The Way Out

"Well then, someone can go along with Nathan to the generator" Ashton said.

Everyone just looked at each other. They knew that the others were thinking the same that they were thinking. The silence continued.

'I must go to the generator. The person who comes with me matters. Gustavus might be the prisoner. I hope he doesn't come' Nathan thought.

'Nathan knows the way. So he must go. I don't think Nathan is the prisoner but I am afraid if Nathan is indeed the prisoner, I might never come out from the hallway' Madhav thought.

'James's got to be the prisoner. He asked Madhav the most number of times if he could go out. Madhav's got to be the detective, since he didn't want anyone to escape. That might also be the reason why he took me down at the first time. I better stay with Madhav. Hope he doesn't go with Nathan' Gustavus thought.

'If Nathan is indeed the prisoner, I would be in trouble if I go with him. Although he is the least I would suspect, if he really is, the prisoner, I will be knocked out. He indeed looks like the strongest among us. It would be better if I stayed with the others, one of whom might be the prisoner. I wonder what James is planning to do' Ashton thought

'I was watching Nathan from the beginning. He was the one who acted all the time as if he was trying to make everyone believe that there is, after all, no prisoner at all. He should be the prisoner. I'm sure of it. I should go with him, just in case he escapes from the back', James thought, 'However, if the prisoner is one of the left behind, he wouldn't try to escape with two other men watching' 

"I'll come" he said.

The other four looked at him sternly.

"Okay" Nathan said, almost thankful that it was not Gustavus, who was vouching to go.

James walked towards Nathan. They whispered to each other. Nathan nodded and looking at the others, said, "We'll go now". They started walking into the dark hallway connected to the room. All of this made Ashton feel uncomfortable. Gustavus was feeling quite safe with Madhav with him.

James and Nathan were walking.

"How far is the generator?" James asked.

"About a minute, that's it" Nathan replied, "But the further we go in, the darker and colder it becomes"

"Why is that so?" James asked.

"The lights over there were already damaged by such snow storm, years ago"

"Oh"

They walked cautiously. There were dark rooms on the side of the hallway, everything quiet.

Back in the hall, Gustavus, Madhav and Ashton, sat far away from each other, all quiet. Nobody wanted to talk. Instead, everyone was thinking hard. Every moment James and Nathan don't return, new thoughts arose in their mind.

"Is there any opening from the back, Nathan?" James asked. Nathan was walking silently. He looked at James without turning his head. He could see dark and heavy boots walking. Nathan gulped. 'Why is he asking this question?'

"Nathan?" James increased his voice.

"There is one at the generator." Nathan replied.

'Why does James need to know if there is a way out?' Ashton thought.

James could see a wall at the end of the hallway, after silently walking for a while.

"We're here" Nathan said.

James observed that there was a door on the right.

            'No' Ashton said to himself and almost got up from his seat.

"Something wrong, Ashton?" Madhav asked.

"No, nothing, heh" Ashton stammered as he spoke.

Madhav twisted his eyebrows. 'Is Ashton the prisoner? Was he trying to escape through the door, now?'

Nathan opened the door, leading to the open Ice Lake Basin. He stepped into the snow, cautiously. James also stepped out. The generator was just by the door. Nathan kept an eye on James, who was looking at the snow beyond, but not at the generator. Nathan felt unsafe.

Suddenly, James twisted his eyebrows and immediately leaped forward with steps.

'What! Is James the prisoner?! He's escaping!' Nathan thought.