Fic: The Days We Break (part 12)

[myrimidryad]

Five days later, Nick snorted when he saw the pavement under the wall where Rich had been sitting when they had first seen Agatha Thripp. Mini looked a question at him, but he just shook his head, not pointing out the many fag-ends littering the ground in front of them.

“You’re sure she lives alone?” Franky asked Rich again, and he nodded.

“Unless there’s someone in there who never comes out.” He shrugged. “Come on.” He led the way across the road to the front door of 99 Beaufort Road and picked up a flower pot to reveal a small gold-hued key. “Predictable.” He rolled his eyes and slipped it in the keyhole easily, as though he lived there. “Welcome home.” He said wryly as he opened the door and stood aside for the others to walk in.

“I hope no one saw.” Mini said anxiously as Rich closed the door. They all stood in the narrow hallway, crowding it.

“Who cares if they did?” Alo shrugged. “They’ll assume we’re throwing her a party or something. We didn’t break in.”

“We kinda did.” Liv pointed out. “I think it counts as breaking and entering if you’re not allowed to be there.”

“Whatever.” Franky said, cutting in. “Let’s spread out and explore, okay? We can’t stay in here all day.”

“She gets back around six, right?” Grace asked Nick, not looking at Rich. He turned his face away with a carefully blank expression and moved past them to the stairs. Nick nodded.

“About then, yeah. We should get ready in hiding places and shit.”

“Yeah.” Grace looked over her shoulder at Rich’s retreating figure and seemed to shake herself out of it. “Yeah, right.” She turned away and went into the room on the right, which turned out to be a living room furnished in flowery chintz with a small TV set in the corner. Alo had already sat down and was reaching for the remote. “Farmboy!” Grace admonished, and Alo held his hands up innocently.

“What?” He protested. “We’re going to be here for hours - might as well see what’s on!”

“It’s her electricity bill.” Grace frowned. “We shouldn’t add to it.”

“She works for the regime.” Matty said, appearing in the doorway. Grace rounded on him.

“So she deserves it?” She asked unhappily. “Look at this place - it’s tiny. I expect the job she has is the only one she could find.”

“Doesn’t excuse it.” Matty disagreed, shaking his head. “I’d rather go homeless again than work for them. Wouldn’t you?”

Grace frowned. “I would. Obviously, I mean, we live underground. But she doesn’t have the same choices. She might have other people to support, you never know.”

“Guys?” Alo raised his eyebrows at them. “Maybe I’m alone in this, but…who cares? It’s good she works for them anyway - she’s our way in.” He shrugged and stretched, making himself more comfortable. “If you’re really curious, ask her when she gets back.”

When Agatha Thripp did return, it was at ten to six in the evening. The sky was already dark, and everyone was in the living room. It was a masked Grace who stepped out as Agatha Thripp closed the door and hung her coat up on the hook in the hallway.

“Excuse me.” She said, bringing Agatha’s attention to her with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I need your help.”

Agatha Thripp gaped at her and backed away, hand scrabbling on the door, searching for the handle. “How did you get in?”

“Your spare key.” Grace told her, and bit her lip as she brought up the gun in her hand and pointed it at Agatha Thripp’s head. “Sorry, it’s kind of an emergency.”

Agatha Thripp froze, eyes wide and horrified. “Is that real?” She croaked, staring at the gun.

Grace nodded. “It is.” She heard one of the boys step out behind her and guessed it was Alo or Nick. “Could you come here, please?”

Agatha Thripp shuffled forward and Grace stepped aside as Nick - it was Nick - took her arm and led her gently into the living room. At the sight of the others sitting on her chairs and sofa, also masked, the older woman almost fainted.

“What should we call you?” Grace came in behind her and tried to sound kind. “We know your name is Agatha Thripp - is Agatha alright?”

“Aggie.” Agatha mumbled, clearly in a state of shock. “Aggie’s…fine.”

“Aggie then.” Grace agreed cheerfully. “Great. Mannequin?” She looked at Franky, hidden behind a pink sequined cat mask Grace was pretty sure had been Mini’s.

“Hi.” Franky stood up and offered her hand for Agatha to shake. When she just stared at it uncomprehendingly, Franky shrugged and withdrew it. “Okay, Aggie, we want you to lead us back to Greenvale Institution. We’re going to break in and get the people you’re keeping there out to safety. You will do this or we will shoot you.” She didn’t sound apologetic or emotional in any way. Her voice was as bland as if she was reading a shopping list. Agatha whimpered and Grace touched her shoulder comfortingly.

“Don’t worry.” She told her nicely. “As long as you help us out, nothing bad will happen to you. We just want to free the patients.”

“Oh my god.” Agatha’s knees buckled and Nick grabbed her before she hit the ground, jerking his head at Alo to make him get up so that he could sit Agatha down.

“Sorry.” He patted her arm awkwardly. “It’s kind of important.”

“We’re wasting time.” Tony said sharply from under his balaclava. “We should get going.”

“Let her calm down first.” Franky shook her head.

“Would you like some tea, Aggie?” Grace asked hopefully. Agatha stared at her and nodded slowly. “Okay.” Grace smiled. “Milk and sugar?”

“No sugar.” Agatha whispered, seeming to calm down slightly.

“Cool.” Grace nodded and slipped out, going to the kitchen. In the sudden quiet, Agatha shrunk down into her armchair and shot furtive glances at each of them in turn.

