natcat

This Means War

"I do miss the sun." Em agreed quietly. "It's weird not seeing the outdoors, usually we're surrounded by windows. It's just so artificial down here."
"I am sick of being blinded by these stupid walls." Spencer said and he didn't need to say anything for us all to understand and agree.
I nodded. "So what - a few weeks of staying down here in this unbelievably bright basement? What did the doctor say?" I asked Daisy after swallowing another tasty mouthful of waffle. "How long do they reckon you'll be in that chair?"
I then realised that Daisy didn't know what had gone on in the meeting we'd just attended. She had no idea we had all decided to leave but Nina. "Cause you know, we'll need to make a plan for once we get out of here." I caught her eye as I spoke, my way of telling her I'd decided to leave.

This Means War

I had. "Amazing," was all I said around my mouthful of waffle.
Em laughed and Spencer grinned at me.
"Of course the are. You know, I don't think I know a single person who thinks waffles aren't amazing." Spencer said before he shovelled another load of eggs into his mouth.
"I'm glad I can finally say I've tried them." I said as I worked on cutting the next mouthful off.
"You're now officially a member of the rest of the TIlerian population." Spencer joked.

This Means War

I smiled at what Daisy had said. "I'm definitely looking forward to finally trying them."
Spencer was the first to grab a plate, quickly moving down the line and stocking it up with a bit of each breakfast item.
"Here," Em passed me a plate and we started down the line. "You can't forget the syrup, that's just about as important as the waffle itself."
I nodded as she spoke, recalling the small jugs of honey coloured sauce the kids would pour over their plates in the diner, drowning the waffle in their excitement.
Once we reached the end, and I had bacon, eggs and a waffle on my plate, Em pointed out the syrup bottles, nodding for me to grab one.

This Means War

Spencer immediately grabbed a hold of Daisy's subject change, clearly eager to get rid of the growing worries in his head. "Man, I love waffles." He said with excitement, "I haven't had them in years!"
He grinned happily at Em who laughed at her brothers enthusiasm. "No, neither have I."
"What are waffles like? I've never had them." I asked curiously. Yes, I knew what they were, what they looked like and smelt like, but I'd never had the opportunity to try them.
Spencer gave me a incredulous look as we reached the door of the mess hall.
"You've never tried waffles?" He asked quietly and looked at Em, clearly thinking I was delusional.
She pushed open the door and let Spencer, Daisy and I through as she spoke, "How have you never tried them? They're like a staple in every Tilerian kids home."
"Yeah, well, not mine." I said, suddenly feeling a knot in my stomach. I could count on my two hands the amount of times I'd begged my father to let me try something outside of his usual grocery tendencies. I rarely argued with my father. This was just one of those things I'd missed out on. But I knew what they looked like that's for sure, I'd seen them once in a diner we'd been forced to stop in to one morning on a long trip west.
There were so many families sitting in the booths, talking and laughing over their steaming golden waffles. My father and I sat in silence as he downed a plate of egg and toast, and I had watched, my mouth watering, each and every time the waffles were walked past our table by the cherry waiter. They were always handed off to another lucky child, his mom and dad showing their excitement as the plate was laid before their boy. I had to turn back to a bowl of plain soggy oats, like I did every morning, sitting in the deafening silence that always accompanied my father and I.

This Means War

"Let's not pretend to know things we have no idea about." I said slowly, trying to still everyone's racing thoughts that I knew they'd be having, because I was having them too.
"That is a bit far fetched, just Spencer's mind running away again." Em said, smiling at me nervously.
"Exactly, ridiculous." I said, but as we carried along down the hallway, a peculiar a silence lingered over us. "Just like Daisy said, missions must happen all the time. Didn't Isy mention something like that earlier?"

This Means War

"Oh really?" Em frowned. "Weird, they didn't ask us anything last night. It's like they can only find the courage when we're on our own."
I nodded, also finding it peculiar. "Sounds like they have no idea what it's like." I shook my head. "Maybe they really don't... I wonder how long this base has been here, with that policy in place..." I trailed off as the four of us slowed down, suddenly taking on the weight of what I'd just said.
"What if it's been years? How many old people have we seen? What if some of these guys were born here? What if it's not even a base? What if these guys are just trying to rebuild and have their own private world down here?" Spencer started working himself up with his train of thought, but I had to admit, it didn't sound ridiculous.

