7. We're in
They wasted no more time, they entered the intricacies of tunnels that made up the headquarters of "the Spider" in London. Arthur wasn't quite sure what to expect from this place – something more like the villains' lairs from his childhood movies, perhaps – but he didn't expect it to look so…normal. It wasn't much different from the platform they had left behind. Plain brick walls and stone floors, everything neat and tidy bathed in electric light. Most interesting were the rooms into which the sturdy open wooden doors allowed them to peek cautiously. Most were offices, but he also came to see some luxuriously decorated room that had little or nothing to envy to any room in a palace.
Lily was guiding him towards the lower levels with the confidence of someone who has walked those corridors hundreds of times before. As they descended, the lack of windows began to feel claustrophobic. The only person they passed was a cleaning lady who nearly gave Arthur a heart attack and who greeted Lily politely and appreciatively. They were lucky that the lady was not aware of the latest news and that no one else stood up to them.
The cells were on what Arthur hoped was the lowest level. In the only occupied dungeon was Rhys. The man was huddled in a corner, perfectly still.
Lily called out to him, and when he didn't move, Arthur thought they were too late.
Wasting no more time, he went to work on the lock.
Lily called Rhys again.
– Go away–, the man's voice finally sounded.
– What happened?– Lily asked.
– Go away.
– Rhys.
– It was my fault.– Arthur finished with the lock and opened the door. Lily moved closer slowly as Rhys continued to speak. They came for me. They started asking me questions and I couldn't…and I…Charlie…it was my fault.
Her throat went dry and her stomach churned to hear him confess that with a cracked voice. Lily only paused for an instant before walking up to Rhys. With a hand behind his back, he comforted him and helped him up. She hugged him and held him when he collapsed.
– We have to get out of here as soon as possible – he told her after a few minutes.
Arthur walked over to them and slipped one of Rhys's arms over his shoulder to allow her to lean against him. His face was full of bruises, the little skin that could be seen under his clothes didn't seem to be in any better condition, and his stability was just as painful. He wouldn't be able to get out of there alone. Arthur offered him a light squeeze as he felt his strength threaten to leave him. They would have time to comfort him, to explain that he couldn't have done more and that it wasn't really his fault. At that moment the most important thing was to escape.
– Come on–, said Arthur.
Lily nodded, and to Arthur's surprise, when they made their way back into the tunnels as fast as they could, she had a revolver in her hand.
They ran as fast as they could without making a sound, still trying to blend in even though they would soon discover that Rhys was no longer in his cell. It was in one of the corners that he saw something he didn't expect to see down there. Standing at the foot of a corridor, staring at him with a look of surprise similar to the one he must have painted on his face, was Walter. The questions crowded into his head as he was already trying to find an explanation for that. The man opened his mouth to say something, but the shout of one of the "Spider" guards distracted him. Lily pulled him back as Walter went back into hiding.