(Joseph's POV)
Getting into the base was way easier than I had initially intended. It's almost...too easy, I thought, glancing at Jack who was disguised beside me, his hair slicked back and his blue eyes looking around cautiously.
After I had told Jack and Olivia my plans on saving Asurah, they both agreed immediately to help me, saying that Asurah didn't deserve it and he needed to get out. Olivia brought over some makeup and worked on Jack and I, as well as herself. I was two shades lighter in skin tone, thanks to the foundation Olivia literally caked onto my face. My beautiful beard was gone now, my chin hairless and smooth. My curly hair was slicked back and hidden under my blonde wig, which was a rather tight fit on my giant head, making it slightly uncomfortable to wear. I also had in contacts that made my eyes look more green. Jack's hair had been completely shaved, much to his chagrin, and he was wearing brown eye contacts to cover up his blue eyes.
I scratched at the rough fabric of my lab coat, fixing the fake glasses on my face so they stopped slipping down. "Where do they usually hold test subjects?" I wondered out loud, glancing wearily at a few scientists who walked past us.
"Obviously in the labs," Jack retorted with a snort.
"Alright, I have eyes on the facility and it looks like Issak is residing in Lab-B. I don't see Asurah, though." Olivia's voice came over the piece in my ear, the woman having stayed behind in order to provide eyes on the place.
I glanced around, making sure I barely moved my lips as I responded. "Where is he, then? Can you try finding his whereabouts? I want to get him then get out of here as soon as possible."
"I'll see what I can do."
I nodded, and glanced around, making my way around the building to appear busy. I kept looking at clipboards briefly to see if I can find out where they were holding Asurah. Asurah, where are you? I wondered, my heart heavy in my chest. They didn't already...kill him, did they? If they did, I would bring upon them the wrath of satan if they dared to take his life from him. He better be alive. I hope he was alive.
"Joseph! I found him! He's in Lab Z! Jo, he doesn't look so good. You need to hurry."
I nodded at Olivia's voice and quickly began making my way over to Lab Z, the lab stored on the last floor under the building. I walked over to the elevator, turning when I realized it needed clearance to enter.
Damn. I needed a key card that was a high enough clearance in order to get to Lab Z. I glanced around the room I found myself in, noticing that most of the people in here had a key card attached to the front of their shirts, which would make this a little harder to do without letting Issak know of our presence.
"Olivia, think you can override the system to the elevators long enough for Jack and I to get in?"
Olivia's voice spoke in my ear, the ear piece surprisingly high quality. "Psh, of course I can! I wasn't the top of my technology class for nothing! When I say go, you go, since it'll only be for a few seconds. Ok...three...two...and go!"
Jack and I rushed as quickly as we could to the elevator, the light above it green as the metal door opened, revealing a metallic inside. We stepped inside, a few scientists passing us a curious glance before their faces were blocked by the doors of the elevator. The door closed and we let out a breath we didn't even know we were holding. I poked the button that was labeled LZ, which I was assuming was Lab Z, where Asurah was being held. I waited patiently as the contraption went down, nervously drumming my thigh at what I would see.
Olivia had said that Asurah hadn't looked good. What did she mean by that? Was he hurt? Was he in pieces? Was he in pain? The possibilities were endless and I couldn't help the heavy feeling in my heart. I took slow breaths, willing myself to calm down before I ended up in a panic attack. I didn't need that to happen, not when I was so close to Asurah.
The doors opened and I peeked in the large sterile room wearily, my eyes searching for any scientists. When I saw none, I ignored my confusion and the heavy feeling in my gut when I rushed inside in search of the man I had betrayed.
When I caught sight of him, my breath caught in my throat as my eyes began watering. Olivia hadn't been lying when she said Asurah didn't look good. He was drenched in sweat, his hair matted to his face, his shirt and pants clinging to him damply. And he was panting as if he were trying to catch his breath. His face was scrunched up in pain, and he whimpered every so often. I rushed over to his side, placing my hand on his cheek and hissing at how hot his flesh felt.
What the hell did he do to you, I wondered sadly, brushing wet strands of hair out of Asurah's face. I glanced around the room, trying to find something that would stop his torment, when my eyes fell on a freezer, filled with samples from other creatures. Without thinking, I hauled Asurah into my arms, and rushed over to the freezer, my teeth chattering as I went further back into the small room. I sat down on the floor with him, cradling his head against my chest as I did the only thing I could think of to speed this up. I took off his clothes, then scooted away from him to lay him directly on the frozen floor.
I waited with bated breath as his breathing started to slow down to a more...acceptable pace. My heart leapt in my chest when his eyes fluttered and opened, revealing his beautiful completely white eyes. His brow furrowed as he glanced around, not knowing where the heck he was at. When his eyes landed on me, they widened. We sat there in silence, staring at each other before I dared to speak.
"Asurah, I'm so-"
I yelped in pain as Asurah tackled me, his fist meeting my face as tears left his eyes. "How dare you! You bastard! How could you do this to me?! What did I ever do to you to be sent to your world as a freaking test subject! I thought we were friends." He stopped his assault on my face and hid his face on my chest, his body shaking from his tears. "I trusted you."
I felt tears forming in my own eyes as I held his form against me, burying my face into his hair. "I'm so, so sorry, Asurah. Gosh, I was such a coward. They threatened to kill my Ma if I didn't turn you in. She was the only one there for me when I was depressed, and I was too scared to lose her, because if I lost her I would be all alone, and I'm too scared to be alone."
"You could have told me, Jo. If you told me I would have gotten your mother and took her to Glacion. She would be protected there. Gosh, Jo, do you know how far a simple conversation can go? You freaking drugged me."
"I know. And if you still hate me when I get you out of here...I'll understand."
Asurah shook his head and got up on his elbows to look down at me. His hair framed his beautiful pale face, his full lips in a pout. "I...I don't hate you, Jo. I'm just...I'm mad that you drugged me and left me with a creep, and I'm upset that you didn't trust me enough to tell me what was going on." He stared at me for a few more seconds before he sighed and closed the distance between us, his lips falling onto mine, making my heart go into overdrive.
His lips were cold from the freezer, but they still felt velvety soft as he worked my mouth with his own, his eyes closed in concentration. He then paused and pulled away, giving me a narrow eyed look.
"Why am I naked."
It was more of a demand than a question, one that had me blushing a scarlet red as I nonchalantly looked away. "I...I ah..."
"You better not have tried anything, you pervert."
"I am not a pervert!"
"Tell me, did you admire my beauty while I was unconscious?"
"What? No!"
"So...I'm not beautiful?"
"I...I didn't say that!"
"So I am?"
"Well...yes, but-"
"See? I told you that you're a pervert!"
I gaped at him, watching as he stared back at me mischievously, poking me in the chest. "I need clothes. My clothes. They should be stored around here somewhere." He climbed up off of me and I tried not to let my eyes stray as he walked out of the freezer, still nude. My brows furrowed at the strangeness of the conversation. I shook my head and stood up, walking out of the freezer only to...well...freeze when I saw Asurah standing tense in front of me, his eyes locked on Jack's form. I followed Asurah's line of sight, my eyes going wide as I stared down the barrel of Jack's gun, his eyes cold as he stared at Asurah and I.
He smirked, cocking his weapon, staring straight at me with those blue eyes of his. "And where do you think you're going, Captain?"