the wall. His ankle was twisted badly, but he had still put himself between Jace and the guards.
"Go!" the guard shouted, "Do it now!"
Dr. Kessler stumbled, furious now, shouting orders that no one could hear clearly anymore. Jace tackled him, driven by panic and adrenaline, forcing him down.
He grabbed a cable from the floor and bound Kessler's wrists tight.
Kessler laughed — high, sharp, unhinged.
"You think this ends anything?" he sneered, "You've already lost."
Jace punched him, just enough to knock him out.
Dr. Nathan rushed him, eyes wide as he saw Jace tying up his boss and his friend passed out on the floor, injured. He ran to the guard, checking his pulse.
"Thank goodness he is still alive," he said in relief. He then looked at Jace and said with a chuckle, "You actually managed to hit him, huh?"
Jace rolled his eyes and smiled. He then stood up and glanced at the main machine, "Let's end this, and wake them up."
Maya's POV
Maya stepped carefully as they left the cave — Rory walking stiffly beside her, Lena close behind. The night air carried a low hum, like the ground itself was holding its breath. They searched for Mark and Elena but found no trace of them.
Its been hours of walking and searching for the door.
Finally, Maya stepped onto a patch of grass that felt… hollow.
She froze.
"Wait."
Rory turned and asked, "What is it?"
Maya pressed her foot down again, "Listen..." A dull echo answered back. Her heart began to race as she brushed away leaves until metal gleamed beneath the dirt — a massive door, smooth and sealed, half-buried like it had been waiting forever.
Lena gasped her eyes wide, "This is it, the door."
"Ha, finally!" Rory said with shock and relief. He pulled the golden key from his pocket. His hands shook as he fit it into the slot.
It turned.
With a deep mechanical creak, the door began to open.
Suddenly, clapping echoed from the trees. Slow. Mocking.
"Well done," Sam said as he stepped into view, "Really. I was starting to think you wouldn't make it."
Maya's blood turned cold.
"Sam?" Lena whispered. "Where were you all this time?"
Rory quietly observed him cautiously, stepping in front of the girls, "Don't come any closer," Rory warned.
"Aren't y'all happy to see me?" he asked with a grin.
Suddenly, the intercom crackled.
"Maya. Lena. Rory," Jace's voice filled the clearing.
Lena froze. Her lips trembling as she looked around, tears filling her eyes, "J-Jace? Is that really you?"
"I'm here, Lena... It's me," Jace said softly, his voice cracked as he tried to compose himself, "Listen to me. This isn't real. The Dome — it's a simulation. If you die in there… You die for real. Please get away from S—"
Laughter erupted through the speakers. Jace and Nathan turned behind them.
Dr. Kessler had woken up. He laughed, "Ha ha aha, oh Jace... you really believed the little lie I told you?" he mocked, "You're idiots. All of you."
Jace looked at him, confused, "What are you talking about?"
"This isn't a simulation. This is reality. Those are their real bodies you are seeing on the screen," he responded.
Jace then spoke, "Wait...so who are the people in the capsules?"
"Their Clones," Nathan said with his face down.
Dr. Kessler grins, "Correct answer, Nathan. I never thought I trusted a companion of mine would betray me like this."
Jace looked at Nathan in shock, "You knew those were clones this whole time!?"
Dr. Nathan held out his hand to stop him, but Jace already ran through the door, "Jace, wait— "
Sam then smiled as he heard the argument over the intercom. He then turned his attention to the group, aiming to finish his job.
Rory cried out in pain as Sam struck him with the knife— pain flashing across his right arm as he stumbled back, clutching his arm.
"Rory!" Maya screamed.
She didn't think. She tackled Sam, knocking him to the ground. Sam forced the knife towards her eyes, the blade shimmering as it inches closer. Lena kicked him from behind, and the knife escaped his hand.
Maya ran to grab it before he did. He pins her again, trying to get back the knife, and out of frustration and betrayal, she stabbed his neck, blood splattering across the grass as he collapsed beside her.
Her breaths were shaky. Maya looks down at her hands, trembling, and cannot believe what she just did.
She looks at Rory, her eyes unfocused, "H-He isn't dead...right? I'm...not a m-murderer...right?"
Lena checked Sam's pulse and shook her head at Rory, out of Maya's view. Rory strained to get up and slowly took the knife from her trembling hand, and wiped the blood from her face with his hand quietly.
Rory spoke first, "Everything is going to be ok. Let's get out of here."
Lena tugged his sleeve, "Are we free?"
He looks towards the door, "Not sure yet."
The three of them walked down the long stairway leading underground, not knowing where it would take them.
Jace's POV
The alarm blared through the corridors, shrill and relentless, echoing off the metal walls. Red warning lights flashed overhead.
Jace sprinted ahead, heart hammering, adrenaline surging through him like wildfire. Dr. Nathan was right behind, breathing heavily trying to catch up to him.
"Jace, please listen!" Nathan shouted over the wailing siren.
"I don't need your help, I thought I could trust you!" Jace shouted.
Ahead, the corridor narrowed. Guards in tactical gear rounded the corner, weapons raised. Jace froze for a split second, then hid behind a wall.
Several guards swept past where he had been standing. The sound of metal boots and footsteps echoed.
"Go! Now!" Nathan commanded, pointing to a heavy steel door along the wall. Jace yanked it open.
Inside was a storage room — racks of weapons, stun batons, and other equipment. Jace's eyes widened.
"Take what you can," Nathan said, grabbing a pepper spray and tucking it into his belt. "Non-lethal only. This isn't about killing — it's about getting to them. We aren't killers like Kessler and his crazy son."
Jace rolled his eyes, "I'm not taking commands from a traitor like you."
Nathan sighed, "Jace, listen. I didn't mean to keep it a secret. I just thought it would be better if you didn't kn—"
Jace cut him off, "How the hell would you know what's better for me or not!? My girlfriend is stuck in that damn dome, and it's all my fault. Do you even understand what I am going through? And this whole time I believed every little lie our boss told us like some idiot."
Nathan remained quiet for a while, then handed him a baton and some smoke grenades, "I know I shouldn't have lied to you, but I'm here to help. I can't imagine how guilty you must feel, but just know that I'm willing to get you all out of here even if it's the last thing I do."
Jace looked at him and saw how sincere he was, "Fine."
They waited for the right moment. When the first guard rounded the corner, Jace struck the guard's head, knocking him out cold.
More came and Nathan threw a smoke grenade, filling the corridor with thick gray fog.
"Move!" He shouted. They pushed past the fog and ran deeper down the hall, the guards coughing and shouting behind them.
Finally, the hallway opened up into the stairwell. The heavy steps led down toward the northern exit — the door Maya, Rory, and Lena had found. Jace could hear their muffled voices ahead.
Lena spotted them first. Her eyes widened.
"JACE!" she screamed, relief and disbelief mixing into a single breath.
Rory tightened his grip on Maya, "It's okay! We're getting out!"
Jace ran and hugged Lena so tightly, afraid to lose her again. Lena kissed him, both their tears falling freely.
"Jace...I thought I would never see you again?" Lena said, shakingly.
"I missed you so much. When we reach home, I'll explain. Let's all get out of here first," He replied warmly with determination.