Missing Streams

Rate The Teacher - 26

"I need to know how they do it." Scarlet breathed through angry clenched teeth, "I need to know how they track us."

"Do you have theories?" I wanted Scarlet to stop feeling so bad about it.

"They obviously have security cameras. Doesn't take an idiot to figure that out." Scar picked at her cuticles, "But they don't have them everywhere, and even if they did they don't have the staff to watch them all. They don't have anyone patrolling, and the fence isn't even electrified. They have some strategy we don't know about."

"Maybe they're just good with the cameras."

"No, they're not just good with the cameras." Scarlet glared at me, "Because those alarms that went off when I escaped? They started the moment I passed over the fence. Not even when I hit the ground. The alarms sounded the moment I passed the barrier that decides what's their land and what isn't. And they do not have cameras out that far."

"How would you know?" I wasn't actually that doubtful of Scarlet's knowledge, but challenging her knowledge was the only way for her to tell me anything.

"Because I've seen blueprints of the buildings, that include the locations of the security cameras. The only outside cameras are at the front door, and all the other cameras aren't in any rooms except for the cafeteria. Other than that it's just the hallways, and they aren't exactly generous there either."

"So are they idiots or what?"

"These guys aren't stupid enough to give us free reign." Scar frowned, "They're smart enough to keep away from any rooms that would give them shady footage. They don't want to record the shit that goes on in this place, because the footage does get saved for further reference."

I couldn't stay on topic anymore, "What about when Xavier beat the shit out of me?"

"Probably deleted it." Scarlet sighed, "Doesn't matter, though. My main concern is surviving to see the day we get out of this place."

"And how are we supposed to do that?"

"I'll get back to you on that." Scarlet stood up without warning, throwing me a grin, "Go hang out with Simon. I might disappear for a while."

"Okay." I didn't even waste time thinking about arguing with her.

***

"She's still trying to do that?" Simon shook his head, "That girl's gonna get herself killed."

We were sitting in an empty room in the hospital wing while Simon was supposedly cleaning it. Nobody actually checked, so Simon just mopped the floor and sat down with me. I was glad to be somewhere quiet, but not so glad my thoughts could roam free, "I know you're worried about her, dude, but she'll be fine."

"I'm worried about you, James!" Simon shoved me, but avoided my eyes.

"Sure, buddy." I laughed, "Seriously, though, Scar's gonna be fine."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Have you been living under a rock?" I laughed, a grin remaining when I continued to speak, "She climbed a barbed wire fence, ran for five minutes with a prosthetic leg, and got shot by a tranquilizer that knocked her the fuck out."

"Yeah, but-"

"No, I'm not done yet." I grinned with the adrenaline I felt from just talking about this stuff, "She got out of the hospital essentially half paralyzed, and when some dick started beating me up she beat the shit out of him and dislocated his jaw even though he stabbed her in the stomach. And that was half paralyzed. Imagine what she could do if she wasn't paralyzed."

Simon tried to hold back a smile, but it didn't work, "I guess you're right. I'll have to give her credit for that."

I nudged him with my elbow, "She'll get us out of here in no time. I promise."

"As long as you two don't leave me behind."

"We won't. I promise."

***

"So, what do you guys do in class?" Simon looked at me with jealousy, obviously upset Scarlet and I didn't have to change bandages and wash scrubs on a daily basis.

"It's mostly like gym class, except it's taught by a psychopath." I snorted, "Who likes to skip class a lot."

"You're fuckin' tellin' me. Your teacher's Wexler, right?"

"Yep." I nodded.

"I hear that guy's an alcoholic." Simon rolled his eyes, "Cancels class when he's hungover or wants to drink. What isn't a rumor is that he's got so much authority around here nobody can tell him what to do."

"Yeah." I laughed, "I should've guessed that by now. The shit he does-" I paused, "Is actually probably pretty acceptable around here."

"What does he do?"

"Weighs us and tests our muscle mass and stuff. That's one day out of the week. Other than that he choses stuff for us to do that's supposed to challenge us, but we also compete against each other. I never win."

Simon nodded, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, "It's fine, though. I know you're great, and so does Scar."

I chuckled, "That's good to hear."

***

"When was the last time we even had class?" Scarlet rolled her shoulders as we walked through the gym.

"Can't remember exactly." I shrugged, scratching a scab on my arms, "It's wednesday, right? It was late last week when you punched Wexler in the gut and got detention."

"Oh yeah." Scarlet snorted, "He didn't like that."

"Try not to do that today, promise?"

"Fine. I'll punch you instead!" Scar faked me out with a jab to the gut, making me gasp and start choking on saliva. Classy, James, classy. Scarlet was concerned, but only a bit, since she stifled laughter as she spoke, "You okay, kid?"

"I'm fine." I coughed out, holding my hands against my ribs. Fuck, the coughing hurt. Bruised ribs don't heal that quickly, and I wasn't being very careful at all. It was hurting more than normal and the pain didn't go away. Ugh.

"Watch yourself." Scarlet smiled and smacked my back. That did not help, only making me hurt worse. I tried to hide it, but Scar must have noticed, "Shit, sorry."

I grinned through the pain, "Don't worry about it."