Mike and El sat together in the downstairs lobby, munching quietly on their waffles. All around them, people ate and talked, providing a blanket of white noise that allowed Mike's brain to function normally again.

"How do you like it?" Mike asked, gesturing at El's waffle.

She shrugged. "Not an eggo," she said. "But still good."

Mike smiled at her.

"Hey, kids," came a voice from across the lobby. Mike looked up to see Nancy and Jonathan walking towards them, his arm across her shoulder. Nancy's hair was pulled up in a messy bun, strands falling out every which way. Mike couldn't help notice that Jonathan's shirt was on backwards.

He raised an eyebrow. "How was your night?"

"Put a sock in it," Nancy replied, taking a seat. She reached over and grabbed one of the strawberries from Mike's plate. "What's our game plan?"

"No need to be so rude," Mike grumbled.

Jonathan shrugged, taking a sip of water. "How was your guys' night, then?" he asked with a flippant smile at Mike.

"We slept together," El mentioned casually.

Water suddenly spewed across the table, leaving Mike grabbing for the napkin and dabbing his face furiously with it. "Calm down," he said irritably. "She didn't mean that. We just slept in the same bed."

"Sorry," Jonathan said, wiping his lips. "I didn't expect to hear my sister say that for a few more years."

After breakfast, they moved back to their rooms, congregating in Mike and El's. To be safe, Nancy secured the door with a 'Do Not Disturb' sign. They sat, facing each other on the beds.

"Do we want to go back and check on Murray before we leave?" Jonathan asked. "It seems risky, but I don't just want to leave him."

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind," Mike said. "He really doesn't strike me as the sentimental type."

Nancy nodded. "He seemed to want us out of here as soon as possible. I'd say we leave now while we haven't been stopped. Maybe we can give him a call later," she suggested.

The others looked around at each other and agreed.

"Same car arrangements as last time?" Jonathan affirmed.

"Sure," Mike replied.

"Let's go," El urged.

The four of them grabbed the rest of their stuff and began to make their way out of the hotel. The hallways were practically deserted, making their departure quick and efficient. Yet Nancy couldn't help but glance over her shoulder at each turn, begging that she didn't see a group of armed soldiers marching towards them.

Finally they reached the lobby. Jonathan stayed back with Mike and El while Nancy approached the front desk, keys in hand.

"Hi," she said, smiling at the woman sitting at the front desk.

The receptionist looked surprised. "I wasn't expecting to see you until tomorrow afternoon," she said. "What brings you down here?"

"We need to check out earlier than we thought," Nancy explained. "Our...parents found out we came here and they're kind of mad." She put on her best guilty face, hoping it would be enough to get the receptionist off her case.

The woman laughed. "I see how it is. In that case, I'll just need you to follow me into the back room to settle the refund," she explained, getting up from her chair.

As the two of them walked around the desk towards the dimly lit hallway behind it, Jonathan stepped forward. "Nance," he called, his expression hesitant and cautious.

She turned around and raised her eyebrows in questioning.

"Just…" he mumbled. "Be safe."

She nodded and shot him one last smile before turning around and following the receptionist into the back hallway.

The pacing began. Jonathan couldn't seem to control himself as he marched back and forth between the two tables on either side of the lobby. His eyebrows furrowed deeply over his eyes, casting a dark shadow on his face.

"Hey," El said, coming up to him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "She'll be fine."

Jonathan offered a weak smile at his little sister. "Thanks, El," he said. "I just think at least one of us should have gone, too. I feel like we abandoned her."

"We should go check on her," Mike said, rising to his feet. "I don't want anything bad to happen. My parents would blame me. Or you," he admitted pointing at Jonathan. "It's in our best interests to go and make sure she's OK."

Jonathan nodded. "Alright," he breathed. "Alright. Follow me and don't stray too far."

Together, the three of them walked quickly through the lobby and into the hallway behind it. The lights were dimly lit, as if they'd been running without stop for weeks on end. Each step they took was muffled by the thick carpet beneath their feet.

"That must be it," Mike murmured, pointing at the only door in sight. They walked towards it cautiously, not daring to make a sound.

When they finally reached it, Mike reached out his hand and touched the doorknob carefully. After nothing immediately jumped out at them, Mike pulled the door all the way open, revealing a practically empty room.

Practically empty except for Nancy, lying limp on the ground.

El let out a muffled scream, while Jonathan raced to her side. He collapsed to his knees and cradled her head in his hands. "She's hurt," he informed, his voice husky and charged with panic. "We need to get the hell out of here." He gently lifted her into his arms, careful not to jostle her in any way that would hurt her more.

But before they could leave, the door was suddenly blocked by a group of people, regular hotel guests and staff. The lifeguard and the man swimming laps from the pool. The receptionist. The couple that had stayed in the room across the hall.

"Отведи их в отбор. Только без увечий," * the receptionist ordered. Together, the group of people moved towards the four kids, casually pulling guns from their coats.

Mike raised his hands in the air, stepping in front of El. Jonathan did his best to turn his body and shield Nancy from any attack.

"Follow us and we won't kill your curly headed friend," the man from the pool said with a pointed glance at Nancy. "But if you fight back we may be forced to do something we'll regret." He twirled his gun in his hand as if it were a baton.

Mike, Jonathan, and El shared a panicked look. "We have no choice," Jonathan sighed, shaking his head. His breath was labored from the stress and from supporting Nancy for so long. "We're in no shape to fight back."

So they reluctantly fell into line behind the Russians. Jonathan held Nancy tighter to him, while Mike gripped El's hand like his life depended on it. The darkness of the hallway soon swallowed them whole.

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* Bring them out back, but don't hurt them.

This is so exciting! Obviously not for them, but at least the story is really picking up pace! Thanks again to all of you leaving reviews!