14. 14 #2
Weeks passed after Baker we were walking at a snail’s pace.
Instead, we listened to what Elias heard.
Footsteps echoed, probably fifteen yards away.
I stared at Elias’s hands, waiting for the signal to run, but it never came.
Novikov walked away, the sounds of his heavy presence fading.
His back flat against the wall, gun raised, Elias peaked his head around the corner.
We crossed the open space, and I was delighted to find that Elias was leading us into a room. He waited by the door until Misha and I were safely inside, and he closed it softly behind us. It was so dark, I had to hold my hand out to make sure I didn’t bump into a shelf and knock something over.
Elias turned his flashlight onto the lowest setting, and meandered around the room.
With the help of his light, it became evident to me that we had made it to an electrical room.
Multiple breakers were affixed to the wall, and a small computer was in the corner, with four monitors next to the tower.
Security cameras, likely. I hoped I didn’t have to watch Elias and Novikov fighting on them later.
Elias whispered, “It’s a mess in here.”
One of the breakers was missing the handle to turn it on, and the other breaker was missing the majority of its fuses. I walked to the edge of the room until I could no longer see the door. Leaning against the wall, I let myself slowly fall, legs stretching out in front of me.
Misha joined me, sitting far enough that we weren’t touching, but close enough to talk.
“Is he crazy?” he asked.
I stifled a laugh. It felt like we were all crazy. “Almost. Just really determined.”
“I can see that. I am surprised he could convince you to leave the mess hall.”
If the lights were on, Misha would have seen my face flush. If he only knew. “Elias has his ways,” I said.
Misha glanced at Elias and then back to me. “I understand why you brought him with you.” He paused. “Is it wrong of me to hope for a fight just to watch him win?”
“I’m sure you’ll get your wish, sooner or later.” My words weren't bitter, though they should have been. It was crass to speak that aloud, but I gave Misha the benefit of the doubt. He couldn't understand what we’d been through or how likely a fight was to happen.
“Cassie, can you look around and see if this handle is here somewhere?” Elias asked. He was busy looking at the electrical panel. A piece of paper hung between the fuses, and even in the dark I could tell that it was poorly labeled.
“Of course.”
Doing our best to stay undetected, Elias's flashlight only illuminated a few feet directly in front of him.
Once, when he was replacing a light switch at home, I had to hold a flashlight for him.
I clicked through the settings, and was astonished that a flashlight would have a setting that dim.
When I questioned him about it, he assured me that it came in handy. I didn't believe him until now.
The computer desk was a fine place to start my search. I felt around the tabletop, my hands grazing the surface, careful not to disturb what may have been cluttering it. All I found was dust, and it quickly accumulated underneath my fingernails.