Savage Run

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

After being measured, I can no longer keep my eyes open and go to my room to get some sleep. The sun has risen higher up in the sky so it's light outside. I pull the navy-colored, velour curtains in my room to block out all brightness. Dreaming, I relive the horror of the e-conda lake and of the screams of the boys who were blown up by the landmines. When I wake up with a jolt, it's pitch black and the clock reads 10:03 p.m. I slept all day? I try to fall back asleep, but images from the obstacle courses keep attacking my mind. I decide that I should check up on Arthor.

When I go to sit up, there isn't a single muscle in my body that doesn't feel like it's being ripped apart. I'm so sore. I set my feet on the floor and will myself up to a standing position. Barely able to carry my weight, my legs scream at me. The smallest movement causes severe pain, and even a simple effort like moving my head from side to side is extremely difficult.

I still have the key card Mai gave me, so I slowly drag my feet to my door to go to Mai's room. But when I open it, there stands a Unifer. In fact, the entire hallway is lined with Unifers, except for a few doors at the very end. They must be empty.

"I'm not authorized to let you leave," he says.

"I'm allowed to go into that room over there. I have the key card." I lift it up to show him.

He glances over at the Unifer in front of Mai's door.

"Here, I'll show you. Do you think they would have given me a key if I wasn't allowed in there?" I ask.

"Go ahead, but I can't let you go anywhere else."

"That's okay." I slip out of my room and enter Mai's room.

However, when I get there, I find the place completely dark and empty. The thought that he died hovers in the back of my mind, and a lump forms in my throat. Not willing to concede to the thought, I search the room thoroughly, but to my great distress, I can't find him there. And Nicholas and Mai are gone, too. Couldn't they have left a note or something? My first instinct is to go looking for them, though I hardly think I'm allowed to—having the Unifer guarding my door and all. If I were on Volkov Village, I'd be locked in my room with nowhere to go. But here they didn't really tell me I couldn't go anywhere. I could feign ignorance. The only problem is getting past the Unifer.

A slight breeze catches my attention and I see the sheer curtains moving a little. A window. I walk over to it and peek outside. It's rather far to the ground below, so climbing down won't be an option. Plus I'm too sore. Then I see another curtain waving in the wind all the way down at the end where there weren't any Unifers in front of the doors. There's a wide ledge right below, so I could technically...but I should change into regular clothes first so no one recognizes me. I slip into one of Mai's jeans and a plain black t-shirt so I still look like a boy. They're a little big, but it's not like they're going to fall off me.

I go back to the window and slide it open all the way. Then I quietly remove the screen, and climb out. I press up against the wall and inch my way sideways toward the end of the building. The wind is strong and gusts against my body, rocking it gently from side to side. Though my breathing has become staggered, this is nothing compared to what I've been through. I make it to the end in no time and climb in the window. The room is empty, and the bed has no sheets on it. Opening the door, I peek down the hallway. The Unifiers stand at attention, but they don't turn their heads to the creaking door. I step out of the room, turn my back to the Unifers, and head straight for the elevator. Once the doors close, I'm able to breathe a little easier. I take the elevator downstairs to the foyer and approach the middle-aged woman behind the counter.