Elude

Everybody Hates Me

"Took you long enough," she says.

Caelan doesn't say anything; he looks deep in thought.

"You think you're a beloved leader?" she asks. "Let's wait and see how long it takes for the revolution."

"You can't sabotage me so easily," I say. "Nobody will follow you."

And for the third time this day, my vision goes black.

•          •          •

When I come to, there are shackles around my wrists and ankles. I'm alone in some sort of padded cell. Immediately I look to my watch, but it's gone.

Oh my god. I'm in an asylum. Jace really meant it when he said...

Jace. That liar. I can't believe I ever trusted him. I forgive too easily, I think. I trusted Caelan after he turned me cyborg, didn't I. Maybe he's lying to me too. Would he really pretend like I didn't try to kill him?

Jace walks in and I ignore him. My Ashendale training says I should talk to him, find out where exactly this is, and learn any other important information. But I don't.

"Matthew," he says. "I'm sorry I had to do this."

You didn't have to, I think, but I don't say it aloud.

"There is a way for you to get out." Did my mind say that? Or did he?

"I'm willing to make a deal with you," he says. Good, I'm not imagining things. "If you're willing to do exactly as I tell you, you can leave."

"What?" I ask suspiciously.

"Simple," he says. "You sign contract, you can go. But once you're out, you do exactly what I tell you to."

I pause to think about it. "I'm not signing anything until I have a lawyer," I say.

"Good to know," Jace replies. "Don't worry, you'd only have to spend a few years here otherwise."

"Sure," I say. But I know Caelan will be here by the end of the week. "Free food and a room with no rent. What a punishment."

Maybe I could convince him to let me go. Either I play to his heart, or to his mind. I try the second option first.

"You know," I say. "The country is going to be outraged. They'll all hate you even more. You want a revolution, but not against yourself."

"All I need to do is tell the press something and it'll spread like wildfire," he warns lightly.

Hmm. Not working. I sigh and stare at the ground, and I don't say anything.

"Hello?" Jace asks.

"Sorry," I say, turning lie mode on. "It's just that I've been really stressed lately. I don't know what to do about anything. And I've gone through so much..."

"So much," Jace says. "Right."

I lift my head. "Everyone hates me, Jace," I say pathetically. I don't know if it's a lie or not, but I'm not giving up yet.

Then I pull my pant leg up to reveal my cyborg leg. "You wouldn't know," I say. "Years of endless teasing... I was a general in Ashendale."

"I know," Jace says, but with slightly less sarcasm.

"They kicked me out," I say. "They called me a freak, told me I wasn't physically able to keep up anymore."

Jace has a distant expression. Is he not listening or just recalling something?

"Well, maybe you'd understand a little bit. After all, you were chased out of a place you built. That must feel pretty bad."

Suddenly Jace glares at me. "It's not going to work, Matthew. Trust me. I've talked to Caelan when he trying as hard as he could to convince me of something."

"Oh," is all I manage to say.

"And you can't just use your stupid leg to get pity."

"And my hand, and part of my brain." Jace gives me a look. "Right. I'll stop."

Jace walks to the door and leaves. Then the door opens and he pokes his head back in. "This was Winter's idea," he says. "I'm not allowed to set you free."

"Wait!" I say as he leaves. Crap, that sounded too desperate. "So. What would happen if someone here, uh, committed a few crimes? Would they be sent to prison?"

Jace looks shocked. "You couldn't possibly pre-"

I smile and he slams the door. Prison would actually be preferred... At least for me. If only I could get out of here and avoid both options. I flick the blade out of my metal finger and pace. Next time someone comes in here I can scare them into letting me past, then I escape.

The only things I have that could help me is my hand and my leg. Wait. That's not true, is it? I have my brain, my training, and my reputation. Then I notice something. This might not be so hard after all.

The door isn't shut all the way. There's no way Jace did this on accident. My guess is that he's trying to manipulate me into trusting him. Never again will I fall for it.

I open the door and look around. My heart beats faster and faster. When I see that there's nobody there, I dart out as quickly as I can. At one point in the halls, I encounter a guard, but I slip into a nearby bathroom. Finally I make it out of the building, but find a final obstacle.

A huge gate surrounds the building, and it's locked. I know that people are going to be hot on my trail, so I waste no time. Immediately I start to climb, and I jump off, landing heavily. It hurts, but not for long. I start to run away, but slow to a walk.

What was the point of taking me there if they never intended to keep me there if they didn't plan on keeping me? I realize slowly. It was all for negative publicity. Jace and Winter couldn't care less about me if they can turn everyone against me.

There are too many people out there who hate me. I don't blame them, they have every reason to, but I can't have this happen. The more enemies I have, the more bad stories get leaked. I'm no nice person, but it's going to take a lot of convincing to get people back on my side.

I'll start with Reilly. I just have to get back to my apartment.

A/N- Don't forget to vote, comment, and follow! Thanks for reading, it really means a lot to me <3