Seeing as my father has been a captive here far longer than I have, I decide that it is strategically advisable to follow his lead as we make our way out of the base. The maze of tunnels are far too complex for me to figure out on my own, and besides, I am the first to admit that my instincts are a bit muddled by the elation of my discovery.
But when I notice that we are headed up to the top floor, I decide to question it.
"Is this an underground base?" I ask once the elevator doors close behind me. My father used his key card to get into the elevator in the first place. I wonder if the one my guard had in his pocket would have gotten me as far, but am glad that I won't have to find out the hard way. Escape will be far easier with my father at my side.
"No." His reply adds to my confusion, but thankfully he elaborates. "But my research is on the top floor."
Ah, so Targent have allowed him to continue his research. I'm not too surprised; they did kidnap him for his discoveries after all. If I cared a smidgen about the Azran, I might be drooling over the thought of his years of extensive research right now.
Travelling up an elevator with someone can really teach you a lot about someone. For example, I am learning right now that my father is not an excellent conversationalist.
"…Have you ever tried to escape befo—"
"Shh!" He all but slaps a hand over my mouth. "There are cameras everywhere, Hershel."
My toes fidget around the artifact in my boot nervously.
I feel like I want to say something else, but…I admit that I am nervous. I haven't seen this man in years, and my last attempt at a conversation got me shushed. I fiddle with my glasses nervously.
My father seems to take notice. "…How did you end up here?" He asks, awkwardness oozing from his tone. I take some comfort in the fact that he seems just as unsure of himself as I do.
"I came on an excavation with some of different universities across Britain." I explain too eagerly. God, I sound like a kindergartner at show-and-tell. "We… well, I've been researching the Azran for quite some time now."
The look of approval I receive is far worth the moments of awkwardness that preceded it. "You've been researching the Azran?" My father sounds surprised, but I suspect that I hear a hint of pride in his voice as well.
I try not to act too proud of myself.
"Well, yes. For some time now." I explain, feeling slightly taller under his approving gaze. "That's how I got invited on the excavation, my professors were intrigued by my research—"
"And you're how old now?" Oh my god, he sounds excited. Like he can't believe that his son is so talented. I try to keep a straight face, but internally I am beaming from ear to ear.
"I… well, I'm twenty two now, actually." Those words have never made me feel this much like a child before.
He is grinning now. Actually grinning. I have made my father proud. If I died right now, I would die a happy man.
"Twenty two and already recognized by doctors of archaeology for his brilliance?" he is beaming as we step out of the elevator into and into his office. "My boy grew up to be a genius after all. I shouldn't be surprised," he turns to face me and rests a hand on my shoulder. "Even when you were a boy, I always knew that you had it in you."
Seriously. Could die right now and be okay. I am that happy. I feel like I could fly.
"We should hurry up and pack your research." I respond, grinning at the floor like an idiot. "We'll want to leave as soon as we can—"
"Leave?" My father looks confused when I look back up at him which, in turn, confuses me. "Hershel… why would we want to leave?"
…What?
I let out nervous laughter. I heard somewhere that dads usually make horrible, senseless jokes that aren't all that funny. This must be one of them.
His brows furrow at the sound of my laughter. "Why are you laughing, Hershel?" He asks me completely seriously.
…No, really. What?
"Be…because we have to leave, of course?" I ask, raising an eyebrow and hoping that maybe he will stop joking now. It's not funny anymore. Actually, it's a bit scary.
"Hershel…" He puts an arm around my shoulders and gestures out to the enormous office we are standing in. "Look around you, son! We have all the resources we could ever need to research the Azran right here in front of us! Why would we want to leave?"
The world has stopped. The enormous office. The key card. The soldier listened to him when he ordered off the attack…
It's dawning on me too late that Targent wouldn't force a prisoner to wear one of their uniforms.
His arm suddenly feels like a vice around my shoulders, like I am trapped in place. But no, this is ridiculous. Surely, I'm reading into this, right? There is no way my father would ever, in a million years, join Targent.
