The Unwanted Ones - Book One

Chapter Eighteen

Author's Note: Okay so this is the fourth chapter I've written today, I feel like I'm on a roll! Hope you guys like it!

There's a collective gasp as Orlando is brought out, two guards holding his arms. They stand with him as Gregory begins to read out the charges.

"One count of conspiracy, one count of treason, one count of espionage, and three counts of intent to murder." he says. I can practically hear the smile in his voice. It's sickening.

"Before we vote, what do you have to say for yourself?" Gregory asks Orlando. Orlando looks out onto the crowd, his eyes searching.

"Well, our leaders are dying from this disease, this virus. I hope you're not planning on killing me, because then you'll never know the cure," he lies. He sounds pretty convincing too.

Gregory just laughs.

"You don't know the cure you fool." he says, snarling. As soon as the words leave his lips, his skin pales.

"Oh, I don't?" Orlando asks. "And why's that?"

Silence.

Gregory looks as though he's searching for a lie to tell, a way to cover up his mistake.

Orlando takes this chance to say something more.

"Is it because you're the one who knows the cure? Because you're the one who poisoned them?" Orlando shouts. Another gasp from the crowd. Next to me Lena grabs my arm and looks at me.

"Isn't this so wild?" she says, surprise all over her face. But then the surprise leaves.

"Did you know?" she asks me as she registers my own expression.

"I'll tell you later but look," I say, pointing to the stage. The two men holding Orlando let go of him and he faces Gregory.

What happens next happens all too quickly.

Orlando starts walking towards Gregory.

Gregory reaches to his waist.

He pulls out his gun, and aims it right at Orlando.

Orlando jumps on Gregory to knock the gun out of his hand, but it goes off anyhow.

In his grey shirt it's easy to see the blood spreading on it. He lays on Gregory, not moving, and Gregory pushes him off of him.

He stands and runs off the stage.

One of the guards on the stage goes after Gregory, the other calls out for anyone from the medic department to come and help Orlando.

Without thinking, I start pushing through the crowd.

"Alex where are you going?" Lena calls out to me.

"I think I know where he's headed!" I shout to her, still running.

I don't know how but I have a feeling he's looking for an escape. That means the transportation room. I take the elevator to the right floor and run down the halls, not really having a plan for what I'll do if I find him.

I run down the halls till I get to the first door. I scan my card and run to the next. Once I get through that one I end up at the last door. To my horror I see Melvin lying on the ground. I lean down quickly and check his pulse. I breath a sigh of relief when it turns out that he's still alive. A bruise on his forehead confirms that he was only knocked out. I take his key card and open the last door.

A thought crosses my mind and I take his gun as well.

I walk through the door, gun up and on high alert.

I crouch down, hiding behind a car and looking around. That's when I hear footsteps walking in the other direction. I look over and see Gregory walking past some motorcycles, looking around for one to take.

I stand, taking a deep breath. "Hold it right there!" I shout.

He's startled for a moment and looks over at me.

"Oh it's just you," he says with a wave of his hand. That's pretty rude.

"Yes, and I'm just going to make sure you don't move another step." I say, gritting my teeth. I'm trying to sound threatening, but he only smirks.

"You're out of your depth recruit. You don't know what you're up against." he tells me.

I walk out from behind the car, my gun still up. He shakes his head and pulls out his.

"Bet you I pull the trigger before you do," he says. This time his voice is deadly, not mocking.

At that moment I doubt myself. This whole time I've shot at targets, not people. I don't think I can do it.

"Ah, see you know I'm right." he says, sensing my doubt.

I put my finger on the trigger trying to think of a plan.

A quick look at the ceiling gives me one.

It'd probably hurt to get hit on the head on one of those hanging ceiling lights.

"Alright, alright," I say softly, raising my arms up in defeat. He smirks.

"Good choice." he says, lowering his gun. At the moment I fire a shot at the ceiling light hanging above his head. He looks up as it falls down and hits him right across the head. He stumbles back and drops his gun.

I run forward, kicking his gun out the way. He recovers quickly and tries to throw a punch at me. I dodge it easily.

I kick him in the stomach and he groans in pain.

While he's hunched over I go around to his side and elbow him in the back, making him drop to the ground. I smile proudly, but the smile falls from my face when he grabs my ankle and pulls causing me to drop to the floor.

He stands up to the ground and makes a move to kick me in the stomach. I roll away in time and jump to my feet. He sends a punch to my face, and another to my stomach. Both hits hurt like hell. I try to cover my face and remember my defense training.

His next two hits miss, and I take the opportunity to punch him right in the nose. Another punch makes him stumble to the ground. A kick to the head knocks him out cold.

I'm breathing heavily, adrenaline pumping through my veins. I turn and see Matt and the others running into the room.

When they see me standing over an unconscious Gregory their faces can't hide their shock.

"How'd you guys know where to find me?" I ask.

"Security cameras," Matt says. He comes up to me and looks down at Gregory, then back at me.

"Are you okay?" he says. He teaches my face where I was punched and I wince. I don't think he hit me hard enough to leave a mark, but I'll probably be feeling the pain for a little while.

"I'm alright," I say to Matt. "I'm tougher than I look."