The Awakened World

Part 12: The Final Choice

Brian's and Susan's fathers had met during an impromptu fishing trip ten years ago. A lifelong friendship was struck and visiting the Abbot summer cottage soon became a routine for the Stevens family. It was then that Brian originally met Susan and, much to the delight of their parents, they became fast friends. Then the awakening occurred, and these ties were severed. Neither Brian nor his father found out what had become of their close friends, until Brian entered university. That's when he finally, after four years, saw Susan again. Unfortunately, he was disheartened to see Susan wearing clothes that indicated her status – she was an awakened. During his time at the university he had done his best to avoid her, and the few times they had bumped into each other he had always made an excuse to leave before they could talk, as living in a world where offending an awakened could lead to a prison sentence had made him nervous around them. Then Scott entered the fray and Susan helped Brian escape. Though Brian had had his doubts, he could've never guessed that Susan was in fact the Crimson Witch. Although this revelation carried some heavy ramifications, Brian didn't bother himself thinking about them, as she assisted him break free from the table he had been strapped on to.

Brian rubbed his wrists as he stood up. "Alright, I have about a million questions right about now, but think we should escape first. Any ideas?" Susan was already at the door, looking outside. "I think we can use the plane that brought us here to escape. We can figure something out during the trip," she said, as she opened the door and motioned Brian to follow her. The pair started to move through the streets of the ancient city where the excavations took place. Modern equipment was mixed in with the aged, barely held together remains of the city that had, at one time, been the centre of human civilization. Soon they reached the makeshift airfield. A private jet that looked incredibly out of place stood on the runway. The Supreme leader was discussing something with another man near its door. Susan looked at the men and grimaced. "The other man is the pilot. We need him alive if we're to escape. I don't think he's an awakened, so you get hold of him while I take care of the leader." Before she could leap into action, Brian grabbed her. "What do you mean 'take care of'? That man is the most important person alive! Besides, don't you work for him?" Susan clutched Brian's hands and looked him in the eye. "For the past five years I have worked for him and committed numerous atrocities. But I'm done with it! After we escape, I'm going to just disappear and live my days in peace. Do you get it? If killing him will make it possible for you and me to live on, I'm prepared to do it!" Brian wasn't expecting such ferocity and commitment from Susan, so he just nodded his head. "Well, I'm in this up to my neck anyway, it can't possibly get worse" he thought as they started to run towards the plane.

Susan was exited. Killing the Supreme leader would finally sever the shackles that held her back. She could finally be free! As they neared the two men, the pilot shouted a warning. The Supreme leader turned around and Susan caught, for a first time ever, a confused look on his face. She had a dagger in her hand. "Right now, he's building up his defences, but it will take some time for them to be precise enough to block small objects. I can do this!", she thought as she prepared to sling the dagger as she had done so many times before. The Supreme leader uttered a single word: "Theodore". This caused her to drop the dagger and to stop. Her thoughts were a jumble. She couldn't control her body. Meanwhile Brian had managed to tackle the pilot and was watching the events unfold in confusion. The Supreme leader walked up to her and looked at her appraisingly. "Well, I'm glad that the programming is still working. Otherwise I would probably be dead. Tell me, why did you betray us?" Before Susan could even think about the question, she began to speak in a deadpan voice. "The target is an old friend of mine, and I thought that by saving him I could atone for the things I've done." Susan began to panic. She couldn't control her body's actions, all she could do was watch. "I see," the leader said and nodded approvingly. "Should've looked into your background then," he said and turned to Brian. "I bet you're dying to know what is going on."