"Hey wake up," Sally nudged Layana's sleeping form under the covers. She rolled away and refused to be awoken. A few moments later, the others proceeded to do whatever they wanted except for Sally who was determined to wake her up.

Groggy, Layana sat up from her curled position. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes, trying to make sense of what Sally is telling her.

"Wha-" Layana didn't get to finish as Sally shoved steaming hot broth in front of her face.

"Eat," Layana nearly choked as Sally started shoving broth down her throat. Coughing, Layana pushed her hand away and tried to regain her posture.

"What was that for?! You almost killed me!"

"I'm sorry, I was worried," Layana raised a brow at Sally, her nose was stuffed and her eyes were weary.

"What happened to you?"

It was too late for Layana to understand the consequences of her words when Sally started rambling.

"You were blazing up when I woke up, the guards came in and told us you had gotten sick because you don't eat much and they advised us to feed you as soon as you regain consciousness."

Sally sniffled a little before vaguely gesturing to the chicken broth. "It's just that..." She shrugged and started feeding her chicken broth again.

"Last time one of us got this sick..." She couldn't finish her sentence as her eyes watered and she looked at Cathy's old sleeping place.

Well, my day's off to a great start.

Layana gulped, she wanted to comfort her friend, but right now she herself isn't in a good emotional state. The thoughts of promised 'escape' weighing her down. She said it without even thinking about how to escape, or even where they start. 

Helpless, she couldn't comfort her friend any longer than a couple awkward pats in the head. Sally even gave her a questioning gaze that punctuated every awkward pat to her head.

Layana cleared her throat and quickly removed her hand, opting to stuff her face with broth instead.

That day was off to a great start indeed.

But now they have to investigate.

The five children stood in a straight line in the middle of the room, hand to their sides and backs straight. They were waiting for the guards' arrival, just as usual. It was Cathy's idea to give them this formation, they didn't exactly know why, but Ian seemed to have an idea.

"It must be to protect the duffle bag that contains the book you call 'truth,' Layana," He had said as Andriette flung the bag across the room and into Mason's hand.

The others simply nodded their heads without question, it makes total sense.

But now the heavy footsteps echoed outside. The clanking of keys. The turn of a key. A guard in a hazmat suit came barging in, duffle bag in hand. He threw it at the children.

Layana couldn't help but squint her eyes as she looked directly at the guard's face, beneath it she saw shocked silver eyes. Her fists clenched, they thought they were simply animals who'd jump at their 'gifts' without decency! Is that why he threw it at the ground, to make a laughing stock of them?

Was he new? Definitely, the old guards they had had more decency than this. But most of all, they feared them for whatever reason, they believe they carry a disease.

The others seemed to understand what was happening now, as the guard stood in front of them, analyzing every single one.

Andriette was the first to move. Her steps were crisp despite the lack of footwear, and her head was held high despite the smears of dirt in her face. She walked with confidence to the dufflebag and never once kneeled to take what's inside.

Snatching the bag up to her level, she pulled out a pair of clothes. The usual. Except now a guard was watching them. Andriette gave no interest in the guard, and only retreated back to her position.

Sally and Ian went next in an orderly fashion as Layana felt the beads of sweat dripping down her palms. She couldn't bear to look at the guard, but she could feel his smoldering gaze on each one of them, as if urging them on to speak. What do they want? Do they...know?

Layana gulped, they don't want them to know, right? The grim feeling settled deep within the pits of her gut once again. How far would they go to try and stop them?

It was her turn now, and she begged her muscles to stop spasming under the guard's gaze. Layana breathed, she'll be fine. She's just getting clothes--hold on.

She paused in her tracks as everyone looked at her, her mind whirring for a second. They need to take much consideration for their weekly visitors. Especially now that they know.

Layana quickly regained composure and kneeled before the bag, she took out a pair of fresh white leggings. Her breath hitched in her throat and she felt the gaze of the guard boring into her skull. Layana had been so focused on the guard and what he must be thinking that she failed to notice the change in their uniform.

Sweating, she slowly looked up, eyes trailing up the guard's broad chest and shoulders. Their eyes met, striking grey caught Layana's  obsidian black ones. The older man loomed over her menacingly, he knows.

Layana stood up and turned her back on him, meeting her friend's confused gazes. Her eyes wavered to them, as if warning them not to seem suspicious.

She kept the stoic expression in her face just as Mason took his time taking his own clothes. The soft rustling of the bag was the only thing keeping the five children sane in this unbearable silence, almost as silent as the day she Cathy was taken.

Once Mason retreated back to their line, the guard gave them one final look of disgust, scoffed, and turned on his heels, empty bag in hand. The door closed with a loud bang that resonated in the children's ears, bouncing around the cold cement that caged them.

As soon as this happened however, Andriette, Mason, Sally and Ian all looked at Layana. They know what she realized.

"They know," Andriette stated simply with half-lidded hazel eyes. They weren't as shiny as they used to be. Well, Layana would argue that Andriette's eyes have never been lively for all her life. But the grim look they had on each of their faces since that night has been unmistakable, but Layana isn't losing hope. Especially now that they've got a couple aces up their sleeves.

"Wait--who knows what?" Sally said from a far corner, neatly folding her new uniform. "Come to think of it, I don't think they've ever given us white clothes before."

Mason only snorted beside her, "well don't you think it's nice that they're finally changing things up a little? Those dark ones were drab."

Sally didn't have to ponder this for a lot before she beamed in an idiotic smile, "oh right! I bet these ones were made by the people outside." Everyone gaped at Sally.

