Elliana X Jason

Twenty Seven, The Choice

"What do you mean, 'who's Ian'? You're Ian, are you not?" Jason asked.

"No, I'm not. I've never met an Ian in my life." The guy-who apparently was not Ian-said.

"Then who are you?" Jason asked.

"Maybe this'll help."

Apparently-not-Ian had looked confused for a minute, but now he looked like he was on a mission. A mission that became inherently clear once he pulled something folded from his pocket, then he unfolded it and put the familiar red mask on his face.

"You're... you're Red Mask!" Jason said in horror.

"Yep, and you can call me David."

Jason almost thought David had seemed too pleasant when he'd introduced himself, but all thoughts of pleasantries were lost when David lunged towards Jason. Jason dodged it quickly, then ran without thinking.

Right into a bathroom stall.

He definitely hadn't been thinking.

He was cornered. There wasn't an escape in the walls of the stall. So, with nothing to lose, he dashed out of the stall, right past David. David's fingers grazed him, then his fingers knotted on Jason's shirt, yanking him back. Jason ran, trying to pull himself away from David. He ran forward, but it was futile, as if he was on a treadmill. He kept pushing anyway. He pulled away with all his strength, hoping, praying for escape...

And, through what Jason liked to imagine was sheer force of will, he felt the pulling yanked away from him. He heard David grunt, and Jason turned around to see David stumble backwards. But by the time David had righted himself, Jason was gone.

As he ran out the door, three thoughts hit him, in the following order.

He was free! He'd escaped!

Would David follow him?

There was someone waiting for him outside the bathroom.

"Don't go in there. Someone... uhm, smeared poop on the walls."

Lies in the bathroom; Volume two.

Except his lie became irrelevant when he realized that the person before him was wearing a shark mask.

"Hello, Jason. I'm Sage. Now, I'm just going to take you to Dodfrish's lab for a little chat. I'll bring you back, though. Promise." Shark mask said, with a scarily eery smile.

"How come I don't believe you?" Jason asked. He didn't know if he'd tried to sound intimidating, but the whole thing came out even more nervous than Jason felt, which was impressive, considering he was awfully nervous.

Sage's smile and falsely pleasant mood faded quickly. "Look pal, you come with me or I take you. Simple as that."

"Is it an option to do neither?" Jason asked, somehow even more nervously than before.

Sage licked her lips. "Okay then. This'll be fun."

"What?"

Sage ignored him. "I've heard good things about you Jason, I'm excited to see if you live up to my expectations."

Right at that moment, when Sage looked ready to pounce, an elderly woman walked past. She used a walker and the help of a teenage boy. The process was still awfully slow, though. Once they were finally gone, Jason looked to Sage.

"Look, we're in a hospital. Maybe not the best place for a physical altercation?" Jason offered.

"He's got a point." David strolled out of the bathroom at that moment. "I mean, I don't see why we can't just talk to him here."