Surviving

Chapter 29

"Rise and shine ladies, there's work to do," a feminine voice called out, and I sat up to see a stout woman standing in the doorway. "Now that y'all are here you need to carry your weight. It won't be anything too bad, just taking inventory of supplies and such."
   
I groaned as I picked myself up to join the other girls. We filed out into the hallway, greeted by multiple adults armed with guns. I looked at them warily, knowing they could and probably would shoot at any moment.
  
"They are only armed with tranqs, but that doesn't mean they won't use them if there's trouble." The woman frowned slightly at the accusation plastered on all of our faces. "We don't want to have to shoot you, and as long as y'all aren't a threat there won't be a problem."
   
We were led back to the gym, where the boys were already waiting. Everybody was assigned a job, and then led to their appropriate area. I was assigned to food organization.
   
I was led down a dim hallway with barely any windows, which ended at a large room filled with cans.
   
"Organize these by food type. Someone will be here to help you in a few moments," the guy said. He stepped outside of the room and sat down.
   
I rolled my eyes, not surprised that they gave us the most tedious of jobs. Walking over to the stacks of cans, I noticed that the ones further back had a layer of dust, as if, even in the time they were needed most, they remained forgotten.
   
I pulled a can off of the nearest stack and placed it on the floor. Then, I began looking for similar cans to put with it. It didn't take long for the new stack to reach knee-height.

"Want some help?" a voice asked from behind me. I spun around to see  Roland standing in the doorway.

"Sure," I replied, and then went right back to working. I needed to keep my mind off of what had happened.

"I ran into Hayden. She said y'all wanted to get out. What's the plan?"

"We don't have one yet."

"Well, I want to know when you do."

"Okay." I went to the stack opposite of him and began sorting the cans there with no intentions of furthering the conversation. Roland appeared to have the same idea.

We worked and worked until there was hardly enough light to do so any longer. By then, about half of the cans had been sorted. Two separate people came to get us, leading us in opposite directions. I eventually arrived back to the classroom where Hayden and Ingrid were already whispering in the back corner. I went over and sat next to them.

"We have a plan," Ingrid said, "and this one is gonna work."