Liar Liar

Mother

"Resistance?" I stutter. My lips form more words, but they refuse to come out.

"The Resistance. Against the Imperium. The Civil War that's going on right now? Come on, Alba, I know you're case, you're familiar with some of these things at least." He pauses. A blank stare masks my face. "Look, the Civil War, as much as the Imoerium tries to cover it up, is happening, and it's just going to get worse. The shootings are unrelated to the war, but they both serve the same purpose: to take down as many civilian threats as possible."

"Wait. You're saying there's a full on war going on right now, not jist separate events? The news said that those were attacks of violence from delinquents and criminals, civilian in civilian, nothing to do with armies or battles or anything. And the shootings-"

"The news is a lie. It's all a lie, everything that the Imperium tells you is only to help them achieve their goals. Right now, their goal is to execute the threats to their government, and that's why they organized the shootings. They need a way to stage it, make it seem like it's a gang fight or a terrorist attack or a bar brawl. It's the same concept with the war. Don't let the people know that there are serious rebel groups with an equally equipped militia, let them think it's criminals fighting each other."

This was a lot to take in, too much to take in. My mom's alive. She's alive. It's been years simce I've so much as seen her. I can't. I can't listen or pay attention to whatever else he's saying. I've nevet cared for war, and I'm not about to get myself in the middle of it right now. I'm getting out of here.

Bruno is still talking, now pointing at thinga around the room and describing tools and gear he uses. I could care less about and ear piece; the only gear I care about is the belt he's wearing. It's one of those plumber belts - fitted with tools from A to Z, including pocket knives. All I need is to get a belt, and I'll be out of here.

"-and his latest policy legalized it. Little did he know we'd be able to use such weapons, too," Bruno goes on, pulling out some type of gun. It's so large and bulky, I don't know why he'd want to use it in combat anyway. Yoy couldn't run with it, and it doesn't stand on its own.

I nod and go back to tuning him out. I scan the toom for the first time. This place looks like it's part of a manufacturing warehouse. We're in a decent sized room enclosed by only three walls. Where the fourth wall should be is a gaping doorway that takes up that whole side, leading to forklifts and plastic wrapped boxes. Beyond that I cannot see.

A few feet to my right there's a table covered in vests and hats. Behind it, bolted against one wall, is a hulking shelf that reaches way up past half of the warehouse's height.

I look back to the table. I'm sure there's a belt or two hidden in the heap. I don't even need the whole thing, just the pocket knife. I just need to slide my hand under there and feel around for it.

I lift my head to check for other people in the room. There's just a few; everybody else is somewhere past the absent fourth wall, hustling and bustling, warpping up large boxes and lifting them with large machines. I can do this.

"-and that's why we wanted to bring you to her," Bruno finishes, bringing his eyes towards my frame, letting them graze over my figure before he finds my feet, mid-step, closing in on the table.

He clicks his tongue. Literally clicks his tongue. Whilr shaking his head. Of course he's shaking his head. I feel like I'm getting scolded by my fifth grade school teacher again.

"No, no, Alba, this won't do."

'What won't do?' I almost say, which would for sure give me away. "Excuse me?" Wow. I just made it worse. Great.

"Come on, Alba!" He actually sounded angry this time, violent, even. "Don't flinch! Look, I'm not gonna hurt you," says the guy who knocked me out, "And you don't have to be here." Then why are you angry? "I just need you to comply right now."

"Look, I have no reason to trust you. You knock me out, kidnap me, tell me that you've been stalking me and thay my mother is alive. Why should I believe anything you say?"

"Because he's telling the truth," a familiar voice calls out. I turn around to see the man who spoke - my father. His hands are cuffed behind his back and he seems tired and in pain. Good, I think to myself, he deserves as much pain as he can get. It takes me a minute to realize that there are three people surrounding him, not just the man and woman by his sides, holding him still. There's a woman behind him. I can't make out who she is until she steps in front.

"Hello, Mrs. President," Bruno greets, dipping his head.

I don't know what to say. Only one word comes out: "Mom?"

Ok so this update was long overdue but I hope its worth it! Let me know what you guys think!!