“You’re them aren’t you?” She asked suddenly, eyes narrowing. “You’re the ones who stripped the zapper platform.”

Alo grinned. “That’s us.” He said cheerily.

“We’re the BDN.” Liv told her.

“I’ve seen your graffiti.” Agatha mumbled. “Whassit stand for?”

“BDN?” Mini smiled. “Bristol Dark Noise.”
Agatha didn’t speak for a moment. Then, “You want to free the patients?” She asked suddenly.

“That’s the plan.” Nick nodded, glancing at Tony.

Agatha shook her head. “Daft.” She told them. “They won’t want to go, you know. They’re in there for a reason. Take them out of a familiar place and they’ll get scared, you know. And most of them wouldn’t be able to go even if they wanted to.”

“Why?” Tony said angrily. “Because you’ve drugged them up and strapped them down?”

“Some people need medicating.” Agatha told him mildly. “It’s something they can’t help. If it makes them better -”

“They’d be better if you left them alone.” Tony snapped.

“Shut up.” Franky told him in a hard voice, looking between him and Agatha. “We know we can’t take all of them.” She told Agatha in a quieter voice. “But we can take the ones who know what’s going on and who want to leave. Now, tell us about the institute. Who will be there now?”

“Um…” Agatha looked down, obviously scared of telling them anything.

“Look, I’m sorry, but you talk or you die.” Franky shrugged. “It’s simple. Make it easier for yourself.”

“Here you go.” Grace appeared again, holding a cup of steaming tea out for Agatha to take.

Agatha took it and frowned at Grace and Franky. “Why’re you doing this?” She asked finally. “What’s in it for you?”

“Nothing.” Mini snorted. “We’re not being paid, we put ourselves in danger, we don’t have fun, we’re in constant fear for our lives. It’s not exactly the ideal lifestyle.”

“So why do it?” Agatha sounded perplexed and she sipped at her tea.

“Because someone has to.” Rich and Matty spoke at the same time and looked at each other in surprise, and then wry understanding.

“The regime is choking the people.” Matty explained. “Your freedoms are being taken away, your movements are traced and your travel is restricted. You’re not allowed to read certain books or listen to certain songs or talk to certain people. Contact with the rest of the world is limited. Don’t you see there’s something wrong?” Agatha frowned but didn’t speak, so Matty went on. “When people aren’t allowed to come out and speak against the regime without fear, it means something is wrong with this country. And we didn’t want to sit around and watch it happen. Even if we do get caught, or tortured or killed…at least for now we’re showing people that resistance is possible.”

“Pretty speech.” Tony told him, and Matty snorted.

“I write them in my free time.”

The others grinned and Franky nodded at Agatha. “Drink up. Now, tell us who’s there at the institute now.”

“This had better work.” Tony told Agatha in a low voice from behind her. He was in the back of her beetle with Shameless and Captain, crouched uncomfortably out of sight of the windows, his tall frame folded awkwardly between Shameless on his left and Captain on his right. The gun was warm in his hand, safety on, but Agatha didn’t know that. It was currently pressed against her side, a constant reminder that if she messed up, she would die. The others, especially Paperdoll, may have given her the impression that the BDN would hesitate or at least feel something before pulling the trigger. Tony had no such inhibitions.

Ever since news had reached him in Cardiff of Effy’s disappearance, he had been searching for her frantically. She had briefly been on the run with a boy her own age, he knew - Cook. He had met him briefly between safehouses, running errands for the BRM. He knew from Cook that Effy had returned to Bristol, but had then disappeared again. There had been a rumour that she had run to London, but no one there had heard anything about her. Anwar had nothing from the homeless shelters where he worked, Maxxie had nothing from the extensive network of spies he was part of among the capital’s theatres and studios, and Jal had almost been caught going through the paperwork of the high-ranking regime official she slept with. He had taken a shine to her when she had performed a solo at some function for Carver’s party and she allowed him to sleep with her for the information he let slip. Tony knew she hated it and still missed Chris terribly, but there was nothing else she could do.

And when the BDN had sent copies of the files they had stolen from the Bristol Regime Building, Tony had gone through them hopefully and been rewarded when the name Elizabeth Stonem appeared. One name among hundreds, and the only one he cared about. His mother had fallen into deep depression since Effy had vanished, and he had no idea where his father was.

But Effy was inside the building looming up out of the dark, Tony knew, and he held the gun a little tighter, anticipation crawling through his veins. He would have done anything, anything at all to get her back, and all it was taking was scaring some woman. He glanced up at her as she drove up to the large metal gate and stopped to slot her security card into the machine outside.

For a moment nothing happened, and Tony had the horrible thought that Agatha wouldn’t be let in because she wasn’t clocking in at her usual time. Then there was a squeal of metal and the gate started to slid across into the wall. Tony sighed in relief, smiling as it was echoed by the other two. Agatha drove forward to the other side, took her card from a machine on the other side and drove on.

“Good.” Tony told her. “Don’t mess it up now.”

Agatha nodded, scared, and parked in the staff car park. Turning the engine off, she took a deep breath. “Now what?” She asked in a voice that trembled slightly.

“Stay still.” Tony told her firmly and handed the gun to Captain as he clambered awkwardly into the front and got out, coming round to the driver side to open Agatha’s door for her. “Out.” He ordered, jerking his head. Captain held out the gun and Tony took it, pointing it at Agatha as Captain and Shameless got out and stretched their cramped muscles.

