The Circle

Chapter Four

Elin drove the shuttle right towards the checker and it stopped. Stopped just before we hit the sinister looking man. She landed the ship subtly and placed it right in front of him. I reached for the handle, ready to get out. A slap hit me before I could even touch it. Elin gave me the stare, a stare that you get when you know you're in trouble, and indicated that this was not the right thing to do. I looked up to her, her eyes were still blue, yet trying to change, change to the red evil eyes. I was scared. Elin then lifted the front of the shuttle up, an amazing piece of technology that I had never noticed. It lifted slowly, so we were facing the checker now, face-to-face.

The checker looked evil from the off, he was white- probably from the led he uses on his makeup and he had a black receding barnet. He looked the part but was he the part? His white suit and gold cufflinks showed his wealth- or his superiority- whatever he was he was a very rich man. Elin then spoke, "Hey, how are you? How long has it been?" What? Did she know him?

"Hey, agent one, good work" a gravely, unenthusiastic voice spoke. Agent one? I'm confused, I thought she was Ion's friend.

"well..." Elin continued "Here he is, to see you- and Ion" she raised her eyebrows. I saw it, what's going on?

" Aarrr... Mr. Trese- I believe?" How does he know my name? I never say it, not even Ion knew.

"Yes, sir..." I gulped "What is this about?"

"I'll tell you what this is about- cheeky" he shouted. "You are going to see Ion and you're going to help him out of here" He demanded.

"How do I do that?" I asked inquisitively. I was scared now; I know something is going to happen. I can't do anything now- I'm with a protector (number one I believe) and one of the most feared people in all of Lushein. If I ever move, I am dead.

"You're going to come with me..." He repressed "Agent One!!!" he shouted. Elin moved swiftly into the next room and right there was the checker with a vulnerable, starving, depressed Ion- left behind a plastic screen 'for my protection'.

"Hi, how are you?" I asked casually hiding my fear away from him. He looked in real pain and starved. He was wearing nothing but a black jumpsuit and his face was mess, looking as if it had been punched repeatedly for around half an hour. "I'm ok" he whimpered back but I knew he wasn't. He looked like he could feel his ribs and now I would have to share some food with him. I glanced at the checker in fury and fear.

"Is there anything I can do to help him?" The man now looks even scarier with his pale face turning into as deep red colour. In fury, he looked at me and shouted "What?!?" His eyes lit up. Red with a burning orange inside of them. He opened his hand ready to slap me and then clenched it. He started to swing his fist in rage and then pulled back. His eyes lit up again, but now they turned into a yellowy colour. He was struck, not with a fist but an idea. I could see it.

"Nobody has asked that before," he said sincerely, what was wrong with him? Why has he started to show emotion? "Is there?" I retorted quite angrily. He looked at me and then up at the roof. I followed his gaze to see the roof, black and rusty. Nothing else was there. What was he doing? If he's planning something I will not accept.

As he continues to look at the roof I glance at Elin and her beautiful face. What? What am I thinking? I shouldn't have trusted her. 'Agent One' I wonder why. How many people has she literally and metaphorically stabbed in the back? I reckon people write her off straight away. She's a 'her' why wouldn't they. The only 'hers' we get here are the ones brought here to marry and reproduce from the protectors. There's no love in this Reiles, Lushein city or anywhere in Lushein for that matter. The only love anyone has ever experienced is physical love from the protectors.

I then span my view to the poverty struck Ion. He looks scared as his eyes meet mine. I see the fear and the water starting to mount up in his eyes and then I mouth something to him. "This is not going to happen" I mouth. He looks at me as if I'm lying. Of course, I am, I'm not going to get in the way of Lushein's fun, I don't want to get killed like my mum and dad. Well, who cares? They didn't love me anyway. They just had to produce dummies for the horrible world.

I finally look back around to the Checker. He's standing to tap his foot waiting as he slicks back his black, probably soft, hair and buttons his pristine but a little worn white suit. He sees my eyes and then catches on to them. He opens his mouth and now I get scared. "Do you want me to let your friend out?" He asks rather pleased with himself.

"Can you?" I ask surprised.

"Of course, we can as long as we can find a replacement. Which is obviously really easy." He rather arrogantly answers. I look at him now knowing there is a clandestine here. HIs hair wobbles on his head and his hand sits back on his shiny gold buttons. "Let him out then" I rather aggressively demand. "Calm down. Who are you demanding? I'm in charge here not you" He condemns. And then he goes through a big silver door, typing code as he goes.

I and Elin wait as he leaves. The tension between us feels wrong and I finally prop up the courage to talk. "Agent One then? Eh?" I inquisitively ask not expecting a reply. Silence does follow but then she actually answers. "Yes, that's me" She answers bluntly. I look at her in shock and then raise my voice questioning her. "So, you didn't know Ion?"

"Of course, I did, I was his master" A female a master? I chuckle to myself but then think. Ion had a master? Oh god, she knows what we did is that why Ion is here? I look at her in shock going to open my voice but then I hear a bang. A big door opens behind ion and two protectors grab him. They savagely drag him out like a freshly hunted deer and then the Checker looks at him.

The Checker's lips widen and then close saying something to him. I wish I could hear what they were saying behind there. Why did they turn the sound off? What were they going to do to him now? Elin that rocketed off through the door leaving me to stand by myself.

I look at my reflection in the black room covered by a glass screen. I look at myself standing in Ion's uniform and reminisce our good times together throughout my work with him. Hopefully, we will work together again when we get out of here. I remember when we were on the road and his shuttle started shaking. We were both really scared, screaming and panicking. He looked at me and then laughed. I asked him what was wrong and he just told me he shoved a weight in the bottom of it. I hit him playfully and then he hit me back. I always wish for more times like that.

A few minutes later they come out with him. Elin at the front and the Checker at the front. I race to see Ion who is surrounded by two Protectors. He looks unwell but he can get through it and then the Checker stares at me. "Here you go, one Ion."

I look at him and then the protectors yank and pull at him. His black suit almost ripping as they stand him up against the glass for me to see. I give him a hug and then I'm pulled off him. Two protectors have hold of me. Why? THey drag me with some force as I fall to the ground. One of them kicks me and I bend over wincing in pain. My tummy. The pain really hurts and I lean over to protect myself.

Bang!!!!

A shot is fired. Where? I see the Checker stood there rather pleased with himself. A gun in his hand, it has smoke coming off it and then I look across to where the gun is pointing. Ion. Ion lays there with a hoe in his black suit and blood gushing out. I try and get up and help him but I can't. I'm punched. Punched in the head knocking me dizzy and then all I can feel is two Protectors carrying me.