(@Orca--I mean, you could if you wanted)

The duo scaled the steps three at a time, fear and adrenaline turning them into Olympic champions. Jack was shouting curse after curse, a torrent of swear words that he hoped would block the staircase behind him. It didnt work. By the time they had reached the top of the stairs the dogs were advancing on the bottom. They had slowed their run to a leisurely prowl, knowing they had nowhere to go. The creatures seemed to relish the thought, their massive jaws twisting into a grimace and dripping great gobs of saliva onto the steps.

And they were right, there was nowhere to go. All the cells were locked tight.

"Next floor," hissed Jack, and they started climbing again, their legs burning and Victoria's head spinning from the effort. They reached the second level and turned to see both dogs following them up the stairs, sparks flying from their feet every time their claws connected with the metal. Jack bounded up one more flight of steps and started running along the platform, ignoring the whoops and hollers from the other side of the bars.

Frustrated and feeling the pull of weariness on his soul, Shade quickly thrust his wings and followed them. He knew he'd probably draw attention to himself, but he still called out. "Hey!" He wasn't sure how to shove past his harsh outer deminor to explain he wanted to help, he wasn't used to be nice often.

Aaron was waiting for it. A crunch or scream, something to let her know it was over. She was pretty sure she knew who was out there. She shut her eyes and shook her head more. Oh well....

Rhia feels horrible about not doing anything. So she decides to change that- just like how she had done before, she seems to turn to shadow, and disappears for several moments before reappearing right next to the staircase.

As Shade and Rhia came, neither Jack nor Victoria was still sure what to do.

"Just head for the other stairwell," Victoria said, trying to make it sound like she had a plan.

They bolted down the platform, the inmates inside watching half in horror and half in fascination as the dogs followed them. One of the beasts was distracted by something inside a cell and threw itself at the bars, buckling them like they were made of plastic. Vic's legs almost gave way there and then, as well as other parts of her body that she didn't really want to mention, but she managed to keep going.

Halfway along the platform the dogs got bored of prowling and broke into a trot, their huge feet making the platform shake in its casings every time they made contact, their eyes narrowing as they fixed on their prey. The duo reached the stairs and clambered up them, trying to look at where they were going and what was behind them at the same time. As long as they kept a stairwell in between them and the creatures Vicky felt okay.

Shade see's the small girl and thinks to himself 'great, a short-stack is out now as well. Well (F word) this.'. He was confused and angered that he'd tried to do something, but there wasn't any going back now. He ducked his wings and hovered around where Rhia was for a moment, expression saying something like 'well, wanna help? Or do I gatta be good and save your rump too?', but then he sorta tried to duck off after the two runners. "You two better not be scared of heights, or flying."

Suddenly, seemingly out of thin air, Rhia shows up in front of them. She grabs Victoria, who shes assumed is lighter, and grabs her by the hand, running in front of her. It speeds Victoria up a little, though not by a lot since shes so much bigger than the tiny girl.

Aaron could hear one of the dogs trying to ram into a cell. The sound was making her almost angry. She grit her teeth. "Just end already." She growled.

Talk about tempting fate. Tiring of the chase, the first dog hurled itself from the platform, leaping through the air above the courtyard and landing with a crash on the other side of the banister from the four of them. Up close its face was even more horrific, they could see past a set of stained and crooked teeth right down its raw red throat, a glistening abyss where they were about to meet their fate. Of all the ways they could have thought of to die, this was the worst--chewed to pieces by a mutant dog. Victoria was glad to have Rhia holding her hand or else she would've staggered backward.

The monster dug its claws into the metal and pulled itself over the stairwell, never taking its silver eyes off them. They could smell its fetid breath as it panted--the stench of death and decay that would accompany them to their end. It lowered itself ungracefully to the platform, making the whole thing tremble, and raised its head for the kill.

But from the yard below came the sound of sobbing. The dog whipped its head around and stared through the metal railings, and Jack and Victoria did the same. One of the Skulls from the trough room--the one who had tried to kill the kid on the floor--was limping across the floor, begging at the top of his voice to be allowed back in his cell.

Rhia doesnt hesitate even a moment. Fast as lightning, she vanishes. A moment later, a black streak hurts itself at the dog, throwing it off the stairs and hopefully down to the bottom, if not at least down a floor.