Pierce slowly cracked her eyes open. She was lying on her stomach, on top of a thin mattress. The walls around her were painted a dull beige.
Pierce gingerly felt the side of her head, where someone had smashed to knock her out. There was a slight swelling, but nothing too serious. Then she rolled over onto her back and cried out in agony. Her back felt like an open wound submerged in salt water.
She sat up too quickly, feeling disorientated. The pain gradually diminished until it was reduced to a dim throbbing. Pierce stood up, her legs shaky beneath her, and leaned against the wall. The silver charm bracelet Dr. Spencer had given her ages ago clinked against her wrist.
The room she was in was small, no more than ten-by-ten. Aside from the low-lying cot, there was a small mirror mounted on one the walls. The floor was cement, but someone had thrown a woolen rug in the middle of the room to add a splash of color. There was one tinted window, but Pierce couldn’t see through it; she assumed it was a one-way glass. Last of all, there was a metal door tucked away in the corner of the room. Pierce didn’t have to test it to know it was locked.
She slowly walked in front of the mirror and pulled down the back of her shirt, peering over her shoulder. She let out a soft groan. The leopard’s claws had left considerable damage. Despite her enhanced healing abilities, her gashes still looked tender and raw.
Pierce threw herself onto the cot once more, taking care to land on her stomach. I need a plan. Her eyes bore into the window, wondering if someone out there was observing her. She wasn’t going to break down. She had to remain strong. I need a plan, she repeated in her mind.
First, I need to recover my strength. Heal a bit. She gently grazed her fingertips along her shoulder and back wounds, wincing slightly at the sensation. A day or two should be long enough for these cuts to close up completely.
Then Pierce realized she was hungry. And thirsty. She shook her head, refusing to let such trivial inconveniences to get in the way of planning her escape. I also need a way out of here. But first I have to find out where I am.
Her eyes scanned the room, searching for any hints telling her what her location was. For all she knew, she could be halfway across the country. Okay, so I don’t know where I am, she concluded after a thorough scan of her surroundings. I’ll worry about that later. I have to figure out how to get out of this room at least and then I can wing the rest of the escape. I’m fast enough to outrun any person and Sniffers. If I use my skills wisely, I should be able to get away from this place in one piece.
Her stomach rumbled again, clenching and unclenching inside her. Well, at least I can start phase one of my plan, she thought. Which is to recover and regain my strength.
With that thought on her mind, Pierce sunk into a deep slumber.
It was the sense of someone watching her that woke Pierce up. She squinted her eyes. It was that kid. What was his name? Oh yeah, Troop. That’s it.
Troop stood near the doorway. He’d been stealthy. She hadn’t heard him come into the room. He just looked at her for a few moments. Then he spoke.
“Are you feeling better?”
Pierce mutely nodded, thoughts running through her brain at high speed. Should I keep silent? How much does he know? Should I kill him? That’s why I was supposed to meet him in the first place. There’s nothing stopping me from killing him right now—I bet I could do it even though I’m hurt. He doesn’t look like a fighter. If I die trying to kill him, at least I can say that I’ve completed the mission.