“Get the torch!” Ashley yelled for the second time at her younger sister. The other girl was trying to win a game of tic tac toe against the holo computer. Kyla looked at her startled and shut down the game.

“Why?” She asked rolling her eyes at Ashley’s urgency. The older brunette was in what could appropriately be called a tizzy. She rushed from one side of the room to the other and Kyla watched in amazement. I wonder if her head is going to spin off, Kyla wondered to herself.

“Because Rick is going to the council and he’s going to turn me in. I’m going to seal the door from inside so he can’t get in,” Ashley replied rubbing her temples. Kyla stood very still staring at Ashley who looked almost gray. Her skin had lost its usual vibrant glow and her eyes looked hollow.

“Shut up! He wouldn’t!” Kyla began to argue but Ashley put her hands up to stop the impending barrage of excuses for the wretched male. A sudden rush of nausea hit her like a tornado ripping through a trailer. She clutched her stomach and doubled over onto the floor.

“Yes he would. And he is. I don’t have time to explain. All I know is that if you don’t get your ass in that machine you’re going to end up marrying him and I’m probably going to confinement.” Ashley picked herself up off of the floor and gave Kyla a look that dared her to argue again. Her younger sister was wise and kept her mouth shut looking extremely flabbergasted.

“Right! Um..Torch..Torch..OH there it is!” Kyla said picking up the small blow torch. She didn’t bother with the goggles and left them lying on the desk. Ashley coughed shallowly and Kyla flipped the torch on.

“Go I’ll start arming the security system and grab a belt. They’re in the corner,” said Ashley pointing to the corner of the room where all of the chairs were stacked. Then she tapped the surface of the desk where she was stationed. A small rectangular box rose out of the center of the table and hummed loudly. Ashley began to type in numbers and as Kyla grabbed a belt, she began to think about Spencer. She made sure Ashley wasn’t looking and then snagged and extra belt, shoving it into the back of her pants.