This Means War

"Morning." We all spoke in usion in response to Daisy's greeting as she wheeled herself around the corner.
"What's for breakfast? Don't tell me you've already eaten?" Spencer said as he tried to lighten his own mood, walking up to Daisy grabbing the back of her chair, twisting around so she faced they way she'd come
"I'm starving," Em announced, "I hope there's bacon."
I smiled and nodded. "Is there bacon, Daisy? I'm not sure Em's going to make it much longer with a plateful." I joked and Em laughed but didn't disagree.

This Means War

We stood in silence as the door swung shut behind us.
I wasn't sure if I should leave them there and find something to eat, but I didn't feel right just walking away after what had happened.
"Did you know she wanted to stay?" Em asked and I looked at her, suddenly worried she was asking me. But her gaze was on Spencer's downcast face.
"No, she didn't tell me that. That's why I changed my mind and said I'd stay. I didn't want her to stay. Be alone here." He said looking at Em sadly.
"I know." Em reached over to her brother and gripped his shoulder, squeezing it briefly before pulling him into a hug.
Now I just felt like I was intruding. I stepped back slowly, unsure if it would be weirder to leave or stand here and wait or them to finish.
"C'mon. Let's go and see if there is any food left." Em said as she stepped back from Spencer.
Em smiled at me and touched my arm as she walked past with Spencer on her other side. "Coming?" She asked.
"I suppose so." I said and started down the hall with them. "If it's not too touchy of a subject, where's Joe? Have either of you spoken to him?"
Spencer looked over at me. "I haven't seen him since last night."
Em shook her head. "I saw him briefly early this morning, he said he was going to the food hall to eat. I assume he's in his room wallowing now."

This Means War

General Thomas had her answer. From the six of us that arrived yesterday, only one of us would be staying. I imagine she wasn't particularly pleased at losing out on six capable soldiers, but she didn't show those feelings at all.
"Thank you. Spencer, Emma, Sam," She started nodding at each of us, "remember to make yourself at home while you are here, you are welcome to leave any time you wish. I just have to clarify before you all leave, that there will be exceptions to the rule if it's found that you've discovered any information that cannot leave this building. Even something you overheard. We absolutely cannot risk any leaks. Understand?" She flicked her gaze at Nina, as we all nodded our heads.
The message was clear, Nina wasn't allowed to say a thing.
"Great, Nina will meet with you later." General Thomas dismissed the three of us, and with slow movements and regretful gazes, Em and Spencer stood up, following me out of the room.

This Means War

Nina frowned at her youngest brother. "No you will not, Spence. Don't you dare change your mind because of me." She said and I was suddenly reminded of a mother I'd once seen in a park when I was younger. She was telling her child off because he'd hit another kid in the park for teasing his sister. I remember sitting there alone at the top of the slide, watching and wishing that I'd had a mother to tell me off, a sibling to protect against the bullies, or even a father that cared enough to remember his own son had been waiting for an hour to be collected from his school across the road.
"I told you that I would go because that's what you wanted me to do." I was pulled back to reality with the sound of Spencer's voice. Em was looking between her siblings appalled as if she couldn't quite comprehend what was happening.
"Then respect that. I never wanted to go back home, Spencer. Our parents don't want me there, but they want you to be safe. If anything happens on my watch they will come and find me and kill me themselves."
"So you'd rather I'd die on Em's watch?" Spencer shot back.
I just sat there trying not to show my discomfort at the fight that seemed to be going nowhere.
"Spencer, just listen to her. How can you make me leave both of you behind?" Em pleaded with Spencer, grabbing his hand so tightly, I could see the white of her knuckles from across the table.
Spencer looked long and hard at Em, clearly thinking about his next words carefully. He looked over at Nina who gave him a look only he seemed to understand, before turning to face General Thomas who had been silent the entire time, waiting patiently for minds to be made up.
"I- I'll go. I'm sorry about all of this, but I promised. I did. I'll go with Em and Joe."