Levi and Peter were asleep cuddled together when Ethan found them. They looked so peaceful that he almost felt bad for shaking them up.
"What the hell?" Levi yawned and blinked fast. Peter only mumbled something and cuddled tighter into Levi's lean body.
"You were right. We have to get out of here," Ethan said. "I think something is about to happen."
"What's going to happen?"
"I don't know. But you were right. We can't stay here."
Peter stirred and opened his eyes. "What's going on, Ethan? Why are your eyes so big?"
Ethan grabbed his hand and yanked it a bit too hard. "Do you still remember the elevator code?"
"I... I do," Peter said and grabbed the sheets near his crotch. It didn't look like they were wearing anything.
"Then we've got no time to lose."
"Wait a minute," Levi interrupted. "Why the rush?"
"I... I just got a bad feeling. The sooner we leave, the better. Everyone is asleep," Ethan said and walked around nervously, as if trying to pack his possessions, but he had none.
Peter and Levi exchanged confused looks. "If something bad is about to happen, we can't just leave everyone else," Levi decided.
"We have to," Ethan whispered. "There's no way we can all just sneak away. We need to get out of here and call for help."
They looked at Peter as if expecting him to take a side. "Ethan is right. There's nineteen of us left. We don't even know them. Most won't join us anyway. And we would make a lot of noise."
"I don't like it, but you're making sense," Levi admitted.
Ethan bit his lip. If the Voice was telling the truth, they were all in mortal danger. But if he told Levi, he would rather carry every single kid on his back. "Give me a moment. I need to do something first."
"Sure, take your time. We'll pack your stuff. Oh, wait. I keep forgetting."
Ethan tiptoed to a room he remembered was Danny's. He knocked three times before opening the door. He found Danny and Trev on opposite sides of the room. Danny seemed beat down and sad. Trev looked like he had just been crying. When he saw Ethan in the door, he snapped at him. "What do you want?!"
Ethan was this close from stepping back, but at the last moment he decided to stay. "I... I just wanted to tell you that we're running away. Now. So if you want to get out of here... you can go with us."
"Ethan... This is not the best moment," Danny started but Trev was already three inches from Ethan's head.
"Do you think you can fuck my boyfriend and then just come here with your nonsense just like that? Get the fuck out of here," he hissed, droplets of his spit spraying Ethan's face.
"I'm sorry, I..." Ethan started but couldn't finish. Trev pushed him away and he hit the opened door with his elbow.
"Yeah, right. Now get out of here or I'll hurt you for real."
Ethan only managed to catch a glimpse of Danny mouthing him "go." There was nothing else he could do. Fucking Danny. Why couldn't he wait with telling Trev until later? He was angry at him, but even more at himself. He was angry at his parents, at the government, Dabrowski, and even at Levi and Peter. Someone had to do something about it.
"You alright?" Levi asked him when he came back. He was already dressed and Peter was buttoning his shirt behind him.
Ethan sat on the floor and sighed. "I'm tired. Let's go as soon as we can."
"We took some bread and water from the cafeteria last night," Levi said, his voice low. In his hands, he held a makeshift sack, ingeniously crafted from torn clothes. "And I've fashioned this backpack." He showed them the DIY creation, complete with two sturdy straps stitched together for carrying.
"That's great. Peter, can you handle carrying it?" Ethan turned to the smaller boy.
"Sure."
Ethan gave the smaller boy a reassuring smile. If Levi and Peter manage to escape, they will need the supplies to survive. As for himself, his fate depended only on uncovering the truth behind the Voice.
The three boys left the room in silence. The corridor was semi-awake; some of the boys, with disheveled hair and bleary eyes, lounged in varying states of dress. There was a loud threesome going on in one of the rooms but Ethan didn't stop to watch. His mind was focused, his memories guiding him back to the elevator he first encountered upon his arrival at the facility, a scared, naive boy in his school uniform, clutching his backpack tightly.
"What's the plan once we're outside?" Peter asked.
""We'll slip through the gate," Levi said with a strategist's calm. "It will be guarded, sure, but as long as we keep under radar, they're not going to expect a breakout."
