Ash Ketchum: Hunt For Jade Dragon

Ch. 36 Feeding Time

   Serena and Jade Dragon were still awake, huddled in one corner of the cell as the door opened. The same three guards from before walked in accompanied by two Lung Li. "It's feeding time, sweetie," the captain said. "Do you have the information?"

  "It's about time you got here," Serena said.

   The captain looked at her dully. "What?"

  "I'm not Serena, Captain. I'm Selene. I came down to see if I could persuade Serena to help us and she did something to me. She's out there pretending to be me."

  "And I'm Admiral Cyrus," the captain said.

   The other two guards laughed. The Lung Li stood motionless.

  "Take the child," the captain said.

   The two Lung Li grabbed Jade Dragon. She started screaming.

  "Leave her alone!" Serena shouted. "You're hurting her!"

  "Take her," the captain repeated.

   One of the Lung Li shoved a needle into the child's thigh and she immediately slumped over. The other guard slung her over his shoulder, then the two Lung Li took her out.

  "Now for you," the captain said.

  "I'm not Serena!" Serena screamed. "Just look at me!"

  "I just saw Selene," the captain said. He leaned close. "Do you have our information?"

  "I told you, I'm Selene!"

   The captain's eyes narrowed to angry slits. "You're playing with your life."

  "And you're playing with yours," Serena said.

  "Enough of this," the captain growled. "Take her."

   Serena pressed back against the wall. "I can prove I'm Selene. If you touch me, you'll pay."

   The guards hesitated. Disobeying one of "Cyrus's kids" was like disrespecting an EGG. Or worse.

  "Don't listen to her," the captain ordered.

   Serena looked up at the camera. "Dr. Cyrus, they're going to kill the wrong girl. Serena switched places with me. I can prove it and this fool of a captain won't listen." She turned to the captain. "We both know they record everything. If something happens to me, Dr. Cyrus will feed you to the rats next. I guarantee it."

   This time the captain hesitated.

  "Just give me five minutes to prove who I am. Your life is worth at least five minutes, isn't it?"

  "How will you prove it?"

  "Get Brendan and Serena. B will know the difference between the two of us. He can verify who I am."

   The captain stared at her for a moment, then turned to the guard to his left. "Get Brendan. And Selene. Bring them both. Hurry up. We have a feeding plan."

 

*    *    *

   Five minutes later Brendan stormed into the cell, with Selene and the guard following behind him. It was clear he'd been woken up. "What is it?" Brendan asked angrily.

  "This girl claims to be Selene."

  "You interrupted my sleep for that?" Brendan snarled.

  "She says she can prove it and that you would know."

   Brendan looked at her. "What do you want, Serena?"

  "I'm not Serena," Serena said. "Serena is standing next to you."