Chapter 3
If I ever get out of here, I swear I'm going to buy out McDonalds. The food they serve us here is disgusting. Today's menu: Bread, mystery meat and green peas that looked like sewage algae. Yum yum!
I stared down at my messy plate. I felt my stomach turn at the sight of the food, which I strongly believe is still alive. For such an important asset of the government with so much money, they sure serve the recruits crap.
I sat alone in the small, white cafeteria table. Other recruits sat in small groups, chattering and laughing like Thom and I used to. But Thom isn't here anymore. I am alone.
I carefully poked my mystery meat with my fork. It wobbled and I felt my face being drained of blood.
I lost my appetite placed my hands on my lap. I started looking around the room to see what the other recruits were doing. There was Robbie. As always, he was bragging about his skills and how he can't wait to graduate.
There, in the corner, sat Claire. She was an extreme extrovert and I could hear her talking from where I sat, roughly 5 tables away.
I also spotted Jaden, who looked up as soon as she felt someone looking at her. She gave me a angry scowl and continued chatting with her table mates. I just gave her a sarcastic smile and continued my scouting.
My eyes fell on the computer lab where Amanda, Percy, Michael and Birkhoff sat and talked.
I saw Michael looking at me and our eyes connected. The worry lines were plastered on his forehead and the typical Michael-expression was, as always, portrayed on his face.
I blinked a few times before my eyes moved to Birkhoff, who just got up and read something from the portable screen he was carrying in his hand. Michael instinctively followed my gaze and saw what I was looking at and smiled and raised an eyebrow. I just looked down the table surface.
When I carefully looked up, Michael was gone but Birkhoff was still standing next to Amanda, who was clearly giving everyone more orders. Birkhoff was clearly irritated with her royal highness and I could almost hear him arguing.
He shook his head and balled his fist, which wasn't a good sign at all. Us recruits ought to know he usually did that when we messed up during hacking class.
He suddenly turned away from her and she stared at him, turned and marched away on those thin heels.
Birkhoff fell down on his usual seat and laid his head in his hands. His hair was messed up and he looked beaten. Broken. I hated it when Percy and Amanda use him as their personal lab rat. In their eyes, he was only worth-it when they could get some information or locations from him.
As if he knew I was thinkin about him, he looked up to where I was sitting.
I mouthed if he was okay, but he only got up and stormed out of the room. I sighed.
I only tried to help, but Birkhoff… the only way he could fight his anger was to push the people who cared about him and who supported him, away.
I looked at my food one more time and felt my stomach cringe in fear and pain.
I quickly got up and disposed the plate of food and ran up the steps of the catwalk surrounding the cafeteria. In the run, I quickly glanced behind me to see if anyone was following me. I smiled when I saw I was alone, but in front of me, I felt two strong arms catch me.
I jerked to a stop and looked up to the person who interrupted my run. I mean, this wasn't a hostel; there wasn't any No-Running-In-Hallways rule. I stared up at the tall, dark and humid man in front of me.
"Going somewhere?" Michael asked and let go of my small frame.
"As a matter of fact, yes I am!" I said, irritated and tried to scoot pass him, but he quickly blocked my way.
I exhaled and looked up. "Michael, please get out of my way. I asked nicely.
"You know, food is what gives us energy. We don't want you to pass out in class again, do we? You better go eat your lunch!" He said. What was he, my father?
"Lunch? That road-kill? I'll pass but thanks for the tempting offer, though." I said and quickly shot pass him to continue my run.
I ran to the recruits' computer lab, which was off limits unless if you're attending a class. Other than that, no one is allowed in there, which is exactly why I'm going there.
I came rushing around a corner and smiled when I saw Birkhoff sitting in my seat. I don't know why, but every time I see him, I smile. I tip-toed down the stairs and leaned over his shoulder.
He didn't notice me though. Instead, he was scurrying around the shell-network.
"Having trouble?" I broke the silence.
He jumped I his seat and jerked his head in my direction.
"Alex! What are you doing here?" He yelled but I quickly covered his mouth with my hand and motioned him to shut up. I heard footstep. Heavy, fast.
It was one of the guards. Lloyd, probably. He always busts me when I'm in this lab after curfew, but he never turns me in.
But if he catches me here with Birkhoff and a network I've been using to talk to Nikita… That might change things.
I grabbed Birkhoff by the hand and pulled him out of his seat.
"Alex, what-ˮ He whispered.
"Shh!" I place a finger over my mouth and pulled him into a janitor's closet around the corner.
It was dark and neither of us was breathing. I could almost hear my heartbeat in my ears as Lloyd walked past the door and stopped dead in his tracks. He stood there for a few seconds before spinning on his heels and walking away.
As I heard him walk up the 5 steps and continuing his patrols down the hall, I sighed with relief.
"Birkhoff, are you okay?" I whispered into the pitch black space.
"Yeah, um, Alex?" He asked.
I turned my head in the direction his voice was coming from.
"Yes?"
"Where are we?" He asked and I bent down. I've used this room to hide in, in more then one occasion. The day after I discovered this secret room, I planted a flashlight under one of the buckets. I knew it would come in handy and no one used the room anymore.
I lifted the right bucket to pick up the small flashlight and stood up again.
I switched it on.
"Ouch!" I heard Birkhoff say.
"Sorry." I said and lowered the light. I never really knew how small this space was…especially if you tried to fit two fully grown people in it.
Birkhoff rubbed his eyes.
Our faces were roughly 15 cm from each other's.
We stared at each other for a few seconds. His brown eyes staring right through my most private secrets and thoughts.
"Uh, we should…be going." I quickly said and made an attempt to exit the room, but unfortunately tripped over something and came crashing down on Birkhoff.
He caught me in his arms and, in the action, I placed my hand on either sides of his head on the wall behind him.
Our noses were touching and my eyes were closed.
"You okay?" He asked after I came to my senses. When I opened my eyes, I saw how much closer he was.
"Yeah… more that okay." I whispered and slowly leaned forward in attempt to kiss him.
He quickly turned his face away before our lips touched. He sighed and helped my stand upright again before quickly exiting the room.
When he was halfway down the hall, I realized what just happened.
I looked down at my hand. The flashlight was still there, so what just happened… was real.
In the dark, I was alone. Rejected and, probably, once again…
Friendless
