:) chapter 20.

the song from chapter 19 was Redesign Me by VersaEmerge. i have grown a new love for this band. they are AMAZING! :D and the band Tonight Alive. :) :)

At any rate, here's chapter 20. :)

Take a look around
Our time's almost running out
Give back what you get
Uproot questions in your head

The looking glass is clear
What you want is near

Shoot out all the lights
Hold your ground, we'll hit the sky
It's time you aim your arrows high
Take down all the doubt
Cast it out, let's do it now
It's time we aim our arrows high

Sewn into your soul
This is out of our control
Be who you need to be
There's no other you or me

When Shane whispered, "It's six fifty-nine!" we all immediately turned to look at the clock and began counting down the seconds, partially to ourselves but also out-loud. It was one of those almost inaudible things.

Did we have to wait for exactly seven? No. We just did. Because we wanted to.

And when it was seven, I began bending the bars on my cage. Why? Because they decided to put alarms on the locks, after the Eraser I killed previously—or the one you know about, because I've actually killed a great deal of them over my stay here—"broke the lock." He really didn't, but they didn't know that. And even still, they decided, for extra security, alarms on the locks were necessary.

Before I got out of my cage, I had the camera loop the footage from the last thirty minutes. Besides the counting, we made sure to stay silent so that the people wouldn't get suspicious. I mean, if you heard the people say the exact same things over and over, wouldn't you?

And then, once I was sure it was looping, I climbed out and moved over to begin bending Emily's bars. Then I did Shane's, and finally Ethan's. When they got out, I was surprised when Ethan stood up and stretched out to find that he was even taller than me. Which was the weirdest thing, because I was the tallest in my family.

But he was at least six inches taller. And it was a little intimidating, even if I knew I was stronger.

Holy hell.

He looked like he was about to punch me, and I would've just taken that. For Alex. But, he didn't. Instead, he held his fist out towards me and nodded at it, as if he wanted me to pound it.

And I did. With a grin, I turned and began heading towards the titanium door behind us. There was a key pad to open it without sounding the alarm, but if I did that, they would see that someone was opening it from the inside. So, instead, I simply bent the metal enough that there was a hole big enough for all of us to crawl out of.

As soon as Ethan got out, I shut it back. But, when I did, red alarms started flashing, and a loud siren began ringing in my ear. I didn't understand! How did that happen?

"We didn't trigger that!" Shane exclaimed quickly, shaking his head. "There's no fucking way! Look, we've gotta get out of here. Fast. Go, Seth! Lead the way, and get those damn doors out of our way! No more worrying about the alarms. We've gotta move!"

*Ari*

I didn't sleep that night, not that it really surprised me. I've gotten good at going of practically no sleep, and last night, that's exactly what I got. No sleep at all.

So, I had to wait for Sam to wake up. Of course, she told me I could've just woke her up, but as I stared at the massive, high security building—more so than any of the others had been—I began growing scared. On one hand, I wanted to hurry inside, but I was also too terrified to move. And I felt terrible for just standing there, prolonging the time it could mean to get my husband back.

Sam had already scouted the place out, figured out our entrance point. The doors were made of titanium, so there was no simply kicking it down—like we did at the first one.

This time, though, we had a little extra fire power. And I mean that literally. We each had different kind of ammo belts and sashes wrapped around us, a dagger strapped to our thighs in little holsters, and a 9mm on the other. Sam had two swords—the kind like ninjas use—on her back, and a Stoner63—a light weight machine gun. I had a HS-10, a shotgun; an AT-4, a grenade launcher; an AK-47 with an ACOG scope; and a Stoner63.

Oh! Of course. We can't forget the grenades in our little fanny pack type things.

We looked ready for war, especially with our combat boots, our short khaki shorts, and dirty camisoles. We didn't plan this. It just happened.

With a deep breath, I cocked the HS-10 and braced it in my other hand. "You ready, Sam?"

"I'm more worried about you," she snorted. "I'm locked and loaded."

I smirked and took a shot at the keypad to unlock the door. Like we knew it would, it set off the alarm system, but it also opened the door.

Stupid people. They just won't learn, will they?

We slipped in quickly, because the door also quickly shut back. There was a ten second window to get inside before it shut and locked back.

We had enough ammo to kill every person in here, except the one we were bound and determined to get out. There was no other option, no matter what Sam said. He had to be here, for my sanity's sake.

They had Erasers quick to respond, and we took them out with ease. Only ten.

There was never any reason to prepare for what Sam and I were bringing. Momma never dared to do such a thing. We snuck away and did it, because we can.

Seeing their guts and brains splatter everywhere was almost a thrilling sight, which was kinda sick. But, either way, I didn't mind being covered in their blood as we killed and shot our way through the building. Any worker we saw, we killed.

