Chapter Fifty-Six Noah

He'd been right about Danforth's destination. Despite their uncomfortable position behind the BellaLab reception desk, when the group had entered, Noah had been cautiously optimistic.

Once Faith spoke, hope surged through him. She was here. She was alive. She hadn't been dosed with metraxilone.

Now all they had to do was get her out. Comms were still down across the city and they hadn't had any success reaching the others. As they'd left the library, Blake had assured them she would keep working on the problem. Noah was confident that she would resolve it, given enough time.

But for now, they were on their own.

They had worried they might be outnumbered when two comcars had pulled up outside. But believing the building to be empty, Danforth had stationed the guards on the exterior of BellaLab Corp. It made sense to assume that any threat would come from the streets. But the chancellor hadn't banked on them working out her plans in advance, or Madeleine's prior knowledge of the building.

He had imagined they would need to break into the laboratory. Arriving at BellaLab Corp, he could see that wouldn't be possible. The enormous windows were made from microglass, an innovative material which Diane had informed him was incredibly thin, and pretty much indestructible. In addition, the laboratory had an advanced alarm system advertised on the side which claimed it was more formidable than a fire-breathing dragon.

Undaunted, the Resistance leader had made her way around the side of the building. Taking a small tool kit from her jacket, she had opened a complex-looking fuse box and set to work. She had seemed invigorated by the challenge. Noah could only assume it was because she had been holed up in the library, inactive, for so long. He wished he felt as confident.

Within five minutes, she had disconnected the alarm from a side door and deactivated the locking system, allowing them to enter the building without breaking anything, and, more importantly, without detection.

Once inside, they had concealed themselves behind the large reception desk. The building was enormous. With no specific information about Danforth's plans, their only option was to lie in wait, and learn what they could about the chancellor's intentions before taking action.

They hadn't had to hide for long.

As the group moved into the lobby, Noah had frozen, praying Danforth's group wouldn't approach their hiding place. The gun Madeleine had armed him with weighed heavy against his side. Unlike Ruth, who had armed herself to the teeth, every inch the fearsome Eremus raider, he still hadn't felt confident that he'd be able to use it. But when he'd spotted Faith being shoved around by Hammond, the surge of fury he'd felt had changed his mind.

Desperate to check that Faith was with Danforth's group, Noah had shifted his position as they had approached the lifts. Diane's face had darkened at his actions, but the risky move had paid off.

Faith knew they hadn't given up on her. It had given her hope. And the hope had made her brave. Getting Danforth to announce their destination and her plans had been both genius and dangerous. But as the lift ascended, they were a step closer to their goal.

"So Sanders is dead." Madeleine was nodding. "And Faith's right. Without her, Danforth will struggle. I'm certain she was central to the fertility plan."

"Those notes Faith mentioned," Ruth mused. "They're Danforth's only chance of saving the experiment?"

"Sounds like it."

"Then we have to stop her, right?" Diane started to stand, but Madeleine pulled her down.

"We do. But we have to be cautious." Madeleine peered around the desk. "Danforth's desperate. Which means she's dangerous."

"What's the plan then?" Noah asked. "Do we go straight to Sanders' office? Or head to this lab and wait?"

"The lab, I think." The Resistance leader turned back to the group. "As long as we can find the right one, we can be one step ahead."

"Which way then?" Diane glanced at the lifts. "I assume we're taking the stairs."

Madeleine nodded. "Listen," she glanced at Noah, "we have two objectives now. First, we get Faith out safely." He was grateful this was her first priority. "But we also need to get Sanders' notes."

Noah froze. "You want her fertility experiment research?"

She caught his misunderstanding. "We have to destroy it." She shuddered. "Once this is over, I don't want anyone trying to recreate those drugs."

"What about Danforth?" Diane was frowning. "How do we deal with her?"

"We take her to the government headquarters to answer for her actions. Alright?" They all nodded. "Let's go."

Madeleine glanced back at the two guards. When she was certain they were facing the street, she darted across the lobby. For an older woman, she was certainly spry. Noah and the others followed. When they reached a door on the back wall, Madeleine led them through it.

They found themselves standing in a darkened stairwell. Diane and Madeleine activated the flashlights on their wristclips and they began to climb. Silence swirled around them, interrupted only by the sounds of their footsteps and their laboured breathing. Noah felt the tension grow as they neared the eighth floor.

How long would it take Danforth to find the research notes? What if she couldn't? Might Madeleine's group be hiding in a lab, waiting for a group who would never arrive?

Fighting to keep his breathing even, he glanced up at the signage on the stairwell as he turned another corner. Sixth Floor. Two more to go.

Perhaps Danforth had located the notes immediately. In the lift, it would have taken them no time at all to reach their destination. If they lost the element of surprise, how would they save Faith?

Ruth dropped back to walk beside him.

"Okay?" She raised her eyebrows, sensing his panic.

"Not really."

"We're almost there." She nudged him with her shoulder, a familiar gesture. They trudged upwards in silence for a minute. When she spoke again, her tone was low and urgent. "What are you planning to do when this is all over?"

He stared at her. "What do you mean?"

"If everything goes to plan, we Eremus folks won't be pariahs anymore." Her smile did not reach her eyes. "City life seems to suit you. I just wondered…" Again, she hesitated. "Are you planning on staying here? With Faith, I mean?"

Noah kept moving, trying to formulate a response. "I don't know. Maybe?" He imagined walking the streets of Bellator without fear, Faith by his side. "I guess I'd like that."

He felt her tense beside him. Glancing over, he nudged her right back. "I think there's a part of me that will always want to be in Eremus, though. You won't get rid of me that easily."

"I hope not." Ahead of them, the group had stopped beneath a sign which read Eighth Floor. "Here we are."

Noah narrowed his eyes and glanced at his friend. "Were you distracting me? So I didn't panic?"

"Worked, didn't it?" She grinned, this time for real.

Shaking his head, Noah returned the smile. "Actually, it did."

"I know you too well, Noah Madden."

But the smile faded. There had been more to her questions than a simple distraction tactic.

He held her gaze. "How have I managed without you all this time?"

Her eyes brightened at his compliment. "I've really no ide–"

"Shh!" Diane glared at them.

They fell silent, exchanging quiet smiles as Madeleine eased the door open. She peered through.

"All clear. Let's go." She beckoned to them before disappearing into the empty hallway beyond.

The floor was made up of numerous labs, but each one was clearly labelled. There was a faint hum of machinery coming from somewhere, and Noah shuddered at the experiments which might be taking place on the other side of each door.

At the end of the hallway, Madeleine stopped at a door which was much like the others, aside from the sign which read Innovative Research Department: No Unauthorised Admittance. Madeleine nodded to Diane. "The moment of truth."

Diane was already rifling through her pack. She brought out a keycard much like the one Noah remembered from the hospital. Hesitating for a second, she raised her eyes to the ceiling, as though praying for a miracle.

"Here we go."

She held the card up to the lock. For a moment, there was nothing. But then, a tiny light flashed green and there was a hopeful clicking sound. Pumping a fist in the air, she pushed the door open.

The space beyond was large and filled with an array of complex-looking medical equipment. As they walked inside, Noah didn't even know where to look.

He turned to Madeleine. "What now?"

"We hide." She closed the door behind them and reactivated the lock. "And we wait."