As hours passed without anybody from the third group appearing, everyone was antsy. Shifting.

Fifteen was now pacing around. Looking from face to face, searching for something?

“Any one of you want to go out? And see if we can find the thirds group?”

Seeing how nobody wanted to respond to him, didn’t bother Fifteen much, as he just continued talking.

“If they don’t show up, do we just go with the regular routine? Abandon escaping plans, and go to the kitchen?”

Seven looked annoyed, tracking the ever-shifting Fifteen. He didn’t like it… he was on the edge of his nerves, waiting. And the constant pacing, shifting… talking. Was getting to him. He rose his voice a bit, as he spoke.

“You have to relax man, sit conserve some of your energy! You walking around, doesn’t help any of us, it just makes everyone tense.”

Fifteen looked indignant, looking at Seven. He waved his hand, as he continued to pace around.

“Better be tense, than let this opportunity just slip from our grasp!”

Seven fixed him with his eyes.

“You can leave if you want to. No one is holding you back, you know? But if they show up while you are absent? We aren’t going to wait, or look for you Fifteen.”

Two intervened before things could escalate, exasperated.

“We can’t be losing members now, we will need everyone on board and in top shape. We have no idea what is waiting for us. And if we split before it even begins?”

Making eye contact with Fifteen, Two continued.

“Is that clear?”

Shifting his eyes from Twos stare, Fifteen slumped down… his voice sounded somewhat defeated, as he sat there and fidgeted with his hands.

“Yeah man, whatever… I just want us to talk, see what we can do. But every time you interrupt, it’s really, really annoying.”

After a brief pause, Fifteen looked up, meeting Twos gaze.

“Cant you come up with something, I can even bet that it isn’t just me, that wants to do something… seeing how they still haven’t shown up.”

Two looked at him. Contemplated it for a bit. He shook his head.

“Do you not understand that sometimes… doing nothing is actually more beneficial? Then blindly going off?”

“Yeah, bu…”

Two cut him off before he could say anything.

“Do you think that we want to just sit here? Can’t you tell that everyone here wants to move? Go out and just get this started? Do I need to explain everything to you?”

Averting his eyes, Fifteen focused on his hands.

“Fine whatever Two… you are the leader and all, I just wanted for you guys. You know? To talk it through. We are all here, sitting in silence. Instead of seeing what we can do.”

Two was looking at Fifteen… bewildered. It took him a while to find the words to respond.

“What is there to talk about? We already made plans, now that they are late? It doesn’t change them.”

“But…”

“There are no buts! All you can do if you want to be productive? Is sit there on your bed and pray in silence… that things happen as we expect them to.”

Fifteen continued to grumble for a while but eventually relented. Seeing that Two somewhat relaxed, glancing towards Seven.

“Seven the way that you always manage to provoke Fifteen, you think that no one notices?”

Seven straightened.

“We both have our ways of coping with the situation, my ways are sometimes wrong. But isn’t that why you are the leader?”

Taken aback, Two nodded.

“Whatever you say Seven. But at least stop doing that, for today. Okay?”

Slumping back on the bed, Seven gave Two a thumbs up. With that Two scanned the room looking if anyone else wanted to talk, or say something before he went back to his thoughts. Seeing that Eleven and Seventeen in their beds just laying there, without even getting up or looking in their direction. He closed his eyes.

Waiting.

____

After what seemed like a day, someone finally knocked on the door.

Everyone except Aron jumped up, rushed towards the door… expectant. He followed from behind, not wanting to look suspicious.

As Two opened the door, he just stood there… surprised.

“Aren’t you going to say hello, or something?”

Came a voice outside of the door.

“I just didn’t expect to see… all of you guys here. Aren’t we supposed to meet somewhere else?”

“There are two people still missing, we’ll be meeting with them once we pick you guys up, that’s what Nine and Twelve told us.”

As Two and who Aron presumed from his voice was One talked, he saw Fifteen doing a little happy dance. He looked overjoyed with things finally moving.

Another voice joined in.

“As soon as you guys get these weapons, we can be on our way. And the sooner the better, Three and Six are probably already waiting for us at the location.”

Hearing that, Two stopped his idle conversation with One, and looked at the [Slave] that carried the bundle.

“Yeah, of course.”

Without needing any more instructions, everyone got out.

Things were moving fast, as they got out of their room, they received weapons... swords. As they received them, they paused… those were the real thing. Shiny, heavy, made of metal… and wicked sharp.

