The Longest Escape ((on hold))

Emotionally Speaking

"Max! Max, please say something! Wake up, please!" I say desperately. I can hear my voice starting to get higher in anticipation, hoping to get even the slightest response from him. But, I get nothing in return. I place a hand gently on an uncut part of his arm, and as soon as my skin touches his, his head jerks up, his eyes widened and bloodshot.

His eyes dart from side to side for a second before landing on my hand hovering just inches from his arm. He follows my arm up to meet my widened hazel gaze. We stare into each others eyes for a few moments before Max sighs heavily.

"Oh thank goodness you are alright." he rasps, his voice cracking and his pink lips dry. Wait, what? Thank goodness I'm alright? I don't have a scratch on me! What happened while I was out? I think before answering, my own voice barely higher than a whisper.

"Not a scratch on me. What happened to you Max? Why are you all beat up and why are you tied to a chair?" He remains silent for a few moments as if deciding his answer.

"They know too much Bri. They know too much and they went after me to get the message to the both of us. They know I'm-" he cuts off with a shake of his head. "No, I've already done too much." I shake my head as I kneel down to become somewhat even with him.

"I don't understand Max. Why aren't you telling me? You know you can trust me!"

"It's not you I don't trust!" he yells. I move back in surprise, landing on my rear and scooting backwards across the slick floor. I wasn't expecting him to get so mad so fast. I can see the rage in his eyes. But whether that rage is directed towards me or something else... He must have noticed what he had done, because moments later his face relaxes and he lowers his head.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled. But it's not you I don't trust, it's... everything else." he sighs. I take a deep breath to compose myself before I slowly scoot towards him once more.

"Look, I can understand if what you know can be dangerous for the both of us if you tell me, but at least tell me the things that will not get us stuck in danger." I tell him. He opens his mouth to say something, but then closes it again and lowers his head so I can't see his face.

"No, I can't say that either. That can get us into trouble as well." he says after a heavy, emotional sigh. I blink and look at my hands in my lap.

"There isn't anything at all that you can tell me is there?" I ask softly. He replies with a simple shake of his head. I am about to get up so I can go hit something when he speaks.

"There is one thing I can tell you, but it is nothing that you will want to hear."

"Try me."

He raises his head, and I swear I can see slight traces of tears in his eyes. Is big old bad Max crying? I think, only to mentally hit myself. Now is not the time to be funny, Bri!

"You need to be injected with another needle in order to continue on. The next test is going to be harder. It will test your emotional strengths and how you handle or deal with them. But in order to move on from this, you need to be injected with another needle. Technically, that is the first part of it. Getting injected again, I mean." he pauses to let out a dry cough. "You have to do it Bri. If you don't, you will never get out of this."

Throughout his little speech, my mouth hangs open. Another needle? Why can't they just hit me on the head with a brick or something? If all they are doing is knocking me out, why don't they just use a brick? It works the same way, only I would have a huge bump on my head, not to mention a major headache...

He notices my emotions and chuckles slightly. Well, more of a coughing fit, but all the same. "Please Bri. I will be fine, but you need to do this. Trust me." His handsome blue eyes stare into mine, the normal sparkle gone from their depths. I stare back into his eyes, knowing that he is telling me the truth. I have to trust him. I can trust him right? Am I making a mistake by trusting him?