When Spring Returns

Chapter 4

"Look, I understand that there's a lot of people there, but we have a very small probability of getting spotted. What government official would go there?" It sounds like a woman, could they be talking about the concert that I just left? "There's too much security there, it's too risky. I'm not agreeing to this." The man says. Security? Government officials? What is this? "You know what, I don't need you to come, I can go there myself right now, i'm sure the General will be pleased when they find out her sister went to a highly populated event without any supervision." I want to peek through the alley to see who it is, but if these people are dangerous, I can't afford to get in trouble with them. "And that is why you're not going there at all. I'm preventing you from going there. I don't want to get into a worse situation that we are right now."

"Oh really? You know I'm not that helpless, if I wanted to I could lift that entire stage from the ground with my bare hands."

I hold back a laugh. That's impossible.

"I'm not saying you're helpless, in fact I know what you can do, but this isn't something the entire city would like to know, even worse, the entire nation."

"Guess what? I really don't care about anything you say, and I absolutely don't give a fuck about who is at that concert, either way, i'm getting out of here."

I hear a few footsteps and start to panic. I silently walk towards the first building door and pretend to unlock it. I sneak a glance towards the alley, but nothing comes out of it. Questioning it, i cautiously walk to the alley and peek.

My mind goes completely blank, but then surges with new thoughts and questions.

Where did they go? There is no exit to the alley and no doors? Did they jump out? But the buildings are too tall for that? They really are criminals right? Oh my god the concert! I need to go back!

I run towards the direction I came from before, adrenaline fueling my entire body. I never knew I could run this fast. Once I get there a wave of nausea topples over me, but i fight it off and pull my ticket out of my bag with shaky fingers and hand it in the admissions area. Inside I look towards every direction, trying to find any suspicious activity while texting my friends at the same time. I realize I probably won't get any answer from them, since they are too distracted, so I concentrate on finding those two entities instead. I just don't know what I might do once I find them. I could be overpowered, especially after that threat. I start to get tired from meddling through the large crowd, and I begin to think this idea wasn't the brightest in the first place. Mayra, what were you thinking?

Soon I realize that I am heading towards the exit once again, still half worried about what might happen if I leave. Bang, bang, bang. The sounds ruptured through audience. Almost immediately, people from all sides start to desperately run towards any exit in view. I stand there, not moving an inch. "Lady! What are you doing? Run!" "Young woman, hurry up and leave!" I hear people say as they run past me. Not knowing at first, I start to walk against the crowd. I need to find them, those two criminals.

Everyone has escaped from the concert now, which makes me easy to spot. My first thought is to go towards the stage and hide around there, since it's the only structure around. No authorities have come to secure the area, which is very odd. I hear footsteps again, and crouch. I'm not sure what my plan is, but I intend to gather as much info about them so that they can be arrested.

"Andrea, what have you done?"

The woman laughs.

"I told you, I wasn't going to let you, or General decide what I can or can't do. So maybe you should stop supervising me, I'm not a child."

"I am not, I am under General's orders."

"Same deal."

My legs are starting to cramp from holding this position, although I can't risk changing my posture and making noise. From what I hear, they are moving some heavy objects, they should be worth something to them. They are making a lot of noise, so I decide to shift to a more comfortable position.

"Wait."

Oh no.

I look up just to see a tall, muscular woman looking down at me, and I panic, tripping over myself and landing awkwardly on the ground. The woman continues, unphased, and I hear a smack of gum. She chuckles and motions the man to come towards her.

I'm frozen still.

"Damn, this girl is brave, don't you think Louis?"

"Hm."

"She looks too weak though, look at those skinny arms."

Oh she did not.

"First of all, I probably have more strength than you think, and secondly, I've learned self defense!" I say, later shocking myself and regretting opening my mouth.

"Haha! This girl has some attitude! What should we do with her?" The woman says, raising my chin with a pistol I hadn't noticed before. I clench my jaw.

"Hey Louis, answer me."

Louis doesn't say anything.

"Ok! I guess I'll choose, I'm taking her in."

What? What does she mean by that?

"Andrea, you can't do that."

"Too bad! You didn't say shit, so I'm taking her in, whether you two like it or not."

Andrea pulls me up, I want to make a run for it, but I don't think I'll make it far if she's holding that gun.

"By the way, you already heard, my name is Andrea, what's yours?"

"....what do you want with me?" I say sternly.

She laughs again. "Don't worry, I'm not gonna do anything to you, unless you run away, then probably shoot your foot."

I stiffen up. Noticing my behavior, I hear another strained laugh from her.

She then begins walking and signals both of us to follow, and I can't do anything but follow her orders. I don't know where she's taking me, and what she'll do with me, and all I can do is make sure she spares my life.

We get to an apartment building that looks about ten or twenty years old, and go inside one of the rooms. Andrea walks in, sits on a chair, and kicks her feet on top of a coffee table nearby, while Louis drops his bag at the entrance and enters a room.

"Make yourself at home." She says, turning on the tv.

"Again, what do you want with me and why did you bring me here?" I ask.

"Persistent, huh? I want you because we're lacking new recruits due to an issue we're having right now, I brought you here to secure you as a recruit."

"What do you mean new recruits?"

"I'm not going to go in depth on that."

"Why? What are you guys? Some type of criminals? Why did you hurt innocent people at that concert?"

"Number one, we're not criminals, we're activists, and number two, we didn't hurt anyone, we shot the air to scare everyone."

"Activists?"

"That's private info, we can't tell you until we've made sure you won't leave."

"I don't think you're setting a good example by putting up a false alarm."

"Sweetie, it isn't a false alarm if there is actually a gun being fired. What? You wanted me to shoot someone?"

"....no."

"Are we done?.....Good, sit down and watch tv."

I'll see when i can get her off-guard so i can escape this place, but for now I'll sit and wait for a good moment.