Escape

It's Broken

"I have to go." Ryker says softly before running out of the room. Wow. That was cruel. It was sick. I have, no words for how, awful, watching was. The tears that threatened to slide from the pit viper's face. Ryker was heartbroken, he wouldn't move and all I could see were silent tears running down his face. There's a moment of silence before Cade starts.

"What did you do?" There's a venom in her voice that is indescribable. The tall, muscular man turns to look at the beautiful brunette who seems like she's gonna explode. All he does is glare at her before uttering.

"Hey kid, step on in." Cade opens her mouth to argue but I slowly rise to my feet, avoiding the death stare battle between the two brown haired people. I slowly make my way to the door and walk through. I enter into a cement room, it's like a cell. No fresh air and small. I look to where the glass had been and see nothing. No friendly faces. Red dots cover the room, making me feel anxious. Each one a bright ruby red. "You ready kid?" a voice cracks over the speakers. I give the voice a thumbs up and swallow the lump in my throat. Here we go. Soon the ground below me is replaced by asphalt and I'm in the same place Scout was minutes before.

A sense of calm floods my body and I close my eyes to listen to the birds. What was it about this place? It's so peaceful and calm, like nothing bad could ever happen. Then I remember. There are supposed to be two guards. I whip my body around as a fist collided with my cheek. Pain lurches from that spot, causing me to stumble back and bring a hand to the heated part of my skin. OW!

The older male who had attacked me marches to me. What had Scout done that worked so well!? I think frantically. Trying to find a way to win against the brute. Before I can manage to do anything, the man wraps his large hand around my neck lifting me into the air. The female laughs as all the air in my system flees and I start to gasp frantically.

All I can hear is the pounding of my heart as I try to frantically pry his steel hands off. I need air. Objects start to slow and I feel sick to my stomach. I need air. The world becomes dizzy and I do the only thing I can manage. I kick the guy in the crotch. He cries out in pain and drops me. My body hits the ground ungracefully. It takes me a moment, but I stand. Before he can focus again I reach for an item in his belt and yank it out. A sword.

"A sword! Really! What is this? The middle ages?!" I shout in annoyance. The female snickers and pulls out a gun. Oh no is all I can think. As she pulls the trigger, I put the sword in front of my face helplessly, as if it were a shield. I close my eyes and get ready for the impact.CLING! I slowly look up. Nothing. "I'm alive! Yes!" I shout, fist pumping into the air. Yet I celebrate too soon for the female cries out in anger and shoots again.CLING! I block it again. Man, I am good at this.

Overbound with confidence, I charge forward, blocking the rain of bullets she sends at me with my sword. As I get closer I close my eyes and swing.

"AHHHHHHHG!" The female cries out in agony. I open my eyes and look down. I hit her in the stomach, for there's a gash about a foot long, getting deeper and deeper until my sword got stuck inside of her. Fake blood pours out like a river.And the female doesn't move. I did it. I yank out the blade and laugh.

"Haha! Suck it!" I shout triumphantly.

"Hehe, good job kid. Dumb luck. Anyway. Next round is mental, you know the drill." That's right. Next thing is the old Project center. Wait a sec! Before the room has a chance to change, I lean down and open a pouch on her pants.

"What are you doing?" Dan calls over the announcements. I roll my eyes and pull out the thumb drive I know is there. It's mandatory that guards keep one. I'd know from the time I snuck into the board meeting. They were talking about how in case of an emergency, guards should be able to be loyal and control the world with a hard drive under the Imperiums commands. Earned me a week of counseling. The world around me melts into the computer room I had seen in Scout's simulation.

"Five minutes right?" I ask myself more than anyone in particular. I run to the supercomputer. "So many buttons." I mutter. I scan the control panel. Green, green means good right? Yeah! I press the biggest bright green button and hold my breath. Waking up...

Relief fills me."Yes, perfect." I mutter. I look around the key thing frantically looking for and outlet of some sort. When I finally find one, I shove the flash drive in and wait for something to happen.

Unauthorized... Please reinsert.

"Oh come on!" I growl at the stupid piece of technology.

Oh, great leader, I didn't know it was you. You haven't been back in so long. Your voice has changed.

"What. My voice has- I -I mean- yes," I cough, and lower the tone of my voice "I am your leader. And as your leader, I command you to close the doors."

Are you sick? And yes of course. Are there any other precautions you you like to take sir?

"I uh, yes could you give me twenty bucks?"

Sorry sir, but I am a computer. I have no hands nor money.

"Dang it. Well than just the doors please."

Of course.

And with that. The steel doors around me close. And I'm safe. All due to a dysfunctional computer. There an awkward moment of silence before the intercom starts. "What was that?" Falcon says awestruck. I snicker and cross my arms.

"That my friend, was skill." I answer. The voice over the intercom snorts.

"That was dumb luck." I roll my eyes. What does he know? Soon the world around me once again changes.

I'm now in a small white room with no doors or windows. The only thing is a old, wood framed, mirror. I walk up to it slowly, and what I see horrifies me. Staring back is a boy with green eyes and shaggy brunette hair. He's tan and looks quite lean. Me. But he wears a black suit, and a blue tie. My heart stops. Then my heart starts beating uncontrollably. No, no, no, no.

"I won't become one of them." I mutter, unable to move. I shake my head in denial. My hand goes towards my tie, struggling to pull it off. But the tie, tightens. "No!" I croak, trying to rip the baby blue tie that is now suffocating me. I collapse to my knees, trying my damned hardest to get it off. But it's grip only tightens. "Help." I choke, unable to breath. My world starts to turn dark.

A gasp rattles my chest. I open my eyes and I'm once again in the room. I sit up, groaning and stagger out of the room. I collapse onto the floor, my knees to my chest. I start rocking back and forth, my mind replaying everything that happened. The others start to crowd around me, worry in their eyes. But it's worry for I'm the youngest. Above everyone else, I spot Scout and Ryker coming back in, smiling, Ryker's arm around the pit viper, her hand clasped with his.

Their smiles fall off their faces once they see me. Scout slips from Ryker and runs over. "That was horrible..." I stutter, trying to forget the events.

"What happened? To you." Cade asks, her blue eyes wide with worry. She seems scared to get in now that she saw what happened to two of her friends. I repeat what happened in my opinion, and then stopped, not wanting to explain more.

"It's ok, Seth. Nothing will happen. It's all fake. Remember?" Jason says. Ryker nods. "Hey man, you're alright. You'll bounce back. You always do." He smiles, and hits my arm lightly in an attempt to lighten the mood. I actually manage to crack a smile.

"Alright. Who's next?" Daniel asks, his hands clapping together. He looks like a cruel mastermind, liking to watch us being tortured with our fears. Jason walks up to the door. Not backing down, prepared to go into his ultimate fear.

"I am."