Again, the big red monster attacked the city. This time, somewhere close to the wall. Again, we were all jostled into little bunkers. This time however, it felt like we were on a train as the monster was continuing its rampage right by the walls, the floor rumbled bellowed us and the lights were off for long periods of time. Through the walls we could hear the muffled roars of the beast and the buzz of helicopter and whine of missile fire.

From my bag I pulled out a notebook. I mapped out the route to the bunker from school. From there, I’d ride my bike to where the attacks were located. The only problem was how I’d get there. I’d first have to ask to go to the bathrooms, yes, but some of the bunkers we passed on the way had soldiers posted up front, so I’d have to sneak past them. There were also a few police officers strolling about. In my bag was a mask and some gloves so there was no risk of me getting identified, all I had to do was hope someone didn’t bother me and…

“Hey April,” Harper said, holding two coffee cups. “What you got there?”

Dammit. “It’s nothing,” I said, not meeting her eyes and hiding the map with body. “I just…”

“Looks like a map,” Harper said, sitting down next to me. “You planning to get out of here.”

“Keep it down,” I hissed. “And yes, I want to see the monster attacks.”

“Cool,” she said, handing me my coffee. I held it with both my hands, praying she wouldn’t say those three words. Those three damn… “Can I join you?”

Four words but man. “I mean you’d be in danger and…”

“I’m okay with that,” Harper said. “You seem to be forgetting I have like 4 black belts.”

“But we’re…” I said, stammering to find something.

“Seems like you’re making excuses,” Harper said. “Do you want me to come or not?”

To be honest, doing this whole thing alone would make me a bundle of nerves. I know for a fact that I’d screw up. “No,” I said, fingers twirling around the coffee cup. “I want you to come. It’s just…”

“You don’t have to worry about me, you know,” Harper said. “       I can handle myself.”

“I’m just used to doing things alone,” I said. And I meant it, ever since I was a kid in the orphanage, I’d had to take care of myself. “I didn’t mean anything by…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Harper said, patting my back. She leaned over my book. “Now tell me, what’s the plan?”

…

Because the monster attacks were so close to the walls, there would be extended periods of time where the lights were off. Harper would stand by the wall, as I asked for a toilet break. I’d try and make a distraction if the lights didn’t go off as soon as the door opened.

The teacher in charge of the door was…

“Mr. Bellamy,” I groaned. “Not again.”

I nodded at Harper who was sitting in the corner amidst a group of students huddled over a phone.

I waved at him. “Yo, I need to go to the bathroom.”

The lights started to flicker, despite that I could still see that iconic frown come over his face. “Is that a way to address your…”

“I need to go bad sir,” I said, hoping the flickering of the lights and the sudden rumble of the ground was enough to permanently switch off the lights. “There was something in the beans…”

“You know the procedure,” Mr. Bellamy said. “Only one male and female…”

“Mister Bellamy!” I yelled, trying my best to come off as desperate. “Come on…”

Mr. Bellamy frowned. “Okay.” He turned to the door, using the key he was assigned to open the heavyset door. The lights flickered once more and go off. There were some panicked mutters but people were comforted by the light of their phone screens. I cast a quick glance at Harper and gave her a nod. She started to move towards me, hugging the walls. I heard Mr. Bellamy grunt and the door groan open.

“Please be careful, Ms. Anji…”

I stepped outside. I could feel Harper hugging the walls next to me. Harper brushed my shoulder, narrowly avoiding touching Mr. Bellamy. We were just about to make it out when the lights flickered on.

It was like I was in a freeze frame. Mr. Bellamy was just about to shut the door, it would take about a fraction of a second to recognise Harper standing by my side despite being in the process of closing the door. I knew I didn’t have the reflexes to do it but somehow, I forced myself to push Harper to the side before Mr. Bellamy recognised what was going on. I could see Mr. Bellamy’s eyes narrowing in recognition as the door grinded to a slow close.

Time went back to normal. Before the room was covered by the heavy metal door, I saw a pair of grey eyes.

Harper was on the floor, she looked dazzled. I was half-afraid Mr. Bellamy would call me because he saw Harper sneaking out but through the metal door, I heard a muffled:

“Remember to knock when you’re done with your business.”

I stared at Harper, I was one hundred percent sure that he saw Harper, but it was as if a miracle had occurred and I pushed her at just the right split-second to hide her from Mr. Bellamy.

There are others just like you, I remembered Violet saying. People who are not themselves.

“Quick thinking,” Harper whispered to me. She got up and dusted herself. “Now let’s get outta here.”

Those grey eyes staring at me from behind Mr. Bellamy, they looked so familiar. I didn’t have time to think as Harper took out her flashlight, I brought out mine and we dove into the dark winding depths of the tunnels.