AX-1

CHAPTER 4

Alex stayed in his house the remaining two days to say his goodbyes and to pack only his most important items. He looked at his room for one last time, remembering all the experiences he had there. He gave his mother and brother a big, strong hug, holding onto it for as long as he could. He needed to cherish this moment, to engrave it into his memory. This might be the last time he would feel comfort in other's arms. He let go, and drove to the rendezvous point. He had a chance to escape, away from the association, away from death, but a strange sensation fell over him. He dreaded this situation, and yet, he kept driving to the route. It was as if his subconscious was telling him that all of this madness was genuine. He knew he should just run, and abandon everything, but he couldn't. He was such a pushover. However, he didn't know what The Association was willing to do to keep him in line. If their statements were true, then millions of lives were potentially at stake, so they could resort to drastic and immoral measures to secure his loyalty. This was probably the best option, Alex didn't even know what the association was capable of doing. They could probably dispose of his family and do a solid cover-up. Alex was breathing heavily, his hands shaking and slick with sweat. He felt flushed, lightheaded, and hopeless before he was aware of his own anxiousness. He tried taking deep breaths, and plastered a false smile on his face, attempting to calm himself. Try as he might, he could not ease his shocked, drowning mind. He told himself things would get better, that he and his family were not in danger. Reality felt tilted, it felt nonexistent. His choices no longer seemed to matter, as if a grand puppeteer was pulling on his strings, lying dormant and lifeless until commanded by his mighty hand. His hopelessness converted into rage. He was furious at everything, regardless if it had a hand in his fate. After driving for minutes in this state, a general sense of apathy grew over him, dialing down his anger and anxiety immensely. He didn't know how he was going to defeat a man as strong as an army, but he wasn't going down without a fight. He had been going through cycles of despair repeatedly and constantly, and couldn't help but laugh at how dumb it all was. He arrived at the designated area, and opened his car door, standing outside of a large facility. The walls were worn and faded, the entirety of its surface composed of old red bricks that gave an old, isolated feeling to the place. Alex texted the number that the association had given him. Within a few seconds, three men in casual attire walked up to him. The taller man to the left spoke first

"Alright, Alex, we will be taking you to work. The car's on the other side of the building, so let's head there now" The man said, a casual expression glued on his face.

"What about my car?" Alex asked.

"Don't worry about it. This man right here will drive it back to your home. We'll keep it maintained. As for your suitcase, grab it and let's be on our way." one of the men opened up his palm for the keys, grabbed it, and then walked to Alex's car, taking out the suitcase, and laying it down in front of Alex. He then drove off. Alex watched as his car turned the corner, and let out a disappointed sigh. Alex hoisted his suitcase up to his chest and followed the two men a small distance through the building and right up to the car. Alex set the suitcase(which albeit was heavier than one would expect, as it held more personal items than clothes) into the trunk, slammed it shut, and hopped into the seat as instructed. They drove for a couple of hours when they came upon an airport runway. The men escorted him to the only plane on the track before breaking off, their final words being simply "good luck, we're rooting for you." Alex sat down and attempted to make himself comfortable, and fell asleep quickly.

He was at his limit, walking thoughtlessly from room to room. The house was void of furniture, decoration, and anyone else. He searched tirelessly for another person he could talk to, or at least see. The rooms were slowly growing darker and the doors to some rooms kept disappearing. Fear flooded over Alex, a sickening feeling rising in his gut. The darkness approached him slowly, Driving Alex to the main living room. The darkness enveloped him, and he was floating in an eternal void. Small points of light poked through the infinite abyss, shining like stars. The environment now looked like space, Alex drifting slowly through the nothingness. More than anything, Alex wanted someone, anyone to come and take him to a place busy and full of life, unlike this empty, lonely place. The void was etching away at his sanity, he felt like screaming and crying, but that would do him no good. He suddenly felt a falling sensation and opened his eyes. A man was standing above him, shaking his shoulder. "We've landed, take your suitcase." Alex looked around with hazy eyes. He was still on the plane. He wiped the drool off of his face, rubbed his eyes, and stood up to stretch. He grabbed the smooth leathery suitcase handle and dragged it along, lifting it up whilst carrying it down the stairway of the plane. As soon as he scanned his surroundings, a familiar face caught his gaze. The man with the sun's smile was pacing towards him.