They found themselves in a long corridor, it was a different one from the one he had been dragged through to Ferando's study. There were a few similarities to the last corridor – red rugs, peeled paints, candles, but there were doors everywhere. There was a door opposite him, two beside him on each side. It looked like a corridor with prison cells, only that the bars were replaced with doors. They had to act quick, Cevil adjusted KJ's arm around his neck and chose a door – right side of them. He limped towards it, having to hold up KJ's weight. He pushed the door open, but it wouldn't, it was locked. He got to the next door, but it was too, locked. Shouts echoed through the corridor. Cevil could hear footsteps, and there were dozens of them. He looked around, just then he noticed that people were attacking from both sides of the corridor. He was doomed. There was nowhere to run.
The people were approaching fast, all armed with guns, knives, broken glass bottles and much more that Cevil didn't have time to discover. He had two options – fight back or enter another room, but there were at least hundreds of people surrounding them, although they were considered quite far away, he had no choice but to enter a room before anyone shot them. He searched for a room quickly, the risk of getting to the opposite one was too high, he could have been shot down the moment he began to cross the corridor. His only choice left was the room that he escaped from, although there might have been a chance the people were still inside, trying to get the door opened. He unbolted the door quickly and was glad that there wasn't anyone inside. He slammed the door shut, bolted it from the inside and pressed his back against the door. Only then, the gunshots had started, but it was too late. KJ was leaning against the door too but sitting. Cevil had questions, but he knew it wasn't the time to ask. He had to think of a plan to escape. More shouting was heard from outside and was getting louder and nearer like an approaching train. Out of sudden, Ferando's voice came from nowhere, "Behind the crucifix! Press the walls. Panel." Cevil could make out that Ferando was gasping for breath. Cevil frowned. Firstly, where did Ferando's voice come from? There was certainly no one in the room, and definitely, there wouldn't be an invisible person. Secondly, why was Ferando helping them? Or was this a trap? Open the panel and toxic gas spreads out, or maybe triggering a bomb. But he knew it was their only chance. He got behind the crucifix and bend down, pressing every part of the wall. There was a sudden movement. The wall – or maybe the panel, slid open. It was true! Ferando hadn't been lying to them, and Cevil didn't see any sign of bombs or toxic gas. He knelt and examined the inside of the panel. It was a small, square passageway and it was dark. Cevil was hesitating, but he heard shouts and gunshots outside. As soon as KJ saw the passageway, he scrambled to his feet and knelt beside Cevil. "The door's solid, it's bulletproof, it can buy us at least twenty seconds. Now, climb in."
Cevil stared, the passageway looked dangerous for him. He didn't even know where it led to. KJ could see that Cevil was struggling with himself, and he made a move first. He began to crawl into the passageway, his head first, then followed by his legs. The air in the passageway was heavy with moisture and it smelt bad. It smelt like steel and metal, and it was quite hard to breathe. Cevil didn't want to be left behind hence he went after KJ. He heard footsteps outside the door as he crawled inside, but it suddenly came to a halt. Nervously but quietly, he slid the panel shut behind him and waited for KJ to move. He waited, KJ didn't move, but suddenly collapsed onto the ground. "KJ!" he whispered loudly, trying to climb slightly forward to check on KJ. KJ was pressing his forehead with the heels of his hand. He was trembling – his entire body. Cevil could hear him breathing heavily, and the movement of his chest was extremely huge.
He heard the door outside crash open, through the panel, people emerging into the room which they never expected to be empty. A few exclamations could be heard outside – they were probably shocked by the disappearance of the two boys. Some people were yelling at each other in German, blaming each other to allow them to escape – when they were just in front of their eyes. Others were questioning themselves or wondering, whispering and muttering. Cevil lay still, afraid of making any noises, controlling his breath at the same time – softly. KJ was still gasping, but much quieter. The world seemed to have gone silent briefly. No one spoke, and the muttering and whispering outside had stopped. Fortunately, Cevil heard them leaving soon, their footsteps fading away, the creak from the door when it closed.
"KJ's pocket, antidote."
Ferando somehow had spoken again, in his ear. This time, Cevil didn't hesitate. KJ seemed to be suffering badly, and he needed to try saving him. He instantly dug his hands into both of KJ's pant pockets, he felt a sealed plastic inside and snatched it out. There was a brown pill inside, round and flat. Cevil slipped the pill onto his hand, then he caught hold of KJ's arm, trying to stop him from trembling. KJ opened his mouth slowly, Cevil dropped it into his mouth, and KJ gulped it.
Very soon, KJ stopped quivering, he breathed normally, he had gained back his strength and they moved on on their knees and palms.