The Tunnels

Among an old archery range, that was actually still in use by Isaac and Blair, there was the entrance to the tunnels. Blair lifted up a blanket that had leaves and other debris sewn into it. Under the blanket was what looked like a manhole cover. She took hold of a handle, turned it, and lifted up the cover. She took the blanket back on to the cover, making sure it would go back over top. She stepped down into the tunnel, down the ladder, and closing the manhole cover behind her.

She dropped down into the tunnels. A light slowly turned on as though attached to a dimmer switch. She looked to her right, to her left. As she walked into the tunnel, overhead motion lights turned on as she approached, and turned off as she receded.

Blair walked until she reached another ladder and exit to above ground. She climbed the ladder, slowly and slightly opened the manhole-like cover, scanning the area before pushing the lid up further. This opening was actually outside the perimeter of The Campsite and in the middle of wide open fields. Again, the fields were intentionally bare so sight of vision could be far reaching. A single dirt road cut through the fields from The Campsite out to a country road. They could see someone driving from a kilometre away. Blair waited, saw nothing out of the ordinary, and dropped back down into the tunnels.

There were five entrances and exits in and out of the tunnels: where she originally entered by Cabin Alley, in the basement of Pine Manor, one in the Command Centre in the Lake House, outside the perimeter in The Fields, and where she headed now, back to the Main House. In addition to the tunnels, the video cameras, and the supplies, the entire Campsite was rigged with traps. Crude in nature, they were built and integrated into the landscape, so again, at first sight, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The traps were not in use most of the time, they were designed to be easily set. Isaac looked at them as more of a backup, as needed, and they sat ready to go but not on for various safety reasons.

As Blair walked through the tunnel leading to the Main House, she thought about her life at The Campsite with Isaac. She was almost a teenager and of course was getting curious about the world around her. She in no way felt like a prisoner, quite the contrary, she had an incredible amount of freedom. At least once a week, her and Isaac drove down that long dirt road and twenty minutes to the nearest town to get supplies and to do some shopping. It was not a prison, over years Isaac had just built up the protection around them. During these visits to the town, Isaac would sometimes stop in for a beer at the local bar. He got her ice cream. She said hello to other kids from her class at school. Isaac certainly wasn’t delusional, he knew Blair needed to attend school and be around other kids. She enjoyed going to school, but she loved the summers when she spent most of her time in Pine Forest or other parts of their property. And this summer started off in the same way, but something has changed. It felt different. She felt different. Restless, even.

On the porch, Isaac dragged a mattress from inside the house. He put it down against the wall, making sure it was underneath the awning. Gently, he lifted her from under the shoulders, placing her upper body on the mattress. Moving around her, lifting her by the ankles. After moving her, she came to and opened her eyes. Confused, her eyes winced in pain.

“I am going to check to see the extent of your injuries,” Isaac said. “Is that okay? Do I have your permission?”

The woman closed her eyes and slowly nodded her head. Isaac checked her arms, limbs, and joints. He got her attention and said: “I think you have a severe concussion. Your right shoulder and neck probably hurt, yes?” She nodded, he nodded. “Along with your right knee and ankle. Nothing appears to be broken, but I can’t be sure. I think you’re well enough that we could bring you to the hospital.”

Upon hearing the word hospital, the woman’s eyes came alive, but almost instantly, the pain in her head snapped them back closed.

“You don’t understand,” Isaac said. He made sure she listened, waited for her eyes to open again. “I don’t know you, and I don’t really care about you. I care enough as one human being who is trying to maintain his civility towards others. But you crossed the threshold of my home without permission. This I cannot accept. I have no other recourse except to patch you up the best I can and get you on your way. You have no business here.”

Blair opened the hatch in the basement of the Main House and climbed out of the tunnel. She closed the entrance, and replaced the hinged floorboards. Upstairs, before stepping out on the porch, she paused, listened.

“I am a reasonable man,” Isaac said to the woman. “We both have equal wants. I don’t know what yours is, but mine is to protect my family. And I can’t let anything or anyone get in the way of that. I’ve calmly explained to you the situation from my perspective and I certainly do not mean any disrespect and wish you any harm. But we will clean you up and get you on your way.”

“But she needs help,” Blair said as she stepped on the porch.

“Not from us,” Isaac said.

“I don’t mean physically,” Blair said. “Physically, I’d say she has a concussion, whiplash on her right neck and shoulder, bruised knee, and sprained ankle.”

“You knew that from looking at her?” Asked Isaac.

“It was obvious from when I tracked her in Pine Forest. It’s also obvious that she was in some kind of car accident.”

“Damnit,” Isaac said with closed eyes. “There’s a car somewhere?”

“Yes,” Blair said. “But, I didn’t see one. She must have been walking a lot longer then we thought. Well before she appeared on our radar.”

“We’ll deal with her first. She needs medical attention, so we’ll take her to the hospital.”

The woman’s eyes went wide again at the mention of a hospital. Blair sank into thought.

“No,” she said. “She’ll be fine. In fact, it might be better for her to rest. Drink water, eat something. Besides, the hospital might not be her best option right now, right?” Blair looks at the woman, who slowly nods.

“We should go find the car,” Isaac said. “Before someone else does.”