She blinked at them, taken aback before crinkling her nose in disgust. "Are you lacking in faith?" She piped. "The Bible obviously states that there are people outside. Communities," she said, stressing over that one word.

Andriette rolled her eyes and was about to walk away with the others when Sally stopped them with a "hep-hep! I'm not finished yet! You don't think I'm that of an idiot, do you?" She stood up and faced Andriette in the eye. From behind her, Ian could only sigh and shake his head.

He nudged Layana in the sides, "do you know why Andriette keeps on getting into fights?"

"I might have an idea."

"It's because she always thinks negatively of everything and everyone," Ian sighed and stayed quiet for a while as Andriette and Sally argued before him. Layana stared silently at the boy, dark eyes shadowed by his darker curls. Softly, she heard him say under his breath, "I just hope someone manages to help her when I'm not around."

Layana's eyes widened and she quickly caught Ian by his shoulder, "have you been having nightmares lately?"

Together, they engage in an intense eye staring contest, whoever has the darkest eyes wins. Ian looked closely at her, as if hoping to read the girl just as much as she was able to read them. But Layana only stared back, she knew exactly what was happening. It's starting to picture in her head now, what she has to do. There was simply one single problem--

"You can't even solve two plus two!" Sally's piercing shriek nearly shattered both their ear drums as they took their eyes off of each other and back to the fight.

Andriette had Sally in a headlock, "who're you calling dumb?" Sally coughed, helplessly slapping Andriette's arms around her. "Now tell me what you need to tell me without insulting me--!" Andriette shrieked again but was shocked when Mason had already broken the two apart.

Sally doubled over, catching her breath, "you--"

Layana stood by her side and rubbed her back up and down, "shush you'll frustrate her more."

Mason now looked intently at Andriette, who had her arms crossed in front of her chest. He sighed and gave her a reprimanding look, something only Cathy or Layana usually gives them. Andriette couldn't help but scoff slightly before Mason turned around and addressed Sally. "You said you wanted to say something important?"

"Something important? How important?" This time, it was Layana who asked the questions. She had been so caught up in trying to read Ian that she completely became oblivious of the elephant in the room (she learned that from Cathy).

"Sally said she might've been able to put two plus two together and now she needs to tell us. But really had to aggravate Andriette first." Ian deadpanned, catching Layana by surprise. So he was really that attentive?

Sally huffed, more so in childish pettiness than actual frustration, "fine." She straightened herself and slowly turned her back on everyone.

"If you're trying to look cool, it isn't working," Andriette called her out, making the poor girl flush red in embarrassment. Sally sighed instead but suddenly bent down to shuffle through the small pile of papers in the corner.

Layana studied her closely, but Sally only turned back to them, face unmistakably serious. This made Layana quake in her place, if even Sally is serious, then this must be an urgent matter indeed.

She walked up to them, a piece of paper in her hand, "I saw this when I was fooling around yesterday..."

She uncrumpled the paper as everyone crowded behind her. Sally smoothed it on the ground. Layana had her eyebrows knitted together, what could this mean? There were several names on the paper and a couple hearts on the margins.

"Did a child write this?" Andriette snorted.

"Maybe one of us did when we were younger?" Mason said, staring intently at the names.

Sally quickly traced her fingers on them and read the paper out loud, "Cathy, Maribeth, Peter, Samael, Mason." All eyes turned to the blue-eyed blonde cowering in the corner. His eyes spelled fear and curiosity, "who are the other people?"

"How would we know?" Andriette droned before looking back to the paper and saying the other names out loud. "Jemimah Reed, Noel Reed, Jason Reed, Nyla Reed." Totally unfamiliar names. Not a single face popped up in the children's minds.

"Andriette, Sander, Sally, Layana, Ian," the last batch of names ended with a flourish of childish black hearts. A grim silence fell on the children as they quietly look at each other, confusion clear in each of their eyes. However, as certain olive skinned girl did not dare look at her friends, instead she turned her head to the end of the room. A red dot blinked back at her.

Chills ran down Layana's spine and she immediately turned her back on the red dot, standing up in shock. Layana brought her hands to her lips, if Cathy truly isn't dead then they must've kept her hostage. But for what purpose? Her eyes landed on the bag hidden under the covers. Is that what they want to get? But...the certain red dot flashed on her mind again.

Wouldn't they have known already where they put it? Besides, the guard's expression. His eyes. She knows he knows, so why didn't he arrest them like they did Cathy? Or could it be because... Layana started pulling on her lips now, still deep in thought. That's right, they have no power within this place. Even if they know the truth now, they still are yet to learn everything. And even if they succeed on doing so, what could they even do? They're restrained to this place.

"Layana, you okay?" Sally's voice pulled her back to reality as she realized everyone's already staring at her. Layana cleared her throat, averting her gaze to the door.

"This place..." images of the red dot, Cathy's limp body, her and Ian's nightmares flashed across her mind and all Layana could do is press her palms to her temples. All of these are hurting her brain, how could they save Cathy when they can't even help themselves?

"This place...is a mystery..." She closed her eyes tightly. The Lord has likely already placed clues all over them: the dot, the Bible itself, the names. And yet they couldn't even solve one bit. Not a single bit made a sliver of sense. Layana gulped and for the first time, she let the tides of doubt surge in. What if their goal isn't even real? Should she really depend on the Bible? On the nightmares she gets every night? But no, it's the only thing they have left.

I just need a little reassurance...

That this place...isn't home.

***

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