"The basement? He said that?" If Jack was more trustworthy than Jill - and it was looking more and more like he was - then there was probably truth to it. "That might be it... but it doesn't make a difference if it's dangerous, right? I mean, everywhere is really dangerous here." Why would the basement be any different? Even a trip to the bathroom down the hall was a life-risking endeavor, depending on how unlucky you were. But despite thinking that way, Anise was starting to feel that maybe it had been a good thing she and Ion had been stopped when they tried to go there.

Ion... Anise whipped her head around for a quick look around the cafeteria. Still no sign of him. She told herself it was still too early to worry. Ion was fine; he just slept in, or was sitting behind someone tall, or something.

When her focus returned to Claude, she recovered her bright smile in an instant. "You mean it? Okay, I'll remember that!" Anise certainly hoped she wouldn't have to go running to Claude - or anyone - for help anytime soon, but it was a small relief to have that extra safety net. Anise hated to admit how powerless she was here, and she definitely wasn't going to say it out loud, but she knew she could use all the help she could get.

She was still trying not to look at the commotion. Maybe it would go away if it got ignored. The other patients knew better than to start another mealtime riot, right?