Running With the Wave

Chapter 49

Hunter:

I turn around yet another corner, trying to remember where Father said the control room is. I remember when he explained it to me:

"Now, Hunter," he had said, laying out a map of the prison on the big mahogony table in his study, "If you're going to be head Keeper you need to know where the control room is.

With one finger he tapped a small box on the massive sheet. I had looked into his eyes, waiting patiently for him to continue.

"The control room can be used to open all the cells in case of an emergency and it can lock them permanently. You can use it to talk to everyone in the building, it can even cause all the guns in the building to shut down in case of an attack. Now do you see why it's so important to guard it?"

Eyes wide, I had nodded. Only then did it dawn on me how powerful a man my Father was. If he could do all those things with a push of a button... Well, I thought it would be impossible to beat him.

"Yes, Father." I whispered in awe.

He flashed one of his rare smiles at me.

"Good."

He lifts his finger from the paper and rolls it back up, placing it back in it's place on his shelf of blueprints. This had puzzled me. Why would he put it back when the conversation clearly wasn't done.

"Father, what are you doing?"

"Don't ask questions, Hunter." He had warned me.

"Sorry," I mumbled.

He glares at me and I quickly squeeze my mouth shut. Clearly, talking wasn't allowed at all at the moment.

"Good boy." He praises me after thirty seconds of silence.

I allowed myself to smile slightly, though inside I was mad at him for silencing me. Why does he get to control me?

"Follow me."

Father sweeps out of the room without making sure I'm following and I quickly scamper after him.

"This is how you get to the control room." He continues, "From my office you walk left and take the third right, then walk straight until you see a room marked 'Storage'. It will take you to another room. Walk to the other side where there will be another door. Open that and you'll find yourself in another hallway. Walk right down that and take the first left, then the tenth right. Turn left, then left again. Finally, you'll see the room marked 'control room'." 

Sure enough, we stopped in front of the door with those exact words printed on the front. Suddenly, he had grabbed me by the shoulders and forced me to stare him in the eye.

"Pay attention, Hunter." Father had said, looking a little wild.

I nodded vigorously.

"You must protect this entire path with all the forces you have. You hear me? You have to!"

I nodded again.

"If you fail to protect it then all will be lost. The enemy will have complete control over the entire building. Everything we've built, everything, will fall and the women will be free. The human race will die. This is the biggest responsibility you can have. Don't fail me, son."

"I promise, Father." I whispered.

I take the last left, and stop right in front of the door where two armed Keepers stand staring at me. For a moment I just stand there. I'm dead. I don't have a gun and I have two Keepers that are fully armed right in my path. I've failed. Then I remember that they don't know I've killed Father and betrayed the men. I'm still just the head Keeper's son and their future boss to them. Unfreezing, I step towards the door until I'm right in front of it. They stand in front of me.

"Let me in." I demand.

"Sorry, Hunter. We've been given orders not to." The first one says warily, his eyes flicking from side to side nervously.

"What?" I roar.

I try to push my way through to the door, but before I can get far the barrel of a gun is pressed to my head. I freeze as I hear the bullet click into place.

"Move and I shoot." A steady voice says cooly.

My mouth goes dry.

"Who are you?" I croak.

"My name is Darh."

I can practically hear the head of the Authorities grinning.

"Shit." I mutter.

He smacks me across the head with the barrel of his gun and I'm knocked unconcious.