“Now take us inside.” Captain said firmly. “You said there was a reception desk, right?”

“Yes.” Agatha said faintly.

“Right.” Captain looked at Shameless, who nodded. “Shameless is going to take you there, and you’re not going to do anything to tip them off, okay?”

“Okay.” Agatha whispered, and Shameless took the gun from Tony’s hand and linked her arm through Agatha’s.

“Don’t worry, Aggie.” She said from under her feathered carnival mask. “I’m your goddaughter, yeah? Come on.” She steered Agatha out of the car park and Tony and Captain sneaked after them, keeping to the shadows as the pair ascended the steps to the front entrance. From their vantage point, they couldn’t see anything more than the light pouring from the windows set in the doors, and they waited in an agony of suspense until Agatha opened the doorway and looked around uncertainly.

“Um, hello?” She called, still sounding scared. “She says you can come in now.”

Tony exchanged a glance with Captain, who nodded, and they darted forward, taking Agatha by surprise. Inside, Shameless had the gun trained on the single security guard, who was lying face-down on the floor in front of her with his hands on his head.

“Always wanted to do that.” She grinned, not taking her eyes off him. “Alright, now stay very still. Captain?”

“Shameless.” Captain nodded to her with a grin as he stepped past and knelt down next to the motionless guard. He prodded his shoulder. “Roll over, mate.” When the guard obeyed, he removed the walkie-talkie clipped to his belt and dug around in his pockets, producing a phone, an iPod, several pieces of crumpled paper and a pack of chewing gum. “This is everything you have?” Captain asked the guard, who nodded desperately into the floor. “Cool. What’s your name?”

“Robert.” The guard spoke with a slight Irish accent and sucked in a shuddering breath. “Robert Wilkes.”

“Up you get then, Robert.” Captain nudged his shoulder and let him get to his knees and then his feet, shooting them worried looks from under his shock of black hair. He couldn’t have been older than forty, Tony thought as he looked at him.

“Come on, Aggie.” Shameless took Agatha none-too-gently by the elbow and made her walk into the security booth before nodding to Robert pointedly. He followed without question, ducking his head as though trying to appear smaller and less threatening.

“Right, Robert.” Shameless held the gun loosely but kept it very much in Robert’s eyeline - a reminder of his situation. “Who else is in the building?”

“Um…” Robert eyed the gun and swallowed audibly. “Uh, three night nurses in the wards.”

“Okay.” Shameless nodded. “Can you call them here?”

Robert nodded instantly. “No problem.”

“Great.” Shameless smiled. “First though, I want you to open the gate outside. You can do that, yeah?”

“Yeah, sure.” Robert shifted and looked at them in askance. “You, uh, want me to do that now?”

“Yep.” Captain said cheerfully. “We’ll be watching right here, so no funny business.”

Robert nodded and sat down at his desk, pulling an odd-looking keypad towards him the size of a piece of A5 paper. He pressed the button under a label that said ‘main gate’ and looked around at them. “Should be opening now.” He told them, and Captain nodded, pulling a phone from his pocket and dialling a number quickly.

“Mannequin?” He said once the person on the end picked up. “Yeah, we’re in. Gate’s open. See you in a bit.” He hung up and looked back at Robert. “Okay, call the nurses back.”

Robert nodded and picked up a clunky telephone at the side of his computer. He pressed a button and waited, then dialled a number. “Diane?” He said. “Yeah, it’s Rob. Could you pop down here for a moment? No, don’t worry, I’ll send Fee to cover your ward.” He put the phone down and picked it up again, dialling a different number. “Bridget? Yep, it’s me. Look, could you and Fiona come down to the booth here for a moment? No, don’t worry, I just need you to sign some papers. I know, I know, but I forgot. No, everything’s fine. No, no, I need both of you. Don’t ask me, I’m just the guard. Cheers. Yeah, see you in a minute.” He hung up and smiled nervously up at them. “Diane should get here first, she’s closer.”

“Good.” Tony stepped out into the corridor and looked around.

“Come on.” Shameless tugged his arm. “If she sees you she’ll know something’s up. Hide, come on. Right,” she turned back to Robert. “You make her come in here. Aggie,” she looked at their reluctant transport. “We’re going to have to knock you out. It will hurt, but it’s for the best. Okay?”

Agatha shook her head, horrified, and Captain approached her with his hands up. “Calm down, you’ll only get a headache when you wake up.” He didn’t look at Shameless so Agatha didn’t expect it when she walked around and slammed the butt of the gun into Agatha’s temple. The older woman slumped forward instantly and Captain caught her and lay her down slowly on the floor. “Nice.” He told Shameless, who shrugged.

“Shhh, I think one of them’s coming.” Tony hissed, crouching down so he wouldn’t be visible through the window. Captain and Shameless copied him, and Shameless pointed the gun at Robert.

“Make her come in here.” She told him, and he nodded nervously.

“Robert?” A woman’s voice grew nearer, accompanied by the slap of sensible shoes against the linoleum floor. “What is it?”

“Just pop in here for a second, Diane.” Robert stayed seated. “I’ll explain.”

Diane didn’t protest and walked right in. When she saw the three masked people on the floor she gasped and turned to run, but Tony grabbed her ankle and pulled her back, jumping to his feet and slamming a hand over her mouth to stop her screaming. She screamed anyway, panic making her strong, and Tony grunted as he shifted her around for Shameless to knock her out the same way she had done Agatha. Diane stayed steady for a second and then became heavy and boneless in Tony’s arms. He laid her down gingerly next to Agatha and went back to the door to wait.

