Not knowing whether they saw through her thoughts or if it was simply time, the door suddenly swung open. Two thugs stood aside as someone wheeled in a food cart. The three appeared foreign. Silently, the person parked the cart beside the table, opened the lid, and individually removed the dishes. The aroma was enticing. Lily's initial surprise quickly turned to delight as she recognized the local cuisine—her favorite foods! Fajitas, pot roast, tater tots, and more filled the table, a feast for her eyes. After arranging the food, the person glanced at Lily before pushing the cart away.

Lily sat down, surveying the table. She understood this was a message; they knew her intimately, even her culinary preferences. Having gone to such lengths to bring her here, they wouldn't simply poison her food and end it quickly.

However, tampering wasn't impossible. These were virology experts, after all.

Despite her hunger, she didn't rush. She leaned in, inspecting and sniffing each dish. Nothing seemed amiss, at least to her pharmacological knowledge. Satisfied, she began to eat.

No matter her situation, she wouldn't neglect her well-being. She needed to care for herself and her unborn children to find a way out.

She savored the meal, taking nearly half an hour to finish. Setting down her utensils, she let out a contented burp. The door opened almost immediately. The same person silently cleared the table.

Lily looked at him and asked, "When can I meet your boss?"

He looked at her, his eyes confused. He seemed to not understand.

Lily pursed her lips and repeated the question in another language. He simply waved his hand and didn't answer. He finished cleaning and left silently, as he had arrived. This made Lily suspect he was mute.

After he left, the door closed, and no one checked on her. Even Rick, who had brought her, vanished.

The silence was unnerving; a pin drop would have echoed. Lily turned on the television, but there was no signal—they'd blocked that too. She had no idea what they planned; everything was unsettlingly strange.

The next two days were even more peculiar. Each day, at a precise time, someone delivered meals. A variety of her favorite dishes arrived, but the taste was off. The flavors and techniques revealed they weren't prepared by local chefs; they could mimic the appearance but not the essence. Fortunately, she could eat her fill, and she wasn't a picky eater. She ensured she ate sufficiently each day.

However, only the two guards and the food deliverer appeared. They remained unresponsive to anything she said or asked, as if deaf.

Even her resilience faltered under these circumstances. Frustration mounted, primarily due to the prolonged uncertainty. The lack of information about the outside world fueled her growing apprehension.