Everyone was excited. They managed to find weapons… legit ones as well. Two clapped Nines back. With his free hand, while admiring the sword in his other.

“You guys outdid your selves, these are amazing.”

At that everyone agreed, everyone said their thanks… some compliments towards them.

As they were there talking, out of the corner of his eye One saw who he presumed was Fifteen, raise his hand with the weapon in it. Before Fifteen could start swinging the sword. One bumped into his shoulder, of the arm that he didn’t have the weapon in. Making Fifteen stumble a few steps.

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“Buddy, no swinging that thing around us, okay?”

“Is there a target on my head or something?”

Fifteen snapped. He was annoyed, angry. This was the second time that everyone wanted just to hinder him from doing anything. Fixing One with his eyes, Fifteen somewhat rose his voice.

“If you want a fight, we can do it right now! I wanted to try the sword, see how it feels. Having someone to use it against? It is even better.”

Not understanding, what Fifteen was talking about. And seeing how he was getting ready to attack. One was uncertain, fighting now?

“What do you...”

Before the whole thing could escalate, a voice cut in interrupting the squabble.

“We don’t have time for this! We have to move, the sooner we meet with the rest, the closer we are to escaping.”

Nine almost yelled but somewhat still keeping his voice down, as he glared towards Fifteen and One.

“You guys are behaving like this isn’t a big deal! Do you want to fight with actual weapons? At the time that we are trying to get out? It is better if we just left one of you behind!”

Tension was high, between One and Fifteen, and seeing how things wouldn’t get any better… anytime soon. As everyone looking towards the conflict when Twelve spoke everyone heard him.

“One, you with your friend Two, walk behind us. Fifteen, stay at the back of the group. That way we can at least move forwards. And don’t swing your swords around, they are Sharp!”

Scanning the crowd once more, Twelve made sure to point it out again.

“Sharp.”

And so without a need to repeat himself a third time. Everyone made an opening for Fifteen to pass, towards the back.

Seeing as he was in charge of getting them there, and that they actually showed up Fifteen had to grudgingly do what he was told, still looking somewhat wistfully towards the weapon in his right hand. Even though he wasn’t happy? This new sword… made up for it.

As things calmed down, and they were actually walking. With tunnels not being able to have them all walk side by side. Little groups formed, people were whispering. Asking for opinions, as they made their way towards the goal.

At the front walked a group of four, as they wanted to separate Fifteen from One, and Two being friends with him. It ended up being them with Nine and Twelve at the lead.

“Why aren’t Three and Six with you guys?”

Two asked, looking towards the leading people, They glanced back towards him, making eye contact. With a bit of hesitation, Twelve spoke.

“They’re busy, getting the final preparations done.”

“There’s more to this whole plan? What else are you guys holding back from us?”

Twelve looked at Two, who spoke and sighed. He was clearly agitated, by learning that… and he probably shouldn’t have told him. But did it really matter now?

“Even me and Nine don’t know all of it, it’s all kept secret. If our plans leak.”

Pointing towards the swords.

“You can guess what [Servants] would do.”

Even with all the secrecy that was there, people were still happy. Looking towards the swords, everyone felt like the first day they came here, received the good food. Eleven was staring at the sword, wanting to touch it… see if it was really sharp. Before he managed to put his finger on the blade, a voice interrupted him from the side.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, that thing would cut right through your finger.”

Startled, almost dropping the sword on his foot. Edge first. Eleven glared towards the guy who spoke.

“Don’t look at me like that, we tested the sword before… and it went straight through our door. These things are dangerous.”

Eleven looked at him, somewhat skeptically. Then back at the edge of the sword.

“These things? Can a sword really be that sharp? Those doors… if it’s the same one that we have, they are sturdy.”

Four sighed, seeing how Eleven wasn’t believing him. He lowered the sword towards the ground as they walked. Making it cut a line through the floor as they walked. Eleven watched… mouth agape.

“See that? And it still looks brand new. It isn’t even chipped, or even less sharp.”

Raising the sword towards Eleven, so that he could inspect it. But instead of checking the blade, Eleven flinched away.

“Yea I saw it, I saw it. Stop pointing it at me!”

Four had a toothy grin on his face.

“It’s good that you understand.”

