The President's Daughter

6

"Are you sure that's them?" I hear a voice say, but it sounds so distanced. My head is spinning and my neck is throbbing. I try to sit up but my shoulder doesn't allow it. I sit slumped in a cold metal chair wanting the pain to go away. My fingers hurt every time I try to push myself up. I finally give up and just stay slouched in the chair. I try to open my eyes but all I see is black and darkness. I think I am blind until someone removes a black piece of cloth from my face. There is a bright shining light positioned right at my face. I squint my eyes to the bright light. After my eyes adjust, I see two men standing in front of me, and one in back of me. My ears feel like they have been shut off, like they aren't working, but I am able to make out half of the words they are saying to me. "What......name?" I think I hear them say. "Name? It's...Cameron. I think." I am able to mutter. The men in the room don't look American. They don't even have an American accent. I think it is more Scottish. This would explain the fiery red hair that stuck out at random places. "...liar...real... Now!" they shout. "I....it is my real name I swear!" I shout back as warm salty tears begin to flood down my face. I lean over in my chair, my hair falling over my face. My hands and arms are binded to the chair with rope that cut my skin every time I try to move. "....girl...." is I all I hear this time. I don't even bother to say anything. "Sit down." one of them commands. "I'm already sitting!" I scream at them. I look up at them when they don't respond. But instead of two really large men, I see Jayla standing right in front of me. My eyes widen and I fight harder in my chair. "Let her go! Don't touch her!" I shout. But they ignore me and turn to her. The man with the beard puts his hands on her shoulders and looks at her. I force myself to listen, to pay attention. "What's your name?" I see tears spring to her eyes. My heart starts to race. What is she going to say? "What's your name sweetheart?" her lip whimpers. "Jayla Reed." she whispers then bursts into tears

"I'm so sorry Braydon!" she cries. That's it. We are screwed. He then says something in a language I do not know. The guy who was standing behind me cuts me free. I am still leaning over so when I am cut loose, I fall on my hands and face. Jayla rushes over to me, grabs my hand and tries to help me up.

"Come with us." one man says. I dust off my dress and grab Jayla's hand. I follow one man, the other two behind us. We leave the cold cement room, just to be brought in to a cold cement hallway. We follow the man without speaking. Soon the cold cement turns to cold metal and we start to see people. They move out of the way when they see us. Then whisper. I can't hear what they are saying but I can see their lips moving as they walk by us. The man in front puts his fingers to his ears and mumbles something then groans.

"He's not in his office. We have to find him." he says to the men behind us. We walk a little bit longer. The further we walk the more people and doors we see. Now, some people actually wave or say hi. And Jayla, remembering all our culture lessons waves or say hi back. But I just look at the ground. My mom would be so disappointed.

I keep my head down, and completely run into the big man, not realizing he stopped. I completely fall to the floor taking Jayla with me. "ow." she says. I pick her back up, and the man steps to the side. A teenage boy stands in front of me now, with another leaning against the wall. They both eye my up and down and I'm not sure if they are staring at me or the blood I am covered in.

"Braydon, Jayla, this is Casey and Ronan. Casey's dad is the one who runs this whole operation." this is the most I have ever heard this man say. They still stare at me. And the man continues.

"Casey, Ronan, these are the presidents daughters. This is Jayla," he motions to Jayla and she hides behinds my legs. He then motions to me. "And this is Braydon." the boys both snicker. "uh, isn't Braydon a boy's name?" asks Casey I scowl and reply, "isn't Casey a girls?" Ronan laughs harder but Casey just stares at me, like 'how dare I say that to him?' Well how dare he say that to me! We glare at each other a little longer before the big guy breaks the silence. "Casey, have you seen your father? We need to speak with him." he says. "Uh, yeah, he's in the training room." says Casey but he doesn't take his eyes off of me. I stare at him longer too. Something about him seems familiar. I look at his face, trying to remember where I might have seen him. His eyes don't look familiar, or his lips, but his nose looks almost purple, like a bruise, like someone hit him in the face..."you're the kid I hit in the face!" I exclaim. Now I'm mad. "Yeah thanks for that by the way." he says sarcastically. "You started it! Calling me all those names! Disrespecting me in front of my people-"