#surrealness

Elias had barely processed what the guards had said (Who was Smith? Where was medical - why would the Wolf need to go there?) when they came to a vehicle bay. He knew it more by the smell of motor oil and gasoline than by the chilly quiet of the concrete floor. It must have been late if there was not a soul here tinkering or inventorying. 

“Wanna give us a game plan, buddy?” Harrison’s whisper was hoarse, hardly audible given his thrashed voice. But still the Wolf flinched at the sound as though he had shouted into the cavernous warehouse.

(Elias wasn’t ever going to get used to that - the flinching, the panic in his eyes. How was this the same man who taunted and tortured them hours ago?)

Despite the direct question, the Wolf didn’t reply, unsubtly reaching for the keys at the belt of Merrick’s jumpsuit. Tensions pitched when Merrick took the keys in his hand before the Wolf could reach them, but the split second glare from their former torturer was unwarranted as Merrick unclipped them from his waist and handed them over.

The Wolf unlocked and pocketed his handcuffs, forging forward without a word.

“What the fuck is going on?” Harrison, arm slung over Elias’ shoulders for support, tapped out the code against his chest. Merrick was paying enough attention to understand and reply, tapping a finger against the strap of the duffel bag.

“I think we’re breaking out.”

“Obviously, but why - ” Harrison stopped tapping out the code, the flush of fresh air startling. Elias froze, the smell of motor oil and dust linger in the crisp night air. Merrick nearly rushed the Wolf, who stood frozen at the threshold of the doorway, staring upwards.

As if sensing their anticipation, the Wolf stepped back from the doorway, letting the three - foolishly, in retrospect - charge outside, the frenzy of freedom barely contained. Harrison collapsed to his knees in the sand, staring at the stars above; Merrick’s breathing was deep, savoring the outside air in all its glory. And Elias watched the Wolf, hovering at the threshold like a dog pacing its electric fence.

(Just like a dog pacing it’s electric fence - )

He almost said something when their eyes locked. Trepidation transformed to crystalized courage tinged with what Elias could only describe as “what are you looking at?”

The Wolf took a step past the threshold, and collapsed.

“Shit - fuck, fuck - are you - ?” Elias’ worry was almost instinctive. (The way the Wolf’s face had pinched in instant regret, the way his limbs locked and muscles seized, eyes rolled back in his skull - Elias had seen Merrick collapse the same way a dozen times.) The sound drew Harrison and Merrick from their reveries, concern and confusion in their eyes.

The Wolf gave Elias a glare poisonous enough to make the medic flinch back, despite how the Wolf trembled on his hands and knees. He took a slow, steadying breath before drawing himself back to his feet, expression tired but focused as he pushed past Elias’ concern.

Despite the night sky above them, the compound was uncomfortably bright. Stationary spotlights kept the vehicle bay doors well illuminated, as well as the high barbed wire fence opposite them. But the Wolf wasn’t leading them toward that imposing structure - he brought them around the building, to a parking lot.

It was mostly empty, save for a few spare trucks and an uncomfortably out of place minivan. The lot was well lit, though far from the harsh white light at the front of the compound. The Wolf was noticeably twitchy, pausing in the shadows and skulking around vehicles with ragged, shuddering breaths.

Training overpowered any questions or instinctive distrust of his intentions - the Wolf was clearly not meant to be here, with them, and he was making a point to telegraph his path to the three before moving. Elias wasn’t sure how he felt about being led around like a horse on a halter, but he wasn’t going to complain. Especially when the Wolf brought them to a humvee, shaking hands unlocking the door and letting them pile in.

Elias didn’t care where he was taking them - it was away from this manmade Hell, and that meant it couldn’t be worse. Probably.

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