"But what if it's daylight?" Peter pressed, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Then we find a hideout and wait until it gets dark. I don't know. We don't know what's up there. We'll adapt, overcome, and survive. Like my granddaddy used to say..."
Ethan cut him off with a swift gesture, his eyes alert. "Quiet now."
The large elevator double door at the end of the corridor was a menacing promise of freedom. As they tiptoed across the corridor, their bare feet made no sound against the cold concrete, the silence amplifying their anxious heartbeats.
"They must be watching us, right?" Peter asked, looking around nervously.
"They can't be monitoring every camera. There must be hundreds of them."
"They're a secret government agency, dude. They can do whatever they want."
Ethan pressed a large green button next to the elevator. An internal lock made a click sound, and the door slid open with a hiss.
"This is too easy," Levi said and at that very moment, the distant sound of running footsteps reached their ears. "Told you."
"Shit!" Ethan cursed, stepping quickly into the elevator. "Peter, the code, now!"
"44564..." Peter began, his voice quivering. They were halfway through entering the code when three soldiers rounded the corner at the end of the corridor.
"Stop right there!" one of the soldiers barked, as they sprinted towards them, assault rifles in hand.
"Faster, Peter!" Ethan urged, panic edging into his voice. They won't make it.
Peter stuttered out the next part, "4294," his face pale with fear.
"Keep going! I'll stop them," Levi shouted. Then he roared like a berserking warrior and rushed at the incoming soldiers. For a second, they stopped, surprised by the teenage boy charging at them.
"Don't move, or we'll shoot!" they warned, yet hesitated to raise their weapons.
Levi didn't slow down, throwing himself at the nearest soldier, who stumbled backward.
Peter stuttered through the final part of the code, "4428!" and then added, "Zero for the floor number. But Levi..."
"He's buying us time. We can't waste it." They watched as the soldiers slowly immobilized Levi who was flailing his arms in every direction. One of the soldiers was bleeding from his nose.
Ethan hesitated only for a second. He pressed 15 and the confirmation button.
"What are you doing?!" Peter shrieked. "That's the wrong way!"
Ethan was silent until the doors closed and they started moving downwards.
"I'm sorry, Peter. I've got unfinished business here. I need to get to the lowest floor. Then you go up. Surrender if you're spotted. If I can find Levi, I will."
"But why? Why are you doing this?" Peter's voice was tinged with tears and confusion. In a burst of anger and confusion, he punched Ethan in the face. It was a weak punch, but it still hurt. Ethan touched his cheek with a sense of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Peter. There's no time to explain. I have to..." Ethan's voice trailed off as the elevator suddenly jolted to a stop. For a few seconds, an eerie silence enveloped them, their hearts pounding loud in their chests.
Then, slowly, the elevator started moving upwards.
"W-what's going on?" Peter asked.
"Someone's overriding the controls! We're going back up. Shit!"
They scanned the elevator for any means of escape but found nothing; it was a solid metal box. Ethan desperately pressed various buttons on the keypad, but it was disabled.
"We'll be okay. Just stand behind me," Ethan said and took Peter's hand. Maybe they won't kill them. Maybe they won't make them disappear.
"What the..." Peter started when the elevator passed the 12th floor and continued upwards. Then it stopped at floor 11. For a moment, nothing happened. And then, the doors started to open. Ethan motioned Peter to stand behind him, preparing to fight for his life.
But there was no one there. The corridor was dim and empty.
"What's going on?" Peter asked, peering from behind him.
"I don't know," Ethan said. "Let's check it out."
The corridor looked more or less the same as their floor. Why would someone want them to end up here? Where were the guards? He gritted his teeth in disappointment. He had acted without a real plan, hoping to improvise once they reached the bottom level. But even that seemed impossible. They only lost Levi and didn't get any closer to their goal. Peter was silent, but he felt his disappointment. He had only one job to bring them to the surface, and he had failed.
His train of thought was abruptly cut off by a soft noise from above. In the next moment, a rope ladder unfurled from the ceiling, landing right in front of Ethan.
"Shh," came a hushed voice from an open vent in the ceiling. "Don't just stand there. They'll be on your tail soon."
