Chapter Sixteen - Night Patrol

The five could no longer get away with sneaking to the kitchen, or plotting against the scientists. After being dropped off, two guards were positioned in each end of the hallway, making sure no more issues would occur. It did not matter to most of them, because the torture and questioning left them completely exhausted. The hallway was filled with the hushed voices of the two guards as they spoke to one another.

Travis sat against his door, listening to the soft chatter. He was not as lucky as the others who slept the hours away. Hugging his knees to his chest, Travis waited out the hours listening to the guards talk of the best kind of gun until the early hours of the morning. There was a long lull in the on and off discussion outside the door, and then he heard the guard by his door say to the other, "It's almost breakfast time. The caretakers will be here in an hour, let's go get something to eat." The other guard grunted, and then Travis heard the opening and closing of a nearby door.

Waiting a few minutes to make sure no one was going to replace the two who left, Travis stood and leaned against the door. When he was sure no one else was coming for a while he pushed the door open quickly and, as quietly as possible, dashed down the hallway to Jason's room. Busting inside, Travis quickly closed the door again, finding Jason out of bed with wide eyes.

"What-?"

"We don't have long." Travis rushed, fumbling with something in his pocket. "I did something bad, Jason."

Jason calmed down and furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean, Travis?"

Travis pulled out a cellphone, his hands slightly trembling.

"Where did you..."

"I don't know, I just had it." Travis shrugged. "I must have taken it when they were taking me back to my room." Travis rotated the phone in his hand. "We have to figure something out."

Jason reached for the phone, and looked it over. "It's locked." Handing it back to Travis, Jason sighed. "Unless you have someone's number memorized we can't do anything. And I doubt the police would do anything here."

Travis held the phone again, feeling heavy inside. "I only remember one number..." He said.

Jason instantly saw what was on Travis' mind. "The girl's number? The only number you remember is the girl who got you here?"

"It's not her fault i'm here!" Travis blurted. "She does hate me though." Staring at the numbers, Travis sighed. "I have to try. I should at least apologize to her."

Before he could chicken out, Travis punched in the numbers and held the phone up to his ear. The phone rang three times before a timid voice answered. "Hello?"

Travis froze.

The voice asked again, "Hello?"

"Hi..." Travis said, biting his finger.

"Who is this?"

"It's uh... Travis." There was no response. "Travis Peterson? I know I'm a jerk but your number is the only one I have memorized and..." Travis teetered off at the strange gasp across the line.

"Travis?" Kat croaked out. "You're alive?"

"Oh... yeah, everyone thinks I'm dead, huh? Well, I'm not, I guess."

There was a long pause, and a subtle sound of someone trying to breathe could be heard. "I'm so sorry." She cried. "I didn't know... but it worked?"

"What? What do you mean you didn't know?" Kat said nothing. "Well... I was calling to apologize for being such a jerk and to let you know me and a few others are being held captive against our will. Also, we will soon be made into military-robot food."

Kat's voice lowered as she responded. "Listen, it'll be okay. There's a plan."

"A plan? Kat, what's going on out there? What do you know?"

"It doesn't matter, just be smart, like I assume you're not being since you stole a phone." Kat paused for a moment. "Can you trust me?" She asked, her voice dripping with concern and eagerness.

"Yes... I think so." Travis replied. "Kat?"

"Yes?"

"What day is it?"

"It's a Wednesday." She said, a smile peaking through her words.

"Wednesday." Travis repeated, rolling the word around in his mind. "I think I like Wednesdays."

"I have to go." Kat said. "Be safe."

Kat hung up and Jason and Travis stared at one another for quite awhile. Finally, Jason stated, "You're about to get in a lot of trouble if you don't leave now."

Travis nodded, heading for the door.

"Also, delete your calling history." Jason called, as Travis retreated to his room.