“She’ll be alright, won’t she?” Robert asked, sweating.

“Sure.” Shameless said easily. “Up again in a few hours, probably. She’ll be fine.”

Tony heard more feet and gestured for Shameless to hush, which she did. They waited in tense silence as the other two nurses approached.

“Alright, Robert.” One of them said in a brisk, harsh voice. “What’s this all about?”

“Papers, Bridget.” Robert lied, trying to appear relaxed and pretending to get some papers out and ready. “I told you. Come on.” He beckoned and the door opened, revealing a short iron-haired old lady with a stern expression. She saw Tony coiled to spring and slammed the door shut again.

“Run, Fiona!” She shrieked as Tony lunged forward and ripped the door open, shoving past her and going for the other woman - the blonde, now-screaming Fiona. She didn’t have much of a head start, and Tony caught up with her easily, grabbing her and spinning her round with the momentum, pinning her arms to her sides and shoving her up against the wall as she tried to kick her heel into his groin.

“That’s not very nice, you know.” He muttered in her ear as she started to cry. “Shameless, a little help?”

“Hang on.” She called from behind him. There was a sharp thud and then she came towards them, the gun ready.

“Oh, god!” Fiona started to wail. “Oh my god, don’t kill me, please don’t kill me! I’ve got kids! Don’t kill me, please.”

“What kind of people do you think we are?” Shameless asked, outraged, before slamming the butt into Fiona’s head. “Kill her.” She repeated in disgust as Tony picked her up bridal-style and followed her back to the booth. “Does she think we’re RES or what?”

Tony ignored her and lay Fiona’s limp body next to the others. The little booth was very crowded now, and they all jumped as the front doors opened and the rest of the BDN rushed in.

“Did we miss all the fun?” Psychonaut asked casually from under his blue bandanna, looking through the window at the unconscious women.

“Afraid so.” Captain grinned.

“Right.” Shameless turned back to Robert, who looked terrified at the appearance of their back-up troops. “Shut down all the alarms and open all the automated doors. I also want your keys.” She held out her hand expectantly, and Robert lifted a ring of keys from his desk and gave them to her fearfully. “The alarms.” She prompted. “Now.” He nodded and turned to the little keypad, pressing buttons.

“Everything’s down?” Pink Lady checked briskly. Shameless nodded. Tony wanted to scream at them to hurry up. “Excellent. You two okay to stay with him and make sure nothing happens?”

“No problem.” Shameless nodded, and Captain copied her.

“Great, can we go now?” Tony asked impatiently, and Pink Lady nodded.

“We’re ready. Let’s go.”

There was a flight of stairs at the end of the main corridor, with wide halls going left and right. “From the top down?” Mannequin suggested, and Pink Lady nodded, looking at Tony to check for any objections.

They jogged quickly up the stairs, and up another flight to the top. “Right.” Mannequin looked around. “Let’s…”

“This way.” Paperdoll pointed right and started walking. “Look, this is where the nurses hang out, there’s probably a map or something.” They followed her into the small booth, left unlocked by the nurses they’d knocked out. There wasn’t a map, but there was a door on the other side that had chicken wire over the window.

“This must be it.” Teddy Sextramp said quietly, and unbolted it before pushing it open. The corridor beyond was dark and cold and very clean. It was studded at regular intervals with tall doors sunken into the walls and bolted shut on the outside. Everything was a shade of white or cream. It was very unnerving. Teddy Sextramp sniffed, loud in the sudden silence. “Come on.” He said, moving forward to the first door. “Let’s have a look.”

They unbolted the door and pulled it open. The room beyond was small and colourless with a small bed against the far wall. There was a thin shape under the blanket, and Tony moved in, his hopes suddenly dashed as he saw that it wasn’t Effy - it was a tall, thin man. His hair was lank and his closed eyes were sunken into his face. He didn’t look healthy, but Tony poked his shoulder cautiously anyway. “Um, hello?”

There was no response.

“I bet their drugged at night to keep them quiet.” Farmboy said from outside, and Tony realised it was probably true. A sudden bang made them all jump and they turned around to look at the door opposite.

Whoever was on the other side of it banged again, and Pink Lady made the decision for all of them, striding over and unbolting it. It swung open to reveal a tall, dark-haired young man who smiled broadly when he saw them. “I knew it.” He said, his diction sharp. Tony narrowed his eyes, instantly categorising him as a posh twat. “Masked vigilantes, come to break out the crazies. I’m Josh,” he introduced himself and held his hand out to Pink Lady, who took it, somewhat surprised. “Josh Stock. I was right, wasn’t I?” He asked, suddenly anxious. “You are breaking us out?”

“That’s the plan.” Farmboy stared at him. “You look sane.”

Josh Stock laughed. “I am, but my mother doesn’t like me. She runs this place. Lets my sister stay free, but I caused too much trouble, so she stuck me in here with the crazies.”

“Can we get a move on?” Tony asked pointedly, ignoring their irritating new addition.

“Yeah,” Josh looked past him. “You’re wasting your time there. Nadal will be out till morning, and he likes the drugs too much to leave anyway.”

“Leave the door open anyway.” Mannequin ordered Tony as he stepped out. “Next one, come on.”

“Andy?” Josh snorted. “He’s addled. He’ll never leave his room.”