The boys looked at each other. Whoever that was, didn't seem hostile. Ethan looked behind at the elevator doors. It was still quiet, but for how long? The soldiers could arrive any second. Decision made, Ethan grabbed the ladder rung and tried it. It reminded him of a similar one he had to climb to get into a helicopter so long ago. Once again, he started climbing into the unknown.
Strong hands reached out and helped Ethan into the vent. It was dark inside, the only source of light being the emergency lamps in the corridor. Ethan could just make out the silhouette of the large man crouching in front of him, his eyes catching the faint light.
"Make room for your friend," the man whispered, his white teeth briefly visible in the gloom.
Ethan helped Peter as he climbed up. For a moment, they all just stared at one another, their eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. The distant hum and movement of the elevator below snapped them back to the urgency of the situation.
"We can't stay here," the man said in a hushed tone. He quickly sealed the vent behind them and then started moving on all fours. Ethan and Peter had no choice but to follow.
The vent system was a labyrinth in its own right, but the passages were surprisingly roomy. After navigating a few twists and turns, they encountered a metal ladder leading to another level. The man ahead moved with a familiarity that suggested he knew these paths well.
Eventually, they came to another vent cover. The man unlocked it and released a rope ladder attached to it, but instead of using it, he jumped down into the darkness below.
The boys chose the safe path and carefully descended down the shaky ladder. Their feet finally touched the cold, concrete floor of a dimly lit corridor, its walls lined with pipes and cables. The air was stale, filled with the musty scent of neglect. In the weak glow of emergency LEDs, they watched their guide curiously. He stood tall, around 6'4", dressed in loose pants and a baggy jacket, his long curly hair falling just below his neck. The man led them with a sense of familiarity, navigating the maze-like passages with ease, walking like something between a human and a wild animal, ready to react to a sudden danger in a split of a second.
After several twists and turns, they arrived at an unremarkable door. The man entered a code on the keypad, and with a faint hiss, the door slid open.
The room they entered looked like a weird but cozy living room. The walls were covered in a mix of wallpaper, magazine pages, and fabric, creating a colorful mess. There were handmade chairs and a sofa, all made from random stuff. In one corner was a sofa with cushions of different fabrics. Shelves made from metal crates held books and DVDs, and an old plasma TV was in the middle. The place was oddly put together but clean. A low table made from an old door sat in the middle, surrounded by chairs that didn't match. The table was full of things like a chess set made from bottle caps and a radio made from spare parts. There was also a lamp made from a can with holes in it, casting cool patterns when lit.
The man turned around to face them and see their reactions. He was younger than Ethan expected after seeing him before. His beard was neatly cut, and looking at his eyes, he was probably in his late twenties.
"What do you guys want to drink?" he asked, speaking like he wasn't used to talking much. "I've got water, tea, coffee, and whisky. You guys look like you could use a drink."
"I saw you before," Ethan said. "Who are you?"
"I'm just someone who's been stuck here for a while," the man said, half-smiling. "I'd leave if I could, but it's complicated. So, whisky?"
"Tea," the boys said at the same time.
"Don't be shy about it. It's on the military's tab anyway. It's not as easy to scavenge this place as it used to be, but there are still some untouched places," he said, filling an electric kettle with water from a plastic bottle. "You really scared me the other day, kid. Haven't been seen much in the last ten years. What are your names?"
"I'm Ethan."
"And I'm Peter."
"Good to meet you both. I'm Alex. Just Alex is fine. Have a seat, will you? I'll get this tea ready."
Sitting on the couch, Ethan and Peter felt a bit uneasy. It was way softer than anything they'd been used to lately. Alex came over with two cups of tea.
"Here you go. It's not poisoned, I promise. So. Why the hell were you guys trying to get to the bottom level?"
Ethan and Peter hesitated. Peter looked like he was asking himself the same question.
Ethan finally spoke up, "How did you even know where we were headed?"
"I have my ways. Check this out." He grabbed the remote, turned on the TV, and started flipping through different security camera feeds from around the facility. "I use this for more than just movies. Helps me keep an eye out for unusual stuff, like your elevator ride. That's for my own safety, so I can ditch my shelter if necessary. Only happened twice in all the years."
