Ten
When Abby opened her eyes she found the place she was in a place very familiar to her. As she let her eyes wander around the room her senses slowly came back to her, alongside the fact that it was becoming harder to breathe and move.
Surrounding her was a door that led to what looked like an armoury. Some sofa's, gym equipment and –
Abby gasped she knew where she was.
She was in the ARC!
Abby tried to say something but her mouth tasted dry and had a metallic taste to it.
Probably because I haven't eaten or drank anything in a few days Abby thought.
No, that couldn't be it because it tastes of copper. Weird.
No, not weird, because it's blood I can taste. I remember coughing the stuff up earlier.
Groaning Abby tried to get of the sofa whilst simultaneously causing as little pain as possible.
She managed it with some difficulty.
Leaning on a running machine, Abby strained his to listen to any noises.
Nothing.
Then she heard it.
It was faint at first but gradually got louder and louder until she could recognise the voice and hear it perfectly.
It was Helen and she addressing the ARC in her usual 'I'm the boss, I know more than you and blah blah' way Abby thought.
Connor was dimly aware of moving.
'He's in shook' he heard Danny say.
All Connor could think about was Abby and how he had her blood on his hands.
Her blood.
The words kept going round and round in his head.
'Come on Connor' he heard Becker say.
He sat down in the backseat of the SUV, behind Becker.
Connor looked out of the window, at his surroundings.
Tall offices blocks, houses, parks full of kids skiving school, the odd tree until they stopped at the ARC. Connor had tried to stop thinking about the possibility that Abby was dead, but as he got out of the SUV those thoughts crashed back over him, like a wave crashing into him whilst out at sea.