Then, we made the mistake of entering a massive room. It was empty, but there was a light at the far end that caught my attention, since the room was otherwise dark. Almost like a spotlight.

And I saw Jeb, giving me the creepiest grin I believe I've ever seen.

"Hello, Ari," he called loudly, and in that instant, Sam fell through a trap door in the floor that neither of us realized was there.

I quickly ran forward, in case I was next, but I quickly realized I wasn't.

He began walking towards me, and Erasers began filling the room. More than I could count. When I began fighting, they all ran past me and hurried into some bleachers.

Yes. Bleachers. I was in a fucking gymnasium.

This was the scariest thing I had ever done in my life, but I kept a steady lip as I glared at him. "Where is Seth?"

He chuckled darkly. "All in good time, my dear. I have a proposition for you. Come with me, let me fulfill my every desire…and you can have your husband back. Sam too."

"Go to hell!" I spat. "You're sick! I'll just get them both back myself!"

He shrugged and began to turn to leave. "Have it your way."

I changed from the HS-10 and pulled out my AK-47 so I could take him out. But, when I took a shot, it went right through him. And he flickered a little.

"My sweet girl," he chimed eerily, turning back towards me with a grin. "Did you really think I was stupid enough to put myself alone with you? I know your potential. I know you wouldn't hesitate for a second to kill me. That's why this is a mere hologram. Erasers, you know what to do."

As the hologram disappeared, the Erasers began rushing down. To grab me. And I was terrified.

I began shooting, throwing grenades—doing whatever I possibly could to kill them. It took out a good bit, but there were tons.

I snapped myself to the other side of the room, away from where the mob was, and I pulled out my Stoner63. When I did, I began unloading. I went through mags as fast as I possibly could, and when I ran out of ammo, I pulled out the AT-4.

Body parts were flying everywhere, and I was pretty sure I was bloody from head to toe. The floors were probably gonna be blood stained to, but I could care less about their damn floors. This place wasn't gonna be left standing, if I had anything to say about it.

And after using up all of its ammo, and loving the way the number of Erasers slimmed down to about ten, I pulled out my 9mm. But, they were surrounding me now.

One even managed to get behind me, and when he did, she smashed the back of my head with a crowbar. I fell down, because it's a fucking crowbar. You would too!

Not to mention Erasers are strong.

When I opened my eyes and looked up, the few Erasers left standing were all blurry and fuzzy. But they didn't hesitate to yank me up and handcuff me. These cuffs...they were electrocuting me. I couldn't think to do anything but what they said.

Actually, they practically drained all the energy I had. I fell to the ground, but they just dragged me along on my knees. The slick, waxed gym floor only rubbed them raw. When we got to the carpet, it began scraping away the skin. After long enough, it hurt bad enough that I was able to stand. But, then, walking hurt even worse.

Ugh. This is a mess.

Now, it was hard to separate my own blood from all those Erasers'. But whatever. Blood is blood. I'm still covered in it.

Even my hair, where it was normally blue, was stained red.

Wow.

I was surprised when the Erasers threw me on the ground, inside a small white room. There was a woman dressed in a white doctor's coat holding a clipboard. When she saw me, she was utterly stunned for a minute, but she quickly regained her composure.

"I see you did your job correctly," she murmured, probably writing my appearance on her clipboard. "That was much faster than eliminating all of those mistakes ourselves. Now, on to you. Is any of this your own?"

I didn't answer her, and that pissed her off. So much that she came over and slapped me.

"You can beat the hell out of me all you want!" I yelled fiercely at her before standing up and shoving her into the wall. "I'm not answering you! Where is my husband?"

My hands were around her neck before I realized it, and they were heating up. Rapidly. Erasers swarmed in to help her, but I snapped her neck before they could. Then, I commenced to kicking their asses by hand.

Until Jeb appeared in the doorway. His appearance surprised me enough that I froze, and they were able to grab me.

He walked up to me with devious, gleaming eyes—so proud, so lustful. At first, I hoped it was the hologram, but when he placed a cold, wrinkly hand on my jawbone, I realized that this was really him. The man I want dead. The man that was behind everything that had been going wrong lately.

"Fuck you," I spat in his face, enjoying the way he cringed a little before wiping it off.

"You're about to," he murmured, and I began feeling nauseous. In a completely different way than I have been these past month or so. "All in due time, dearest. First things first, Erasers? Remove her shirt, please."

They were quick to oblige, and even though I struggled and fought, they were able to rip it off. Not the bra, but if he hadn't stopped them, they would have.

"That's enough," he said simply. "Now, cuff her again, and follow behind me."

I couldn't understand what was happening, but when the electric shock was pulsing through my body, I didn't get to think anymore. It wasn't enough to kill me. Only enough to hurt me badly enough I couldn't think straight.

If this messes things up, they're gonna pay. Slowly and painfully.