“I think it's safe to leave the vault now.” Ray said as he looked up from the bio-tracker in his hands. It had been nearly twenty minutes since Ray told them that the last dot on the bio-tracker display screen moved out of range. Eros almost fell asleep from boredom.

“Warren, go open the door. Lisa and Vanessa will cover you from behind.” Tyrone inclined his head towards the vault door.

Warren moved up to the door, his pistol in his left hand. He grabbed the handle of the door with his right hand, placing the side of his body up against the door. Turning the handle, he then pushed with all his strength. The door screeched open, Warren, Lisa, and Vanessa immediately rushed out of the vault.

“All clear!” Lisa's voice traveled back into the vault.

“Move out,” Tyrone exited the vault first. He was followed by everyone else, the three child prisoners positioned in the center of the group, and Sydney brought up the rear.

Eros stayed near the front by Tyrone’s side. Using his tablet to map the route they were taking. Ray would stop the convoy whenever his bio-tracker picked up lifeforms, causing Eros to have to route and find a new path.

They eventually progressed to a recreational facility for the inmates. They neared the gym of the building. Ray had warned them about the ferals inside the gym. They moved as slowly and silently as possible. Crouched down so that the creatures inside could not see them by looking out the windows.

“What are you doing, get down,” Hiro said.

Eros turned around. Sydney had stood up a bit, the top of her head and eyes barely peeking over the window overlooking the gym.

“I think I see a child in there. She’s hiding a cabinet,” Sydney whispered.

“We have enough children as is,” Tyrone pointed towards the three children Sydney and crew were escorting. “We need to get to the maglev tunnel before the ferals invade the Security Sector.”

“We can’t just leave her here. Once we seal the tunnel, she’ll be locked in here with the ferals,” Elena frowned.

“A sacrifices for the greater good. Now come on let's go,” Tyrone started moving again. The rest of squad Silverback hesitated, but then began to follow him.

Eros stayed behind with Sydney and Crew. Turning to his side, he noticed Ana still next to him. “Go one with them. I’ll join up with you all later,” He pushed her forward. She looked back as she joined up with the others of Silverback.

“What if it was your daughter? Would you leave her here?” Sydney barely contained her voice between gritted teeth.

Tyrone stopped, causing those following him to stop as we’ll. He turned around, first looking at Sydney, “My daughter would never be in a situation like this. She was raised to know right from wrong, to follow laws and uphold justice.” His eyes drifted towards Eros, ”Eros if you stay with them that will count as insubordination. You all ready have a strike, you don’t want another one.”

“I know sir. I’m fine with another strike if it means helping a child in need.” Eros answered with a smile on his face.

“Okay,” Tyrone turned around and started moving forward again. The rest of Silverback followed his lead.

Eros turned to Sydney, “I have a plan.”

“Let's hear it then,” she responded.

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“I’ll sneak through the back entrance of the gym and get the girl. While you all lead the ferals away from here.”

“Lead them where? And how do we get them to stop following us?” Elena crossed her arms as she looked at Eros.

Eros pulled out his map, navigating to a wide area with a single hall leading to it. “Elena, Gerald, Mohawk will take the kids and set a trap here. Since Sydney is the fastest she can lead the ferals to the trap without getting caught by them.”

“Seems like a fine plan to me,” Gerald voiced.

“I was kind of hoping to lead the ferals on a mad goose chase,” disappointment oozed from Mohawk’s voice.

“You’ll get your time in the spotlight next time,” Sydney placed her hand on Mohawk's shoulder.

“Okay, I’ll go get in position,” Eros maneuvered away from the other. Finding the emergency exit to the gym.

He waited there for a good thirty minutes, wondering if they had abandoned him. Then he heard the ferals inside the gym scream and then their feet stomping against the ground as they charged out the gym.

Eros waited a moment until he was sure that all the ferals were gone. He pulled out his pistol and shot the lock on the door. Pushing open the door, he stepped inside and looked around. The gym was empty, save for the various exercises equipment inside.

He made his way over to the cabinet the kid was hiding in. Putting his hand on the door, he tried to gently pull the door open to no success. He pulled harder, causing the door to fling over and the little girl to tumble out onto the floor. She turned around, quickly scurrying away from Eros.

“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to do that. I thought the door was stuck. I didn’t know you were holding onto it.” The girl stopped at the sound of Eros’ voice.

“Here, take my hand,” Eros extended his hand towards the little girl.

The little girl took his hand. Eros pulled her up to her feet. She looked no older than nine years old. She had short black curly hair and freckles covering her cheeks and nose. She keeped her head down, looking at the floor, holding on to his hand tightly.

“My name is Eros, what’s your’s,” Eros asked.

“Ari,” she said in a barely audible whisper.

“Well, those ferals could come back here at any time. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be here if they do. Why don’t you let me carry you on my back so that we can get out of here faster, Okay?”

“Okay,” Ari let go of Eros’ hand.

Eros took his rifle off his back. Then turned around and crouched down to Ari’s height, “Climb on my back.”

Ari climbed onto his back. Hooking her arms around his neck and her legs around his stomach. Eros then stood up and walked towards the emergency exit.

From behind him, he heard a scream. He ran towards the exit, not bothering to look at what was chasing him, he already knew it was a feral.

“Hold on tight,” Eros positioned his holder in front of him. He slammed into the emergency exit, sending the door flying into the wall. He turned to the right, running down a route that will lead him to Sydney and the other. Be him he heard the door fly off its hinges hitting the wall opposite to it the feral screaming as it gave chase to him.

He pumped his legs as hard as he could. He started to feel lighter, picking up speed as he went. He glanced back, finding the gap between him and the feral widening.

He turned a corner, hoping to lose the feral, and collided into something. He fell to the ground, looking up he found another feral across from him. It growled at him revealing its sharp teeth as saliva dripped from its mouth.

The feral pounced at Eros. Its arms extended ready to grab him.

Eros aimed his rifle at the creature. He pulled the trigger, empting the magazine into the creature.

The feral bite down on Eros’ gun, tearing the weapon in half. It spit out the severed piece of the gun and then went for Eros’ neck.

Without even thinking, his hand moved. Faster than they ever had before. He caught the jaws of the feral, slicing his fingers on the sharp teeth of the feral.

The feral struggled. Pushing its mouth towards Eros’ neck.

Eros’ arms strained against the strength of the feral. The breath of the creature reeked of blood and shit. From somewhere within, Eros found a well of strength. He screamed as he flung the creature towards the wall.

The feral hit the wall, bones breaking on impact.

Eros stood up onto his feet, Ari still attached to his back. He pulled out his knife and went over to the feral. It laid prone on the ground, whimpering, unable to get up. He stabbed the creature in the brain, killing it.

Not far away, he could hear the feral that was chasing him coming closer. He readied himself, spreading his legs shoulder width apart and holding his knife out in front of him.