The Guadeloupe Squadeloupe

Chapter XXIV: Alice

"If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives." ~Lemony Snicket

Guad seems as surprised that Perry and Janis aren't with us as I was. But he doesn't possess the emptiness I feel.

Perry and Janis. The only two people here I really feel connected with. Sure, Guad and Bob are great guys, but Guad usually calls me "childish," and Bob is hard to make conversation with. Diana and I have little to nothing in common.

I walk silently beside Bob, who is on my left. He looks disappointed, but I don't know if it's due to third wheeling with Guad and Diana, or Janis' absence. I've noticed that they have been spending a little more time together than they used to, but I haven't had a chance to confront my twin about it. Of all the time I've had before to talk to her and now I don't.

There is a light about every 100 feet throughout the tunnel. Water drips from above, collecting in tiny puddles on the ground. Having no motivation to go forward, my feet scrape against the ground. Janis is behind me, so that's the only direction I want to go.

"Which way?" Guad asks at another fork in the road.

"Right, I guess," Bob shrugs. Clearly he's as enthusiastic right now as I am.

"Maybe we should take a break soon," Diana announces. "You guys seem kind of wiped out."

The three of us nod in agreement. I can tell everyone is tired and ready to stop, but no one wants to be the first to admit it.
We trek on for maybe another mile or so, until Diana spots a big, bright light as far down the tunnel as we can see. As we approach it, I notice that it's not a light, but a rectangular structure on the wall, like a built in computer.

"What is it?" Bob asks when we stand before it. It's at least eight feet long and five feet high. There are a series of lines that fork out and join together randomly, and several dots scattered throughout.

I notice the date flashing in the corner, and discover that it's one in the morning the next day; no wonder I want sleep.

Four dots are huddled closely to each other, and all the others are just a single dot by themselves. Except for the two dots that are beside each other, and I watch as they select the fork on the right.

It must be a map, I think, but decide it needs to be tested before conclusions can be drawn.

"Diana, run to the end of that tunnel and back," I say, and receive three confused glares from the others. However, she gives me the strangest look of the three; her face reads something along the lines of are you crazy or insane? "Ugh, please, just do it!"

She sighs in defeat. "Sure, whatever you say."

Diana takes off running down the tunnel, and I automatically see one of the four dots from the group move away from the group. Bob must understand, so he takes off running in the other direction. Another dot moves away from the group.

"It's a map," Guad declares with excitement in his eyes. I didn't think anything this complex could excite him. But I guess that comes from being homeless so long. "So is that...Perry and Janis?"

He points to the two dots who have now stopped moving. It must be them, because there isn't another pair on the map.

"Guys!" Bob yells from down the tunnel. "Come down here! I need to know that I'm not crazy!"

Well that can't be good, I think as I run down the corridor to join him.

"Tell me I'm not crazy," he says, pointing to him feet.

I follow his finger and look to the ground.

I gulp and say, "No you're not crazy."

On the ground is a body, a gunshot wound in his head.