Retrospect

Forty-seven

   I watched as Reeves took a few steps towards the officer holding the chip, his eyes never leaving him. "No..." he denied, "no, those aren't real."

   "Oh yes, they very much are," the officer growled, tempting Reeves to come even closer. The gray-eyed man was hypnotized and we all watched him-me, Malachi, Miles, a tired Ana, Murl, the masked man-heading for the chip while Miles still desperately tried to pull away from his father.

   Before Reeves could take another step, he stopped abruptly. He was nearly there, so close to his son's memories, yet he couldn't bring himself to take them from the officer. "I..." Reeves started, then looked over to Miles, wide-eyed in his psychotic father's hold. Reeves turned back to the officer and waved the chip away. "I don't need that," he announced.

   "What?" the officer responded to Reeves' rejection. "What are you talking about? These are your son's memories," he persuaded. I was slightly shocked by Reeves' behavior too as his whole motivation to get to here was his son's chip.

   Reeves shook his head and aimed his gun at the officer's neck, the only spot on his suit that was not shielded by a durable material. "I don't need them. I'm not going to fall for this again," he declared, and pulled the trigger with a resounding crack. I watched as the officer fell backwards to the floor, blood pooling around him as Reeves faced Miles' father again.

   I was crouched behind the glass box Murl was in, hiding behind him as I slipped around the other side, trying to somehow reach Reeves without having the masked man's gaze on me. Looking over to where Ana was last, I noticed that she was nowhere to be seen. "Where...?" I scanned the room, searching for her raven hair. Then I heard her strangled cry and I knew she had been discovered.

   I looked over and saw that the masked man was holding her by her wrist. "Just need to take care of the blondie and we'll have everyone!" he sang. "Don't worry, Cavey, you'll be up next!"

   The masked man held up his metal finger, allowing it to extend into a syringe containing a green liquid. Then he plunged it into Ana's shoulder. "This'll make you feel just a little tired," he said, letting go of her so she would crash to the floor. She was still clinging onto consciousness, but her movements were slower now.

   I had to do something, fast. I couldn't cower when the others were risking their lives to escape this place. My heart was pounding as I crept around the glass, then dashed forwards in the direction of Miles' father. If I could somehow free Miles, there was a possibility we'd be able to take the masked man down.

   Charging at his father, I readjusted my blade in my hand and before anyone knew it, I'd jammed the metal into his arm and he shouted a few names at me, his hold loosening. Miles tore away from his father and all of this sure got the masked man's attention.

   The man was just turning away from Ana's weak form as I heard a high-pitched whine, like something was powering up. Little did I know, it was actually coming from his mask, parting to reveal a beam of red light that exploded the very floor beneath me.

   I jumped out of the way before it could sear me, but sadly I wasn't fast enough for the next three explosions. Reeves and Miles had both made it and were sprinting to the glass that Murl was trapped in, while I was stuck on the ground on my back, staring up at the masked man who was now towering over me.

   "Finally, we're face to face again. I should've killed you the first time I laid eyes on you," the man's distorted voice threatened. His heavy boot crushed my arm and I let out a cry.

   "What did I ever do to you?" I managed to ask. The pain was becoming unbearable and I was afraid he'd crush my bones pretty soon.

   The masked man just laughed, pressing a button on his gloved hand. The metal of his mask folded up into itself until I was left, looking up at the face of someone I remembered all too well. A memory washed over me.