The sound of the battle becomes distant as I descend. I'm now cut off from the fight by a tall row of metal cabins. This end of the ship is all but deserted; just me and Ingleman. As I duck and sprint through the tangle of pipes and vents and railings I expect any second to hear the pitch of the helicopter rotors change, to see it rise up into the sky, bearing Ingleman away from me safe and sound. The thought of it makes me sick. After all he's done . . .
Finally I reach the metal staircase that leads up to the helipad. I grab the railing and jump up three steps at a time, only pausing when I reach the top. Up here the noise of the rotors is deafening. They're spinning at full speed, but Ingleman still hasn't taken off. Is he waiting for someone? Or did one of my shots damage the helicopter somehow? Either way, he's there and he knows I'm coming. I'll have to be careful.
Heart thudding, I move up to the very top of the stairs, keeping my head down below the level of the edge of the helipad. I realise now how defenceless I am without a weapon, dizzy and weak from lack of blood. Just a little girl, really. But I'm the only one who's here to stop him.
I take a few calming breaths and then quickly stick my head up and take a look before ducking back down. Sparks fly off the metal near my head, and there's the heavy thunk of metal hitting metal. I huddle down onto the steps. Ingleman's there sure enough, and he's got a gun pointed right at where I'm hiding.
"Lynch," I hear him bellow over the rotor noise. "What a surprise to see you here." Even now, even as his Academy falls apart around him there's a note of such certainty, such power in his voice. It makes my stomach turn to water, the adrenaline flooding coldly from my body. "Come to kill me, have you girl? Come to take your petty stab at vengeance?"
"The army are here," I shout back, hearing the fear in my voice. "They're coming. They won't let you get away."
"It won't be up to them to let me do anything," says Ingleman calmly. "You'll be amazed at what's possible with money and resources." He's moving closer, I'm sure of it. Little by little I can hear his voice edging nearer. I'm rooted to the spot, cowering there, waiting. "This isn't the end, little girl. This is little more than a setback, and a minor one at that."
"You're evil," I yell, not even sure what I'm saying. "You took children. You took children and you used them for your experiments. You can tell yourself it's all for the good but you're wrong, you bastard. You're wrong and they're going to get you and you'll spend the rest of your life dead or in prison."
His voice comes again, this time almost right above me. "You really are bitter, aren't--" But before he can finish his sentence I've jumped to my feet and flung myself up onto the helipad. He's standing even closer than I thought, and I cannon straight into his legs and knock him to the ground. As he falls the gun goes off in his hands and feel a hot, heavy impact just above my foot. The whole of that leg goes numb. I land beside Ingleman on the decking, scramble around and grab him by the neck.
But he's ready for me. His elbow slams back into my face, sending a wave of pain through my head. My grip weakens, and he turns, breaks from me, seizes my collar and slams me down against the metal, hard. He's on top of me, and his hands fasten around my neck and start to squeeze.
"I should have done this long ago," he grunts, his face wild, his hair sweat-slicked and dishevelled. His thumbs press into my neck. I taste blood. Everything starts to go dark.
