Escape

Chapter 8

Eryn
My stomach growled. I could hardly breathe. I ran my fingers along the thick red marks on my thigh, the bruises on my arms, where they struck me. I had not eaten in a day .My hands were bound together by metal clasps. Cold water dripped from above, as I desperately stuck out my tongue to collect my only source of water. Sometimes I got it. Sometimes I failed. They rest drenched me, drowning me in an everlasting coldness. The only times I could go out was to use the bathroom. By then I was delirious, dizzy and unable to find my way. That earned me a few more strikes with the energy-surging metal bar.
Is this what I got for helping my friend?
Is this the values they try to instill in us?
Friendship, it makes people do dangerous things.
Friendship, can leave someone in pain.
But sometimes we have to take risks. And find that it is all worth it.
I hope that it is.
Don't let me down, Rinco. Get out of this maze. Fast. Time is ticking, there is not much left till it's over.
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Five gruelling days after, I was released. One week, in that chamber.
Training got more and more brutal each day and I was kept on close watch. Regarded as a criminal, I had two officers following me around. I could not go back into the simulator room alone.
We followed the same schedule and in a blink of an eye, a month passed. I needed to get back to Rinco to update her. In that month, I slowly earned back the 'trust' of the Missle. Actually, I earned so much of it back I was moved to a different team.
The one that controlled the Obstacle Maze. We had spent some time designing the house, but we never got to control it.
I was really elated to hear that. Not only had I moved up a dozen ranks, I could get back to Rinco!
Hopefully it worked though.
But it will, and I will risk everything for my friend.
Rinco
There were pros and cons, working as a big group.
Pros? We have more people brainstorming ideas, sure. We were stronger together.
And the cons? Well arguments usually happened. I mean they were a part and parcel of working as a team, right? But sometimes it can go too far.
Even though Emmiera had humbled a little bit, we had yet to sort out our differences. She did not tease me as much and if she did, Vanessa was there for me.
But right now I was in an argument with Emmiera, something that Vanessa could not help me with. Again, she was harping on how I was useless and all. I think it was because Ernest praised me and not her. Something was going on between those two.
Emmiera had called me useless last time. This time, I felt the tension building up every time. I knew Emmiera was dying to say something.
Today, I just snapped.
"SHUT UP WOULD YOU?" I shouted.
"Ooh looks like Nobody is trying to fight with me." Emmiera sneered.
"What do you do, huh? What do you do for the team? All you do is scorn at others. You stink, Emmiera, you really do." I seethed with anger, clenching my fists by my sides.
Emmiera was dead silent. No one dared to say a word. I was shaking and Emmiera was too. I was getting impatient for a comeback when Emmiera extended her fist and boxed my solar plexus.
I felt like the air was knocked out of my lungs  as I was sent tumbling backwards. For an idiot, Emmiera was quite strong. However, I was not going to go down without a fight. During my time in the house, it became second nature.
I planted my fist into Emmiera's stomach and she doubled over and gagged.
"How dare you." Her voice was laced with poison, ready to push it into my mouth when she had the chance.
"Um, sorry to interrupt here, but you started it." Jonathan said nervously.
I shot him a grateful smile and then turned back to glare at Emmiera. Trust her to start a fight in the middle of the Quest.
The fight got even more violent, along with the pinching that sometimes happen when two girls attempt fighting.
We were covered in scratches and bruises when Emmiera decided to end the fight for real. She used full force to swing her fist through the air, landing it on the left side on my forehead. Before I could scream in pain, she whacked me on the ribs. The whole house was spinning wildly and I could hardly breathe. I felt my consciousness leaving me as I fell to the ground.
Eryn
"No, Rinco, no!" I mumbled as I fiddled with the controls. Rinco's head had hit against the ground and suddenly, her heart rate slowed and she was not breathing.
"Don't cheat." Zoey chided. She was still sore at me for killing off her best friend Kin.
I ignored her. Rinco might actually die.
"Oh please....." I cried. My Health Watch started beeping, telling me that my blood pressure and heart rate was abnormal. Why did I care?
"You know how to fix this James?" I asked him.
"You can't resurrect people, Ryn." James replied sadly.
"DUDE SHE'S NOT DEAD!" I cried. Someone was losing hope now.
And I was close.
If someone died, they died.
Unless I could send something.....
"Don't even think about it." Zoey muttered. I was not surprised that she could read my thoughts. We were each operated on and given a device in our heads, where we could read each other's mind. We were supposed to switch it on only in times of need but I could not figure how to turn it off after I had successfully flicked the 'on' switch.
Zoey had not either, which meant we could hear what each of us were thinking. She could do anything to stop me from saving Rinco. But she was not that evil.
"Go ahead then." She muttered but as I looked at the screen, I saw there was hope. I smiled, knowing that Rinco would be saved.