“He might like to decide for himself.” Tony snapped and unlocked the door. Every second the posh twat wasted talking, he thought, was another second not spent with Effy.

To his annoyance, Josh appointed himself their guide and did prove himself halfway useful when he convinced a teenager who insisted on being called Wolf that they weren’t there to abduct them or kill them.

By the time they had finished the male section of the institute, they had eight patients as well as Josh, who was obviously enjoying himself immensely. “Where to next?” He asked cheerfully.

“Female section.” Tony said firmly. “I need to find my sister.”

“Oh really?” Josh came to walk alongside him as they went back downstairs - apparently the hall to the left only led to the mess hall and the social areas. “We don’t get to mingle with the ladies. What’s her name?”

Tony considered telling him to shove it, but since he had no actual reason for his dislike, he answered grudgingly. “Effy.”

“Odd name.” Josh commented as they went to the nurse’s booth on the second floor - the layout was exactly the same, except the bedrooms were on the left instead of the right.

“It’s short for Elizabeth.” Tony said shortly as they went through to the other side. He ignored Josh, wrenching the first door open. The girl inside was blonde - not Effy. He left it for the others to deal with and moved onto the next one. She was asleep, but when he moved closer, he saw that she wasn’t Effy either. Neither was the next or the next or the next. He opened each door with mounting panic, and when he reached the last one he turned in disbelief to the others, who were helping a few of the girls out of their rooms. “She’s not here.”

“She has to be.” Paperdoll looked up from where she was talking softly to a teenaged girl with a shaved head who had sunk to the floor and had started to cry. “She was on the list. She hasn’t been moved, unless it happened after we raised the BRM.”

Tony felt like sinking to the ground and curling up in a ball as well. What if Effy had been moved? This would have all been for nothing. He didn’t think he could cope with that.

“There are other patients here.” Josh said suddenly, and Tony looked at him with desperate hope.

“Where?”

Josh frowned. “They take some patients away sometimes…I don’t know where they keep them.”

Pink Lady looked up at Tony from where she had knelt next to the sobbing girl with Paperdoll. “You go with Josh and…” She looked around. “Farmboy. Go look, go on. We can handle these ones. We’ll meet you back at the security booth.”

“Thanks.” Tony told her gratefully, running out to where Psychonaut was waiting with the male patients.

“Where’re you going?” He asked, surprised.

“Effy isn’t in there.” Tony told him quickly as he ran down the stairs.

“We’re going to look for her where Josh says some other patients are kept.” Alo added, following him.

Tony hit the bottom floor and wavered between going right or left. Josh made the decision for him. “That way leads to the garden.” He said, pointing left. “I haven’t been down here before.”

There were doors on both sides, but they turned out to be storage and empty surgery theatres when opened. Tony paused in the doorway of one of them, looking around at the clinical hospital-like room with a sense of forbidding. What would they need surgery theatres for? What had they been doing to Effy?

“Hey, guys!” Farmboy called from the end of the hall, where two narrower corridors split off, one going right and the other going left. “Eeny meeny miney…”

“Mo.” Tony decided, going right. This had to be it, he thought, running down the dark hallway. It had to be. There was a glass-windowed door with chicken wire over it ahead of him, and he yanked at it only to let out a cry of frustration when it refused to budge. “Where are the keys?” He turned on Farmboy.

“Upstairs.” Farmboy told him what he already knew, and Tony growled and glared at the door. “I could go get them -”

Tony cut him off by slamming his foot into the door near the handle. It didn’t move and he snarled at it.

“Get the keys before he hurts himself.” Josh told Farmboy, who nodded and ran off back the way they had come. “That door is about three inches thick.” He told Tony flatly. “Don’t be an idiot.”

“Don’t call me an idiot.” Tony snarled, pacing the width of the corridor like a caged tiger. He shook his head to clear it and started back down the hall. “I’m checking the other end.”

“Okay.” Josh shrugged and followed him at a distance. There was an identical door set in the left corridor as well and Tony had to stop himself punching the wall. Footsteps on the main hall made him turn sharply and run back as Farmboy emerged, a ring of keys jangling in his hand. Tony grabbed them as he ran past and fumbled, checking the lock and searching for a corresponding key.

He tried three, and when the fourth finally turned in the lock, dragging the metal bolt back, he grinned breathlessly and wrenched the door open. “Effy!” He yelled, stalking to the first door and pulling back the bolt, only to find that it was locked by a key as well. He whirled furiously and snatched the keys from Josh’s outstretched hand.

“A thank you wouldn’t go amiss.” The other boy said calmly. Tony ignored him as he tried more keys. He hated keys, he decided viciously. He hated them. Finally, one of them worked and he yanked the heavy door wide and strode inside. The room was small and windowless, and its occupant was strapped to the bed by leather bonds around their ankles and wrists.

“Effy?” Tony whispered. It was a girl with long dark hair, but - ah. He left and pulled the keys from the door, going to the next door. The girl was slim and small like his sister, but she wasn’t Effy. The next cell held a young blonde man who was awake when Tony opened the door and started to cry with recognition and relief when Josh started undoing his restraints.

“I thought I’d be stuck in here forever.” He sobbed. “Josh, I’m scared…”

“I know.” Josh’s voice was soft and reassuring. “Don’t worry, we’re getting you out.”

“I’ll never be bad again, I swear…”

Tony turned the key in the lock of the next room along and opened the door. The girl inside screamed, and he gasped. “Effy!”

