Trapped | The Trapped Trilogy Book 1

Nine (Part 3)

Nine (Part 3)

"I remember crying out in pain, and struggling out of the chair. I remember trying to get to the door in panic and my eyesight leaving me in my left eye. I remember the throbbing pain-" Her voice cuts off, and she recollects herself. "The Monster found its feet again, and ran after me. It jumped and we fell to the floor. I had to keep moving... I had to keep moving to stay alive. So I tried crawling, my blood was getting everywhere and my head felt so light. I didn't get too far before the Monster picked me up again and slung me over its shoulder-and not carefully, might I add, although I couldn't feel really anything besides the half of my face that had been torn.

"It walked up stairs, and I was losing consciousness, and the adrenaline was wearing off. I was still fighting, but it was clumsier than anything, and I wasn't doing any damage whatsoever.

"Finally, it stopped and set me down.

"'Leave,' it told me, in an almost human voice.

"So I ran. At least it felt that way. The next thing I knew, I woke up to trees all around me, and I heard talking. There were four men around a campfire. Their eyes darted to and from the woods. I sat up, and they looked at me. They told me they had stitched up my wounds, and that I'd been asleep for about a day or two. They asked what happened and I told them. I told them everything. They saved my life. They deserved to know." She lurches into a coughing fit, her body doubling over. "And that's when the Rebellion was born. I learned those Monsters were everywhere, and that they're taking over the Domes. They're covered with bugs and with hologram generators. I've captured a handful, and I've learned a lot about them. Still don't know what they really are or where they're coming from, but I'm getting close, I think. And now that you're here, I don't have to worry about you getting brainwashed by one. Now you can help me."

"Help you?" I ask, the words barely making it past my lips.

She smiles a sad, half smile. "I'm dying."

"Of course you are. We all are-"

"Eenie..." She traces the fabric on the chair she sits in.

My mom can't be dying. All those years I thought she really was dead, and she's been alive. Alive! And I just get her back and she's-

"I'm sure you know what I mean, Eenie... And you're going to take my place."

"No."

The words are out before I can catch them. My mom is sitting before me, when I thought she had been dead seven years, close to tears and reaching out to me with all of her heart...

But I can't-won't lead a rebellion against where I was born and raised.

Against my home.

Against the most powerful structure and Government ever created.

I won't do it.

"Eenie-"

I stand up, dodging her hand. "You're insane to think that I would..."

I exhale in frustration. I don't have any more words to say, and I don't know what to do.

I close my eyes and rub my thumb between my eyebrows, rubbing away a headache. There's no way I could lead a rebellion. I couldn't even get Nad to listen to me the first day we met. I don't want to be in charge of people's lives-deaths...

My mom stands up.

"Eenie, just listen to me-"

"No!" I shout, tears welling up in my eyes. She looks stunned for a moment, but it's suddenly replaced with anger.