Overhearing them, Aron couldn’t help but admire the weapon even more. But he couldn’t give himself any more time, to inspect it. Seeing the direction that they walked… and how he was at the back of the group, trying to make himself less noticeable. And it somewhat working out for him, with Fifteen there talking to the other two in front of him. Everything was perfect… it almost seemed too easy.

____

They were moving for a while now, but it seemed like just a few minutes. With all the new things, and so many of them together in the same place. Having been fed enough food, for the past few weeks. They were feeling good.

Thirteen couldn’t help but clap the backs of his two friends, that he shared the room with for the last few weeks.

“Sixteen, Fourteen guys, we are getting out! Can you guys believe this?”

“Yes man, fuck yes!

Fourteen cheered with both of his hands in the air, not minding the glares he was getting. Soon after Sixteen, somewhat more hesitantly followed his actions… struggling with having to lift the arm which he had the sword in.

“Our life starts, once we get out of here! After this? We can even have a place of our own!”

“Yeah us three? We can do it for sure. Thirteen, Sixteen having you guys with me outside? Would be a blessing. We can do anything!”

Multiple conversations, with the most content just to glare at people shouting. And following the group. The whole situation was awkward for Four. It even made him let go of the grudge that he had with Five. Looking towards his competition, he couldn’t help it.

“This whole thing… feels like we already escaped. It feels strange.”

Glancing at him, Five nodded.

“It just doesn’t feel like… we are doing something that has as much risk as this does.”

Five nodded.

“Yeah… I don’t know, it’s true that we aren’t in charge, but this whole situation. Doesn’t seem right”

Four was still reluctant… but he at least was somewhat aware of their current situation. So he extended his hand towards Five.

“Truce?”

Five looked at the offered hand, he wasn’t truly surprised. It was only a matter of time, that would decide who would take the first step. He clasped the offered hand.

“Truce.”

Talks, new friendships, grudges. Were all formed over a short time. Most of them already knew each other, to some level. But they were never in a position, or a situation to take that one step. And with the current situation? It fast-forwarded the whole process.

It was a group of young people, with their personalities forming, and having no one in charge? Why would they care if someone heard them? They had real weapons now, could [Servants] even stop them now?

Some were more aware than the others, but no one wanted to stop try and reestablish order, to argue about it… happier with just moving towards the goal.

____

They were moving, silently… following the two [Slaves] or well they still didn’t have the class. But it didn’t change much. At least they weren't moving slowly.

Having walked for a few minutes already, Claud moved… tapping Threes shoulder, and motioning for everyone to stop. Looking at Gerald, he pointed towards their direction.

“Do you hear that?”

At his words, the atmosphere changed, Cedric was looking around… looking for something? While Gerald and the other two strained their ears, trying to hear.

“Claud, there’s no place to hide. If it’s [Servants] we either fight or retreat.”

Cedric said with a somber tone to his voice.

“That shouldn’t be the [Servants], there’s too much noise… too many voices. And they sound young?”

Claud looked back at Six.

“Six do you recognize any of the voices?”

Six flinched...somewhat tense, the speed at which the atmosphere changed. Their postures, from relaxed, to having weapons in their hands? It made Six… scared. He strained his ears, trying to hear something… anything. He shook his head.

“Er…Claud I don’t, I don’t hear anything.”

The way that Claud looked at him now… sent shivers down Sixs spine. Gerald poked Clauds side.

“Don’t scare the kid, if he runs… we will have more on our hands. We can just move forward, and see what’s happening.”

Relenting Claud nodded, and once again they were on the move. And the closer they got… the more annoyed the [Thugs] became. It became clear that… the voices were from the [Slaves].

“We can’t even hear their steps… how loud do they need to be, for that to happen?”

Cedric was angry, he wanted to punch something. If it wasn’t for Claud… Six had a feeling that he would. But even Claud seemed to lose his patience. Voices that were coming from that direction, where they agreed to meet with everyone… their voices, conversations were bouncing off the walls. You could hear them from a kilometer away. And even Six… was somewhat annoyed.

“We have to speed up, and shut those kids up. If a passing by [Servant] hears that? They wouldn’t go and deal with it… they would go and get help. And the only advantage we have? Is being stealthy!”

Gerald nodded at Clauds words, he motioned for Angus and Charles.

“Get one each, and carry them. We are running.”

And so Six found himself bouncing on Anugses shoulders if he remembered correctly that was the [Thugs] name. As they ran towards the noise, hoping that the damage wasn’t done… and that no one has heard them.