Into Ruin

Chapter 15 Trials

Matt and Gunnar slipped through the door that had been propped open with a piece of rusted scrap metal. Rorke didn't close it after them. Gunnar adjusted the collar on his shirt one more time then strutted forward like he had practiced. The walk was big, taking up all the space Travis probably thought he deserved.

The floors inside didn't have layers of dust and mold like those back home after the flooding, but they had a few chips and nicks. A few old leaves kicked around the off-red carpets. This hall didn't have any of the dome security cameras that Olivia and Yuri had reviewed with him, making it ideal to get inside.

Matt turned off at the first hallway and Gunnar kept going straight until he came to a spiral staircase with polished wooden handrails. Fancy people probably used to come here, he thought. He went down a level and the hallways got a bit narrower. He shuddered as the temperature dropped like it was a cool winter night.

"Fifty yards down this hall, then turn right. You'll come to some elevator doors," Olivia's voice rang in his ear.

Following her directions, he came to the elevator and scanned the ID card that Travis had given him. The doors opened up and a security guard stood with an expression flat like the ones on the dolls his mom would pick up for Aida from the bargain shops. Gunnar fidgeted while the agent looked over his badge again then back at Gunnar. He had to fool these people into thinking he was really Travis to blend in and gather information.

"Didn't think of making a run for it before the drug tests, did you?" The guard's deep voice echoed in the metal box.

"No, Sir." The agent raised an eyebrow. Gunnar realized he wasn't adding enough attitude, so he puffed out his chest and crossed his arms. "I have nothing to hide."

"I hope they straighten you up before they think about letting you onto the force."

The thought restored some of his confidence. Maybe he would be back at the job that Olivia had reviewed with him the past few days and it wouldn't turn into a disaster. But the Travis he'd met wouldn't let this guy have the last blow. He needed to maintain that cover.

"They let you on, so their standards can't be too high."

The man's hand went to the radio he had clipped to his dark pants. Gunnar's foot started to tap louder and louder.

"Careful," Olivia's voice carried through on the earpiece.

The elevator dinged before the guard could get too upset with him.

The doors opened to an open area with a ring where fights used to take place. One of his mom's customers always went on about betting on this, and horses. Gunnar had always thought it was stupid to throw away money with the chance that you'd lose it, but his mother told him to 'shut the trap' since the man's gambling and winnings kept a roof over his head and food on the table, every other day.

Instead of crowds that he'd see on TV, the seats had a few cardboard cut outs of people, animals and weird objects. The ring was full of weapons from blades to arrows to guns. Gunnar walked over to have a closer look when a loud voice stopped him.

"Only those with a clear mind are permitted to handle these tools."

A man with a gray beard and wrinkles around his eyes handed him a little cup that he'd seen at the doctors with the orange lid. Gunnar couldn't spot a men's room around anywhere.

"Right here?"

The men put his hand on Gunnar's shoulder. "Not shy, now are you?"

Gunnar grimaced. Having an old man look at his junk when there was nothing wrong with it made his skin crawl and get all clammy. He looked around the room and saw no way out.