What’s worse than missing out on a free dinner? I am so hungry… It feels like I haven’t eaten in ages! 

I guess what’s worse is that a security crew is now probably looking for me. I have a sinking suspicion that Thomas just left the missing person they are looking for.

Am I even important enough to be declared missing? It’s not like I have any family who would be looking for me. They’re all dead. I mean, maybe a couple of friends would wonder where I have been, but would they be concerned enough to search for me? Would my professors recognize that I am not in class? I know a lot of people, but I am not particularly close with any of them. I only call Chirs once a month, and I just called her to check in when I started my latest lab report. She might have raised me, but we both like our space.

A sudden jolt of pain in my neck draws my hand to what must be forming bruises. Maybe it is not friends who are looking for me at all. Maybe it’s Jace?

Maybe it’s not even me they’re looking for? Like, how much clout could Jace have?

As if I could get a clue to the whole situation, I pull out Jace’s badge and keys and take a moment to read what it says under his name. ‘Lead Security Officer’. I guess that would make him Thomas’ boss. Apparently he could have a lot of clout. The missing person is definitely me. Jace probably wants to finish me off.

Well, that settles it.

I can’t stay here much longer.

But the question is, how do I get out? I need a handprint to access any significant elevator or staircase. I could go back to the medical unit and wait until someone goes to go home and follow them out. But Thomas said that everyone needs to swipe out when exiting the front entrance. Plus, they have already seen me in the medical unit. I still think that going up will be my best option. 

I’ve circled back to the same question, how the hell do I get out of this place?

“I just need a break, god damn it.” I tell the universe as I slide into a sitting position against the wall Thomas just left through, Jace’s keys and badge still in my hands. I rest my head against the wall and close my eyes, hoping the coolness of the material would help me think. I shot up with a start. “Shit, if this is an entrance to an elevator, I’d better be careful where I sit. Who knows who will come out of it and when.”

...

“Great, now I’m talking to myself.” I sigh, looking up at the wall behind me. “Wait a second, I might’ve just found my break.” From this angle, I could see the faint outline of a keyhole. The ‘Lead Security Officer’ must have a key, right?

“It’s worth a shot,” I mumble, moving to my knees so I could reach the keyhole. There are five keys on Jace’s key ring. Looking at the ridges of each, I pick the one that most likely fits the lock. “Please, please, please,” I whisper, lining the key up.

The key slid into place -so far, so good- and I slowly turn it. I was able to turn it 90 degrees to the right, before hearing a soft click. I held my breath, waiting for something further to happen.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Thirty seconds.

Nothing happened.

“Oh, come on! I just want to get out of here!” I stood up and kicked the would be door. Eventually, I let my hands fall to my sides and place my head against the wall. “Open sesame. Please?”

As I leaned against the wall, I heard another soft click. I was able to stand straight again, right before the door opened. “So all I needed to say was ‘please’? Okay. Okay.”

I took the key out of the wall and high-tailed it into the elevator. Looking at the buttons, I noticed that there was a badge reader, just like at the dam where I used to work. Hopefully Jace hasn’t reported his badge missing yet. If he has, it might not give me access anymore. I’ve gotten this far, I’d really hate to not continue because the elevator doesn’t move.

The doors to the elevator close and I place Jace’s badge over the sensor. One after another, three lights over the scanner light up green. Awesome! Now I just need to pick a floor.

I was about to mumble to myself some more when I froze in place. Wait, what if that’s what Jace wanted me to do. What if he is tracking his badge as I stand here contemplating which floor to pick? And what if there are cameras in here? I shouldn't talk to myself in case there is an audio tap. All I want is to go home, pet my dog, and sleep in my own bed. Shit, I really hope my dog is okay. 

Ugh, I need to focus. 

It’s like a light bulb went off in my head. I have always wanted to do this anyways.

Starting at the top of the buttons, I slide my hand all the way down to the bottom, hitting all 15 buttons. I could have swore there were only 10 floors to this building? Maybe there are subfloors? 

What am I doing? Focus. Focus. 

Stopping at all the floors will give me time to think of an actual plan instead of about the architecture of the building. All that matters is that I get out, preferably undetected.

Looking around, I found my earlier suspicions were correct. In the far left corner there was a small, but discernible camera lens. Lucky for me, I only see the one. Unlucky for me, I don’t have anything to break it; it would surely hurt my fist if I punched it, and who knows, it might still broadcast footage with a broken lens. I should cover it with something. But what? I don’t have a lot on me. Maybe my mask? But I’ll probably need that later; it's hard to tell who someone is when they have a mask over their face. 

I have to think of something quick, the elevator is almost to its first stop and I really don’t want anyone watching knowing where I get off. The elevator had gone all the way to the bottom floor, which gave me at least a couple of minutes to think.

I brought my hand to my mouth, tapping my mouth in thought. I jolt and look down when something cool grazes my cheek. Yes! That’s it. I shouldn’t hold on to Jace’s badge in case they can use it to track me, and I want to cover the camera. I’ll just cover the camera with the badge. It’s a win-win.

I quickly undid the keys from the ID badge, returning the keys to my pocket and jamming the badge against the camera, using the clip it was attached to to hold it in place. Right as I finished putting the badge in place, the doors dinged open, revealing a long and lonely hallway. Now I could only hope there weren’t cameras or other people waiting for me directly off of the elevator.

------

It was a lot of waiting and a lot of worry, but the elevator finally announced that it made it to the top floor. I had made it to the top without anyone entering the elevator or forcing it to stop, and the badge was still securely in place over the camera, so overall, I consider the trip a win. Now, if I could just get to the roof without anyone noticing.

I really, really, hope that the meeting Thomas ran off to was not on the top floor. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the top floor was the roof? I doubt it will be, but a girl can dream, right?

The moment of truth.

The doors dinged open one final time. My dreams were crushed when I didn’t see the sky. Damn. But as long as I am safe, I don’t care about reaching the roof. I just need to take it one step at a time.

No one came rushing at me. I guess I am safe. For now.

Before stepping off, I pushed all of the buttons once more. Better to be safe than sorry, I shrug to myself.

------

As I exit the elevator, I enter yet another hallway. It seemed to be a theme in this building. While walking, I am actively looking for cameras. I want to avoid being seen as much as possible, so whenever I spot one, I do my best to avoid it. At least my education was good for one practical thing: thanks Physics II for teaching me about the range of cameras. Why did you have to be so terrible with everything else?

Even though I was skirting the cameras, I held my head high. I still want to look like I know where I am going. Confidence when running into someone is key. That’s how I was able to deal with Thomas, and I feel like that situation went well.

“Give me one second, Isabella. You know I have to check the hall first.” Is it my imagination, or do I hear him now? 

Shit. 

I would recognize that southern drawl anywhere. It’s definitely him. My confidence may have worked on him once, but I don’t think I’ll be able to fool him again. I look around, but I don’t see him. I can hear footsteps approaching though.

Without much thought, I dive into the closest room. From my very brief view of the room, I determine it is a bedroom. I run to the bed and slide under. Not that I am that big, but the bed is a tall queen-sized bed, so there is a lot of room underneath, and there is a bed skirt hiding my position. I can still hear footsteps and light chatter coming from the hallway. Hopefully I can wait a bit here.

I hear the door open and footsteps echo around the room. They don’t seem to be coming towards the bed. 

In fact, they’ve stopped. When did they stop? 

I am holding my breath and scrunching my eyes shut, like that would help. The bed skirt lifts.

“I’ve found you.”