Morning Departure
Bai woke before the alarm she had set. For several seconds, she lay
still and listened to the apartment. The backup power unit hummed in its
usual steady way. A faint sound came from the kitchen, probably the
pipes settling after the night's temperature change. Somewhere beyond
the closed door, a neighbor moved across the corridor. There were no
dragging feet, no groans, and no sudden impacts against the outer doors.
Building 9 was quiet again, but this time the quiet had a different
feeling. They were about to leave it behind.
Bai dressed, checked the small bag she would keep with her, and walked
through the apartment once more. She verified the locks, checked the
water system's indicators, and made sure the emergency power unit was
stable. The maintenance notes were placed where Mother Yan could reach
them if the group returned separately or if a problem arose before they
got back. Bai had written clear instructions about what to do if the
