"What issue?"

"The other trucks –" He makes sure people are paying attention. "The other trucks started going a different direction, and when we tried quizzing them on the behavior the people in them fell unconscious."

"What—"

"When did that happen?"

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"Where are they?"

One boy walks up to Anthony and—

—is held back by Dayo before he can punch him.

… Egh.

"This happened earlier – about half an hour ago – but we didn't want to get everybody panicking –"

"We're panicking now!"

"My sister was in the other truck!"

"Where are we?"

"Look, I just – we can't – can we all just calm down please, this isn't going to help."

"Oh yeah that's gonna work asking people to calm down—"

"What do we do now?"

"We have to rescue them—"

"We have to do exactly nothing," says a voice coming from the one door. Its owner has two bodyguards and is walking towards them. "What happened happened due to a grave error on our part but panicking or trying reckless rescue missions helps absolutely no one."

And unlike Anthony's pleading, that does shut everything up.

… Right, he should probably take point or something.

"Hello there."

"Hello. You must be Anthony. I am Chief Garland."

"I am," he responds. "I don't think we've met, or – well, spoken."

"We have not," she agrees. "It would be foolhardy of me to leave this place alone."

    "Hey, what—"

"Traitors, is what," she explains, "although this place's magic is such that they can't do much damage once they've left."

    "—um."

"It will be explained."

"It would be nice to know… what actually happened."

"Then you will come with me."

She turns around and starts leading them towards the door.

He follows.

She leads them through corridors and hallways to a small auditorium with a few chairs. She stands facing them and waits until they all settle down.

Anthony sits at the front.

Dayo sits next to Anthony and takes his hand.

… Please let this woman not be terrible.

"My name is Monica Garland," she says when everyone's settled, "and I lead this little merry band of rebels. There was a small problem, namely that we had traitors in our midst, and they were the ultimate cause of the problems you are now aware of."

Does it seem like he's allowed to talk or does he need to wait for the scary woman to finish her speech.

Anthony thinks he will just wait.

"They will not find this place, as it is not findable by anyone not associated with us. That is also the reason why we seldom do anything in small groups—the magic that protects us only kicks in for large groups. The compound is protected, as well."

    "...okay but how do we get our friends and family back?" a boy asks.

"We don't."

Several people cry out in outrage at that.

Augh.

"Why – um, why do we not – get them back –?"

"Because it would be a suicide mission," she states, simply. "A large enough group would be protected by the magic up until they reached wherever it is the hostages were taken, and then what?"