Shouting in the Silence Read Free Page B

anyone who can verify any of this Hernandez?”
     
                  “I spoke with Reginald Cleveland.”
     
                  “He denies the presence of a dead child and that any emergency alert was sent.  He is upset about your presence at the facility without cause.”
     
                  “Then he’s lying.”
     
                  “Why would he lie?”
     
                  “Why would I lie?”
     
                  “You disobeyed a direct order.  That looks suspicious.”
     
                  “I had my reasons.”
     
                  “Which were?”
     
                  “I didn’t know who I could trust.  I was confused.  I was scared.  The whole thing made no sense.  I needed some time to think.”
     
                  “I don’t believe you.”
     
                  “I’m not asking you to.”
     
                  Kyle pushed back his chair and stood to his feet.  Just at that moment the power went out and he and Olivia were plunged into complete darkness.  Olivia didn’t know why, but she knew this was her opportunity.  She stood up and pushed the table in the direction of where Kyle had been standing.
     
                  “Hey!”  Kyle was stunned as the desk knocked him to the floor.
     
                  Olivia wasted no time taking advantage of her opportunity.  She had to get free and this was her chance.  As she approached the door it opened.  She didn’t know why and she didn’t care.  She rushed out the door and into the corridor down which she had been brought.
     
                  “Don’t do this, Olivia!”  Kyle shouted behind her.
     
                  Olivia felt as though she was being directed by a force outside of herself.  She was not the kind of person who believed in a higher being, but something about this was giving her pause for thought.  She kept moving and always it seemed in the right direction.  Every door she approached opened at just the right time.  Her heart was beating so loudly it made her ears hurt.  This was it for her.  She could never go back.  She was making a clean break with everything that meant security and risking it all.  She still didn’t even know what she was risking it all for.
     
                  “Ouch!”  She yelled as she bumped into something and fell to the floor.
     
                  “What was that?”  A rattled voice asked.
     
                  “Who knows?”  Another more agitated voice responded.
     
                  Olivia nursed her pain and wondered what to do next.  She had made it this far, but what had that accomplished?  She was still inside and had no idea how to get out. Then the lights began to come back on.  Not all the lights, but just enough to be able to see around.  Olivia quickly hid herself behind a table.  She was in the main control facility and her presence would definitely raise an alarm... 
     
                  “Attention.  Attention.  All personnel must evacuate the building immediately.”
     
                  The announcement blared throughout the building.  Olivia waited to see what the others in the room would do before making a move.
     
                  “I guess that means us.”  One of the operators said with a sigh.
     
                  “Do you think this is a test?”  The other operator wondered.
     
                  “Does it matter?”  The first replied.
     
                  They looked at each other, got up and left the room.  Olivia was alone, but she knew she had to do something.  Suddenly she realized that she was still in her uniform.  She stood to her feet and looked around.  She looked at her uniform and decided she would do the completely