Deviants Fallen: A DBH Story

Chapter 50: Checkmate

As she looked around the closet, she realized there weren't any shoes her size. Because Cain never let her outside. She shuffled through a few drawers and found a pair of socks. Not ideal, but they would have to do. It was only for a short time anyway.

She pulled them onto her feet, then quickly walked back to the door. She crouched down again, then carefully pushed her picks into the lock, teasing it gently until she heard the click. She pulled the picks out and slid them back into the box, slipping it into the pocket of the jacket, then she grasped the door handle, twisting it to pull the door open.

As she stepped out into the hallway, the restless tension under her skin eased. She made her way to the end, where she found a staircase. She quickly descended to the ground floor, then found the door to the outside. As she walked toward it, her steps slowed. Was she really doing this? Cain would be upset when he found out. No, if he found out, she reminded herself. And he wouldn't.

Bright sunlight beamed through the glass door, tantalizing. The trees lining the street swayed in the breeze, making the air in the hallway seem stifling and oppressive by contrast. Clara squared her shoulders and closed the distance to the door, pulling it open. She was hit with a wave of warm morning air. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, and when she opened them, she felt lighter than she had since waking up in the lab.

At least for a little while, she was free.

Connor watched curiously as Jinx flitted around the room, rearranging a few things. In the couple days he'd been in her home, he noticed that often displayed restless behavior, and she never sat still for very long. It made his nervous, watching her in constant motion. But this time, she had a purpose behind the movements. She was getting ready to leave the house.

"Remind me again why you're doing this?" North spoke up from where she sat in the kitchen, sounding exasperated.

"I have a cover to keep," Jinx explained, pulling on a pair of sneakers. "My neighbors know my routines, so if I start changing them up, they'll get curious. Besides..." She glanced at the array of plants on her window sill. "I'm running out of nutrient supplements for my plants. I need to pick more up."

She finished tying her shoe, then stood again. "And...this will give me a chance to do a little bit of recon on the apartments in the area. A few of the ones that meet the criteria are in the adjacent blocks."

"Can't you take at least one of us with you?" North gave her a concerned look. "What if something happens?"

Jinx sighed, pausing for a moment. "I won't be in any danger. I've been doing this for a long time, North. Much longer than you, or any of your team. And I have a deep cover identity set up. The people here know me well and they trust me. Nothing is going to happen."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, shifting her weight. "And if my neighbors see either of you leaving with me, they might get curious, and frankly, I don't feel like trying to come up with a plausible story." A slight smile pulled at her lips. "The woman down the hall, Janine, she's a nosy busybody. She'll definitely try to invite herself over if she learns I'm hosting you."