Loving The Enemy

3: "Sorry"

We've been walking in total silence for several minutes now. The hallway we are walking in reminds me of a hospital. We passed many other doors, that I'm most certain held more eighteen year old girls against their will. But it is the law, I guess. The government established this law in 2042, twenty- two years after North Korea nuked the United States capitol, Washington D.C., and most of the states surrounding it. After the tragic loss of the president at the time, and many Americans, the vice president, who was conveniently half way across the world on "business," took over. And only a week in power, he showed his true colors. He was in league with the leaders of North Korea, giving them government secrets, all for money. North Korea's army overtook the U.S. only a few weeks after. America didn't have time to mourn the loss of many loved family and friends.
The federal presidential constitutional republic, turned into a  totalitarian system. This government system is a dictatorship. The government was a highly centralized and coercive (used threats or force to control everyone) authority that regulates nearly every aspect of public and private life. A 7:15 P.M. curfew was followed religiously. Unless you were working late, then you had to get a special pass from your workplace. If you were caught without one of these passes, then you were to be publicly executed, dismembered. No one ever went to these sick punishments, for no one had the stomach to watch the person be murdered right before their eyes. If the offense was considered great, then the government would force everyone to watch, to set an example, so no one would ever cross them again.
After North Korea took over, little did they know, that in a small basement of my grandparent's house, just outside New York City, was a meeting between many men and their families. My grandfather was the leader of the rebels. More and more people began to hear about The Defiance, my grandfather had started. They continued their meetings until those meetings became training; training for the final battle of control. Soon enough, The Defiance had an entire army, enough soldiers to take our beloved country back. They had been training in secret for ten years. I can only imagine what people went through with North Korea in control of America. The amount of people who died, simply because they were a few seconds past curfew, was innumerable.
Finally in 2030, The Defiance and the persistent forces of North Korea, had the most memorable war that lasted two years. During the fight, the vice president was punished by my grandfather before he died. Then in 2032, the leader of The defiance was my father, at age 28, since my grandfather died in the heat of battle a year into the fight. He settled America down after all North Korean forces retreated back to their homeland. My father found my mother and they had my brother, Arian, in 2040. Then in two years, they had me. Adrian. Apparently, my parents had a falling out when I was only a few months old, and my dad left my mom to "figure himself out." My mom told me, when I was eight, that my parents were madly in love. Or so my mother thought. Mother told me when I was a few years younger than I am now, that dad handed all responsibilities to his trusted right hand man, saying that he needed time to think. Little did darling daddy know that his right hand, Abaddon, would screw over every eighteen year old girl for eighteen years. He made a law that, sometime during the year that a girl turns eighteen, they were to be kidnapped with no chance of returning to their families. We have yet to figure out, why Abaddon would ever make a law like this. Why he would want eighteen year old girls. Well, I think we all knew why, but wanted to refuse that would be the reason why. This has been going on for eighteen years and still, my father did nothing about it... or that's what everyone believes, including me. Especially me.
Elias and I continue down the hall, sometimes taking rights and the occasional left. I've grown a little uncomfortable, when Elias finally opens his beautiful mouth. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry that I had to kidnap you, and put you in pain." Though he didn't look at me, I could hear the pain in his voice, as if his hurting me, caused him physical pain. I sneak a glance at him. I sigh. Beautiful. He notices me looking at him, and chuckles. Even his light-hearted laugh is perfect. I quickly avert my eyes, rather reluctantly. I mumble, "I'm sorry." And why am I saying sorry again? Mental face palm. Elias chuckles again, and I swear he sounds like an angel. "There is no reason you should be apologizing, Adrian." he clears his throat, stops walking, and looks scared for his life. "I mean Ms. Morgan." My turn to laugh. Elias looks like he just swallowed a watermelon. "It's okay, Elias. Call me Adrian. Please." I say lightly, so that he will relax, and so this can be less awkward.
He smiles. "Okay. Now that you gave me permission," his smile widens, "Adrian." He says my name in a way that gives me goosebumps.
We start walking again. Only a minute passes when we arrive at wooden double doors, as tall as the ceiling and as wide as six people standing three feet apart. Nerves start to flutter in my stomach, and my heart feels like someone just punched a hole into my body, grabbed my heart, and started squeezing it. I nervously tap my finger on my leg, with no sort of rhythm, and stare at the doors. Who is waiting for me behind these doors? What does he want with me? I'm afraid that once I step through those doors, I'm never going to be the same.
I take a deep breath and turn to Elias, who has been waiting very patiently. Ugh. If he wasn't so gosh darn cute, I would've been able to talk to him properly. But no.
"Sorry." I say, for the second time today. Why do I keep saying that??
He laughs. Again. Everytime. Oh. My. Gosh. Somebody please save me, I'm dying here! He walks closer to me and bends down to whisper something in my ear. " Adrian. You've done nothing wrong. Stop saying sorry." His breath is hot against my ear, making my breath hitch.
"Okay" I say, actually breathless. "I'm ready. I think." Elias nods, stepping away, and running his fingers through his hair.
"If at all you feel uncomfortable, you tell him that you are going to take your leave, and I will take you out of there. I'm sure he will let you go. Considering." He says with soft eyes and concern. But then he winces and I have a feeling he just told me something he shouldn't have.
"Considering?" I ask, my brow raising in question.
"You'll see. And," he says pausing."Please don't freak out." Why would I freak out?
Before I could ask, Elias took hold of the door and pulled it wide enough so both of us could go in together.
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