Aberrant

Forty-One: Brooke/Dex

Dex: 

I'm still yelling Lyra's name when Callum hauls me to my feet and pushes me into a run after Plato. 

The guards are closer than ever now and, worst of all, they've had time to ready their guns at us. 

"Go, go, go!" Callum shouts in my ear as he propels me away from the danger. My body responds before my brain can fully process what is happening and I've already started running long before Callum's words actually sink in. 

The guards begin to open fire, adding another layer of sound to the rising cacophony that's already surrounding us. We dart round a corner and into another corridor. 

Plato turns his head to face us, smiling, his dark hair stuck to his forehead with sweat. 

"We're almost there!" He shouts, "Just one more corridor to go and then we're out!" I nod. We're so close to being safe. 

Suddenly, there's a burning sensation in my leg and I stumble, collapsing on the ground. The pain is hot, searing and it feels like it's immobilising my entire body. 

"Dex!" Callum shouts, and then he gasps, "Plato! She's been shot!"

Shot? Then I see the guards racing towards and realise one of them must have fired. 

Callum puts one of my arms round his neck, "Come on, Dex!" He urges, "Just a little further." 

I nod. But try as I might, I can only do a quick hobble. 

"Make sure you get on the train," Plato says grimly, "You haven't got much time."

"What about you?" Callum asks. In answer, Plato unslings the gun and points it at the guards. 

"I'll buy you as much time as I can," he says. 

I frown. This doesn't make any sense. My leg is hurting too much for me to work out what's happening. 

"Plato?" I begin, "What-"

"Just go," he says. Then he crouches in front of us and opens fire on the guards. 

Callum grabs me with surprising strength and begins to haul me down the corridor. With each step I take, it feels like electricity is surging from my leg into the rest of my body. Like I've been paralysed. I grit my teeth and drag myself forward with Callum's help. We have to make it. We must. 

Just as we're about to round the corner, I turn round to look at Plato. He's still crouched there, miraculously unharmed, unmoving as he continues to fire at the guards. Then the noise from his gun stops and the guards continue to surge forward. 

"Why isn't he firing?" I hiss to Callum. 

Callum, who's been looking ahead, now turns to glance at Plato. "He's out of bullets," he mutters, and shoves me forward. 

"Plato!" I shout, "Come on!" 

Plato turns to face us, his brown eyes frantic with fear. It's only for a second. But it's a second too long. A bullet strikes him in the back and he slumps forward onto his knees. 

His eyes meet mine, and he opens his mouth to speak. His quiet voice is barely audible over the sound of fire, "Dex. I-" 

He never gets to finish his sentence. Another bullet strikes him in the back of the head and he falls slowly forward onto the floor. 

Dead. 

All I hear is white noise. 

Brooke: