The Dying Generation

Chapter Fifty-One

(A/N: I am horrible at art, I know. XD but here's an idea of a visual for Clay. I also want to apologize for how long it is taking me to get these chapters out. I have work and school at the same time, but I also don't want to rush myself and end up messing up the story. But we're almost done! I hope y'all enjoy!)
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Upon reaching the room, Cedric was the first to go in. Finding in the very back corner, Parker tied down in one corner and Alton tied down in the other.

"Mr. Bates?" Parker looked up to him, surprised to see him and Savannah with him.

Alton slowly picked his head up, weakly to look up at his Father. His one eye was  a little dark, just healing from a black eye.

"Savannah, untie him." Cedric pointed towards Parker while he rushed over to Alton.

Alton didn't really do much in response to a familiar person coming to help. His messy hair kept falling into his face, he looked exhausted. Cedric pulled out a pocket knife, sawing at the rope that was wrapped around Alton's wrists tightly.

"So.." Alton started.
"You finally decided to come back for me..?"

"I had to play this a certain way to make it easier to come back for you. So I wouldn't raise any alarms." Cedric  answered him, finally cutting him free from his bindings.

"This isn't a game of chess, do you know what bull I had to go through?" Alton rubbed at his sore, red wrists, getting up from his seat.

"In ways it is, if I reacted immediately, I wouldn't have been able to show my face. Just please understand. I was planning this since we had to take Clay back here. I knew you would do something for her, so I knew you would come back for her. I knew you would run off, I cut your phone off so you don't put out your location so they can trace it. When they found you and no Clay, I have been looking for your friends so something can be done. I never gave up on you once."

Alton stared at his Father, unsure of what to respond back with. Then his eyes shot up to behind him, Cedric spun around in response.

"Bates! How are you, old friend?" Price stood at the door way, greeting them happily. Obviously an act.
"You know what I told you, what was being done to these boys was all a requirement, and I thought you quit. What are you doing back here?" He took some steps forward into the room.
The question seemed rhetorical, since it was obvious why Cedric was there. But while Price walked into the room, some Police man remained behind him.

Before Cedric could even speak, there was a loud explosion that shook the ground. Everyone fell to their knees or fell into the wall from the sudden thing. The fire alarm went off loudly, indicating that something big was happening on the other section of the building.

"Go, Go." Cedric pulled the kids up from the ground, taking that as an opportunity to escape through the window.
He encouraged them through the window, staying behind to be the last one out to be sure everyone makes it out okay. They all jumped out the window and onto a roof. By the time the last kid went out, Price and his men were regaining themselves.

"Stop them!" Price yelled as he struggled to pull himself up.
Cedric rushed out the window just as the guards rushed to grab him.

The boys jumped down from the roof, having a bit of a fall, but wouldn't do much damage. Parker helped Savannah down when she slid off. Cedric jumped down quickly, when some guards tried to go through the window after him and others ran for the front door.

Cedric grunted in pain when he hit the ground, landing on his foot wrong. He forced himself to try to move but he could go only so fast.

"Mr. Bates! Are you okay?" Savannah asked him with concern leaking from her words.