Chapter 34: How many of us?
The group make it two thirds of the way through the tunnel before seeing a door for the maintenance room.
Henrick slowly opens the door to the room as he spreads out his electric field, fully opening it when he picks nothing up. "I think it’s safe, but keep your eyes open." he says, a feeling of unease rippling through his body.
Father David enters the room along with Henrick first to scout it out, then sighs in relief when it’s simply a small and safe room. The rest follow in and close the door, bodies tense in preparation for an attack.
As soon as the door shuts, everyone lets out a collective sigh of relief except for Henrick. He notes that the small space has knocked over documents and half-eaten Chinese food, most likely from a rushed escape.
Henrick looks around with a worried expression, still in a combat ready state. The priest notices this and stands next to the tense soldier.
"You alright?" asks Father David. "No. I’m feeling on edge for some reason. I’m sure it’s nothing." Henrick says as he places both hands on his waist.
"What’s going on? You look...almost disappointed." Henrick sighs at the question and nods. "At myself, mostly. I was sloppy, and would have been dead if I wasn’t...what I am now."
Alex overhears the conversation and stands up from where he was sitting. "You kicked ass though?" he says, emulating the electric bolt throw. "We would have been screwed if you weren’t there."
That gets a chuckle from everyone in the room. Henrick simply gives himself a self depreciating smile when he remembers the earlier battle.
"I leapt into the air like an idiot, without assessing the situation. These...powers are making me careless." says the soldier, taking out some scavenged protein bars to eat.
Tony shakes his head then gives Henrick a grateful look. "I may not agree with your philosophy, but you give it your all during fights. I appreciate that."
Henrick inclines his head to acknowledge the officer’s words, but gives no reply as he eats his protein bars in silence. Everyone else takes out scavenged food and does the same.