"So they know you're here?" Peter asked, looking at Alex with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Alex nodded in response. "Yeah, this place is huge, built over decades. I've learned to lock doors and disable cameras. But I think someone high up in security knows I'm here and just lets me stay. If they really wanted to find me, they would."
"So why don't you just escape?"
The man laughed. "Why? Well, I already did. I was a part of a similar program you boys are in - over a decade ago. I didn't like it, so I ran away. And I live my life here."
"But..." Ethan asked, trying to make sense of it." Why don't you run back home? Don't you miss your family?"
Alex frowned and smiled weakly. "Now that's a long story. My family is... problematic. I think I'm better off here."
"You tried to escape... but you couldn't," Peter said slowly, looking him in the eyes.
"That was a long time ago. I no longer bother. Life here is much more interesting. I was never really fond of people, even as a kid. You're my first visitors. If I didn't stop the elevator before you reached -15, you'd already be dead."
There was a minute of heavy silence before Ethan asked. "Why did you help us, then?"
"I was bored," Alex shrugged. "Also I didn't like the idea of you boys getting yourselves killed. You seemed nice, and determined."
"We have to find our friend and get out of here. Can you help us?" Peter pleaded.
The man took a slow sip of his tea before responding. "Find your friend? Maybe. Get out of here? It's impossible. You'd have to kill the soldiers guarding the only exit 24/7, take their security cards, then sneak out of a heavily patrolled zone and get through a 12-feet, high-voltage wired fence. And once you do all that, it's only a week or so by foot to the nearest gas station where you could call for help. That is, if they don't catch you. You know, with jeeps, helicopters and all fancy military tech. Oh, and you're almost certainly plugged, so they know your location better than the company that made your smartphones."
All the colors left the boys' faces as the man spoke. Peter was close to tears.
"The best you can do is to turn yourselves in. "They'll probably go easy on you. They might even let your friend go. Eventually."
"But there has to be a way out," Peter insisted, his hands folded as if in prayer.
"I just told you. If there's a secret exit, I don't know it. And trust me, I know this place better than anyone."
Ethan stood up quickly. "You said you can help us find our friend. How?"
"Here," Alex said and passed him the remote with a calm smile. "Feel free to check the cameras. Better not ask how many there are. But you could find him eventually. But even if you do, then what. You think you can take them down just because you watched Karate Kid twice? Just turn yourselves in and say you're really sorry. Make those big puppy eyes, and maybe, just maybe, you'll melt their cold-ass hearts."
He got up, offering a sympathetic look. "Finish your tea before it gets cold."
They sat on the couch for almost two hours, switching channels and watching mind-numbingly boring, mostly empty rooms.
"This is pointless," Ethan blurted and threw the remote across the room.
"Maybe... maybe Mr. Alex was right. Let's turn ourselves in."
"Well, I don't like this idea," Ethan said.
Peter paused for a moment, nervously tapping his knees. "Can you tell me now... Why did you try to take us to the lowest level?"
Ethan didn't answer. He looked blankly at the TV, doubting his sanity again.
"Ethan?" Peter nudged him.
"I just pressed the wrong button."
"But I saw you..."
"Just drop it already."
They sat in silence for a few minutes. They heard Alex moving in the other room. Maybe they could ask him to move in with him forever. With all their alternatives, this one didn't seem very bad.
"Do you also regret agreeing to all this?" Peter asked out of the blue.
Ethan probed the boy's eyes for a few seconds. "Agreeing? I had no idea what I was getting into until I got shoved into a helicopter and brought here."
"Are... are you for real? But your parents had to agree, right?
"If they did, they didn't say a word. They had been acting strangely for a while and then..." Ethan sighed remembering his old life. "It was just another sunny school day, hanging out with my friends and my boyfriend," he slipped before he could think."
"Your..."
"Yeah... His name is Spencer. I really miss him. I miss everything."
"Me too... but haven't your parents told you anything? How?"
"I keep asking this myself every day," Ethan sighed. "I thought they loved me... I still think so. Maybe... maybe they got an offer that was too good to turn down. But you said they gave you a choice?"
