Ten minutes left, the grandfather clock in the hallway told Beth. Time to go. Who knew how many people she’d have to shake off on her way to the kitchen? While walking she tried to come up with a good excuse as to why she was all dressed up, wearing her coat, and what she needed the bag for.
Agnes left her door unlocked, something she never did. She would hate it if anyone would enter her room without her permission.
Beth was lucky. She encountered no one and she entered the kitchen. She looked around, but saw no one. Maybe she was too early. Agnes wouldn’t be late. Beth started having a strange feeling in her stomach. What if Agnes had changed her mind?
“Hey!” someone loudly whispered behind her and Beth turned around, for the first time in her life relieved that it was Agnes.
“I thought you weren’t coming” Beth confessed.
“I promised, didn’t I?” Agnes shrugged. She took the bag from Beth and walked to the cupboard. “You can’t take any fresh food, it would decay too fast” she said, while stocking Beth’s bag with cans of food and water bottles”
She stood and turned around. “Do you have the money I gave you?” Beth nodded. “Good. Now, go to the basement and wait there for me”
“Why do I have to go to the basement?” Beth asked, accepting the bag from Agnes. It was now a lot heavier.
“Because Simon is there” Agnes explained. “Like you said , Dale wouldn’t be so pleased if he found out I’m keeping a boy hostage when he never asked me to. So, I’m letting the two of you go”
“Really? That’s very nice of you, Agnes” Beth replied surprised.
“Yeah, whatever” Agnes mumbled. She waited for Beth to leave, before she left herself.
Beth walked down the stairs, straight to Simon’s cage. Much to her confusion, the cage was empty.
Agnes ran to Dale’s room and bashed the door.
“Come in”
She slammed the door open. Dale was sitting on the couch, not amused. He frowned when he saw Agnes’ bewildered look.
“What is it? Do you have news on Debra?” he asked agitated, standing up.
“No” Agnes replied, out of breath. “Someone broke into my room. They took all information on Deb and I’m missing money”
Beth turned away from the cage. Perhaps Agnes had already left Simon out of the cage. Perhaps Simon was wondering around here somewhere.
“Simon?” she whispered loud, afraid to raise her voice to alarming volumes. “Simon, are you here? Agnes is going to let us go”
Dale inspected Agnes’ room. Without turning to Agnes he said grim: “Arrange a lineup. Get everyone out of bed and send them to the front side of the house. I imagine the culprit won’t be amongst them”
“I’ll see to it” Agnes replied and she walked away.
Lights switched on and people were being violently woken up. There were screams of panic and soon the drumming of dozens of footsteps reached even the basement.
Beth backed away until she became one with the shadows. Something was going on up there and it was keeping Agnes occupied. Agnes had told her to wait, but what if this was the only chance she had.
Everyone was standing outside, in one line, next to each other. Dale and Agnes stood opposite them, like a captain and his lieutenant.
“Someone broke into Agnes’ room tonight. I believe that person is trying to leave our community. None of you is a prisoner here. You’re all here, because you want to be. So if you want to go, you are free to do so” Dale said. “However, stealing will not be tolerated!”
Agnes stepped forward, with a piece of paper in her hands. “I will call your name and when you hear it, you will join me and Dale. Then we’ll know you’re not a thief”
Everything seemed to be to normal and Beth walked out of the darkness. She heard a squeaking sound; the basement door opening. She made a few steps forward, enough the recognize the silhouette at the top of the stairs.
Relieved she accelerated her steps until she came in Agnes’ full sight. “I’m so glad to see you” she sighed breathless. “What’s going on?” she asked careful. There was something about the way Agnes was looking at her.
Agnes opened the door and her eyes fixated on Beth she shouted: “Dale! I found our little thief!”