“Well, start to imagine that, because we’re getting out somehow. People break out of prisons.”

“You want to dig a tunnel?” she jokes, smiling shyly.

That’s the first hint of her true personality. I think she’s reinvented herself in here, too, so she can survive.

“If you have anything that will dig through concrete, I’m game.”

The building must have a concrete foundation. We can’t tunnel through concrete.

“I know I’ve taken on the role of cook; I’ve made or helped to make most meals since I got here, and, believe me, I’m more than happy with that. But if you ever need help with a plan or anything, you can ask me.”

I’ve been here less time than her, but she’s already assumed that I’m one of the leaders, like Theo. I’m not, though. There are different roles for different people in here, but no one can be in charge.

What feels like hours pass, and I’m beginning to get restless. As I’m about to start pacing, the door opens and Theo walks in.

I open my mouth to ask how he is, but he rushes past us, head down, eyes tight, legs moving at the speed of light. He slams the bedroom door shut.

“Don’t,” Priya says as I stand.

“But he’s not okay.”

“He needs time,” she tells me. “He always needs some time after. Please respect that. He’ll get out of bed and talk when he’s ready. Probably tomorrow.”

I lick my lips, taking one last glance at the bedroom door. “Okay,” I say. “I’ll give him time.”

15

As Priya said, Theo didn’t emerge for the rest of the night, and he was uncharacteristically late getting up in the morning.

When he did get up, he didn’t speak all morning and into the afternoon.

He is sitting on one of the sofas, surrounded by people, but I’m sure he doesn’t see any of us. I don’t know what to do to help. Does he want to talk?

Lucie put in a DVD to watch since we don’t have access to broadcast TV. The atmosphere in here is tense with Theo’s mood—not that anyone can blame him for not being himself. He must have been in a really bad room. I’ve not seen him come back before, but the side glances Lucie, Kevin, and Priya are giving him has me worrying, too.

What did he go through? I think he must have been in the water torture room because he came back damp. How do you cope with almost suffocating, hell, drowning, over and over for hours?

My heart slams dangerously hard in my chest.

I can’t go in there. I don’t know how to get through something like that.