Hiraeth {Book 3 in The Emerald of Annihilation trilogy}

(33). Truth hurts [Part 1]

The slam of his body against the wall made the young man cry out in pain. Lily smirked and stood back, her arms folded. "I will ask again." She kept her voice steady, yet amused. Like she was enjoying this. Dylan's fist clenched around the man's shirt collar. His eyes a cold, steadfast glare on the trembling agent. 

"I-I swear I don't know!" He squealed. Lily locked eyes with Dylan and nodded. The boy turned back to his hostage and did his best impression of an evil smirk. He pulled the agent towards him. "N-no, please!" He pleaded as Dylan shoved him forward again into the wall.

The man yelped as his back connected with the concrete surface. Dylan dropped him and raised his fist. "Alright, alright! I'll tell you!" The frightened agent yowled, his hands flying up to protect his face. His oppressor froze and glanced to his accomplice who nodded. He yanked the man to his feet. 

"Where is the serum with Dylan Tanner's memories?" Lily asked, studying the man. He glanced at Dylan before looking back to Lily. "Jayden Spark's office. Third office on the left. On the second shelf in his safe."

 Lily grinned. "Thank you." She turned to her boyfriend. "Dylan. Thank the man." The 21-year-old cracked a couple knuckles, reeling back his fist. "With pleasure." 

When they reached the office, Lily made sure it was empty before going inside. "Where is everyone?" Dylan wondered aloud. Lily searched the room for the safe the agent spoke about. "I don't know, but as long as they aren't here, we won't have to deal with th-ah-hah!" The girl crouched behind the desk. 

She pulled the gun from Dylan's hip and shot the dial. A loud click sounded, signalling the breakage of the lock. "It's too quiet," Dylan said, dropping beside his girlfriend. "Something isn't right. This seems.....too easy." Lily pulled out photos of her, taken from a far-off distance. Dylan snatched a few from her and flipped through them. 

"Stalker much?" His eyebrow's furrowed. "Whoever this Jayden guy is, he is seriously obsessed with you." Dylan tossed the photos back into the safe. Lily pulled out a small leather bound notebook. "A diary?" Dylan scoffed. "What is this, 2011?" Lily shrugged and pushed a couple papers and pill bottles aside. 

And there it was. Shining like a light bulb. Neon blue liquid filling the glass jar. Lily grabbed the container and took a swift glance at the label. 

"Dylan Tanner Memories"

An idiotic grin grew on Lily's face. "Dylan." She stood and turned to him. "We did it." Dylan stood slowly, glancing at the bottle as if it was a snake. "Lily. I don't know." It's been too quiet. Too easy. The infirmary? They left way too quickly. Everything we needed to remove the chip was there. As if they expected us. The agent who told us where the bottle was, we didn't even need to threaten his life. Viper agents are loyal to Marcus till death. Don't you think he coughed up the information too eagerly?"

Lily's face fell. "You don't want your memories?" Her smile faded. "No, that's now what I'm saying, babe." Not at all. I want nothing more than to remember all our past memories, but...." He held her shoulders. "What if what is in that jar is not a serum that contains my memories. What if it is poison?" His brown eyes locked with her green ones. 

"How could they get my memories into a liquid anyway?" Lily looked from the bottle in her hand to her lover's concerned face. "But, what if it's not and it's a chance that we will miss?" She murmured. Dylan gently took the bottle from Lily's hand. "I don't want to take that chance. I'm here now. Alive, well, and I love you. I don't need any old memories to remember that." He turned and hurled the jar at the wall. 

The glass shattered on contact with the wall and the blue contents seeped down the wall. Lily took a deep breath and let out the inhaled air. "You're right." She took his hand. "As long as I have you safe.....I'll be ok." 

Dylan smiled a little and kissed her softly. "We'll be ok." Their sweet moment was cut short as the door slammed open. and Jayden stepped in. At his sides were armed Viper soldiers who aimed their rifles at Lily and Dylan. 

"Well, well, well." Jayden spread his arms not so welcomingly. Lily couldn't help but take notice the small stubble growing under his chin. He really was grown up. Older. His muscles bulged under the long-sleeved shirt he wore. 

"Look who decided to pay me a visit." He glared at Dylan who pushed Lily behind him. "Stay away from her." He growled threateningly. Jayden chuckled. "You talk like a man who has the upper hand, Dylan."  Jayden snapped his fingers. "Get them." The soldiers rushed in and grabbed Dylan's arms and wrenched him away from Lily who dashed at him but was held back by two more soldiers. 

"Jayden, let us go!" She shouted, struggling against her captors' iron-like grip. Jayden only smirked. A part of him sighed in satisfaction as the two were pulled apart. 

The grip on Dylan's skin angered him. "Take them to my uncle's office. "Jayden ordered. He resentfully looked at Dylan. "And don't bother trying to fight these guys. These are the new soldiers. The 'serum soldiers' as I like to call them. They feel no emotion or pain. And they will kill on my command without hesitation." 

Lily had noticed the soldiers moved swifter and had a stronger grip than most soldiers. Their faces were rock solid. Like they were emotionless statues. But these statues were very much alive and Lily winced at the tightening grasp on her arm. 

She didn't like how he said it so fondly and confidently. The parade proceeded to make their way to the office of doom. The desperation in Dylan's eyes begged Lily to do something. Anything. 

She looked at Jayden who led the precession. His head was held high and proud. "Jaden! Your uncle is just using you!" She blurted off the top of her head. It was true of course. But the sentence itself made herself cringe at the cliche-ness of it. 

"I don't need lies rolling off your pretty tongue, Lily." He smirked, not paying her any attention. Dylan's fist clenched at this boy's words. His eyes narrowed and his body tensed. 

"It's true." Lily urged. "Why do you think he recruited my brother and gave him a higher rank than you ever were?" Jayden's muscles tensed. 'Soft spot.' Lily thought. swallowing. Jayden growled. "My uncle is like a father to me."

Lily looked at him and asked the million dollar question. 

"But are you like a son to him?"

Oooohhhhh!! Tension!! What will happen next!!! Well, you'll have to read on to find out. See you guys in the next chapter!!

~Keziah13ninja