She was barely recognisable. His ever-poised, totally in control little sister was sitting up as much as she could, her hair long and tangled and unwashed, inky black against the pale nightgown she was wearing. The blanket was lying on the floor by her bed - she had kicked it off somehow. She was staring at him with wide, terrified eyes and he held up his hands placatingly as he moved closer, his heart breaking as she tried to scrabble away.

“Effy, Eff, it’s me! It’s Tony!” He knelt next to her and grabbed her head in his hands, smoothing his thumb over her cheek. “Eff, it’s me!”

She stopped screaming and stared at him with growing recognition. Still, her tone was uncertain and wavery when she spoke. “Tone?”

“Yeah.” He could feel himself choking up and he swallowed determinedly. “Yeah, it’s me. I’m going to get you out.”

“Tony?” She pulled at her restraints and his hands flew to them, undoing the buckles and releasing her.

“God, I can’t believe this.” He muttered. “Those bastards. I can’t fucking believe them…”

“Tony, are you real?” Effy asked him, her voice clear but still a little scared.

Tony undid her ankle restraints and pinched her calf. She squeaked and pulled it away and he grinned at her. “Feel real enough for you? Come on, Eff, I’m getting you out of here.”

“No…” She started shaking her head and began to grow panicked and scared again. “No, you can’t, I can’t leave, they’ll find me, they always find me, I can’t ever get out. I can’t!”

“You can.” Tony pretended to be as calm as he could and took a deep, steadying breath. He wished he had some steadying vodka instead, but needs must. “Effy, Effy, look at me.” He held her head again, a palm splayed out over each side of her head. Her lips trembled, but she looked at him and he pressed his forehead to hers gently. “I told you last time you disappeared,” he reminded her softly, “that if it happened again, I would find you. Do you remember?”

It took a moment, but she nodded. Tony grinned.

“And look, I’ve found you. Even here. I told you, Eff, I’d always find you. You can’t hide from me, Effy Stonem.”

She seemed to have calmed down and she nodded again, pressing her lips together. “I’m scared.” She admitted in a whisper.

“It’s okay.” Tony slipped an arm under her knees and scooped her up against his chest. “I’ll never let them touch you again.”

“Promise?” Effy wound one of her hands into his hair and gripped hard enough to hurt. He kissed her forehead and stood up, bringing her with him.

“Promise.”

Farmboy and Josh had two more girls with them and the blonde man who had recognised Josh. “Ready?” Josh asked, and Tony nodded, tentative relief settling in his stomach. He had Effy. Everything would be alright now.

“You take these guys to the front.” Farmboy told Tony and turned to Josh. “We’re going to look up the other end. Come on.”

“See you in a minute.” Tony nodded and led the shuffling, scared patients back down the hall and out to the main corridor, where the others were waiting.

“Is that Effy?” Pink Lady asked Tony, looking at Effy bundled up in his arms. He nodded and smiled a little bit, then looked around at the small crowd assembled next to the security booth.

“How many are there?” He asked, surprised.

Pink Lady lowered her voice. “With your lot, nine guys and seven girls. The van’s going to be a tight squeeze.”

“We could take some in Aggie’s beetle.” Tony suggested, and Pink Lady pulled a face.

“Farmboy’s the only one of us who can really drive though.”

“I can drive.” Tony said, feeling bright now that Effy was there, warm and solid against him. “I’ll take the beetle with Eff and three others.”

“Reckon you could squeeze four in there?” Pink Lady asked, then shook her head. “No, they’re tense enough as it is…” She turned sharply to the security booth. “Robert!”

The guard looked up as though he’d been stung, his eyes haunted. “Yes?”

“Do you have a car?” She demanded coldly. He hesitated, then nodded, looking down and then handing her a set of keys. “Good.” She smiled and pulled the car key off the ring before throwing them back at him. “Thank you.” He didn’t reply. He looked faintly sick. Tony couldn’t bring himself to care.

Effy tugged his hair. “Where’s Freddie?” She whispered in his ear. Tony frowned, trying to place the name. He was sure he had heard Naomi and Cook mention him.

“Which one’s he?” He asked cautiously.

“He’s my…” Effy trailed off and frowned unhappily. “He’s Freddie.” She said simply.

“Well I don’t know him.” Tony told her honestly. “But I think I’ve heard his name before. Cook mentioned him - you remember Cook?”

“Dick.” Effy mumbled, and Tony laughed.

“He was alright. Wanted to come with me to break you out.”

Effy didn’t reply, but buried her face in his shoulder. Tony hefted her further up in his arms and looked round as Farmboy and Josh reappeared, an extra two girls in tow.

“We all ready?” Farmboy asked, smiling widely.

“Yep.” Mannequin nodded. “Right, we should -”

“Wait!” Josh held up his hands, an inspired look on his face. “Not yet.”

“Why not?” Psychonaut asked, instantly suspicious.

“We should take the drugs!” Josh exclaimed, eyes wide and a grin flickering around his mouth. “They’ll be worth a fortune, and some of these guys will need them for sure, you could take the charts and see what each of them get.”

“Yes!” One of the girls agreed vehemently. “I need mine, I panic without them.” She swallowed and held a hand to her chest. “I’m panicking now.”

“We need them.” Another woman nodded, and the rest of them started to agree, voicing their reliance on the pharmaceuticals with increasing volume.

