I shot between the trees like a bullet. At top speed, I went in the direction that I thought was safest. The humans must have thought that everyone that escaped from the prison would take weeks to trek through the jungle in order to reach the ocean, thus deterring them from attempting an escape. But, if I was to end up in that prison, it wouldn't take me long to get to the edge of the island. After all, I could see the edge of the tropical forest already.

Please be freedom… please.

I skidded and stopped in my tracks when I was met with a tall, metallic fence. On the other side of it was a large and intimidating building. It was surrounded by guards, robots, turrets, lasers and cameras that pointed in all directions. All directions… meaning that something was bound to look in my direction. I gasped as I realised that a human had spotted me. I wasn't so good with stealth in the beginning.

I cursed to myself and attempted to run, but a gunshot was sent in my direction. I ducked to the floor and it missed me by an inch. I began to shake, realising that there was no use in getting up to run. I would only get shot in the process. Knowing this, I couldn't move. I lay on my stomach with my face in the grass. I put my hands on the back of my head and began shaking.

I was such a pathetic coward. I wish I could have done it all differently. Perhaps then, I wouldn't have been imprisoned for so long.

I cowered on the floor until I was found by two soldiers that came to the other side of the fence. They grabbed me by my arms and pulled me to my feet. I was too afraid to move due to the risk of getting shot, so I tried begging instead.

"Please… I don't want to go to prison. I haven't done anything wrong. You're the ones who came and killed everyone. I didn't hurt anyone!" I complained. But it seemed as though the humans weren't listening. They dragged me along so that my feet just touched the floor. I didn't need to walk, as the humans did all of the work. That didn't compensate for the fact that they were taking me inside… there.

I was taken through the security gates and up to the large steel door of the huge building. I began to shake as looked at the size of the building. It was huge. It would be very hard to break myself out of it. I had to try Chaos Control. Being in the ocean was better than being here. I shut my eyes tight and cried out,

"Chaos Control!"

I felt dizzy and landed a mere few feet away from the soldiers. I turned around to see the building for a second time. The men ran after me and grabbed me again. Why hadn't it worked? Why didn't I go very far? I tried once more. I went an even shorter distance then fell to my knees. Gerald's words began to echo through my mind.

"Without the Chaos Emeralds, you can't perform your Chaos abilities to their greatest potential. You're able to go short distances with Chaos Control. It should only be used as a tactic for battle. If you want to use Chaos Control to go large distances, I suggest using a Chaos Emerald."

"Damn it!" I cursed out loud when I realised that I was screwed. I was dragged back to the entrance and through the door. "Please… I don't deserve this… I'm innocent!" I trembled. The men still didn't listen to me.

I was carried through the long corridors. There was no mercy, no turning back. I looked ahead to see another large door. The kind of door that prisoners went through and never came out. I gulped. This was it. I realise that unless there happened to be a Chaos Emerald near by, there was no escape for me.

When we got through the door I saw another figure getting dragged around the corner. I shouted for him.

"Gerald!" I desperately cried out at the top of my voice. He didn't answer, instead he was taken around the corner and I never got to see him again. Until… ugh…

Then it sunk in. This was really happening. We were getting locked away… for helping humanity. It wasn't fair… Gerald only meant well and so did I. What I'd been told by Gerald and other scientists alike was coming true. They had all told me of the worst case scenario and what I was meant to do if it were to happen… but I never thought it would actually come so I didn't prepare for it. I didn't think GUN would actually come for me, after all the President and leaders of GUN seemed delighted about my progress. Why did they want to end Gerald's project all of a sudden. Why did they want to punish me? What had I done? Didn't we do well enough? Were we being punished for failing… had my idleness caused this?

So many questions and thoughts went through my mind. So many of them were never answered. They all tortured me so much, and the fact that I would never know the answers to some of them… tormented me even more. I don't think I even know the full story to this day. Despite the fact that I work for GUN, I still don't know all of the answers or the full story. I don't think I want to know the full story, it'll only make my mistakes clearer, and it will be harder to live with those failures. If I'd acted how I was supposed to on that fateful day… perhaps things would have been different… and Maria and I could have lived together for a little longer…

No, no. These aren't tears… I just… need to take a moment to myself. I'll be right back… just wait… a while…

Lucy Labrador