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I can’t get over them. I can’t get through them. Unless I wait for a car to leave and creep along the ground, sneaking out behind it.
There are no people or cars right now.
That will be Plan B.
I circle back to the little gray building, the one Beckett had pointed out as the security center when he gave me the tour of the Village. I stand, staring at it. There has to be a phone in there. I can at least warn Trevor.
Then there’s the bigger issue of sneaking out of here.
Is there someone, anyone, I could talk to, to figure a way out of here?
I’m pretty good with computers. What if I got in there and figured out how to erase myself from the recordings? Then he wouldn’t know if I was still within the Village walls or not. Kind of like when I was hiding in the apartment closet and Trevor had no idea if I was there or not.
I could hide out until I could make a real plan.
The door opens. My heart lunges. There is someone here.
It’s a younger brother than I’ve seen here before. Short and stocky with glasses, he doesn’t quite fit in with the loads of burly men I’ve seen strolling about.
“Hi!” I waggle my manicured fingers at him, offering him a smile.
Time to work the charm.
He lets me in after I spin a story of my “missing cat” and ask to look through the videos. Leaves me to get himself a drink. I can’t believe my luck.
No phone. Darn. Time to play with the computers.
I feel so victorious when I get the recordings erased. There’s paper and a pen. I should leave a goodbye note. Right? That would help make Beckett think I really got out of here.
I scribble the word, Sorry.
I stop, the pen hovering over the paper. I really am sorry to have to leave him. I want to write more but I hear the first exterior door open, and an idea comes to me.
I can hide here, making Brady think I’ve already left. I don’t know what I’ll do after that but the more people who think I’ve gotten past the walls, the easier it will be to get out for real.
I slip under the desk, hoping a better idea comes. Maybe Brady will leave again. I’ll search deeper in the Hub. There has to be a phone here. I can at least call Trevor.
Warn him.
I realize I’m not going to be able to break out of here on my own, no matter how much time I have to make a plan. This place is on serious lockdown. It was silly to think I could get out.
I’ll make my call, go back to Beckett, and confess that I tried to run but got stopped at the gate. Apologize and try to make amends. Hope that Trevor leaves the country.
And Beckett lets me go.
I lay my head down, tired from the drama of the day and waking up before the sun to run. I close my eyes.
I must have fallen asleep because I wake to Brady’s voice. “You can come out now.”
I look up to find him staring at me as he pushes up his glasses. My heart sinks. I’ve been discovered.
I crawl out, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. “I guess I’m not as sneaky as I think I am.”
“Nope. And your boyfriend knows you’re here too. He’s waiting for you outside. Could come back in here any second.”
He offers me his damp palm to assist me out from under the desk. I crawl across the floor and take his hand. He helps me stand. I brush fake dirt off the knees of my leggings. How do they keep every room in this place so spotless?
“Thanks.” I sink down into the chair beside him. It’s still warm from Beckett sitting here. “He’s not my boyfriend, by the way.”
