Into Ruin

Chapter 21 Caged

Gunnar had a visitor in the morning otherwise he wouldn't have bothered moving. Tomorrow would be better and the next day too, but he had to get through the first days of hell first. He remembered very little, but Olivia's voice had said something about leaving. As far as he knew, he was the only one still left alive here. Not for long if Rob had his way.

Gunnar hadn't bothered making or keeping friends close to day zero, and Rob had taken his survival strategy personally. It didn't help that the guys from the bandana gang he'd deceived managed to show up here too.

Gunnar's only salvation was finding Aida, alive and really angry with him. He couldn't help it. He had to speak with her especially after Rob threatened to tip off the guards with his identity. Aida needed to know he still cared and that he was sorry for not looking harder for her when their mother died in front of her young eyes.

His visitor was the old man from the security training, Mr. Dugin. The guard opened up his cell door and the man stepped inside. The guard mumbled something along the lines of "your own risk".

"Now that the real Travis has come forward, what am I to call you?"

Gunnar rubbed his bruised hands together and looked at the floor. "Gunnar."

"Well, Gunnar, you have our undivided attention. You've caused us to open an investigation into our security staff, building's defences, and surveillance. What is it that you want?"

He took a deep breath then winced. "I wanted to know that my sister is safe."

"Your sister, Aida?"

"Yes."

The gold ring on the man's wrinkled fingers shone as he tapped his fingers on the table. "You infiltrated a high security establishment, just to check on your sister?"

Gunnar opened his mouth to correct him, but realized he'd just been given the cover story he needed. "I thought she was dead. When I heard she was here, I wanted to see for myself."

The ring had three stars and a curvy line, Gunnar noticed as the man placed his hands up like a steeple. "What have you been doing until now?"

Gunnar shrugged, regretting the action soon after. Everything but his toes stung after the guards' and Rob's beating. "Staying alive."

"Where have you been living?"

"In an abandoned house."

The man took off his gold glasses and rubbed his eyes. "It's astonishing you were able to survive the storms. They've been almost as powerful as the ones that took our country as we knew it. How did you do it?"

"Had a good bunker."

"While we don't condone what you've done here, we do see the value in having an individual like yourself at our disposal."

Gunnar's eyes widened and he took another deep breath that sent shockwaves of pain through his ribs. They were going to dispose of him, hopefully quickly.

"Just don't do anything to Aida."

"With your cooperation, there will be no need to harm your sister."

Silence followed as Gunnar thought about the different ways they could get rid of him. Being shot would be the quickest way out. They could also snap his neck like he did with the live rabbits.

The man put his glasses back on. "I see your wheels turning."

Gunnar's foot began to twitch. Not this again. "How are you going to do it?"

"Do what?"

"The disposal. Are you going to shoot me?"

"God, no. Where did you get that idea?"