“Quiet!” Pink Lady shouted, glaring around at them as they fell silent. “Alright, we’ll get the drugs. Do you know where they are?” She asked Josh. He nodded eagerly. “Right. Me and Psychonaut will go with you. The rest of you stay here and wait for us to come back.” She exchanged a significant look with Mannequin and then she ran off with Psychonaut after Josh, who had started for the stairs.

“I hope they’re quick.” Captain sighed. “I’m getting bored.”

“Only you could get bored on a raid of a secret regime institution.” Farmboy shook his head. Tony tuned them out and went to sit against the wall, his arms aching from holding Effy already.

“Heavier than you look.” He muttered to her. She snorted but didn’t reply. He wondered if she was going to sink back into her silence again. He had quite enjoyed that period of her life, when she had displayed all her thoughts on her face instead of speaking them out loud. He had become very good at interpreting them.

They stayed quiet and still until Josh, Pink Lady and Psychonaut returned, their arms laden down with bags and boxes of pill bottles.

“Ready now?” Mannequin asked, and Josh nodded, looking very pleased with himself.

“We’re ready to go.”

Tony struggled to his feet, hoisting Effy against his chest again. “Am I taking the beetle?”

“Yes.” Pink Lady nodded and had a quick whispered discussion with Mannequin. “Okay. Robert, show Captain where the CCTV is. Captain -”

“Destroy everything, I know.” Captain grinned and saluted.

Mannequin looked at the patients. “Three of you need to go with Tony.” She told them. “Okay? He’s going to be driving right behind us in a beetle. Anyone?”

“I will.” A shivering young man stepped forward, and a girl followed, then changed her mind and stepped back.

“Two more, quickly.” Mannequin said.

“Leo,” the man who had volunteered looked over his shoulder and beckoned to someone else. “Come on, it’ll be fine.”

Leo stepped forward, a teenager with blonde hair, and a second later a dark-skinned girl joined him. “I’ll go.” She said, obviously trying to sound braver than she felt.

“Okay.” Tony went over to Mannequin and took the keys from her. “Great. The rest of you following?”

“Hang on.” Mannequin turned back to the patients. “Teddy Sextramp will if none of you can, but is there anyone here who can drive? Who has a licence?”

Three of the older patients, two men and a woman, raised their hands.

“Okay.” Mannequin smiled encouragingly, ignoring the crack behind her as Captain kicked something in the security booth. “Any of you want to drive?”

“I will.” One of them men nodded, lowering his hand.

“Okay. Teddy Sextramp will go with you, three others can fit in the back. That leaves…” She looked around, counting. “Eleven patients. Eighteen in total. Wow, this is going to be really tight.”

“A couple could squeeze in the boot of Robert’s car.” Shameless suggested. Mannequin shook her head.

“We’ll see how big it is. Right, come on everyone. Let’s get out of here.”

Tony got Effy and his other three in the tiny beetle and watched as Mannequin directed four patients into the backseat of Robert’s Vauxhall and persuaded Shameless and Paperdoll to squeeze into the boot. The van looked for a second as though it was too heavy to move off, but it groaned into motion after a moment and the Vauxhall rolled after it, Tony bringing up the rear.

“What are you going to do with us?” The woman whispered behind him.

“Take you back to your families.” Tony told her in what he hoped was a reassuring voice. “If you want and if we can. Were you taken from them? Or did you go in there on your own?”

The woman shook her head, he saw in the rear-view mirror. “I was feeding the ducks in the park.” She said slowly as if trying to remember. “There were…men, I think, on the way back. They put me in a van and I fell asleep. I suppose it must have been chloroform.”

“They came into my house.” One of the men whispered. “Almost knocked the door down.”

“I don’t remember how I got there.” The other one, Leo, spoke just as quietly. “I can’t remember anything. It’s all muddled up in my head.” The car fell silent and Tony stole a glance at Effy before looking back at the road.  She was curled up in her seat, her head pressed against the window and her hair hiding her face. She looked much smaller and far more fragile than he remembered.

They stopped in a lay by to match the patients’ addresses and medication requirements and moved on as quickly as they could. There were only four, including Josh, who couldn’t go home. Franky called Naomi, who confirmed that the BRM could take them for the time being along with Tony and Effy. She also agreed to take the drugs. It was only ten minutes after Tony left in the beetle with Josh, Effy and the other three patients squeezed tightly in the back that they realised they hadn’t sent the drugs with them.

“It doesn’t matter.” Mini waved the problem aside. “We’ll arrange to drop them with her some other time. We need to step on it.”

“Stepping.” Alo said tersely, checking the time. “I need money for petrol, guys. Soon.”

“I thought we were full?” Rich leaned forward and checked the level disbelievingly.

“Yeah, well the van hasn’t ever carried more than nine people.” Alo said pointedly.

“Okay, let’s get some cash together guys.” Mini called out, and the others started to hand forward all the odd change they had on them. “Eighteen pounds thirty two.” Mini said after she’d counted it all up. “That enough?”

“Hopefully.” Alo nodded. “How long till curfew?”

“Half an hour.” Rich said worriedly. “We’d better hurry.”

“I’ll say.” Alo turned a corner and frowned as traffic lights turned red ahead of him.

“Why are we stopping?” A frightened patient asked from the back.

“Traffic lights.” Franky told her. “Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

They filled up at the closest petrol station without any problems and drove quickly to the closest address on the list - 132 Hazelbury Road. The corresponding patient was the dark-skinned woman who had volunteered to go with Tony in the beetle earlier. Franky accompanied her to the door and rang the doorbell for her as Alo drove on further down the road and parked.

