Menta-Life (Book 1)

Chapter 34

He hunches over. I grab the back of his shirt collar, then run around to the front of him and jump to do a spinning kick with my left leg. I kick the first guy in the face, completing the circle. I pull the second guy into the elevator with me while holding his twisted shirt collar, choking him. I point my pulser over his shoulder at everyone that is currently standing up, looking at me.

Geilium shouts, "Vanessa, you're making a mistake!"

The elevator door begins to close, so I kick the guy out of the elevator. I swiftly move to the side to avoid any rounds, but no one shoots. I press the button marked "57" as the door closes, then the elevator starts going down. I let out a frustrating punch at the elevator door.

I tap my Econ, "Call Trex."

Serenia says, "Connecting. By the way, there is a message from Dayio. Connect to Trex anyway?"

I refuse, "Not yet. What is the message?"

Serenia relays the message, "Van, I'm outside waiting. Are you there?" Then Serenia asks, "Would you like to respond to the message?"

"Not now. Connect me to Trex."

"Connecting..."

Trex answers, "Hey, Van."

I greet casually. "Hi there. Does your fan know anything more about this building and its floors?"

"He has the whole layout. Why?"

"I was just double-crossed and now I need to get out of here."

The elevator door opens to level fifty-seven and I see nothing but an empty white floor. The floor is almost blindingly white and has a never-ending feel to it, like I can walk on it forever. I step halfway out of the elevator to take a look around. It just seems to be a whole lot of nothing, everywhere. Whatever Menta-Life does in that room is their own business and is irrelevant to my escape.

Trex sounds staticky as his voice lowers, "That's not good, is it? Well, where are you now?"

I step back into the elevator, then press floor "56" and answer, "I'm heading down to floor fifty-six."

The elevator door closes and Trex says, "Okay, so floor fifty-six is the... ah, it's where the people use the Life systems."

My signal is clear again. Was it that room that jammed my signal? The elevator opens and I step out, only to be blinded again by another white floor. What is this? These floors are all empty.

I announce my surroundings, "Trex, there's nothing here. Like, at all." He doesn't respond, so I call out to him, "Trex?"

There's still no reply. Maybe the room is jamming my signal again. I turn around to go back into the elevator, but it's gone. There's nothing but the blank void of nothing around me. I place my hand out in front of me to feel for the elevator door and touch emptiness. What is this? What have I crossed over into?

I start walking around. There isn't any darkness around, not even a slip of blackness to indicate any type of exit. This floor must have an end. I start jogging in one direction, then running as fast as I can until I get tired and stop. I bend over and begin panting to catch my breath. This is impossible because the building is nowhere near this big. I pretty much just ran far enough in a straight line to circle this building three times.

I hear an old English male's accent say, "I thought I'd never get you out here."

The voice sounds a little echoey, like he's all over the place. I aim my hand around and realize my pistol is gone. I reach for the rifle on my back which is gone, too. Looking around the room, I see nothing except the bright whiteness.