Serix walked in step with Cassie as she guided him around the storage, showing him different rooms. As she said, most of them were empty or filled with boxes and junk. Very few were furnished as living spaces. As they walked, he did his best to make a mental plan of the hallways, just in case he ever needed it in the future.

**“See? Nothing but pretty much junk in here,”** Cassie said as they entered the last room. Piles of scrap metal and boxes littered the floor. She approached a rather precarious looking stack that leaned up against a wall and nudged it with the toe of her shoe. The boxes wobbled and then crashed to the ground just as Cassie jumped out of the way. She looked at him with a sheepish grin, **“Well, I guess that goes to prove I’m not the most graceful person around… or graceful at all really. I’m kind of clumsy actually.”**

“It’s a wonder you’ve survived this long on your own,” Serix replied with a sarcastic shrug. He then noticed the hidden door at the same time Cassie did. He carefully navigated his way around the jumble of overturned boxes to join her as she scanned her hand to open the door. It slid aside to reveal a small, nearly bare space. Three sealed boxes sat by the back wall.

“What’s that?” Serix asked, leaning forward to look over Cassie’s shoulder as she knelt beside one of the containers. She pulled out her tiny pocket knife and tentatively cut along the edges of the clear sealant. When that was done, she opened the top to reveal an assortment of various objects. It didn’t look like anything special to Serix, but Cassie’s voice was heavy with emotion when she spoke again, **“This... is my parents’ stuff. They must have brought it here just in case they needed to hide here...”** She trailed off as she pulled out each object in turn, handling them all as carefully as though they might break at the slightest touch.

Serix watched her in silence. A strange mix of emotions churned in his stomach as Cassie examined her parents’ things. He felt a bittersweet happiness that she had an opportunity like this, but at the same time, he was frustrated that he had nothing from his own deceased parents. It was customary that when his people died, their possessions were all returned to the ownership of the higher powers to be redistributed according to their will. Such was the case with his mother and father. Serix had nothing left but their memory.

After a moment, Cassie returned the items to the box and sealed them away again. **“Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”** She stood up and turned for the door. Serix was about to follow her, but in the next instant, the lights flickered out and the door slammed shut. His eyes widened in shock. Something must have malfunctioned in the system. They were trapped.

_Cassie._ Serix remembered her fear of closed, dark spaces. He whirled around, trying to make out her form in the darkness. His eyes were still adjusting to the abrupt change in lighting, but he could see just enough to find her standing next to the door. **“No, no, no, no!”** Cassie was crying out as she tried to pry the door open with her hands. It was no use. Serix saw her shadowy figure sink to the floor as she dropped to her knees. Violent sobs wracked her body. She was having a mental breakdown.

“Hey,” Serix said gently, kneeling down beside her. He took her wrists and coaxed her hands down from her ears. Then, he wrapped one arm around her waist and held her close, trying to ignore the pounding of his own heart when he did so. He took one of her hands in his. “It’s going to be all right. I’m right here, okay?” They had to get out of here somehow, and Cassie was the only one who knew anything about electronic wiring. She had to calm down or they really would be trapped forever.

“Cassie, do you remember what I told you last time?” Serix went on in a hushed tone. “Focus on me. Feel how steady my breathing is. Try to match it, okay?” He held her close to his side and closed his eyes, taking slow breaths. If she could get her heartrate down, Cassie might be able to gather her thoughts. Stopping her from hyperventilating could be the best way to do that.

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Serix asked, gently running his thumb over her hand.