someone once told him to always trust his gut; it's never steered him wrong nor will it today.

rory taps a stolen keycard against a metal sensor, careful as he pushes the button to the basement that otherwise would not have worked. the elevator doors slide close, beginning its descent.

out of his element, he takes a moment to compose himself, calming right as the elevator slows to a halt. the doors slide open, revealing a dark hallway.

from there, it doesn't take him long to slip into the first room he finds, and it's there that his gut feeling comes to fruition.

"fuck — sam?"

samuel carter

a myriad of questions invade his headspace; he has the answers to none of them nor does he have the time to entertain them. pushing them aside, he chooses to focus on what's in front of him.

and it's cruel sight.

"i don't."

but after a quick glance around the room, one's definitely kept somewhere. he leaves the door cracked open, allowing a small amount of light to creep through to help him in his search.

"what do you remember, sam?"

his voice is low as another scream cries out from down the hallway.

samuel carter

it doesn't take him long to come across a drawer with various scalpels laying inside. the irony is not lost on him as he picks one up before turning back to approach sam.

"that's fine, sam. that's more than enough."

rory's already assessing before the instruction is even aired. his hand runs along, trailing and examining before he shakes his head.

"no injection sites or marks of anything else either. it must've been just the sleep powder."

it's not as thorough of an examination as he would've liked but it's all they're afforded given the situation.

running the scalpel along the rope, he soon finds a weak point and slices through it with ease, careful to catch sam's weight once free.

"can you walk?"

samuel carter

"don't think they have painkillers here, sadly."

a soft chuckle looks to cut through the tension in the air.

"i'm not sure. i came down the elevator but there should be a fire escape somewhere."

light footsteps carry him back towards the door. he lingers near, keeping an ear close.

despite that, his eyes stay fixed on sam, concern showing in the way he gestures to the floor.

"sit, sam. we have some time."

samuel carter

another scream pervades the room, carrying through the hallway. it makes him wince.

"pretty sure."

instincts call for rory to slip out the door, to search for whoever's screaming, and to help them. but logic overrides, and he suppresses his thoughts as he leans his head back against the wall.

"i can imagine. what's important now is for you to regain your strength, at least enough to walk, possibly run out of here."

samuel carter

it's not very reassuring, that much he knows, but it's the most he can offer; that, and a chuckle.

"sorry. i'll make sure to work on it when we get out of here."

not if, but when.

rory stands, approaching sam to offer help should he need it.

"right. elevator or fire escape?"

samuel carter

"fire escape it is."

with sam's arm around his shoulder, rory shifts, allowing sam to rest most of his weight on him. he leads them over to the door, stopping just by it.

"i understand; i'd feel the same."

after a moment of listening, it all seems clear.

"ready when you are, sam."

samuel carter