Lost Mind

Trapped

They drag me into the car they have while I struggle with no success. I don't want to go anywhere. I don't want to travel anywhere else. I felt safe here. I have felt safe everywhere. Just not where they are taking me. I think it's just because I am being forced to go and it is not in my own will. Then again, I didn't want to leave the center, but I had to go. I felt vomit coming up and I swallowed it back down. It felt sick just to be like this. A prisoner. Shooting someone. But, I didn't feel guilty. I did it for their own safety. They will just never know. I'm the good guy here, they are the bad guys. I did something good, I saved them! But, they wouldn't understand. They just walked into a room of 3 dead bodies and someone with a gun. There is no way to explain myself out of it.

It is now early morning. Just enough where you can see the sunrise and your feet, but not much else. They shove me into the car rather gently and then they hop in themselves. There was probably around 3 or 4 cars around the house. They weren't kidding about bringing people. I sat quietly while asked me some questions. Just basic things like my name and where I'm from. I didn't answer. I guess I didn't feel like answering. After a while, they stopped and it was back to silence. I couldn't tell if the quietness comforted me anymore or if it hurt me. It reminded me of being by myself in college. Comforting, yet painful. I started daydreaming, or maybe regular dreaming. I hadn't slept in quite a bit. It was about Julia, again. I didn't want to go through this dream. Not again. But Julia was all I had left. At least, that's what it felt like. I open the door and there is Julia. She runs off, a paper falls out of her hand. I pick it up and read it again. 243 Chester Street, just like last time. I sat down again, of course the dream doesn't end. I think about it more and more. Where is this place? Why does it feel so familiar? That's when it hits me. I know exactly where this is. Then the dream ends. Just like last time. White room. I open my eyes and there we were. Exactly where I thought we were going to go. It felt nice to be back, but also it hurt me because it reminded me of the past. We drive up into the driveway and they park while I sit there, mesmerized by it. 

The college.

It looked almost exactly the same, except for some guards and boards all around the building and on the roof. It felt like home. I hadn't felt this feeling since before the invasion. The open the door and I willingly get out and let them grab my arms. It hurt how tight the handcuffs were, but I understood why they were that tight. We walk up to the door. Someone was sitting right next to the door. He looks up and opens the door for us. Closing it immediately as we get inside. I recognized where we were instantly. It was the law branch. Specifically, the forensics part. I think I know why we were in here. I remember there being cells in here, for research and such. I don't think they were going to use it for research this time. I already knew what was coming, yet it didn't feel right. I knew I did something wrong, but I felt like I shouldn't be punished. They unlock the cuffs and toss me into the cell. They lock it and look at me one last time. Then they walk out and I'm all alone. It felt like home and prison at the same time. I didn't know whether to feel appreciated or offended that they would throw me in here.

Over the next few days, I didn't really do much. They gave me food, I put the trash outside of the cage, they cleaned it up. Simple. Some of the days, they would let me outside in a very protected and fenced off part of the courtyard. There were a few other people outside too. Maybe they did something wrong. All I would do was sit by the empty fountain and think. All of this. Running from aliens. Killing people. Being with Julia. I think the only reason I did it was because of Julia. Emily wasn't even a part of the equation. I mean, I killed her too. Even if it was indirect, I did it. And I was fine with it. Eventually, they let me on a sort of probation. I would walk around the halls, trying to find work. The more work I did, the faster I could get out of here. I needed to find Julia, soon. My mind was going crazy about her. She was all I had left in this crazy hellhole. Even if she wasn't anywhere near me, it still felt like she was close. That's when it happened. The greatest day ever. I was sitting in my cage when someone walks up. 

"Nice to see you again, Jake." 

I look up. Who could possibly recognize me? Then I focus on who it is. Julia Addley.

I stand up and ask her why she is here.

 "I kind of became a leader here, and when I heard a college-aged kid had been picked up, I had to see who it was. That's when I found out it was you."

 We talked for what seemed like hours. We discussed what we had been doing all this time. It was getting dark and I figured she would have to go soon. That's when she said the one thing I had never expected in my entire life to happen. 

"I can't take this anymore, Jake. I want to be with you. But they won't let me let you out early, so I have an idea. I am going to break you out. Tomorrow. Be ready." 

She walks off and I have a huge smirk on my face. She wants to be with me. Another person walks in.

 "I'm the prison director here, and I want to tell you a few things. First is that you can get out of here, you just have to work for it. Next, we won't hurt you unless we need to. Finally, I need a name. I guess, I mean a number. Something to keep track of you by. For watching over what you do, so you can get out of here as soon as possible. 7 numbers please." 

I think about it long and hard. I know it doesn't have to be serious. I mean, I'm escaping with Julia tomorrow. That's it! Julia. The one number I can think of. I stand up and tell her I'm ready. I prepare myself and say the numbers slowly so she can get them down.

6. 4. 3... 5. 2. 8. 7.