Lily could feel her babies turning, as if yawning and stretching. A bulge appeared and then disappeared on her stomach, a reassuring sign that all was well. Amid her recent ordeal, she realized her children must have suffered too. Finding peace of mind in their safety, she took a moment to compose herself before standing and walking around the spacious room. It was empty except for the obvious presence of surveillance cameras. Approaching the window, she drew the curtains to find it blocked—a decorative feature only.
The room, resembling a luxurious suite, included a living area with a sofa, coffee table, and water dispenser. 'Yes,' she mused, 'a hotel suite. Or a luxurious cage.' She knew escape wouldn't be easy. "Now that the organization has brought me here, they won't let me leave at will."
Approaching the door, she paused her hand on the knob before yanking it open. Two men, thugs by their appearance, swiftly blocked her exit. Lily raised an eyebrow, noting the empty hotel corridor beyond them. After a silent moment, she smiled, closed the door, and retreated.
She wouldn't force her way out; she was not foolish enough to believe those two were all the organization had. Carefully inspecting the room, she found the surveillance cameras surprisingly few. "This, and the two thugs. They must be very confident," she thought, remembering the guns holstered at their waists. "I could probably disarm them quickly, but how many more are there? How many more weapons? Acting rashly is unwise."
Lily had always sought information on the organization's leaders, to no avail. This, she realized, was a rare opportunity. "How can I miss this? I have to adapt. But—" she touched her pockets and looked around the empty room. Her phone was gone.
"Losing communication is a serious problem. Alex must be frantic! I need to contact the outside world immediately. Mike probably told Alex already, and I have no idea what happened to Dominic."
After pacing, Lily sat on the sofa, her growling stomach a stark reminder of her prolonged fast.