Knock, knock, knock.
Myka Bering looked up, blowing a curly lock of hair away from her face. "Arite," she asked, "is that the door?"
"Hmm, what?" Artie didn't even look up from the map he was reading. "I'm busy working out a ping. You're an agent. Deal with it."
"Okay," Myka said hesitantly, getting up from her warm spot on the Warehouse office's couch. Placing War and Peace on a nearby table, she quickly typed in the code to the Umbilicus. "Be right back."
"Mhm."
Myka cautiously made her way to the door at the end of the white hallway. The only visitors the Warehouse ever had were either the regents or Mrs. Fredrick. But that entire category was able to let themselves into the warehouse.
"Hello?" Myka called softly, knowing she was speaking just for comfort, and not for actual protection. She doubted anyone would be able to hear her through the door, especially when she all but whispered her hello.
Calm down, Myka, she tried to soothe herself. It's probably just Leena with an armful of things, or maybe the post.
Myka hadn't ever seen a postal worker come to the Warehouse, but she knew anything was possible. Working at the Warehouse had taught her that.
With a confident intake of air, Myka flung the door open.
But there was nobody there.
See? she told herself. It was probably just the artifacts. You know how they act up sometimes. She started to close the door, but for some reason, it wouldn't close. It was stuck.
Myka peered out of the door, craning her neck to see anything that might be causing the door to stay open.
"Hello?" she called again, although much louder this time. She paused, tapping her foot, arms crossed, and waited for a reply. When none came, she tried again. "Pete, if that's you, I'll tell Arite you took his cookie stash!"
Again, no reply.
Myka chewed on her bottom lip, worried. She couldn't just leave the door wide open. Anyone could get in, or worse, anything could get out.
"Artie!" she yelled behind her, hoping to get the seniors agent's help. "Artie, are you listening?" Of course, he didn't reply. He was probably too buried in his work.
Great, Myka thought bitterly. Now what?
But she didn't have time to contemplate her predicament before there was a blue flash, and Myka fell to the ground, buzzing with electricity.
"I stole this from your partner. Hope you don't mind."