The fourth floor, however, was even stranger.

“What is this, like an old gym?” Lara walked out onto what looked like a running track. A balcony ran the length of what would have been the far wall. Instead of rooms, a large open pit gaped in front of them.

“what the fuck…”

Bette’s eyes widened, her mouth fell open, and she looked at the most astounding sight. “What the fuck!” She repeated.

“That’s my mother for you.” Helena said quietly.

“Who are all these people?” Alice emerged to Bette’s left, nudging her elbow slightly as she leaned forward to survey the scene. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the banister in front of them. Four stories below, dozens of curious people looked up at her.

A shanty town of sorts, dominated the center of an enclosed circle.

“So much for working out.” Alice joked.

“they can be seen from all angles.” Helena whispered, indicating the number of windows surrounding the people.

“Are they infected?” Bette asked.

“No.” Helena responded. “They’re just poor.”

“I’ll have you know that they are both poor and infected.” A voice spoke with dry humor from behind them. Bette and Alice turned to look at Peggy. Helena remained with her back to her mother.

“You’re experimenting on them.” Helena said. “You and your…rich friends. You’re all monsters.”

“I’m not a monster. And no, we are not experimenting on them. We’re keeping them alive…”

Bette turned back, sudden realization dawning on her face.

“Took you a little while darling.” Helena said.

Bette quietly did a head count, searching among the people below.

“They’re not White.” Bette said angrily. “None of them are White. But every guard we’ve seen, and those friends of yours…”

Peggy sighed, shaking her head. “Do you think the people we have staying in this hotel would put up with them, living amongst us? What would you have me do?”

A young girl, of four years, her hair braided and hanging to her lower back, waved up at Bette. Bette waved in return.

“Are they infected, as well?” Bette asked. “they don’t look infected.”

“They seem immune somehow…one or two were exposed just before we shut down this building.” Peggy spoke quietly, looking behind her to ensure that the guards were not listening. “But the infection didn’t spread. We shut them up here…”

“Waiting for them to die.” Helena finished.

“Others were exposed.” Peggy continued. “Jaunty herself, actually.”

“But no one wanted her quarantined.” Alice said angrily.

“No, of course not.”

“What are you doing here, anyway, Mother?” Helena still looked angry, but calmed herself for the sake of Caiohme. The baby reached out and when Helena scooped her up, small hands patted Helena’s cheeks reassuringly.

“Hey Peggy.” A young woman called up and waved. Peggy smiled and waved in return.

Helena rolled her eyes, turned on her heel, and walked off.

“Helena, Helena, wait!” Bette came jogging after her. “Come on, she obviously can’t just change the whole situation on her own.”

“We need to find the others.”

“I know.” Bette reached out to take Caiohme, who immediately grabbed her hair and pulled hard. “Ow.” Bette said mildly. Helena burst into laughter and worked to untangle the baby’s fingers from Bette’s hair.

They made their way back to their room, where Bette plunked Caiohme down in the living area. Helena had just put the kettle on for tea when Peggy and Alice walked in. Peggy and her daughter had a few quiet words, causing Helena to visibly relax.

“Ok guys, we have to find Catherine and Dylan, and whoever is taking people from this hotel.” Helena spoke quietly and resolutely.  “We need to figure out this infection, once and for all. We’ll need outside help of course.” They all grinned at one another, before setting about their tasks for the day.

First, a tea break was in order.

Peggy and Helena sat with their tea—a lovely high quality variety from the north of England—while Bette and Alice worked on radio frequencies, using equipment Peggy had stolen, only moments ago, from her guards.