Dan POV
We've been in this underground prison for another three days, but that's because we need to wait until all of the bodies are found and taken away, as well as the fact that we need to let everything on the surface stop burning because of the bombs. You can always tell when some of 13's soldiers go venture out into the rubble, because the smell of smoke and ash invades the bunker. It'll eventually clear out for the most part, but after being in here for quite a while, you notice that the smell always seems to linger.
I have heard rumors that the bombs only destroyed the top levels of section B and part of section C, but I don't hold onto the hope that we'll get to escape the bunker, mainly because I believe that someone in Command would have told me.
"Danny," Maisie snaps me out of my thoughts, "When can we go play in the trees?"
"I don't know, Maisie," I sigh, "I don't know if they'll even let us."
"Could you ask them? Pretty please?" Maisie begs. I know it's hard for her, one because she's a child and two because she hasn't seen a forest since she left 12, but I doubt that anyone would allow it. However, since it's all I want these days, I'll do my best to make her happy.
I motion for her to follow me, and she struggles to keep up with me on her little legs. I slow my pace and allow her to catch up to me.
"Do we get to see Charlotte?" she asks.
"No, not today. Charlotte's asleep right now, and she needs to rest," I answer plainly.
"When will she wake up?" Maisie asks.
"Whenever she's ready to, I suppose," I smile to Maisie.
"If we go outside, can we get her flowers?" Maisie asks, clapping her hands in anticipation.
"Of course we can!" I reply.
We make it to the door of Command, and a soldier grants me permission to pass, however Maisie must stay outside.
"Remember what I said about being by yourself?" I ask.
"Don't go anywhere else unless it's an emergency," Maisie says in a serious voice.
"That's right," I say, "Now, this kind man right here is gonna make sure nothing happens to you, okay? Ask him if you need anything."
The soldier then gives me a single nod, confirming that yes, he will keep an eye on her. Then I walk through the door and he closes it behind me.
I check the Command door that's the closest to the left, and surprisingly everyone is back in here this time, which means they're no longer having to watch Charlotte so closely.
"Ah, Daniel," Coin smiles, "Just the person I was looking for."
"You were?" I ask.
"Well, I was just about to. What brings you to Command, Mr. Howell?"
"Maisie wants to go outside. She hasn't had anything close to home since she left 12...I just want her to be able to transition a little easier."
"We should be able to vacate the bunker within the next two days. You should have permission then, but make sure to ask once more just to be sure."
"But anyway, aside from that," I say, "Why were you gonna look for me?"
"I have some good news for you," she smiles. "Charlotte has woken up."
"Can I see her?" I ask.
"The doctors are running tests on her right now. We can wait in the room opposite her if you like," Alma shrugs. I nod.
Coin, as well as a few soldiers, follow me into the room that is next to Charlotte's room. I can see her through the glass, but I know that she cannot see me. Something about that feels wrong, like we're observing her as if she were an animal, but at least she's awake. Even when I'm a whole room away, I can still see that her legs, which hang over her cot, are not as strong as they once were. It'll probably take her a little while to gain back the muscle mass she had before she was kidnapped.
Suddenly, a cold pang of fear shivers down my spine.
How will I tell her about her father's death?
The simplest answer I can come up with? I won't. At least not until she asks.
Before I know it, I am being led to her room, and it all feels like a dream. The door opens and I can see the true nature of her body, how desolate it looks. She is standing now, allowing herself to be free of the support of a bed handle.
I call out, "Charlotte."
She looks up, locating the source of the voice which had just called her name. She locks her bloodshot eyes on me, and replies, "Who are you?"
Initially, I felt hurt, but then I realized that she probably has blurry vision.
"It's Dan," I call out, and I feel the tears coming to my eyes again after hearing her voice.
"Dan..." she whispers to herself, pausing with a troubled look on her face. She looks down briefly, then back up at me, and she sees that I am now walking towards her.
She starts moving toward me too, but then I realize that her hands are raised as well, looking like the talons of an eagle searching for prey. Before I can fully process the situation, she grips my shoulders tightly and shoves her body weight into me, causing the back of my head to slam into the concrete wall.
I feel the blood coming out of my head immediately, and I see stars in my vision. It takes my mind a second to register what she is screaming at me.
"You left me! You forced me into this! You tried to kill me, you lying, you monstrous bastard! You left me for dead!"
I try to lift a weak hand to her, feeling the tears escape me as she repeatedly bangs my head against the wall while soldiers begin to come to my aid, and in the chaos of it all, she grips my hand with such raging force that I can feel my wrist snap.
I slump against the wall, having my eyes focused on nothing other than her deranged state. My eyelids get heavier with every second, and there are only a few words I can make out before I go dark:
"We should both be dead!"
