Kimberley Brunswick woke from her nap to quiet chatter in the recreation room. For a second her body remained utterly numb on the couch, and she bathed in the feeling. It was an unexpected moment of bliss, which eventually gave way to reality as it seeped into her awareness like a slow acting poison. She was a prisoner, a captive of a vicious organisation.
She wiped her eyes and sat up. She had on her old white t-shirt and dark grey sweatpants, and a quick smell test told her that both needed washing. First she would do a quick round and check up on the team, then she would get changed and do the laundry. She put her sneakers on and began walking around the brightly-lit room while observing the pale faces and sleeping bodies sprawled on the floor. Phil and Lena looked up from their card game as Brunswick approached and brushed a hand across Lena’s shoulder, then went back to what they were doing. Reiko was scribbling in her journal and paid no attention to Brunswick. Shirvan was on his back listening to music through his headphones with his arms and legs spread out. When Brunswick’s shadow passed over him, he opened his eyes and gave her a tired smile. She smiled back warmly with a nod and continued forward, where Mona was slouched on the sofa with her arms around her knees. Brunswick went over and kneeled in front of her. Mona looked further gone than usual. Brunswick waited patiently, then placed a gentle hand on her leg.
“How are you, Mona?” she said softly.
Mona gave a half-hearted shrug. Her thick red hair was tangled all over from being obsessively played with and her dull brown eyes were focussed on the floor.
“Do you want to come for a walk? Stretch those legs out a bit?” asked Brunswick.
Mona sighed loudly.
“To where?” she said. “The gym or the upstairs rooms? Great choices.”
“It doesn’t matter. The important thing is to keep moving,” replied Brunswick.
“It’s pointless. We’re stuck here,” said Mona. “They’re not letting us go.”
“You’re right,” said Brunswick. “Chances are we’re stuck here until we die.”
Mona glared at Brunswick and tilted her head.
“Right,” she said carefully then nodded. “Exactly.”
“Right,” said Brunswick. “Or, we can look at it differently. The more active we stay, the more prepared we’ll be as soon as the situation changes.”
Mona gave Brunswick a searching look then her attention shifted toward the front door. Brunswick followed Mona’s gaze and noticed that the armed guard was on patrol again. She knew what to ask him, and she also knew what his response would be, but she was still going to try.
“I’ll be right back,” she said then rubbed Mona’s leg before going over to the guard and walking alongside him. “Hello,” she said on approach.
“There is nothing new to tell you,” he said abruptly.
“That’s fine. Then just let us get some fresh air.”
The guard shook his head.
“Next week. You already went this week.”
“That’s too long,” said Brunswick. “We’re losing our minds in here.”
The guard shook his head again and looked the room over thoroughly before turning around and heading back to the door.
“Call your people. It’s time to negotiate something. It’s been four months, dammit!” she said, her voice growing progressively louder and more urgent as the guard got closer to the door. “Plea—”
A shattering explosion sounded in the distance and the floor shook beneath Brunswick’s feet. Her body convulsed and she froze with her arms out. The guard sprinted out of the room while everyone looked at each other with grave faces. Brunswick was gripped in place like a toy figurine. Another even louder explosion went off and shook her out of her trance.
She chased after the soldier, running out of the recreation room and going left through the corridor. The front door of the lobby and only exit from the sleeping quarters had been left wide open. The rattle of gunshots filled the hall outside, and Brunswick crouched low while approaching the front, fighting to control the shaking in her body. The first thing she noticed was that the guards were gone from their usual places, and were now in various positions of cover with their rifles pointed forward. An enormous cloud of smoke and dust rose like a plague, out of which dozens of armed men in army fatigues emerged with guns blazing. Brunswick scrambled backwards at the sight and collided into Shirvan, who had been standing behind her shoulder. The sheer horror on his face mirrored her state.
“Get everyone gathered together in the corridor!” she yelled.
Shirvan remained distracted by the gunfight outside before he turned to Brunswick.
“What are we doing?” he asked.
“We need to be ready. This is our chance to escape through the tunnel. I’ll gather everyone from upstairs.”
Shirvan shifted his attention outside again. Brunswick sensed what he was thinking. Running out into that was bordering on insane. Brunswick’s gut told her that Inselheim would never risk their lives by going to the government and asking for an incursion to reclaim the facility. Whoever was attacking, their tactics were reckless and ominous. Brunswick was certain that staying put would pose the highest risk.
Shirvan searched her face.
“You have to trust me!” she yelled.
“Ok,” he said with a nod, still appearing doubtful.
“We’ll meet at the edge of the corridor over there,” said Brunswick, pointing back toward the recreation room.
“Yes. Ok,” said Shirvan and slowly moved away from the door while catching another glimpse of the chaos outside.
Brunswick sprinted upstairs, running into members of the team cautiously descending the stairs one step at a time.
“Go downstairs to the corridor!” she yelled. “Be ready to move out!”
Brunswick sprinted by the rooms while the clatter of gunshots
