Attacca ─ Five Hargreeves

16. Breakeven

A lot had happened after Five's accident, in seven days, suddenly all the agents were injured and thrown into her care, taking up all her time, even on her days off. Genevieve wanted to visit Five, she longed for him so much. She had made plans, she had cooked his favourite dishes, however, the Commission seemed to be plotting copious obstacles so that she wouldn't have the chance to see him. She didn't understand what was happening, there was no one to ask, and Micaiah seemed to have disappeared. Lila, who was her continual guest, didn't show up either. Everyone peered at her as if they were sorry but she knew it was a mere façade, they just secretly hoped what occurred to her wouldn't befall them.

The atmosphere was bound to be disparate, people were a little more on guard than usual. The construction which was normally still stuffed with small chatter, curious whispers, and minor debates, was instead saturated with absolute silence. The corridors were completely deserted, not even the sound of breathing could be heard. It was eerie, in all sincerity. The building looked like a neglected place, she even needed to perform surgeries in agitated tranquillity, speaking only when necessary. Genevieve wasn't dumb, she had already noticed from the corner of her eye how several guards were following her, even from quite a distance they still created a concise rumpus with their hoofbeats.

Genevieve was just about to walk out of the operating room when she bumped into someone, dropping the papers they were holding. "Herb! I'm so sorry."

"No worries, Ma'am," he cracked up nervously, quickly ducking to collect the papers. She immediately crouched down to help before hearing him murmur, "you have to go."

"What?"

"They got Micaiah." Just as she was about to ask for more details, the sound of someone clearing their throat stopped her, causing Herb to look up with an uptight laugh. "Hello, fellas. Just delivering a message from the Handler. She wants to see you, Ma'am."

Multiple guards who had been following her did not move, they only stood towering around the two employees as if waiting for one of them to leave. Surely, Herb thought he was the one who had to depart, which was why he directly rushed to get up and walk away. Genevieve paused for a moment, ignoring those who might have wanted her to buzz off at once as she tried to filter out what Herb had just said. Had her suspicions become a reality? They had found out about Micaiah's scheme to help her escape and had captured him.

Was that why they were looking at her as if they were sorry for her only comrade being arrested? But knowing Micaiah, she just knew he wouldn't be caught easily, he had a thousand tricks up his sleeve. His unauthorised travels were the paradigms, he had gone out many times before and had never been reprimanded, so why was he failed now? In the back of her mind, she alleged Micaiah knew something that average employees, other than higher-ups of this organisation, were not supposed to learn.

"You wanted to see me?" asked Genevieve once she stepped into the Handler's office.

Despite coveting to be insolent, Five kept reminding her that this was their temporary residence, they basically needed to act the way the Commission had portrayed them to be. He persisted in depicting this place as the darkest part of a fairy tale, one wrong move could send them back to the abyss of eternal misery, or worse, back to the apocalypse.

The woman, with her haute and flashy attire, whirled around, leaving her activity involving a collection of weapons behind. "Ah, yes! Take a seat." Genevieve waited for the woman to sit down first as she threw another inquiry in the process, "now tell me, does this place live up to your expectations?"

"Yes, I guess," answered Genevieve. "It has its downsides, but I just have to work with what I have. It is still slightly better than the apocalypse."

"Good," the Handler nodded cautiously. "You are safe here, Ms. Genevieve. No more apocalypse, no more sleeping in a steel box. You are safe."