“Coming!” A woman called from behind the door, her shadow appearing on the frosted glass set into the door. “Hello?” She said as she opened the door and stopped still when she saw who Franky presumed was her daughter. “Annie?” She gasped, putting her hand out as though half-expecting it to pass right through Annie’s body. When it came to rest on her definitely solid shoulder, she cried out and pulled her roughly into a hug. “Annie!” She keened. “Annie, oh my god, my Annie!”

Annie hugged her back and started to cry and Franky started to back away, but stopped when the older woman lifted her gaze and stared at her. “Who are you?” She demanded. “Did you take my Annie?”

“We broke her out.” Franky told her. “We’re the BDN. She was being kept in a place called Greenvale Institution, run by the regime.”

“Is this true?” The woman asked Annie, who nodded tearfully and buried her face in her mother’s shoulder again. “Well, then…” The woman swallowed and nodded. “Thank you, whoever you are.”

“She’s got medication with her.” Franky told her quickly. “And a timetable of when she was being given them. We don’t know how much was actually useful, but that’s your choice now.” She raised her hand in an awkward half-wave and jogged down the path to the road and away.

The other visits went much the same way. It wasn’t long before there was enough room in the van for everyone and they left Robert’s car parked on double yellow lines. It was almost midnight by the time they were done, and they were exhausted. Alo parked in the woods and they trudged back through the tunnels in a daze.

“Can we have the day off tomorrow?” Grace asked plaintively.

“Yeah, go on, Mannequin.” Nick agreed. “I’m shattered.

“Please?” Alo added, turning puppy-dog eyes on Franky, who shared a smile with Mini and nodded.

“Fine, lie-ins all round. Everyone needs to be up by one though, okay?”

“Deal.” Matty grinned crookedly and accepted a high-five from Nick.

“I think that went really well.” Mini whispered to Franky later that night. Franky was in Mini’s room, watching her undress.

“The regime will know by morning though.” Franky sighed. “I hope those families will be okay.”

“They’ll fight back if it comes to it.” Mini said assuredly. “Wouldn’t you?”

Franky nodded and hesitated as Mini pulled her pyjama top over her head and flopped down onto her mattress. “Yeah. Um, I should -”

“You could stay.” Mini said, playing too hard at being casual and blushing as she realised this. “Um, if you want.” She added awkwardly. “I mean, just to sleep, because it’s late and stuff…”

“Sure.” Franky surprised herself with her answer and then smiled as Mini looked up at her, a bright smile breaking out across her face.

“Yeah? Well get down here, Franky bad-ass.” She held out her hand and grinned as Franky took it and let herself be pulled down and stripped to her boxers and tank top. Mini nuzzled her neck and smiled into the smaller girl’s hairline. “Okay?”

“Okay.” Franky nodded, turning her back to Mini and shuffling backwards until they were spooning. Mini kissed her neck and pulled the duvet over them, their combined body heat warming the small space quickly. Franky felt Mini’s arm over her side, her hand brushing her stomach, her solid warmth all up her back and down her legs. It was lovely, she thought to herself and smiled as she closed her eyes.

“Love you, Franks.” Mini mumbled sleepily, and Franky caught her breath, eyes opening wide in the darkness. She paused and smiled secretly.

“Love you too, Mins.”

It was a week before the drugs drop was organised, during which the whole of Bristol and most of the country had exploded with news of the BDN’s new ‘wanted’ status. There was even a reward being offered for sightings or reliable information. They had been branded as terrorists, but the messages of support written on the city walls had increased tenfold. Unfortunately, this meant that the police and RES had finally started to notice it, and there had been a great push towards more CCTV cameras being placed around the city. Everyone was looking for them now. Everyone was on alert.

“So this is pretty short notice,” Franky told them that evening in the T. “But Naomi’s found a guy to take the drugs, tomorrow at eleven am. He’s going to be in room thirty-nine of the Premier Inn by the Haymarket, and I’m going to go in there and give him everything. Psychonaut will come with me.” She looked at Rich, who nodded seriously. “More than two of us will attract attention. You need to dress down for this.” She added, smirking slightly at Rich’s scowl. “Just a normal jeans and t-shirt combo. Wear a hat too - hide your hair.”

“Fine.” He grumbled. “What about you?”

“I’m going to be blonde.” Franky grinned at Mini. “And I’ll wear a dress. There’s a park right opposite the hotel where Pink Lady and Teddy Sextramp will wait in case of trouble. Captain, Shameless and Paperdoll will go in early and look out for anything suspicious in the area, and you’ll spread out and stick around until it’s over. Farmboy will be in the van, as close as you can get, in case we need to make a quick getaway. Everyone has to dress differently - wigs, hats, sunglasses, whatever will hide your identity. Okay?”

“Yes boss.” Alo nodded and the others followed suit.

“Good.” Franky nodded. “Okay, Shameless, Captain and Paperdoll need to be out by nine, just scouting around. Farmboy, you’re going to get there for half ten. The rest of us will take different routes, go at different times. Psychonaut and I will go together to get there for eleven. Any questions?”

“What do you expect to go wrong?” Liv asked, putting her hand up.

Franky shrugged. “Nothing, really. But everyone’s on the lookout for us now…” She exchanged a glance with Mini. “So better safe than sorry.” She said firmly.

Part 13

Diagrams for the bunker and tunnels are here.