The Glade and Its Glitch: Book 4 Escape

Chapter 3

Quake's body had been taken away. Lloyd and Carrie were left to stare at the spot on the floor where Quake had died. There was a spot of blood staining the concrete. Carrie couldn't tear her eyes away from the spot.

"Hey," Lloyd turned her around and pulled her closer to his bare chest. "Don't look over there. Look at me."

She nuzzled closer. "She's gone."

"I know. She's in a better place now."

"That doesn't help."

"I know... But we have to get through this. We need a plan."

"Do you have one?"

Lloyd shook his head, "Not yet. But we'll come up with one together."

"It's unlikely there will be a way out in the big cave room. We've looked around and found nothing."

"You said you could pick locks, right?"

"Yeah, my dad taught me when I was eight. Why?"

"Could you pick that lock?"

Carrie looked at the cage door when Lloyd pointed. It had a keyhole. She sat in silence thinking and theorizing for a second.

"I think so... I'd need something thin and metal. Like a paperclip or bobby pin. But once we find that we're as good as free."

"Not yet, even when we get out of this cell we're still going to have to get out of the base. I haven't seen much of it. Have you?"

"No... I guess we still need to figure that out."

"Don't worry," Lloyd lifted Carrie's chin so he could look her in the eyes. "We'll figure it out. I know we will."

"But will we do it in time?"

"We can only hope."

"Feels like we're doing that a lot these days."

Lloyd chuckled. "Yeah."
Carrie shut her eyes and rested her head against Lloyd's chest. She wanted to sleep, but she was still on edge from what had happened with Quake. They knew she died of vengestone, and they knew Devin had given it to her. How long did they have before Devin gave her or Lloyd the vengestone gas? How much longer before they died too?

"So Quake's name was Sandy?"

"Yeah," Carrie welcomed the distraction. Even though she was tired she'd rather talk to Lloyd than be left to her thoughts.

"I guess I only know most of you by your Glade name."

"Yeah, Supernova is Skye. Skylight is TJ. Listener is Tai-"

"Wait, I knew about Skye, but we've heard about Listener. Her name is Tai?"

"Yes... Although she's dead now."

"I know... we killed her."

"Don't blame yourself, Soar led our troops into a trap. It's his and Glitch's fault."

"So who was she? I know she could read minds."

"She's TJ and Kiki's mom. And Sunbeam, Niko, they're married. He's TJ and Kiki's dad."

"Makes sense, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. But I'm sure Niko and his kids will appreciate the apology."

"What other Glade names are there?"

"Protector is Lexi-"

"Yeah, Wu mentioned her."