Jovial Memories

Chapter 37

When Mandy opened her eyes, aching pain shot through her entire body. She moved each limb, one by one, a sore pain shooting through each muscle. She let out a little whimper and glanced around. She was lying on a cold, concrete floor in an empty room with tall gray walls. The only light that filtered into the room was from a thin rectangular window in the door of the room.

Mandy glanced around, knowing at once that she was alone and most likely locked in some form of prison cell of the agency. Her mind flashed back at once to what had happened, and she felt herself tremble as she wondered where Roy and Iris were. She prayed they were okay.

She slowly rose to her feet, ignoring the pain. She could already make out a few bruises on her limbs, and her head throbbed slightly from the guard's impact that had knocked her out earlier.

She hobbled over the the door and peeked through the window, only able to make out a vacant hallway. Stupidly, she pulled at the door's handle, only finding it to be locked. She sighed and sat back down, leaning against the wall. She pulled her legs against her and sat in silence, allowing her thoughts to take over.

She couldn't believe how badly everything had gone. She'd been so close to getting Jessie back, to getting her old life back, until her plans had been foiled. And now, Mandy had no idea what was coming next. For all she knew, her friends could be dead or being tortured at the hands of the agency.

"It's all my fault," she murmured sadly, angry that she had been so selfish as to disregard the danger she had been putting her friends into. She knew now there was no way she'd ever be able to make a decent friend again, and even if Roy and Iris did survive this, she knew there was little chance they'd continue to hang around her.

With all these negative thoughts closing in on her mind, Mandy began to sob quietly. She buried her head into her arms and let her tears wet them. She sat like this for what must've been a few hours at least until she heard the fumbling of the doorknob leading to her cell.

Mandy glanced up, her heart seizing in fear. A figure had blocked the light from the window, and she slowly rose, clenching her fists if she needed to make a move. The door slowly opened, allowing light into the room.

Mandy squinted and watched as a figure entered. The door shut behind her once again, and before Mandy had time to react, lights flickered on, illuminating her cell. Standing directly in front of her was Jacquelyn Holloway with a look of annoyance on her face.

"You!" Mandy shouted, rushing toward her. Jacquelyn merely pushed the girl to the floor in a single action. Mandy gasped and fell to the ground, realizing it was foolish to try to attack Jacquelyn in her weak state.

"Foolish girl," Jacquelyn muttered. "You stay down there," she ordered.

For once, Mandy agreed to her orders and sat looking up at her.

"Where are my friends? What have you done with them?" Mandy asked.

"Now is not the time to discuss that. You will be coming with me," she said.

"Where?" Mandy asked. 

"That's not important. Now come," she said, beckoning Mandy forward.

Mandy preferred to just stay in her cell, but she knew Jacquelyn would use means of force to get her away. Sighing, she slowly stood up and gave in, following Jacquelyn out the door. Mandy squinted as she came into the bright hallway, and before she could even progress one step, guards took to her sides and walked incredibly close to her, lest she try to escape.