The Ink Infection [Brief hold and Editing]

Chapter 19

I looked around, trying to recall the steps we had taken before coming up the stairs. Derek started by stepping to his left, uncertain if this was the right way. Making up his mind, Derek walked briskly across the halls, and I tagged along right behind him. I was relying on Derek to find our way through because I had been following him ever since Cody separated from us. My mind is blank now that I'm thinking about it. I was just following Derek, turning left or right, running away from the guards. Maybe it was this feeling that I couldn't shake off that Cody was somewhere out there. Somewhere dangerous. What if he was already caught in the Torture Room?

"Neil?" Derek's worried face came into view. "You good?"

 "Yeah, I'm good. Just worried about Cody." I replied. 

"Don't worry. He'll be fine." 

"Yeah... Sorry for bothering you. We should keep going." 

"It's alright, man. I'm always here if you need anything."

"Thanks,"

"Wait, you sure this is the right way?" I whispered, keeping an eye out for the guards.

Derek said nothing but silently nodded his head. We kept on walking through the halls, turning random rights and lefts until we arrived at a dead end.

Derek cursed under his breath, and I turned around, only to see two guards standing right in front of us.

"Surprise, surprise!" One of the guards grunted, holding out his hands.

"Good thing we followed you silently till here." Agreed, the other, raising his gun.

I knew that it was over for both Derek and me, and I had to come up with something that might save at least one of us.

"Take me, not him," I said, putting both of my arms in front of my chest.

One of the guards arched his eyebrows.

"NOW!" I shouted.

The guards shuffled forward, holding up a taser. I shook my head.

"You don't need to. I won't try to fight you guys." I promised, looking at the guards straight in the eye. "But in one condition. Leave Derek alone."

"That won't be poss-" started the guard.

"Or else, you are going to be one dead meat." I cut him off threateningly.

The guards exchanged glances, and I bit my lip nervously. This plan better work, or we were going to be dead meat.

"Look, I dragged him into this. It was all my idea, and I forced him to come along with me. He is totally innocent." I said, trying to convince the guards.

The guards started to slowly nod their heads.

"Sounds fair that we shouldn't punish someone who didn't want to take part in it; however, they did take action in it, so he has to be punished." One of the tall guards reasoned.

I huffed in exasperation. "No, no, no, no! It's me or none. Take it or leave it," I demanded.

The guards exchanged another glance with each other and motioned for Derek to follow them.

"We'll take him to his room, but you will have to follow us." The short, muscular guard said.

They made Derek and I walk forwards, with their guns pointed at our backs in case we tried to make a run for it.

As promised, the guards dropped off Derek and dragged me harshly by my collar.

"Neil!" Derek shouted, putting his hands on the window on the door. I gave him a faint smile before I was tugged away.