After The Awakening | ONC 2023

Chapter Eleven

Ray stood stock still as she watched the news report flash across the big screens by the station. The news headline was impossible to ignore, and yet the passersby barely glanced at it. Londoners at their best. Able to ignore everything around them as long as there was something else to focus on.

Did they really not care that there had been a containment breach at the Bureau?

She watched Xavier come back out. Somewhere along the lines, he'd stolen a hoodie, which concealed his face. It wasn't until he was closer that she could see his look of concealed fury.

'You saw the news report?' she guessed.

'It's on every bloody screen,' he seethed.

'They're pinning the breach on us.'

Xavier's lips thinned, and he paced away, leaving Ray to catch up.

'It's a clever move. I would have done the same. They're limiting our movements...my movements,' he added as an afterthought. 'The inside man to the breach at the Bureau and I've kidnapped a vulnerable 17-year-old girl. There will be plenty of people in the public baying for my blood now.'

Ray winced. 'Why did they say you kidnapped me? Why couldn't I have been behind the attack as well?'

'Because right now you're a victim, and that does three things; it makes me look much worse. It means they don't have to release as much information about you because they're focusing on me. And finally, the police will want to take you alive.'

'What about you?'

'My fate was sealed the moment I left. I know enough to make me dangerous and they know I won't cooperate like Dylan.'

'Xav-'

'But on better news,' he interrupted her, 'I got into the locker.'

The last thing he wanted to do was make Ray feel guilty for something that wasn't her fault. Walking away from the Bureau had been easier than he'd ever dreamed. Maybe because deep down, in a place he didn't like to dwell, he'd begun to question them just as Mari had.

Xavier gave her a sidelong glance and fished a small memory stick from the front pocket of his hoodie.

Ray watched as he returned it securely, keeping his hands tucked inside. Better to protect it. She could already tell it would take an act of some magnitude to get him to release it.

'Seems such a small thing for all this mess,' she said when she finally focused on the path in front of her.

'We need to see what's on here.'

'Did you steal a laptop whilst you were in there?' She expected him to scowl at her sarcastic remark, but there was a twinkle glinting in his eye.

'People should be more careful about what they say whilst talking on the phone.' He passed her a set of keys.

'Cuckoo's nest,' she read the sticker.

'I swiped these off the owner. Seems the Wi-Fi is down in the entire neighbourhood until at least tomorrow evening, so she won't be opening tomorrow. No way to take card payments. Bloody cashless society. Destroyed by the simplest no Wi-Fi sign,' he muttered.

'In other words, you've found us a place to stay tonight?' she asked hopefully.

'And somewhere with a till that we can connect to,' he agreed. 'Did I also mention that no Wi-Fi means no security uplink?'

They both shared mischievous smiles as they blended easily into the crowd.

***