Malik sits down and I can feel his gaze on me. "Anything that makes sense, go ahead."

I pause for a moment before speaking. "Well, ever since we talked to her on the bus, I thought she sounded slightly off, almost as if she was hiding something from us. And when we were walking, I felt like someone was following us, and seeing as there was nobody else around and she left the bus around the same time and place as us."

He ponders this for a moment. "Well, we know how she's on their side, but not why. They had to do something to convince her to join them, and if it was something to do with the future, then chances are it concerns you."

I think for a moment. "Hmm. Good point. But first, I think we ought to try getting out of here first."

Malik does not reply, and it takes me a few seconds to realise he is in deep thought. "Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...." he ponders, and carries on like this for another painful two minutes.

The third time he pauses for breath, I turn to him. "No offense, Malik, but that is kind of off-putting."

"How else do you expect me to think?" He tuts. 'Kids these days."

I cough awkwardly, biting back a grin. "I am only around three years younger than you."

He pauses. "There's still a difference. Now let me think. Hmmmmmmmmm....."

I put my hands over my ears and shove my head into my knees. "Please, Malik, stop! We will not get anywhere at this point."

He groans loudly. "Fine."

For the next five minutes, there is no sound apart from the echo of footsteps and pattering of voices outside the door. I close my eyes (it did not make much of a difference though) and rack my brain for any possible solution.

I am just on the verge of giving up when a sudden thought occurs to me. "Hang on..." I mutter under my breath, and open my eyes quickly.

When I was around two years old, technology was still around and, instead of trying to keep humans alive, the government tried to advance the new generation by inserting implants into their brains, giving them the ability to soak up information within a second and to communicate directly with computers, meaning we could hack any system. Because of this, the government decided they made a bad idea, and banned all uses of the implant's abilities. 

But the damage was already done.

I had been one of the twenty-or-so toddlers given the implant, which means I can communicate with computers. And if I can do that, maybe I can find a way to break the lock, in case it is comuter-wired. It is a stupid and badly-thought of plan, but there is no other option, and there is a tiny chance it might work.

Malik must have sensed my excitement, because he says, "What's up?"

I get up and head towards the door. "I have an idea. It might not work, but you will have to trust me on this one. I will explain everything later."

He gets up and follows me to the door. "Right. Shall I do anything, or are you gonna be able to do your future-y voodoo by yourself?"

I smile briefly. "I would not call it that, but I do need your help. Please can you try and see if anyone is out there?"

Malik kneels down next to me. "Sure thing, but if we get killed, I'll murder you."

How does that work? I have no idea. While he peers through the keyhole, I close my eyes and focus, trying to drown out the sound of his shuffling. Just as I am about to find it, he stands up next to me, effectively breaking what little concentration I had.

"Yup, no one's there."

I nod. "Thank you."

I start the process again, trying to imagine what the lock looks like. Sub-conciously, I clench my fists and bite my lip. Doing it with computers usually drains me, but I have no idea how things will go down with a lock.

After a few moments, their is a sudden click and the door swings open, revealing a slightly dark corridor, completely devoid of any of the people who took us.

Malik stares at the door, then at me. "Cool!" he whisper-shouts.

I want to say something, but a sudden dizziness washes over me and my knees crumble out from beneath me. Malik grabs my arm with surprising strength and half-carries, half-helps me to a chair. 

 I try to mutter an apology, but my lips will not move and I simply nod in thanks to Malik, who shrugs. My vision is slightly crooked, but I can vaguely see him grabbing his backpack off the table (they took it off him when they brought us here) and bringing out something. He hands it to me, and I realise it is a bottle of water.

"Drink. But not too fast." he instructs me.

I do so, and after a few moments, my vision slowly clears and the dizziness subsides to a dull fatigue. Usuing the table for support, I stand up shakily and give the bottle back to Malik. "Sorry and thank you."

He takes the bottle and grins. "I am so gonna wash this when I get the chance. Also, it's all cool, just as long as you tell me how the heck you did that!"

I manage a small laugh. "Let us just say I had a hunch. Now, we need to find Andy. And get away from here."

He nods. "I thought you'd never ask!"

We decide the best place to start looking is the corridor. Howver, when we get there, I resist the urge to groan. In front of us is what seems like fifty doors, all next to one another, all wooden and delapidated.

Malik stares. "Seriously?" he drags his hand down his face, groaning. "Alright. Luke, you take the left side and I'll take the right. Good?"

I nod. "Okay."

We begin to knock on each door, calling out Andy's name to see if there was any reply. First door: nothing. Second door: nothing. Third door: also nothing. After around ten minutes looking, I have one door left and I am ready to give up.

Malik has finisned his and walks over to the the door, which is where I am standing. All of his tries were futile as well.

He looks at me solenmly. "If this doesn't work, I will whole-heartedly give mysself back to Dianne and her gang of crazies."

I nod. "So will I."

Feeling a sudden rush of nervousness and excitement, I step forward and knock on the door.

 Once. 

Twice. 

Still no reply. 

I step closer to it and put my face closer to where the door met the corridor's walls. "Hello? Is anybody there? Preferably Andy?"

For a few excruciating seconds, there is no sound apart from the steady drip, drip of water leaking from the ceiling. I look at Malik and mouthes the words try again to me while pointing at the door.

I brace myself to yell again, but just as I am about to speak, there is a shuffling on the other side of the door. It is barely audible, but it is unmistakeable. There is another shuffling, and it feels like someone is coming up to the door.

I knock on it again. "Andy, is that you?"

There is some more shuffling, and then a small voice calls out, "Luke, is that you? Is Malik there as well?"

I feel confused. Her voice sounds scratchy and tired, as if she has been crying recently. "Yes it is. We are alone, do not worry. Are you okay?"

There is a long pause. Then: "I-I'll tell you everything when we get out."

Malik nods slowly. "Okay. Now we need to try and find a way to get you out, and there is no way Luke is doing his voodoo brain-y stuff again."

Andy gives a choked laugh. "I'm sorry, what?"

I glare at Malik and he smiles. "We've got a bit of a story too. Now, if I can just find the keys..."

He and I begin to start rummaging through cupboards, scouring every inch of the room for a key of some sort. But after a while of searching, we still have not found anything.

I walk over to where Malik is. "I have not yet found the key. Have you?"

He grunts. "Nearly there.... I've almost got it.... YES!"

Malik grins and stands up, holding something small in his left hand. I look closer and see it is some sort of pin.

I raise my eyebrows. "Forgive me for asking, but what are you going to do with that?"

He looks at the door, then at me. "You ever tried picking a lock?"

***

A few minutes later, after almost breaking the pin around ten times, Malik manages to open the door. Almost immediately, Andy walks out and hugs him first, then me (I try not to blush, but it is kind of hard).

"Thanks so much! I was beginning to give up!" is the first thing she says.

Malik nods, and slings his bag higher onto his shoulder. "Yeah. But now we need to find a way out of this place. I hate to be the one to say it, but this place is kinda starting to get on my nerves. Just a bit though."

I smile. "You can say that again."

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