This Reality

14: The Cell

A/N
Hello!
Another emotional chapter *sob*
Thank you for reading, and for all your votes and comments!
Enjoy,
Kori.

I know I am just the voice in her head. I am aware that that is all I am. But I know her well. She shouldn't have to see this.

The cell is empty. Except for two empty injection needles lying on a small table.

On the other side of the building, Milla and Jax are ascending many flights of stairs. Xavier's office is on the top floor and there is no lift.

"Is this it?" Asks Milla, panting and out of breath, "is this the top floor?"
"Yep," says Jax nervously, "this is it. Ready?"
"As I'll ever be," breathes Milla.
Jax pulls a small tool out of his pocket to open the door with.
They step in.

The wall opposite them is entirely a window, with a view over the city. The Leaders building can be as luxurious and extravagant as they want as they don't have to work in secret. They have power over anyone. There is a desk facing the window. At the desk is a tall chair, that spins around to reveal a man sitting in it. He stands up.

"Ah, Jax, Milla, what a surprise! I would say 'I've been expecting you' but that's a little cliche, don't you think?"
He speaks with a rich, sarcastic, almost mocking tone. He wears an expensive looking suit and shoes. This is Xavier.

"You can't keep doing this," Jax says calmly but strongly. Milla tightens her grip on the gun in her pocket.
"You can't keep hurting people. So what if they write fictional stories? Does it threaten your perfect world?"

Xavier gives a dry laugh in response.
"Oh Jax, be careful what you say. I am well aware of the gun in your wife's pocket. But with my press of a button, security will come running. And then you're in trouble."

Milla swallows. This is proving difficult.

She then feels a vibration in her pocket. She forgets entirely about Xavier's presence in the room.
"Jax, Tiger needs us! They're both on the seventh floor. Let's go!"

Two minutes later, after running the width of the building and down and few flights of stairs and led by the tracking device, they arrive at the cells.
They see Astrid kneeling on the floor, breaking down, being comforted by Tiger.

"Wha... what?" Asks Jax, "what's happened?"
"The cell..." whispers Tiger, "her parents aren't there..."

Milla goes into the cell to see what they are talking about. She comes back out, her hand clasped over her mouth. She shakes her head at Jax.

Jax's face falls and he walks over to Milla, embracing her in a comforting and protective hug.
And they stay like that for a few minutes.
In the sad despair, it is peaceful.

Until Xavier comes onto the scene.
"I see you got my gift?" He smirks.
"Why?" Demands Jax angrily, "why did you do it?"

"We were expecting you, you see," smiles Xavier knowingly. "We knew, because of the information little Astrid gave to our device, that she was on your side, and part of your group. Even part of your family!"

The reminder of the device and the room makes Astrid cry harder. Tiger just holds her.

"When did you do this?" Asks Milla furiously, on the brink of tears.
"Let's see, it's been about... twenty minutes?" Guessed Xavier, looking at his expensive watch.
"What? If we had been twenty minutes earlier, we could have saved them?" Cries Milla.

"No, not exactly," says Xavier smugly. "You guessed the code to get into the building. And you thought you got it right. Well, I've got news for you," he laughs, "you didn't."

"What?" Says Jax, confused. "Why didn't an alarm go off?"

"When the false code was entered, we killed the parents. We knew you would be coming, it was only a matter of time. Security have been watching you the whole time you've been here," he reveals.

Milla looks around the cells and the corridor and sees cameras. Of course.
She sniffs.

"Tiger, take Astrid outside, she needs to calm down," she says gently.
Tiger helps her up and leaves with her as she continues sobbing.

"You're going to pay for this," threatens Milla as she takes her gun out of her pocket.

"You really think that's going to work?" Laughs Xavier, clicking his fingers. What seems to be a small army of about twenty security guards slowly surround him.
"Face it, you're done for."