Chapter 9: A good offense is the best defense
"Hello" Soleil called out lightly rapping at the steel door. The rectangular slat in the upper part of the door slid open with light scraping sound revealing the window behind it. The agent stationed out outside her room peered in, his expression blank.
"Um," she called out to him, "I need to use the restroom, please."
The agent said nothing, and Soleil jumped slightly as he instead swiftly slid the covering back cutting off their communication.
"Hey . . ." she called out in surprise at being ignored, "HEY! I have to GO TO THE . . ." Suddenly the door swung open forcing her back and interrupting her annoyed shouting.
The agent wasn't as tall as the last guy but his rifle certainly made up for it. With the muzzle pointed down he motioned forward with his weapon, and Soleil silently strode forward. As they walked down the hall Soleil spent as much time as she could scouring the environment for clues as to where she was. The hallway however was mostly nondescript and seemed to have fallen into some neglect and decay. If this was a real government branch they certainly weren't very well funded. They passed a few doors until they came to the end of the hallway.
"To your right." The man directed her.
Soleil turned to the right and came face to face with the aforementioned door. She couldn't help but notice its identifying plaque, which held the typical "woman" iconography, had broken at some point leaving a headless female figure behind. It was somewhat disturbing but she didn't dwell on it, worried the delay might antagonize her armed escort, and went in.
It was a small bathroom with a single toilet and no surrounding stall and she was grateful her escort had stayed outside. The room was in much greater decay than the hallway before it, and she wrinkled her nose at the disgusting view, thanking her lucky stars, that she didn't really have to go to the bathroom.
She surveyed the room, searching for the object she'd hoped would be present. Her search was brief as she easily spotted the soap dispenser. It was a very old style commercial dispenser and she prayed silently for soap. Approaching it she looked for a way to dismantle the object. Her fingers felt along the plastic exterior until she found what seemed to be the release, carefully she pulled at the plastic trying her best not make any loud sound that might alert her chaperon outside. After a little finagling it finally freed from its base and her hard work was rewarded, as she saw the liquid soap packet she'd been hoping for.
Pulling out the flexible soap filled insert, she paused; reviewing the plan she'd come up with in her room. It was an insane idea, based loosely on her own experience when some kid had gotten soap all over the restroom floor at work. She began to doubt whether or not she should even attempt this, it really was a long shot and the guy had a machine gun, after all.
The more she thought about it the more ridiculous it seemed. She had to be crazy. This was crazy, what if when he slipped it set off his weapon and a stray bullet hit her? What if she was wrong and these were the good guys after-all?
Soleil sighed and looked at herself in the dirty mirror. She looked tired, her natural fro that she prided herself on was partially flattened on one side and she was still wearing her apron from work although somewhere along the line she'd lost her nametag. She looked terrible and yet seeing her own reflection happened to be just the mental push she needed. This was going to work, this had to work, and she had to get out of this place.
Re-determined she broke open the plastic packet and carefully distributed the soap in front of the door. She then filled the plastic casing halfway with water from the sink and gently poured it atop the soap. Satisfied everything was in place she pressed her body against the wall closest to the door and switched off the light. She waited a beat mentally preparing herself and then screamed as loudly as she could.
The reaction was instantaneous, as soon as she started into the first octave, the doorway flew open and in the man charged, but as he passed the threshold he swiftly lost his footing on the slippery surface. In the illumination from hall Soleil watched as his feet flew out from under him and he landed heavily, his head hitting soundly against the metal door frame. In under a split second it was over and the man slid down the wall, insensible.
Startled and amazed at her unexpected success, she stood frozen against the wall for a moment. Then gathering back her courage she inched over to the fallen man and nudged him with her foot, checking to make sure he was truly incapacitated. To her relief the man didn't stir, still cautious she crouched down and slowly pulled the gun from his limp hold, handling it awkwardly. Gingerly, gripping the intimidating heavy firearm in her arms and carefully stepping over the slick spill she left restroom. Fearfully, she pushed back down the hall paranoid that she might run into another guard. 'Shit' she thought as she went 'what the hell am I doing?
A/N: Okay I am super curious to hear what you guys think of chapters 8 and 9. Please review and let me know :)
