Legend

Part 4

We get into my car. I was elected to drive, but actually, Im an awful driver. The only reason that Im driving is because Im the only one with my license. Peyton failed her test last week, and Jess hasnt turned 16 yet. Ive only had my license for a month, but I love driving. I like being in control. We get onto the Interstate that leads to Legend.

So I have an idea. Theres this one entrance that I found when I was scoping out the grounds. We can go in through there, and get to the control room through this other hallway that I found. Since you guys have never been there, Ill lead, and we wont split up. The plan once we get there is to open up their computer, and try to shut them down. We can delete all of their files, turn the power off, and do whatever damage that we can. Sound good? I tell them, hoping that this will work at least okay.

Im a decent hacker, so I could probably get into the computer and into a lot of the files, Peyton volunteers.

Yes! Thatd be great! Thank you! I exclaim, excited that we have someone who can do that kind of stuff. Im a techie, but I couldnt hack into a computer to save my life. We drive the rest of the way in silence, thinking about what were about to do. Everybody knows about Legend, and how awful they are, not to mention how physically and mentally strong they are. I cant believe that Im actually about to do this. Im about to try and take down Legend. Im about to battle my worst fear and my deepest secret.

I park the car about a mile away from Legend headquarters. We cant risk parking it any closer, or they could see that they have a visitor. This will be one of the hardest parts of our mission. We have to get around the building to enter, as well as get to the building without being seen. They have guards at regular intervals, so we have to be incredibly careful. I get out of the car and take a deep breath.

Well, this is it. Our time to perform. Only, this isnt a game, this is life or death. We absolutely cannot fail, I try to give them a pep talk, but its hard. Especially since Im about 10 times more scared than they are. I cant believe that were actually doing this. Im breaking my boundaries to defeat my past, present, and my perceived future.  I cant do this.

CHARLOTTE! Jess screams, HELLO? ANYBODY IN THERE? Weve been yelling at you for the past five minutes! Wake up, this is no time to- We hear gravel crunch behind us. Oh no. I turn around to see an all-too-familiar black limo with the license plate LEGEND. This is not happening. We havent even gotten into the building yet! The front door opens, and a man dressed in a suit and sunglasses steps out.

Charlotte. Long time, no see. Youve changed a lot since Ive last seen you, hon, says the man. Why would he call me hon? And I dont rec- no, no, no, this is not him. He died when I was seven, didnt he? I thought

Charlotte, come and give daddy a proper hello. Dont you miss me? It is. He is dead. I saw him being buried, and I saw everybody cry for him. He cant be a part of Legend still. He. Is. Dead.

Im in the limo that I remember all-too-well, staring out the  window. This isnt happening, it cant be. Im not sitting in this car again, much less with my dad father driving. This is all a dream, Im going to wake up in 3...2...1Nope. Still here. Not a dream. Jess and Peyton are sitting next to me, frozen in fear. They dont know that my dad was, well is, I guess, the leader of Legend. He died when I was seven, in a terrible car accident. Back then, even I didnt know that he worked for Legend. I never intended for anyone to find out, much less in this way. This is a disaster.

All of a sudden, Jess whispers to me, Where are they taking us?

Im not exactly sure, but I might have an idea, I whisper back.

Will they do anything to us? she questions worriedly.

Yes, I reply somberly, and honestly. The limo stops, and I try to open the door. Nothing. My dad comes around the side and opens it for me. Jess, Peyton, and I climb out in single file. We arent stupid enough to make a run for it. We know how strong they are, Once we get inside, I look around at the familiar atrium of an interior. The air tastes stale and recycled, as always. My dad leads us down a corridor to the right.

Welcome to Legend, he says with a sickly smile. What are they going to do to us?

Peyton, Jess, this way please. Charlotte, Braeden here will lead you to your interrogation, he explains. My stomach fills with dread. Im naturally a terrible liar, but interrogation? About what? I give Jess a worried look, then mouth to her, Good luck. Keep your eyes peeled I follow this Braeden kid, who looks a year or two older than me.

You ready? he asks, trying to be friendly. I just glare at him.

Well, I dont know, in the past hour Ive learned that my dad actually is alive, been captured by him, AND learned that Im going to be interrogated. Of course Im ready, I say sarcastically.

No need to be snippy, he tells me.

No need to talk to me, I fire back. We walk the rest of the hall in silence, just staring straight ahead. Braeden presses a buzzer right in front of a room and the door clicks. He opens it and ushers me inside.

Hello, Charlotte, a man with glistening black hair and piercing blue eyes says to me, you are about to be interrogated about your crimes against Legend. Dont lie, we will know. We will ask you a set of predetermined questions, and you must answer them as honestly and wholeheartedly as possible. We will begin as soon as you take a seat in that chair up front, he says, pointing to a chair in front of all the rest that looks extremely uncomfortable. I slowly make my way over to the chair. I was right, its really hard and makes you feel like youre in jail or something. Just sitting on this chair makes me nervous, and the interrogation hasnt even started. My mind is racing, thinking of the questions that they could ask. Also, what could they do to me once this is over? I need to think of an escape plan, and fast.