Rose paced the length of the basement. Her steps made a trail in the soft dirt. "You shouldn't just sit there," she said. "All we do is sleep. We're too complacent. We're never going to get out of here if we don't stay alert." She crossed her arms over her chest, bracing herself against a shiver. "I don't understand why you're not angry," she continued, turning to Cal.
"I am angry. I'm furious, but what the hell am I supposed to be doing? Rushing at that moron when he comes down here next time?"
Rose stopped in her tracks. "Cal…"
He stood up slowly. "Rose…"
Her eyes lit up. There was a new energy in her stride as she crossed over to the window. "Do you suppose," she asked, giving the wood frame surrounding the window a tug, "we could detach these?"
"It's possible," he said slowly.
Impatience crept into her voice. "Well, come help me!" She tugged harder and was rewarded with the sound of wood cracking. Even if she only got part of one of the pieces, it would be worth the effort.
Cal watched, shocked by her sudden change in demeanor. "Are you sure you're feeling well?" he asked.
There was a loud crack as the bottom piece of the frame came loose. Rose stumbled back, the wood gripped firmly in her hands. She held it up triumphantly. "I knew I could get it!" She tossed it aside and began tugging at another piece. "And for your information, I haven't gone insane," she said over her shoulder. "I just woke up this morning with a new understanding of the gravity of our situation. It's as though I've been existing in a fog these past few days, as though I've been asleep even when I thought I was awake." She laughed. "It's the most extraordinary feeling. I haven't felt this way since…" She trailed off, suddenly aware of Cal's eyes on her back. "Well, anyway, it's fueling my unexpected show of strength. And if it's my physical health you were inquiring after, I admit I'm not exactly feeling wonderful." She gave another strong tug and the left side of the frame came away in her hand. "There," she said. "Those two should be enough."
Cal was at her elbow when she turned around. She handed him the second board with a calm, "I assume you know what to do with this?" He nodded. "Good," she said, moving past him.
"You were going to say something about him, weren't you?"
She stopped. "Yes."
"Sparing my feelings needn't be a concern for you." Rose couldn't tell if there was sarcasm in his tone. He went on. "I think jumping onto a sinking ship to, ostensibly, die with him is about the worst blow you could inflict."
"You're forgetting the drawing."
"Perhaps intentionally."
"It was intentional."
"I've no doubt. Your note made your motives quite clear."
Rose laughed drily. "And those were?" Before he could answer. she said, "It wasn't to hurt you. I didn't think I could even if I tried. I'm sorry to disappoint you, but all I wanted was to make a statement."
"A statement?" Cal cried incredulously. "Were words not sufficient?"
They tensed as the floor above them creaked loudly. "This isn't the time," she said. "We should get in position. Breakfast will be brought down soon."
*****
Rose stood beneath the stairs, knees bent and ready to spring, holding the board as though it were a baseball bat. She breathed deeply and slowly, letting Jack's voice fill her head. She had the pose right. It was exactly the way he had shown her, though, she thought, it was a far cry from the way he envisioned her using it.
Rose!
She jumped, a cry escaping her lips. Cal's head appeared above her. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing," she said. "I thought I heard something, but it was just my imagination."
"Jack's a better liar." His head disappeared, leaving her scowling.
*****
Brian made it four steps before his shins were hit by Cal's board. He fell forward, the bowl of oatmeal in his hand flying across the room. Rose's heart pounded. She tightened her grip on her makeshift bat.
Brian hit the floor face first, but he had the presence of mind to break the fall with his hands. Still dazed, he sprang to his feet and spun around just in time to see Rose's bat before it collided with his head. He crumpled and fell to the ground, blood pouring from a gash in his cheek. The board slipped from Rose's trembling hands.
"It worked," Cal said. His stomach churned, but he couldn't take his eyes off Brian's limp body. "I wasn't sure it would, but you were right."
Rose's voice was so faint he barely heard it. "Words were far from sufficient."
"What?"
"We should hide him. If the other one sees him, he might not come all the way down here."
Cal grunted as he lifted Brian. "This shouldn't be that difficult," Rose said.
Her arms were looped around Brian's legs. Cal responded with another grunt. He moved backwards quickly, the strain of holding the unconscious man clearly showing on his face. They set him down in the far corner, well out of sight of the stairs. Perspiration covered Cal's face; he breathed heavily. Rose shook her head slowly.
"What?" he snapped. "You had the easy half."
"I just thought how much easier that would have been for Jack."
Now it was Cal's turn to scowl. "Let's just finish this."
*****
"Why do you love him so much?"
The question startled Rose. "Why would you ask me that? The answer can't possibly matter."
"I'm curious."
"Don't tell me you've been curious all these years. Don't say you've been thinking about our ill-conceived relationship in your spare moments."
"Perhaps my mind drifts back from time to time, but don't flatter yourself with the idea that you've been anything more than an idle thought, a curiosity to turn over in my hands sometimes when I couldn't sleep."
"As I recall, turning me over in your hands was more than an idle curiosity for you."
"Forgive my interest, won't you?" he asked with mock imploring.
"That's such a difficult question. I felt alive for the first time when I met him," she said softly. "I love him for his gifts, the way his hands can create something out of nothing, for his vision, for seeing me—the real me. I love his curiosity. I love that he sees possibilities in everything, his tireless optimism. I love how easily he blends in anywhere, finding a way to charm where others would stammer. There are so many things…but none of them….he's more than the sum of his parts, and so is the way I feel about him." She sighed. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"
*****
Martin was just as easy to subdue as Brian. Elated by their victory, Rose flew up the stairs. She made it around the corner and was just steps away from the back door when it opened. Lloyd gaped at her. They both froze. Rose recovered first. She whirled around and began to run.
"Cal!" she screamed. "Go out the front!"
Lloyd lunged after her with an angry snarl.