"Yes," Patrick said softly. "They told me there was this government scientific program with other boys from all over the country. There weren't many details but I was pretty excited. You know, a secret scientific program for gifted kids. I couldn't wait! I don't really have many friends back home, so it was like a dream come true."
"And you agreed."
"Yes. But I didn't know I was going to be a test subject myself. Not until my parents had signed the papers. Then it was too late to back off."
"Why? Couldn't you just say you changed your mind?"
"No. The agreement has a clause - in fine print - that once signed, it couldn't be revoked. Due to reasons of national security and such..."
"Shit..." Ethan whispered.
"What?"
"It's my mom. She never reads agreements. She'll sign anything that they'll put in front of her. It's always driven my dad crazy. But she... she always said life is too short for reading contracts."
"Holy..."
"I don't want to think about it," Ethan stood up. "Listen. You are right. You should turn yourself in. I'm going to try and find Levi. And find what else I can learn."
Peter grabbed his hand. "Ethan!"
"Trust me. I have to do it. If they catch me, I'll come up with some story."
"If you're going to find Levi, then I'll go with you," Peter stood up too, determination and fear in his eyes.
"You really like him, don't you?" Ethan asked, feeling a sting of jealousy.
"I... I think I love him," Peter said blushing. "I could talk to him for hours."
"Just talk?" Ethan asked bitterly, then quickly added. "I'm sorry, it's not my business. We'll find him. We'll find Levi and then get out of here."
"We will," Peter said with his voice shaking.
"What are you guys talking about?" asked Alex who just walked into the room.
"Uh..."
He waved at them. "Come on, I'll show you something."
He led Ethan and Peter through a narrow passageway behind a curtain made of stitched-together clothing. After a short walk, they arrived at another door, this one heavier and more solid than the one to the living room. The man keyed in another code, and the door swung open. Inside was a gym, filled with homemade exercise equipment. In one corner stood a weight bench, crafted from old pipes and padded with foam from discarded mattresses. Dumbbells of various sizes were arranged on a rack, each made from a combination of metal rods and concrete.
"It's funny how it's impossible to find proper workout equipment in this place. But with a bit of creativity, it's not an issue."
Alex started unbuttoning his jacket and the boys gasped when he took it off. The man was ripped! He was only wearing a white tank top, so his arms were in view, each muscle shining and defined. He lay down on a makeshift weight bench and started pumping and impressively looking weigh. The boys watched with their jaws dropped. Alex's loose clothes had given them a completely wrong impression.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Alex said, smirking at their stunned looks. "We were trained to be an elite squad, picked for our physical predisposition when we were seven. But I never really enjoyed working out until I got here. By the way, I'm looking for sparring partners. Not easy to practice martial arts alone. You guys interested? Don't look at me like that, I'm just kidding. I could kill you with my pinky if I wanted. Not gonna hurt you."
"Uh... Mr. Alex," Peter began, still staring at Alex's muscles.
"Just Alex. I haven't talked to anyone since I was your age."
Ethan cut in, "We need to get to the bottom level, Alex. Can you show us how? Maybe through the vents?"
"Not a chance. Better to turn yourselves in than risk that."
"Please?" Peter insisted. "We need to find Levi. We can't just leave him."
"I understand you want to help your friend," Alex said. "But it's dangerous. The lower levels are heavily guarded. It's not just about you guys. It's risky for me too."
"But we have to try," Ethan persisted.
Alex sat up, serious. "You don't understand. The security down there is intense. There are sensors, guards, and cameras that aren't on the main network. If your friend is there, the best hope is that they let him go eventually."
"We don't care!" Ethan blurted out. "If you won't help us, we'll just give ourselves up and let them know where to find you."
"In this case," Alex said softly, revealing his teeth. "I'm going to have to kill you."
"No!" Peter yelled and knelt in front of the man. "Please. You must understand. You don't have to go with us. Just show us the way. We'll do anything!," he pleaded and placed his small hand on the man's sweatpants, dangerously close to his crotch.
"Your puppy eyes don't work on me, so quit it, boy."
