The Traitor

Chapter Ten: The Diversion

Jasper smiled. "Okay. I'm going to go around to other end of the building, and draw the guards' attention." He pointed down a long, dark corridor which would eventually lead to opposite end of the front of the building. "You take Brandon out while the guards are distracted and I'll meet you there as soon as I escape the guards."

I realized there was a possibility that things could go horribly wrong for him in his attempt to distract and escape the guards, and I couldn't let him risk his life for me. "Wait, let me go. You take Brandon out and I'll distract the guards. It was my idea to rescue Brandon, and if you get caught, it will be my fault. I could never forgive myself."

He shook his head. "No, Teya. It's too dangerous for you to go. Besides, you've already been accused of treason. Mr. Thomas will lock you up if he finds you here. You can't go."

I smiled. "I'll meet you outside," I told him as I turned to run, leaving a Jasper stunned behind me. I began sprinting down the pitch-black hallway, only half aware of what I was doing.

Jasper's words ran through my head. 'You've already been accused of treason. Mr. Thomas will lock you up if he finds you here. You can't go.' But I shook off any thought of what might happen if I failed, and began devising my plan. I needed to find something to throw that would attract enough attention from the guards that Jasper and Brandon would be unable to leave unnoticed and that I might be able to escape as well. But what could I possibly use? There's literally nothing around here small enough to throw.

I stopped at the end of the hallway and hid behind a wall, then peeked around the corner. I had almost gone a full circle around the building; just one more hallway till I reached the opposite side of the crowded front entrance. Thankfully, I was still far enough away from the group of guards, that I could create a distraction and get out before the guards came. I looked around for something I could use to distract them and my eyes fell on a glass vase. Perfect, I thought.

I tiptoed over to the small table the vase rested on and quietly poured out the water onto the floor. I figured the sound would be louder if it was just the glass that dropped, instead of the glass and water. Also, if they some how managed to get to me before I could start running, then maybe they'll slip on the water. 

I took a deep breath, then dropped the vase, shattering it across the floor. I heard the guards yell and footsteps began coming my way. I quickly turned to run, but I slipped on the water and fell, glass shards stabbing into my leg. Fighting back the urge to scream from the pain, I quickly pulled myself up and continued limping in the direction I had come, hoping somehow I could get away unnoticed. But it was too late.

"Get on the ground!" Suddenly I was surrounded by guards on all sides of me, shouting at me to put my hands behind my head and get on the ground. I looked around for way out, a break in the wall of guards, but there was nothing. I had no choice but to surrender.

"Okay, okay. Don't shoot!" I shouted as I slowly lifted my hands up behind my head and lowered myself to the ground. My legs screamed in pain as I knelt down, but my overpowering feeling of fear seemed to numb the pain.

"Search her!" One of the guards instructed. A couple guards moved in and I was patted down for weapons, then lifted to my feet to face what I thought was the head guard. I tried to stay defiant to cover up the fact that I was scared out of my mind. But the pain in my legs and knees returned, causing me to grimace.

The captain stared me dead in the eye as he decided what to do with me. "Handcuff her, then take her to Thomas." I wanted to resist, but the cold blood trickling down my leg reminded me that, unable to even walk, I was powerless against them. Two guards stepped up from behind me and painfully handcuffed my hands behind my back, then pushed me toward the door. From behind me, I heard the head guard instruct another to let Thomas know I was coming.

'Mr. Thomas will lock you up if he finds you here.'