Lost in Purgatory

Chapter 7

Felicity walked back to the field, feeling better than she had in a long time. Working on that amazing military computer, and coding again for the first time in what seemed like years was like nothing on earth. She was pretty sure she'd seen some top secret, need to know, classified stuff, but she'd pretended it had all flown out of her bubblehead brain as soon as he'd packed the laptop away.

That was pretty unfair to Oliver, though – she'd seen something very like respect in his eyes. Oh really, a voice crowed in her head. Respect is what we're calling it these days? Maybe . . . ok, maybe there was something else. The way he'd looked at her when she'd fixed it . . . in a movie there'd have been the sound of swelling violins reaching a crescendo. Or something like that. She waved the thought away. What had she seen, really? A look in his eyes? Sure. Like she could see anything right now. And this wasn't high school. This was the most dangerous place she'd ever been, she thought, as she got back to work. Tatiana was already there, and they exchanged nods. Felicity allowed herself a bit of nostalgia for their friendship. She might be imagining it, but Tatiana was colder to her ever since she'd started this thing with Oliver. I guess it's true what they say happens after you go all the way – she doesn't respect me anymore. Felicity almost giggled, and then bit the inside of her mouth until the impulse passed. Wow, if Oliver had known what an effect a bit of real work would have on her, he wouldn't even have let her touch the thing. The computer thing. Not his- come on, Felicity! Enough!

She knuckled down, reminding herself, once again, that she was in a horribly volatile place, and needed to focus. Two bangs in quick succession made her jump, and she sobered up completely. If she'd been anywhere but here, she would have dismissed the sound as a car backfiring, or fireworks. She was on the island, though. She knew better. Felicity heard some muttering from the other workers, and she looked up, only to see Vlad sneaking towards them, whispering something to the guard. He made a bee-line for Tatiana, and they immediately launched into a rapid conversation in Ukrainian. They kept looking over at her, and she started to get worried. Vlad snuck away again, and Tatiana quickly knelt next to her, pretending she was helping. Felicity's mouth went dry. She could barely get the words out.

"What's wrong? What's happened?"

Tatiana looked at her, almost pityingly.

"A strange man took Oliver away – he had a gun. Oliver is supposed to help him find something on the island. They say," and here she stopped, seeming unwilling to continue.

Felicity felt her lips trembling.

"Go on," she hissed.

"They say he will not come back. This man will kill him . . . or-"

"Or he'll take the opportunity to escape," Felicity finished, feeling a lead weight land on her chest.

The ridiculous thought came suddenly to her mind – it wasn't fair! She hadn't done anything wrong! Why should she be this afraid? Why should she live like this? She shook her head.

"I don't accept that."

Tatiana gave her a half-admiring, half-speculative look.

"Still, you must avoid Conklin as much as possible."

Felicity gave her a tired look, raising her eyes to indicate the man himself, who'd just strolled up to replace one of their guards.

"That's going to be hard."

She only realised how hard it would be when all the water she'd drunk that day started making itself felt. She held it in as long as she could, but when the pressure became unbearable, got up and started walking towards the clump of trees where she'd been told she could relieve herself when they were in the field.