Subject 116

25

I didn't want to stress Finn out, especially not before the escape. But I stayed with him for the rest of the evening, in complete silence for the most part. He had nothing to say, and neither did I. Lydia eventually left to go find Monica, seeing that I wasn't in the shape to talk with her right now. She wasn't too upset by it, thankfully. I wanted to keep her happy, or at least content until we managed to get her down the elevator. I hated being neglectful towards her, chances were, she had been through enough of that. I trusted Monica with her right now, as much as I wanted to, I couldn't be of much support.

The lights had gone out, and everyone was starting to come into the bedroom. A few of them looked over at me and Finn, waiting for when we were going to get started. They all looked so on edge, why wouldn't they be? If this didn't work for whatever reason, we were all going to die. This was most likely the most dangerous night of all of our lives. And in his mind, it was Finn's first.

I couldn't describe how my heart shattered when he asked who I was. I thought everything was going to work. I thought he would finally get to feel the thrill of freedom once we made it out of here, but now he didn't know the difference between that, and being trapped. I couldn't do much to help him now. I felt hopeless. Discouraged. And I knew that was bad, I needed to stay motivated to do this. Finn was what kept that motivation alive. I didn't know how to get it back now that he was gone. I didn't know him anymore.

But I knew my path to find the key card, and that was all that really mattered right now. I just waited, and watched as everyone got in their beds, and pretended to relax, when all of their hearts were beating faster than ever before. But mine was settled. I wasn't even nervous anymore. I just kept one eye on Finn, as he examined the new faces he didn't recognize. He wasn't nervous either. Just dazed.

Eventually, every bed was filled, and that was my sign to get to work. I got up without hesitation, and made my way over to Finn. "I have to make sure you can stand. We can't leave you behind. Someone can help you if you're still weak." I held my arm out for him to grab onto. I sounded so monotone, I didn't want to. I wanted to be friendly with Finn, I wanted to make a fresh start and try to let him get to know me again. But there was no time for that now.

He wanted to ask something, I could see it on his face, but he kept it to himself and grabbed me instead. I hauled him upwards, and he unsteadily stood up. His legs weren't in full function, I was afraid he would fall if I let him go.

"I don't think it's as bad as it looks," he admitted, knowing what I was concerned about. I nodded, and slowly started to drag my arm away, leaving him to stand alone.

All eyes were on us, they were just waiting for the signal to get up and move. They didn't know about Finn's second dose of memory loss, but they knew why he couldn't walk. That fall he took wasn't a private matter, everyone on this level saw it happen aside from the staff, thankfully.

He managed to stand still, I thought he was going to manage. "Okay, take a few steps forward. All you have to do is make it to the elevator-"

"About that..." I was surprised he interrupted me, he didn't seem like he wanted to talk much a second ago. "If I'm thinking about this correctly, we don't have a form of transportation to get us out, do we?"

Shit.

"The guards might have a key to one of the trucks downstairs, but that's a slim chance... if they don't, then we just have to make a run for it." Monica added, realizing this was going to be an issue.

He nodded. "Right. I can feel it, I won't be able to run. Walk, maybe. But I won't get very far in this condition. I'll only slow you all down. Please, don't let me. Make your own way out."