Mr. & Mrs Meropide

Chapter Twenty-Two: Clorinde's Perspective on the Lockdown

Clorinde stepped into the elevator, her thoughts focused on the tasks ahead. The day had been long, filled with its usual challenges, but something about this moment felt different—almost like the calm before a storm. Just as the doors were about to close, she heard the unmistakable sound of crutches tapping against the floor. Instinctively, she reached out and held the door open.

Marcellus Vire stumbled in, his movements more deliberate than pained, though there was still a noticeable stiffness in his gait. He looked at her with a mixture of surprise and gratitude. "Thank you," he said, his voice steady as he positioned himself inside the elevator.

Clorinde gave a brief nod, her expression unreadable as she let the doors slide shut behind him. The elevator began its ascent, the familiar sensation of movement calming in its predictability. But just as they reached mid-level, the alarm blared through the fortress, a sharp, piercing sound that jolted them both.

The elevator shuddered and came to an abrupt halt, the lights flickering briefly before stabilizing. Clorinde instinctively checked her surroundings, her hand moving toward her weapon out of habit before she realized there was no immediate danger.

Vire, leaning against the wall, glanced at her, his brow furrowed. "What's going on?"

"Lockdown protocol," Clorinde explained, her tone even. "When the alarm goes off, all non-essential elevators are locked in place to prevent any potential threats from spreading to different areas of the fortress."

Vire exhaled slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Of course. We always end up in lockdown together, don't we?"

Clorinde allowed herself a small, almost imperceptible smile as she leaned back against the wall. "Seems that way."

Vire, noticing there was little else to do, carefully lowered himself to the floor, leaning his crutches against the wall beside him. "Might as well get comfortable," he remarked, patting the spot next to him.

Clorinde hesitated for a moment before following suit, sitting down beside him. The elevator was quiet now, the only sound the faint hum of the fortress's systems and the distant echo of the alarm.

They sat in silence for a while, each lost in their thoughts. The lockdown could last minutes or hours—there was no way to know. But for now, they were stuck together, waiting for whatever came next.

"Funny how things work out," Vire said after a while, his voice softer, more introspective. "You'd think we'd be used to this by now."

Clorinde glanced at him, her gaze steady. "It's never the same, no matter how many times it happens."

Vire nodded, understanding what she meant. Every lockdown brought its own challenges, its own uncertainties. And yet, there was a strange sense of familiarity in the shared experience—a silent acknowledgment that they were both navigating the complexities of life within the fortress, each in their own way.

As the minutes stretched on, Clorinde found herself relaxing slightly, the tension of the day slowly ebbing away. The lockdown was just another obstacle, one they would overcome as they always had. But for now, in the confined space of the elevator, there was a rare moment of quiet—a brief respite from the relentless pace of the fortress.

Vire adjusted his position slightly, leaning back against the elevator wall as he considered her words. "What do you think caused the lockdown this time?" he asked, his tone casual but with an undercurrent of curiosity.

Clorinde sighed softly, her breath visible against the cold glass as she leaned her head against it. "No idea," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "It's just odd..."