"This isn't funny." My voice sounds hoarse and it feels dry as I force it out of my throat.
"Good!" he replies, not picking up on my fear at all. "I want you to take this seriously, Hershel. Just imagine!" I flinch when he gives me a squeeze. "Your mind and these resources? My boy, we could unlock the secrets of the Azran before you're twenty five!"
This isn't happening. I'm not sure how, but this just isn't real. There is no way that any of this could possibly be happening —
"Where's mom?"
The words come out before he question even forms in my mind, and when they do my voice sounds small and weak. Suddenly, I am a child again, watching as my family is torn apart, and I want nothing more than for my mother to tell me that everything is okay.
My father doesn't answer. He lets me go instead.
I lose balance for a moment without his support. "Where is my mother?" My demand sounds like a worse joke than any a father could have told, my voice is so feeble.
He looks up at me, and he almost looks sad. "Hershel… sometimes sacrifices must be made for the greater good…"
"No."
I falter backwards. Even in losing my balance, my body knows that I must fall away from him. I take a few steps backwards to stop myself from falling over completely.
No.
Those eyes which I had been so glad to see praising me earlier now look on my with pity. "She wanted to see you again." The softness in his voice chills me down to the bone. "That was the last thing she said to me before she—"
"NO!" This absolutely cannot be. This is where I draw the line. I refuse to let this be. For the past fifteen years of my life, all I have wanted was to have my family back, and I will not have that taken from me.
I fill to the brim with fury. My eyes sting with tears that feel like fire, and that flame burns until it consumes everything in me. Everything has been taken from me, all of my hard work has been for naught.
Somebody will pay.
Bronev is starting to look wary at last, as if recognizing that he has unleashed a monster within me. "Hershel…" the name means nothing to me now. It does not belong to me. "I understand that this is upsetting news…"
"You defected to Targent."
Somehow, saying those words cements me in this reality. My mother is dead. My father is to blame. I am not stating a fact, I am sentencing him for the death of my mother. For the loss of my brother. For the time I spent on the streets. For everything I have suffered for the last fifteen years of my life.
It's all on him.
"I wouldn't say that I defected." He is too calm, as if he doesn't realize that the noose is tightening around his neck. "I would say that I have been gifted with opportunity. The passing of your mother was a great tragedy, but I have turned it into prosperity. My boy," hes steps toward me and the flames burn hotter, "I have done so much to pull together the resources that we have. I have lead Targent into a new age!"
Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.
"The secrets of the Azran are almost ours for the taking, Hershel! Just think! With your gift, you belong here! Together as a family, we can change the world!"
"At what cost?" I hiss the words at him. My voice is no longer weak, it burns with the strength of my fury. "I know what you have done here. I know what Targentdoes to innocent people! You do not care whose lives you have to tear apart, nor who you have to injure or murder as long as you achieve your ends!"
Bronev actually has the audacity to wave his hand at this, as if flicking off the sentence of which he is charged. "It's just as I said, my boy." his tone is trivial. He has chosen to fiddle while his empire burns. "Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good."
Murderer. Family breaker. Guilty. Guilty. Guity!
"And should I refuse?" I interrogate him now. "Would I be sacrificed for the greater good?"
He hesitates. He is feeling the heat of the furnace I have become.
Then he laughs. "Why Hershel, why would you refuse? I am offering you everything you ever wanted! Don't you understand?" The gleam in his eyes is that of a madman's. "Once you join me, we will bring Theodore in as well! We will be a family!"
NO!
This man has taken the life of my mother. He has taken my dream. He will not take my brother as well!
I step back just one more step. Time to learn something the hard way.
"I have no family." I spit at him as I swipe the guard's keycard and the elevator opens behind me.
"NO!" He lunges for me, but it is too late. I am too far away. The elevator closes before he can get to me.
A/N: Last update of the day before we go back to weekly updates!
This scene was not only the first one that I dreamt up for this story, but it also kicked off the tophatwriters universe! Needless to say, I'm very proud of it.
Please let me know what you think so far! I'm very excited to hear from all of you. ^_^
See you next Thursday!