Meanwhile, on Pluviam, Christopher's fatherly love was stronger than the doubt others had. Fatigue could not keep him from a desperate search. 

Not letting go of Finn's bracelet throughout a single minute of the day, Christopher had turned over every piece of debris, and finally called upon the inference that his son was very much still alive, and not buried by the downfall of a decaying building. 

His team, however, said nothing when he proffered his optimism. They didn't have to, for their looks spoke volumes; no one believed that Finn could still be alive, primarily because if he was, then someone would most likely have seen him in some region of the city. But no citizens had seen him, none but three: Arrakis and his two mates, which had kept quiet ever since Finn slipped right through their fingers.

Arrakis burst through an iron door of the abandoned factory. It had been unguarded because it was the guards itself that lazed within the halls. It was one of four headquarters, structured similar to military bases, but taken less important, as their main job was to patrol the city and ensure that all laws were respected. 

Arrakis spoke to one of the only two guys that had knowledge about Finn and Lena's escape.

"Thane, come with me."

"Arrakis! You're back?"

"Move it!" shouted Arrakis from the echoing hallway, as he was already returning to the ship he just landed with.

Thane sprinted to catch up with Arrakis' quick pace. Wordless, he followed his pal outside to the ship, where he detected the occupied passenger seat. He could not see what it was, yet.

Arrakis pulled something large and heavy out of the vehicle and dragged it over the sand. It did not move nor did it fight, and despite the coverage of a large white sheet, Thane knew what, or rather who lay beneath it. He was so bold as to ask anyway, but the daunting look on Arrakis' face firmed Thane's speculation.

"Just help me to carry her inside, and make sure no one sees us!"

It was nighttime on Pluviam, enhancing the chances of moving unseen. Thane and Arrakis grabbed the limbs that peeked from the sheets and lifted the body.

"Did you get the boy as well?" whispered Thane, while carrying Lena's body down a tenebrous spiral staircase. It led to a bunker, and into the dark. The red light of a bulb faded into the disclosed blackness and threw unnerving shadows against the gray walls. 

It was silent down there; no one had the key to the stairs, except Arrakis and his father, and it was prohibited for any soldier to enter the vault unless told to do so.

"Are—are you s—sure that I'm allowed d—d—down here?" stuttered Thane. "I— I really don't want to get in trouble.

"When did you become a nervous baby?"

"I'm not! But your father gives me the creeps, and that's an understatement."

"He won't find out."

"So then I am right, he would disapprove of this!"

"My father disapproves of everything. This is no worse than any other rule breaker."

"I'm doomed!" cried Thane.

"Shut up. Here. Put her down."

They dropped Lena's body on the bottom mattress of a bunk bed. Arrakis had turned a switch, whereupon the flickering lights at the ceiling lit the room poorly.

"What is this place?" asked Thane, and rubbed his sweaty forehead.

"It's one of many shelters, for the case of its need."

"Why is it kept secret?"

"Because we also store weapons and rations down here. Citizens would constantly try to break in if this information ever touched the surface. So don't tell anyone! Got it? Otherwise, my father will have you slaughtered."

With his head retracted by his shoulders, Thane nodded hastily. "I won't tell anyone! I swear."

Lena's hand twitched unnoticed. She began to wake up, and once she pulled down the sheets and saw Arrakis, she kicked his knee and plunged to the cold floor.

"Where am I?" she panicked.

"I thought she was dead!" said Thane, overwhelmed.

Arrakis squeezed his aching knee, pointed at Lena, and shouted a command at Thane to grab her. Lena, still dazed from her stage of unconsciousness, crawled towards the door that led to the stair, as running seemed impossible at that moment. 

Thane snatched her leg, but with one boot in his face, his grip loosened and failed to stand the pain he suffered. Lena made her way to the stair, and despite her dizziness, she stood on both feet, used the railing as support, and began climbing the first steps. 

Arrakis limped, but without a sweat, caught up with the girl he despised. Her arm was in his clutch, and his fist prepared to strike. She passed out before his bitter punch occurred.

Lena awoke in the dark. She had no memory of where she was, or how she got there. When she tried to move, she guessed that her wrists and ankles were strapped to four individual poles.