Emoni McLaris

Chapter Ten: Breaking Out

Outside my cell.

I'm finally out of that thing. And now I'm in a big circular rooms, the curved wall blank, bar from signs-numbers-spread around evenly.

I turn around at the sound of my wall-door fizzling shut. Andy is doing something to the lock. Bringing my attention back to these numbers, the one directly across from my cell catches my eyes.

200799

I know that damn number!

I run to it and bang on the wall-door.

"HELLO?" I scream. "Who's in there?"

"HELP" It's Ruby.

"oh my gosh, RUBY! Ruby! It's Ruby!" I can't tell how this stupid thing opens. "Andy! Help me with door! Andy!"

They're just standing there. "The plan is just you." Andy says quietly.

What?

"But...it's Ruby." I beg. "You may not understand this, but she's my sister and I'm not leaving this place without her. And what about the other prisoners? I guess there are others, more than just my own class. They don't deserve this-no one deserves this."

I implore Andy to realise that this is more than me or them.

"Andy," my voice now a desperate whisper. "Please."

They sigh soundlessly and walk on over and do the same they did to my door, but in reverse. The wall does its thing, slower than usual. It's agony waiting. I need to get to Ruby right now.

Now.

It opens up and I see her drenched in what I hope is only sweat, hanging from a contraption very different from what I was held in. She's hanging above a pool of partially dried blood. I remember for the first time what I'm wearing when my bare feet meet the sticky floor. Ruby and I are both still in black pyjama-like pants and black singlets.

"EM!" she gasps. "Em, Em, Em! Please help me!"

"Take your time." Andy says impatiently.

"We're gonna get you outta here." I promise while untying her. She falls onto and I expect the extra weight to stress my body, but Andy's trick hold ups. "Alright, come on let's go."

I walk Ruby out of her cell, which closes behind us. "Andy, the next door!" I shout, then inspect Ruby's wounds. "Where are you hurt? We'll help you, Andy can help you."

"How?" she says faintly. "Who's Andy?"

"Over there," I nod. "They helped me...I don't know...forget about my pain. When they're around, it's like I was never hurt, and I'm happy for it." I blush. Why am I blushing? Damn.

I hear Andy command the other two inmates they just released. Ruby and I both turn our heads to see Andy giving cards to our classmates Tiblyn Esta and a red-haired boy I've never seen before.

"These cards will open all the doors, get everyone out at that end of the corridor. I'll stay here and do these ones, then we'll meet up in the middle and head down the left passage."

Tiblyn and the boy look in shock but they do what they're told anyway as they walk past us, he catches my eye and gestures to indicate he does not know what's going on, and honestly, I agree.

Andy tells me to help Ruby get to the meeting point because by that time they will have opened all the rest of the doors. Andy's the boss, so I don't question it.

They were right of course. By the time Tiblyn and the boy have returned with many people following and Andy has lead the rest to the T-section, there about 40 of us. For the amount of people here, it sure is quiet.