"Are you all okay?" Erik asked. The others were panting due to the exertion. The guards were not that much stronger compared to the average adult in New Alexandria, and they had been lucky to have killed one of them as soon as the fight started, but the fight was hard, and they won mainly thanks to their numerical advantage.
"I'm okay," Amber said.
"Yeah, me too," Floyd replied.
The others nodded as they were uninjured. However, it was clear from their faces that they were not mentally okay.
Gwen and Aaron stood panting and sweating, their faces etched with exhaustion after finishing the brutal fight against the guards.
The adrenaline rush had started to wear off, and they were now feeling the full impact of their actions. The others were in a similar situation.
Gwen was leaning against the wall, her eyes wide and darting around the room as if expecting another attack. Her breathing was ragged, and her shoulders were heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
She looked pale; her face was drained of all color, and her normally cunning eyes were now dark and haunted. It was weird for Erik to see her in that state, as she was usually calm and composed.
On the other hand, Aaron was surprisingly calm; maybe that had to do with his father's recent death and the kidnapping attempt on his mother; however, he was still showing some anxiety signs since he was rubbing his hands together nervously. His breathing was labored, and his face was slick with sweat due to the exertion.
Erik himself was standing in front of the guard he had been fighting until now, his sword still in hand. He felt a sense of relief that the fight was over, but his heart was still pounding in his chest.
That had been a hard fight, and he would have lost if it wasn't for his friends. His eyes were darting around the space, assessing potential threats, and he was hyper-aware of every sound and movement.
"We still have some work to do. We must go inside and free the hostages, then quickly head to the others to help them."
"Yeah," Aaron said.
However, they suddenly heard a female voice: "We just... killed someone..." It was Martha. She was a soft person, so she didn't take it very well despite knowing what they were probably going to do.
"Calm down, Martha," Benedict said. "It was basically self-defense; they would have killed us if we didn't fight back!" the young man added. Too bad it was they who attacked first.
Erik walked in front of his friend, and with cold eyes, he looked at her.
"Martha, we had to do it. Remember, our friends are inside this building, probably fighting for their lives. Now we are just wasting time thinking about some criminals' deaths. Get a hold of yourself."
"Erik!" Amber almost shouted. "There is no need to say such things!"
"Yeah, Erik, relax a little!" Floyd chimed in. Benedict then hugged Martha.
"Don't worry, everything will be all right," he whispered to her ears.
"Maybe," Erik replied, "but we need to get inside now and rescue the hostages. There is no time to lose."
The others looked at Erik with confused looks. How come he was that calm?
< System, send me the security camera's footage. I want to know where the guards are.>
[UNDERSTOOD. SENDING LIVE STREAM TO THE USER'S BRAIN]
With that, Erik had a clear view of what was happening inside but focused on his part of the job.
Entering the door in front of them forced them to walk to some run-down parts of the buildings, but after a turn left and one right, they could enter the corridor he was in the last time he came to the Red Lotus Lounge.
It also appeared that all the guards beside the three inside the hostage room were in the main room, the one with the dancefloor, so they could go there unobstructed.
"All right, the way is clear; we should be able to head to the hostage room undisturbed. Let's go." Despite their reluctance, Erik and the others slipped inside the Red Lotus Lounge, moving quickly and quietly through the darkened corridors.
They could hear the distant sound of voices talking from the main room, where Matthew was probably having a meltdown and talking to Anderson, but the hallways behind the dance room were deserted.
As Erik and his companions made their way through the darkened corridors of the Red Lotus Lounge, the air was thick with the scent of exotic spices and the low murmur of voices.
Then they finally arrived at the corridor leading them to the hostage room; the decor became more opulent and lavish once they went there.
The walls were draped in rich, velvety curtains of deep scarlet red, giving the space a rather sophisticated feel.
The flooring beneath their feet was made of red carpet with golden accents woven throughout.
The corridor was currently dimly lit, with subtle lighting emanating from ornate lamps and chandeliers hanging overhead. The soft, golden light cast an ethereal glow over everything in its path, including the row of intricately carved wooden doors that lined the walls.
Despite the lavish surroundings, Erik and his friends were keenly aware of the danger that lurked around every corner. Their senses were heightened, their muscles tense and ready for action, as they moved forward into the unknown, unsure of what lay ahead.
"This place is ridiculous," Aaron muttered, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Despite the situation, Floyd was still optimistic and eagerly replied, "I kind of like it. It's like we're walking through a palace."
Erik didn't respond. He was too focused on the task at hand while constantly keeping an eye on the surrounding cameras through the biological supercomputer. They had to get to the room where the hostages were being held and prepare themselves for another fight.
They continued down the corridor, passing by rooms filled with silence, as the place was devoid of any of the drunken patrons Erik had seen the last time he had been here. But they still had to move carefully, sticking to the shadows and avoiding any confrontation until they saved the hostages. Eventually, they came to a split in the hallway.
"This way," Erik whispered, gesturing to the left.
They crept down the hall, their footsteps silent on the plush carpet. As they turned a corner, Erik's heart skipped a beat. They had arrived at a door made of dark, polished, reinforced wood, and there were no visible hinges or locks; that was the place where the hostages were being held.
"That is the place," Erik said softly, pointing at the door. The others immediately stood to attention and sheathed their weapons.
"How many people are inside?" Aaron asked, his voice filled with nervousness.
"Just three aside from the hostages; they wouldn't be weaker than the ones outside, so pay attention," he said to reassure his friends. "Do you feel ready?"
They nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline. "The door can only be opened digitally, so I will have to ask my friend to step in." Then Erik faked sending a message telling the fake guy to open the door while, in fact, he was asking the System to do the deed while giving him the room's footage.
< System, are you still jamming their communication devices?>
[I WILL AS SOON AS YOU STEP IN. IF I DID SO BEFOREHAND, THE GUARDS WOULD BE ON HIGH ALERT.]
<Good job; now open the door and keep sending the live footage. I need to kill one of the guards before he can react. That way, we would gain some advantage.>
Erik then turned to look at his friends. "All right, guys, this is what we must do; there are three guards. I will rush into the front and deal with the one opening the door; you will need to get past me and rapidly kill the other two guys. Restrain them, erode them, slash them, whatever you want. Just be quick and silent. If they shout or scream, we are done; if they call for help, we are done; if they fight back, we MAY be done. Do not let our previous win make you think we are strong; we were just lucky those guys were third-rate fighters."
"All right," Aaron said.
"Yes," Gwen replied.
With that settled, the only thing that they needed to do was wait for the door to open, their weapon in hand. The seconds felt like an eternity as they waited, their hearts pounding in their chests.
Amber shifted her weight from foot to foot, her eyes darting between the door and her friends. She was a bundle of nerves, her body tense with anticipation. Her grip tightened around her daggers, and she swallowed hard, trying to calm the knot in her stomach.
Aaron stood rigid, his fists clenched, and his eyes locked onto the door. His mind raced with thoughts of what might be waiting for them on the other side. His palms were slick with sweat, and he took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Erik was calm and collected as he stood with his sword at the ready, his eyes fixed on the door. Despite his outward composure, his heart was racing just as fast as his companions. He knew they were about to face dangerous opponents, and the stakes were high.
As the door finally creaked open, the trio held their breath, ready to spring into action. Their anxiety reached a fever pitch as they caught sight of their enemy and leaped forward, ready to engage in a fierce battle.
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