They Chose Me (Draft 1)

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

                Violet is seated in the same corner that I sat in. She looks fine from physical injuries, but Violet’s eyes have a circlet of tiredness around them. Her hair that once hid under her official uniform spills around her in a greasy, tangled mess. To make matters worse, a foul odor crowds the air. She looks up a few seconds later as if her brain only registered we were here now.

                “Violet, we need to get you out of here,” I say to her calmly. She just nods slightly. Landon clicks a button on his new watch (that I didn’t get), and whispers the name Ted.

                “Hi Ted. We found Violet, room L34. Meet you outside if all goes to plan,” Landon says and then let’s go of the button on the watch.

                “Can you walk?” I ask her.

She holds out her hands and Landon and I each grab one to pull her up. We both support her since her regular walk was shuffling and holding onto the wall. Finally we arrive at the door. The room really isn’t big, but when you have someone putting a good amount of their weight on you, it takes longer. Great logic, Emma.

We propped the door open before, so it wouldn’t close and automatically lock us in. I pull the door open and peek outside to make sure no officials are there. And then there’s a face that I really get sick of seeing.

“Well, well, well. Look who we have here,” he says, inspecting us. It’s not Leader Mason, but the official that I faced off in the woods and who greeted me- sorry, “greeted” me at the rebellion camp to take me hostage. “Miss Roche. I wouldn’t even think about fighting because we all know who we could punish instead. So let’s just go have a nice chat.” He might’ve as well skipped down the hallway.

The same elevator, the same drab walls, and the same uniforms follow me until I’m standing in front of the same door. I realize once we’re finally in there, Leader Mason’s attention will be on us fully. Escaping would be very hard at the point. I kick Landon’s foot in front of me silently. He falls back to walk next to me and the official (I still don’t know his name) is busy with the pad that sticks out next to the door that grants entering.

“Call Ted,” I say under my breath. Landon, once again, holds the button and brings it closer to him.

“Ted. Leader Mason’s office. Need help. Top floor.” He doesn’t wait for a response as he clicks it off. Just in time, too. The official stands by the door as he watches us single in.

My least favorite person is sitting in the good old swivel chair. Leader Mason looks the same with his short brown hair, tailored suit, and cruel eyes and smile.

“Well, hello,” he says enthusiastically. “I see you brought a new person along. Oh, and there’s Venia, Verona, something with a V. And of course, Miss Roche, looking healthy. I knew about your escape plan through a loyal worker of mine. You might know her. Mary? I didn’t think you would actually make it, but then Mary made the mistake of telling the rebel ants that work there. You need a good ruler around there. I’d suggest myself, but I have a whole country to run. Oh! You’re probably wondering about how the backup CTM is going!”

Nope, I’m not.

“Well, thanks to you, we could use the original again, but only for some time until Roche DNA ran out. We’re almost done, and then we can put our attention back on the ants. If any of the other countries mention about anything our country, the CTM picks it up and then we have workers look over it and make sure the messages aren’t threats. I don’t think I explained that last time.”

“What about my mom?” I question.

“What do you mean?”

“Mary said that you knew she was a double agent and that you didn’t want to kill her yet.”