Guardian Belikov frowned, he knew it would do no good to lie to the boy. "The sun is still out, so even if it was they would have had to have used the tunnels to avoid the daylight. We've combed every inch of those tunnels and we know where each one exits out. Only three of those areas remain in darkness, out of the sun." He looked up as Serena and Sebastian caught up, "I am calling in more Guardians as we speak... but the sun sets in an hour. It will take them longer than that to get here..." He seemed torn a moment, his options were clear... Get Sebastian to safety was one of the first things he should do but he knew the Moroi boy would argue over Anna and they'd be wasting precious time.

"I will lead the group, Gunner I want you in behind us... Serena, you stay at Sebastian's side. If we go in we may catch up to them or find some better sign as to which tunnel they took so I can inform the other Guardians and maybe they can head them off... This is dangerous, remain close and do EXACTLY as I say... stay alert at all times. This is real life, no test... your lives will be at risk, understood?"

After he had their understanding he led them down towards the tunnels... Sebastian tensed at one of the cross sections, "I smell..." He hesitated and then knelt, "Blood... Anna's." His heart rate picked up and Belikov rested a hand on his shoulder, "It is very little... They must have incapacitated her, but there would be more if she were badly injured." He didn't bring up the possibility of a bite... none of them needed that worry right now. "Can you tell which direction they went?" There were three possible ways to go from here... Seb grimaced and then walked to the left tunnel and took a deep breath, then the right. "That way... it's faint but there's more blood...more in the hall."

Belikov nodded and then headed to the right... the twists and turns the Strigoi had taken were insane, obviously they'd expected to be followed... and the scent of blood was growing fainter.

~*~

Anna struggled to pull herself back through the haze... tried to think clearly but it was impossible. "I don't want to hurt you Anna... but I know you'll hurt me if you're strong enough. This is better, for both of us. There's no need to fight, I'm not going to kill you I just... I want us to be friends again, like before."

Anna shook her head, trying to clear it... "Friends... Anya... you bit me."

Anya sighed and knelt in front of her, "I didn't... it was Claus. He's the one who brought you to me... he's helping me."

"Strigoi.... don't help each other..."

Anya shook her head, "You Dhampirs have left us no choice... there are more of us you know. You can be part of a family."

Anna grimaced, "I... have a family." She was so tired, Claus must have taken a lot... Thankfully, it had been while she was out.

"Don't be like that Anna, I need you... you're strong. You've always been strong. You can help me get everyone back, you can all be with me again."

Anna shivered, she felt...cold. "No... it won't be the same. We'll be... dead. I'd rather die than be... Strigoi."

Anya ran a hand through Anna's hair then suddenly yanked her head back, "No Anna... you won't die... You'll Awaken."

Anya bent to her kneck and Anna screamed.

~*~

The sound echoed through the halls and Belikov tensed, "They're baiting us... if we run headlong into it we'll be ambushed at the crossways..."