The Longest Escape ((on hold))

The Zone

"Bri! Bri, get up! Come on, you need to get up ri- No! Let go of me! Bri!" I can hear a faint, almost distant voice in my head. I can't tell who it is, though every word becomes increasingly louder. I try to wake up, but my eyes won't open. I struggle against my unconsciousness, wishing myself awake.

"Bri! Get up, now!" the same voice comes again. This time, it is recognizable. That voice belongs to Shawn. He sounds like he is in trouble! Wake up Bri, come on! I tell myself desperately. I finally start to open my heavy eyelids and I am welcomed back to the waking world with a figure blocking a beam of light. I squint to try and make out the face of the person looming over me, and the figure moves, revealing his face. When the facial appearance registers easily in my mind, I think it's safe to say I am not in the least surprised.

"Sorry, Bri. I gotta do this. You are already late to your next test, and this next one is special."

"Well, it's nice to see you too, Max." I say, the venom in my voice coming out clearly. Max flashes me a sympathetic smile before he grabs my arm and tugs me to my feet. I realize that my ankle no longer hurts. Wow, that stuff really worked, I think. I look around to see two other men in uniforms holding Shawn back. The boy struggles in their grasp, growling and muttering words under his breath. He looks up and when he sees me on my feet, he tries to jump forward, but is quickly held back by the guards.

"Don't trust them, Bri! You can't go with them! Run, get away while you can! You're going to g-" Shawn's screams are cut short as one of the guards shoves a needle into the back of his neck.

"No! Don't hurt him!" I scream as I struggle against Max's hands holding my arms back firmly.

"Take him away." I hear Max say. I watch the two guards drag Shawn's limp body away as I twist and turn, trying to wriggle my way out of Max's grip, but nothing seems to work.

"Let go of me!" I yell at Max. His grip tightens, his fingers dig into my skin so hard I'm sure that there will be bruises there later.

"Would you stop moving! Maybe if you'd just stand still I would loosen my grip!" He growls. I've never seen him this mad before. "And keep your mouth shut, would you. I need to tell you something, and they can't find out what I say to you." He whispers, his face so close to my face I can feel his warm breath on my cheek. I take in a deep breath to calm myself down and I stand still. He waits for a short moment before he gently pushes me forward.

"Max, where are we going?" I ask as he leads me deeper into the jungle.

"Be quiet," is all I get in return. Thanks for the clarifying answer there buddy, I really appreciate that, I think to myself. He continues to push me farther and farther into the jungle until we finally stop in a large clearing. He guides me over to a large flat rock and tells me to sit down. I do as he says, and he finally lets me go. He kneels in front of me as if he is going to ask me to marry him. I can't help but shudder at the thought. I look around, waiting for him to speak up.

"Well? Why'd you bring me here?" I finally ask. It takes him a few minutes before he responds.

"I need to tell you something."

"Uh, yeah. I think we've already established that. So?"

"Well, one, you get to have another needle shoved into your neck." he starts. I groan.

"Well, that's just wonderful, thanks for that, Max."

"Hey, you should be happy I told you in the first place. Now, second thing. The next test is going to be different. Longer, harder, and you are not going to be alone." he begins to explain.

"Wait, what do you mean I'm not going to be alone?" I interrupt. He sighs and shakes his head, lowering his gaze.

"Would you just shut your mouth and listen for a minute? It's kinda hard to explain something when you keep getting interrupted. It's going to be a group test. You are going to be placed in the next Testing Zone with 19 other Intakes." he continues. Intakes? What are Intakes? I wonder. Max seems to sense my confusion. "Intakes are just another word we use for subjects. Anyway, you are all going to be spread apart, each of you scattered in different areas of the Testing Zone. However," he pauses before he shakes his head. "No, you will be told all of this before you get put in there. Now, to my actual point. There is someone I need you to find first." he tells me.