I'm out
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Chapter 5: Old Faces

Minutes felt like hours. Hours felt like decades. There was no telling how long they have been in the room. They were tired, hurt, dirty, and hungry but the thing that was really getting to them was how quiet it was. There was no noise outside or on the inside. No one dared to speak, fearing that it could alert whoever on the outside. The people who turned the door into Swiss cheese and put everyone on high vigilance.

Nick held his wound. He didn't feel any worst but he certainly didn't feel any better. Nick struggled to get to his feet, the room was still very dark. They had little sunlight it was just enough to make out the silhouettes of each other. Nick used the wall to hold his balance.

"What are you doing, Nick?" Finn whispered. Finn felt exhausted she couldn't remember how long it had been since she had last slept or how long they had been in this room.

"I know this may be a bad time to tell you but..." Nick said nearly losing his balance. "But I'm claustrophobic." Nick said thinking that the walls were moving. He usually did well with tight spaces but was having trouble due to the lack of light and because they had been in this room so long. He felt like he was aging he felt like he was old and worn because of the room. He was also starting to grow delirious because of the blood loss as well. There was a path of blood drops and smudges showing where Nick was and what he has touched.

"Nick, just relax." Finn said standing up trying to keep Nick behind the barricade. Nick's skin was sticky with dried blood and sweat. Nick had been battling with his fear of this room to keep everyone else at ease but the room wasn't even really a room but more like a utility closet.

"I'm trying!" he yelled scaring everyone. The pain was gone and Nick's skin felt tingly and tight ready to tear at any moment especially in his stomach by the wound.

"Nick, you have to stay quiet." Finn whispered practically begging.

"Sorry..." Nick said leaning against the wall. He stayed like that for what felt like an hour. "I should've quit a long time ago." Nick whispered more so to himself than anyone else. He had a profound feeling of defeat and felt ashamed among other things. Seeing McKeen in power after everything was like a slap to the face or spitting on Warrick's grave.

Nick felt like he was going to die but he wouldn't let go of this world unless he came to peace with the decisions he made in his life especially this one. This one choice weakened his mind because it was all he could think about.

"Nothing would have changed. You would have been drawn back, because this is what you love." Finn said showing her hands knowing how Nick felt. It clicked with Nick because Finn came back to work under the same man who fired her before but she came back. And Catherine didn't quit she moved she is still working in law enforcement just in a different aspect. Nick knew if he did anything else he'd go stir crazy. However he did not know what to do. He had trouble seeing himself still do this but he couldn't see himself doing anything else.

"You're right." Nick said, Finn leaned on the barricade looking at Nick. She goes to speak but the barricade falls, Finn drops the gun almost falling herself but Nick catches her. The barricade makes a very loud thud noise when it hits the ground. The noise makes everyone freeze and get shivers up their spines. No one moved everyone was too scared to breathe fearing that anymore attention to the room would be costly. They remained frozen for several minutes before Finn leaned to grab the weapon.

A series of gunshots rang through the air and Nick tackle Finn down to the ground before she was able to grab the weapon, covering her from any bullets. Nick felt the rest of his stitches pop which caused so much pain his pain could even process. The gunshots stopped for a brief moment then started again. Nick pushed everyone back into a small space so that if anyone was able to through the door they wouldn't be able to see them. Nick noticed that the gunshots sounded to be above them still nearby but they weren't being fired upon. The gunfire stopped again and didn't start up again. They heard muffle yells and couldn't make out what was going on. Nick started to really feel lightheaded and knew it was the blood loss. They heard scattered footsteps which sounded like it was coming from everywhere like they were circling the room both shooting it to pieces. They heard footsteps run right by and then they heard someone try to open the door and was met by the chair which haltered their efforts. They were so scared that they didn't even think for a chance that it was help coming to rescue them.

"Open the door!" the man on the other side yelled, everyone froze with fear.

Finn gripped Nick's shoulder as she lifted her head just being able to see the door. "I think they're in here!" they heard the footsteps run back to the door. The orders kept coming to open the door but no one could they were paralyzed with fear. Nick thought about getting the gun but couldn't move. Nick thought that as soon as he got up the door would break out and they would be mowed down. Nick didn't want anyone to get hurt.

The barrier started to crumb and fall as something started to beat away at the door. Kaitlyn started to cry as her mother tried to shield her. The door fell off its hinges and the light burned their eyes.

"They're in here! Bring medical!" the voice said, the voice sounded very familiar. Nick opened his eyes but then quickly shut them because of the light.

"Cath..." Nick whispered passing out.

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