Tremble

Chapter 19: The Perpentrators

I blinked.

"What!"

Squirt grabbed my arm and I followed him while looking back at my confused, alarmed friends. After a while down the hall I saw Margret and Mark following.

The council was waiting in the room, Kart had her arms crossed as she tapped her toes.

"Miss. Maine we would like to ask you a few questions." She said in a shrill bitter tone.

"Okay...?"

Another man spoke.

"Miss Maine have you disregarded president Kart's rules concerning your leaving the facility?"

"No, what is going on here?"

The man paid no attention to my question, instead he led me to a room adjacent to us where three men sat handcuffed to their chairs. They wore suits and in the corner of the room was three high tech weapons leaning against the wall.

I glanced at the council member and then glanced back at the men.

" Miss Maine these men requested your presence and I'm quite curious as too how they knew where to find you." The council member said accusingly.

"If you believe I would be that daft as too deliberately disregard set rules that protect me, then you seem to be unknowing of my values." I tried to sound official and imposing, although I didn't think I was achieving.

The council member simply left and the man in the middle spoke, his head still bowed.

"Do you know who we are Elizabeth?" The man said fingering his suit sleeves.

I looked him in the eye but stayed quiet.

"We are members of the FBI branch of government that we are not at liberty to say. We wish to cooperate with you."

"It's difficult to cooperate when you're handcuffed to a chair." I said nodding to the plain white seat.

The man looked up revealing his face. He wore a smart grin and had an intense gaze that judged my choice of words as if they were still floating in the air.

"You are, of course, correct we can do little, but the men and women in that room cannot hear any of this conversation, so I believe it to be wise you cooperate as well."

I nodded.

"Miss Elizabeth we have become very interested in this institute and those that are linked to it, and we believe that we can persuade you to give us Intel."

"How so?" I ask.

"You have interested my employer, he is prudent that he wishes to meet you and collaborate with you, but if you feel uncooperative then you will still do what we want. If you give us intel we will call off our other agents and if not you will never see those people in that room again."

"A threat? How ambitious of you."

"I would take head of my words. You must understand that cooperation is the best and safest option at this point."

"You're words mean nothing to me, not without real persuasion." I don't actually mean what I say, I do care about the base's safety, but all the men are doing are bluffing, I could somehow see it in their eyes.

I walked out of the room unwilling to deal any further with those men. The council stared. Kart's face seemed fearful.

"What did you tell them?" She asked.

"I said nothing they found valuable, so if you don't mind I'm gonna go."

I didn't believe one ounce of what those men said, and yet I glanced over my shoulder constantly.

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I sat next to Margret and Mark who had been hiding outside of the council room. Their faces were masked with disbelief as they glanced my way after I told them what happened.

Margret was blinking absently while Mark started to anxiously twiddle his thumbs.

"It's fine." I assure them.

"They probably noticed some abnormal activity going on near the area and just investigated. The council will take care off it."

The two didn't see convinced. I stood up, brushing off my jeans.

"I'm going to go to bed, today has been longer than it needs to be."

As I walked I placed my hand on the wall, rubbing against the wood planks. The events of the day lingered in my mind, since I learned of the government's interest in my disappearance I wanted to stay low, disappear, but instead it seemed I radiated a beacon they followed here.

Again I felt the feeling of being watched carefully, I keep looking back and believing every noise is a threat. I'm slowly becoming paranoid, edging into unrest.