Paths Cross

{15}

As I sat in the stark white medical room without anesthesia or pain medication, I let out a series of bloodcurdling screams, in excruciating pain. I never thought I would've been exposed to that much pain in my life.

I wanted to go back now. I was starting to regret this.

I wished I'd never been born.

None of the would be happening if I wasn't. What was the purpose of my life? Why did God put me here? I was a sixteen-year-old giving birth in a high-tech prison not knowing her boyfriend's whereabouts; no familiar faces around. And soon I would give my life for the benefit of what?

Nothing.

I could bet Jenkins provided no medication so it would be more painful. And she was probably watching me right now with a smug smile on her face.

I hated life and everything more than anything right now.

Breathing hard, sweating, the pain seemed to die down for a second, and I rested my voice. My vision was blurry and my face was hot as one nurse handed another a small bundle in a white towel, loud cries coming from it. My heartbeat started to pick up speed, and I grew anxious to see my baby.

I did it.

I delivered the baby, and as far as I knew, the baby was healthy.

But I knew the baby wasn't safe. Not under Jenkins' rule.

"Can I see my baby? Please?" I asked, my voice cracking. My throat hurt from screaming.

One nurse turned to look at me, staring at me. "President Jenkins specifically ordered us to send you straight to the execution room."

"I -- just let me at least see."

The nurse that was holding my baby in a blanket stepped forward, leaning down so I could see. "It's a girl."

I wiped a tear from my cheek as I stared into her blue eyes, exactly like Jesse's. Her nose was like his. Her ears were even like his, those cute ears with the detached earlobes, the opposite of mine. It was like looking at a mini version of him.

I started to cry and reached forward, but the nurse pulled away and I was wrenched off of the cot I was on. I started to scream again, begging to hold my daughter and give her the safety she needed.

But they wouldn't listen. They dragged me out of the room despite my protests to the execution room, the same atrium I was in during that interrogation. One of the last couple of times I saw Jesse.

They threw me down on the hard, cement floor, in the middle of the room and chained me to a pole.

At this point I was sobbing, hopeless. I was so worried about everything. Ending my life right now was not my top priority anymore.

Seeing my daughter's face reminded me I still have purpose in this life. To raise her right, with both a father and a mother.

I sat there, my teardrops splashing the floor, sinking into the cement.

Jenkins appeared in the stands in front of me, her heels clicking on the metal. I looked up at her, sniffing.

"How are you planning to kill me? Chop my head off? Slice my neck? Burn me alive? Well enjoy it, please. Because I just want to let you know how much I hate you! I'm sure you'll get some enjoyment out of my death. That's the purpose of it, anyway, right?"

Jenkins, to my surprise, didn't smirk and come back with a smart comment like usual. She just stared at me with blank eyes. "Let's just get this over with, Miss Rokhlin," she said slowly.

"Fine. Kill me. Now."

She didn't do anything. Just stood there.

"What? Do it!" I yelled at her.

"I'd hate to see you die alone."

"What? What do you mean?"

She nodded towards the door, Jesse being led in by guards with handcuffs on, his eyes red and puffy, his face dark with a five o'clock shadow, like he hasn't shaved for days.

I turned to Jenkins, starting to cry again. My heart sank, And I started to feel desperate. "No! Stop, no, you can't! Please," I sobbed.

She ignored me, her voice monotone as she drawled on, "or without a crowd."

Thousands of people from every direction and every entrance flooded in as soon as she spoke the word, "crowd." They all filed in the stands, sitting.

The citizens.

All coming to see my public execution.

Or... was it just me, or did they almost look... forced? Like Jenkins had forced them all to come see.

Before I could think any longer, Jenkins snapped her fingers and two guards came towards Jesse and I, who had just sat down beside me and was handcuffed to a second pole, not saying anything.

The guards came with small briefcases, setting them on the floor beside them and opening the two cases, with a long needle with sliver liquid in each.

My heart almost stopped. Everything but a slow death, I thought, starting to feel sick.

The guards took the needles out of the briefcases, raising the needles to our necks. I glanced at Jesse, and he was sitting, his face glazed with seat, head back and Adam's apple bobbing nervously.

"Jesse," I whispered.

His eyes flicked over my way. "Nina."

"I just want you to know how much I love you. And everything will be okay. Our daughter will be okay, and... they'll find a good home for her."

He nodded, swallowing again. "I love you," he mumbled, his voice cracking.

Jenkins appeared in front of us, her fire-filled eyes staring down at us.

I smirked as they wiped my neck with a disinfectant wet cloth, looking up at the people. "Jenkins is not the woman you think she is," I announced, loud enough that they could all hear me. "Yes, I stole that script! But it was the plans to start and organize World War III."

The people all started to converse, their eyes wide. I met eyes with Jenkins, her eyes wide as well, and I laughed again. "You might as well believe I just said what you thought I said, Jenkins." The people looked back at me. "My plan was to display the plans to the people to bring justice. But because of Jenkins, she has stolen the scroll back and that opportunity. So, before I die... create a revolution. For me. All of you."

As I felt the needle break through my skin and pierce my veins, and Jenkins stepped closer to me, I snatched the other needle that was meant for Jesse from the other guard and dug it into Jenkins' skin, making sure to find the vein and pressing the plunger all the way, getting rid of all of the silvery liquid inside.

I screamed and laughed at the same time, knowing victory was mine.

But not exactly.

Everything turned black before I knew it.