"Pleeeease?" Peter persisted, and Ethan watched in terror as his friend moved his hand up, touching a prominent shape under the fabric.
"You're really so desperate to get yourself killed that you're willing to become my sex toy? That's rich," Alex chuckled but didn't make a move to stop the boy.
"We won't get killed, and yes, we're desperate!" Peter insisted. Ethan noticed that his friend was a bit too eager to do anything, but it looked like it was working. He stepped forward and placed his hand next to Peter's.
"Please," Ethan said, feeling the bulge grow under his fingers.
"It's funny. That's pretty much the only thing I couldn't get all these years," Alex said, watching the boys massage him through his pants. "You guys are probably more experienced than me."
"So, will you help us?" Ethan asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice. "It's a fair trade, right?"
"It's not," Alex said, his voice a little changed. "But what the hell. But I want it to be good. I won't risk my life for a quickie." He ogled the boys who looked back at him expectantly. "You're really sure about that?" he asked and the boys nodded vigorously, feeling up his intimidating hardness. "Take off your clothes, then."
Ethan and Peter looked at each other, nodded, and stood up. Peter unbuttoned his shirt, and Ethan just pulled his over his head. Then they took off their pants and stood completely naked before him.
"Whoa, ready for action," Alex grinned, watching their boners bounce. Sitting on the weigh bench, he took off his tank top, shocking the boys with his defined chest. Then, he removed his sweatpants and underwear in a single move, making their jaws drop again. Even his penis was a sculpture. It was about 7 inches long, pretty thick, straight and cut. He stroked it slowly, watching the boys' reaction with a smile. "Do sixty-nine. I need to get in the mood," he said.
Ethan looked at Peter who smiled weakly. "Where do you want me?" Ethan asked.
"On top," the smaller boy said without thinking. Without wasting time, they got into a position, Ethan hovering over Peter, and took their cocks in their mouths.
"I can tell you're enjoying it," Alex said, watching them go. "Just don't cum yet."
Maybe it was Peter's experience with Levi, or natural talent, but Ethan found it hard to stick to the man's direction. Peter's tongue was dancing around his cock as he plowed the blond boy's mouth, giving him incredible sensations. He did his best to return the favor, Peter's whole dick fitting inside his mouth. They sucked each other for a few minutes, almost forgetting they were being watched. Alex stroked himself and enjoyed the view of the two cute boys pleasuring each other.
"Okay, that's enough," Alex said and stood up, his cock casting a shadow over them. "Time to suck something bigger."
The boys repositioned and went to their knees. Ethan couldn't pretend anymore he didn't enjoy it, and Peter seemed even more eager. The smaller boy took the first turn, cupping Alex's balls in his small hand and working his mouth around the man's cock head.
"Shit, this is better than I thought," Alex hissed, slowly moving his hips back and forth.
After a few minutes, Ethan approached and pulled the man's dick out of his friend's mouth and put it in his. It had a different taste, a bit of the workout sweat combined with Peter's saliva and the natural dick taste. It wasn't bad, but it was big, and his mouth quickly became sore.
"Ahhh, this is fucking amazing, boys," Alex moaned. He fucked Ethan's mouth for a minute, then switched to Peter. Then Ethan again. He grabbed their hair for better control and kept dipping his large cock in their open, tired mouths.
"Okay, I'm close. Ethan, Peter, kiss each other with my dick in between."
The boys readjusted obediently and started kissing, Alex's shaft plowing between their wet mouths.
"Oh shit, that's going to be a blast," the man moaned and kept thrusting the two mouths giving him the most incredible feeling of his life. He pressed Ethan's and Peter's heads together and ignored their mumbled protests. Only a minute later, his cock swelled and erupted with eight ropes of cum that landed on the floor, some stray jets covering the boys' faces. Alex grunted like an animal, his strong legs shaking. "Holy fuck, that was intense," he panted and collapsed on the floor next to the boys who were just grinning at each other and wiping their faces.
"Okay, I'll keep my promise," Alex said. "But first we need some rest."
Thanks for reading! Chapter 13 is coming soon. Let me know what you think so far - archhunter420@gmail.com
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