Lockdown

Emma~

For a group that has such confidence in its security, I’m surprised to find that there’s a full-on lockdown protocol that has just been initiated. Donovan’s instructions are broadcasted hurriedly through the tannoys, and for a second, I find it hard to believe that this is happening.

Orion half dragged, half carried me to the main house where all of the women and children are taken to an underground bunker. From the looks of it, this thing has been here for a long time, and I wonder if there’s anything in here still useful or in date. He’s not exactly able to give an estimate as to how long we’ll be down here.

It frustrates me that this shelter is for all women and children with no exceptions, but after that training session today, I’m not exactly in a position to fight it. We’ve only just been given the classes we need to gain a foundation, and it would be foolish to put us all in harm’s way by letting us go and fight with the men.

I just hate how useless I feel and can see that my opinions are shared with the other women trapped down here with me.

Naturally, the kids have no idea what’s going on, only that we’re not to leave (not like we could if we wanted to) and to stay quiet where possible. There’s no furniture, and the only lights in here are a deep orange. It’s the kind of thing you expect to see in apocalypse movies, and when we get out of here, this will be the first place I’ll be changing up next.

If we get out of here.

No, it’s no use for me to think like that. This is the most powerful family of its kind on the continent; they could eat the others for breakfast, and we don’t even know what’s triggered the alarm. For all I know, it could be a single intruder, and Orion had no issues with taking out others in the past.

I just can’t believe that this is happening right now. One second I’m pressed up against him, and the next I’m in something akin to a dungeon. It’s the most connected to him that I’ve ever felt, and goodness knows it’s taken us a while to get here.

Whoever it is, I hope Orion kicks their ass, if not for the intrusion but for that interruption.

For now, I just need to stay positive. Not just for me, but for my companions down here. Because this is my family now, isn’t it? The marriage has been announced, and right now it is my job to make sure that everyone remains calm and at ease.

“Thank you all for joining my secret meeting.” I start, hoping to make this all seem like it’s on purpose rather than what it really is. “I’ve asked you all here to help me with something...”

I look around the room for inspiration but find nothing but exposed metal walls. Naturally, the women aren’t buying it, but I’m not doing this for them, I’m doing this for the kids.

Think, Emma, think!

“Easter is approaching, and I have no idea what treats to cook! I want to surprise Mr. Orion, and this meeting will help start a plan!”

It’s March, and that’s the only event I could think of that’s coming up, besides there’s always chocolate and things like that, isn’t there? They’ll believe me if it’s got something to do with cooking, and I know fine well that this collection of kids has quite the sweet tooth.

This attempt at thinking on my feet earns a few excited squeals, and I see the physical relief on some of the mothers’ faces. If we can keep the kids amused, that’ll be half the battle of getting through this.

Making sure to keep their voices at a whisper (to avoid Mr. Orion from hearing), they are more than happy to come up with a list of desserts they want, and I even put them into groups to try and compete with each other for the best idea.

While they do that, I check on the women to make sure that they’re holding up okay as not everyone has a child or family member down here with them to offer comfort through distraction.

Again, I try to group people together, and after what must be about half an hour, it’s gone from a pressure cooker filled with nerves, to a dingy social club. It’s better than nothing, I guess.

Now that I have time to think of something other than my companions, my mind wanders back to Orion, and I panic slightly at the fact that they’re not back yet. If it was a single person, then they should have been dealt with ages ago, so what’s happening?

I make a promise to myself right now to throw myself into that training ring when I get out of here because I refuse to sit down here ever again. I want to defend these people and protect this place.

Is this what other families felt like when Orion took over? An inner thought asks me.

No, I can’t think like that.

We’ve come so far, and if I keep dwelling on those rumors, we’ll never get past them. I can only hope that the panic from today serves to put him off this for the foreseeable, and if I talk to him about how I feel, maybe he’ll listen?

He’s been making so many changes recently, and for once, putting a stop to this family’s antics doesn’t seem so impossible.

All I need right now is for him to come back to me, to be okay, and we can take it from there. I knew I was warming to him, but I never thought I’d be fearing for him. What does this mean for us going forward?

Will I get to the point where I can actually make this work with him?