I'll try to spend it with Jordyn (doesn't quite work out though.)

Maybe you just needed a change of company? Cabin fever was starting to hit your system anyway. There was no telling when you’d snap and yell at one of your companions, so what was there to hurt in talking to Jordyn? You were already getting along while enough. Plus, she didn’t indicate that she didn’t want to talk to you anyway. It is, with that mindset, you embark on a quest to follow her into the tunnel network.

Jordyn mentioned that even though the majority of the team slept in the same space, she had the luxury of staying in her own room or cave, if you prefer. Her chambers were clean, a little disorganized, but pleasant to explore when she allowed you to peek during your private tour. However, the hard part was finding it once you last track of her—the winding tunnels wrapped around each other awkwardly to your untrained mind. Luckily, your blind adventure led to the door that concealed her personal life from the dusty interior of the gaping earth.

The door itself was one of metal material, so when you knocked, it sounded solid and firm; the sound is one you were trying to avoid but took anyway. If Jordyn took offense, then you would simply apologize.

You began to play with your fingers and wait, letting yourself get tired by the seconds. Then, finally, someone opened the door.

It was surprising that Jordyn answered the door. Her curls fell down her shoulders, and her eyes twinkled with confusion. She squinted somewhat and smiled. “Warren? What's— why are you here?”

The speech you made for her question seemed a little unnecessary, but her smile never faded, and she was content with listening to your spiel. She stepped back and invited you inside. Vague scents of oils and lotions filled your senses. Jordyn looked ready for bed; a white shirt, a pair of white pajamas, and fluffy slippers occupied her feet. You’re somewhat amazed she was able to step into something more comfortable in such a short amount of time.

“I was just looking for some new company,” you say. “Thought we could talk a little more before the day ends.”

Jordyn sits at the foot of her bed and nods. “Tired of the others?”

You nod.

“I suppose I can relate. I wasn’t too fond of the people I work with now even. But, after Da— ergh, Logic dead- died, whatever, I’ve just been sustaining the situation until we can all disband.”

“Sorry. You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not over it.”

She shakes her head at first and falls to her back. “It’s fine. I’m better now. It’s just that… it’s weird, you know? Falling in love with someone and then suddenly stepping out of your life without any kind of warning. It happens to everyone on earth, yet you never expect it to happen to you.”

The mood shifts, and the air goes cold. This wasn’t the chat you were hoping to have, but it was that chat you were now having. “It’s the life of our type, though, can’t expect anything good or decent to last long.”

“Yeah, I know. But what a crappy feeling this is. I couldn’t have even stopped it if I were with him,” Jordyn rolls to her side and sighs loudly. “It feels like I’m missing a part of myself now, and I feel guilty for wanting to get over him. I know he wouldn't wallow in self-pity. He’d want me to move on and maybe even find someone else, but that’s so impossible right now.”

Jordyn shoots up and apologizes for putting all her thoughts out on display. You spread your arms and tell her there’s no reason to worry.

Beside her bed, you can see a Polaroid picture of two smiling people— you figure it’s Logic and Jordyn. Your lingering stare pushes Jordyn to take the picture and hide it. “That’s for me.”

“Right,” you say, letting white noise take over the room for a couple of eternities before breaking it. “On that happy note, what are your plans after we leave?”

“We’ll have to move the guns out. That much is obvious to you, though. Then, we’ll have to tackle the biggest problem: finding a way to smuggle everything in and out of their delivery points.”

You wondered where the delivery points were but knew better than to ask. “Are you expecting much trouble while doing that?”

“I hope not. I’m still new at this, and I don’t know the routes that well. I’m scared I might send someone off a cliff or get lost somehow,” Jordyn says with a tight smile. “But, I guess that’s a normal feeling, right?”

“Of course.”

“Have you ever had to lead anyone out before?”

“Small search parties once,” you remark. “Mostly townsfolk looking for a missing child.”

“Did you find him? Or her?”

“Sometimes I wish I hadn’t.“

Jordyn exclaimed softly. “Shoot. Sorry. I shouldn’t have pressed it.”

“It’s fine. You didn’t know. Parents were—”

She cuts in. “I don’t want to hear any more of it.”

To lighten the mood, you throw in some sugary lies. For example, “I was just going to talk about the candies and kittens we had with us.”

At first, she looks confused, but she sees your smile and gives one of her own. “Hey, get something to eat and take a shower. I’ll find you in the morning. mkay?”

You take her advice and leave the room; thankfully, you don’t get lost on your way back. The main entrance is busy with people making meals and chattering with each other. You return to your fold and continue your stay there for a couple of hours.

You weren’t familiar with this group, but Scarlet wasn’t wrong with the smuggling of TC1 ranks being friendly. No one here fits the image you had created for them. No one is dirty, there is no unusual stink, and there is no competitive resentment towards the ARS; it’s just regular business.

The night only grows older, and even though you weren’t exhausted, you would respect everyone’s time clock and get ready for bed. The first ones to use the bathrooms were the girls; while you waited with the other men, you helped secure the cave for the night.

Once the girls were back, you and everyone else went to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Nearly all the others just brushed their teeth, but since you had been sweating and hauling gear for the whole day, you felt that itch to take a warm shower.

Contrary to the rest of the area, the bathroom is more…prison-like, but cubicles for showers and stales for the toilets. The sinks were connected, and a large mirror stretched along the walls, which were gray in tile. You suspected the bathroom was a new addition, but some of the cracks on the floor and ceiling made you think it was just well-preserved, however.

You stripped out of your clothes when you brushed your teeth and started the water. It came out ice cold at first, but after about 30 seconds of waiting, the room began to steam. You twisted the knobs and held out your hand, testing the temperatures before stepping into the stream.

Tension leaves your body as you let the hot water engulf your skin. Now that you were alone, you let out a sigh and pressed your hands against the wall beneath the showerhead. Your head droops while your eyes close. The sweat that the water washes away makes you smell like a wet dog at first, but after a couple of seconds of soap-free scrubbing and soaking, the scent goes away, leaving you without any kind of smell.

At one point, someone came in without you noticing. You didn’t hear them announce their entry or even undress. You only become aware of their presence once they wrap their arms around you.