Part 3: A Small Secret
Chapter 21
Click.
I woke up tied to a chair. Wait, what was that click? I checked my surroundings. A pitch black room. I wonder where Doug and Sunny are. Last thing I remember is fainting on the floor from my injuries after Francis beat me. Doug and Sunny were knocked out.
I clenched my pods as I remembered how they had beat me, how Francis had taunted me. Peas Jr.? No. I won't live in the shadow of my father. Not now, not ever. At least Sunny understood, I think.
I started to rock back and forth, eventually tipping over the chair. Using my chin, I inched forward slowly. I have no idea where I'm going, but-
But you need to stay put. Stay here. You have to wait. Something you don't do often, I might add.
What the heck? A voice in my head, have I gone insane? No, I might've been drugged, or-
Shut up and let me help you. Stay put. Name's Alex.
Uh, what?
How can you be so clueless? I expected more from a seasoned leader.
Why are you in my head, "Alex"?
I'm the book. Or, at least, a spirit inside the book that helps with it's enchantment. And since it's your turn…
Ok, then. I'm going to pretend you don't exist, so I don't look crazy. Is that ok with you?
Fine. I'll be here if you need me. Oh, and don't go any further.
Uh, why?
I found out for myself, as a door seemed to materialize out of thin air and miss me by an inch. Dr. Francis stood there, interested in me, probably because I was going to escape.
"Hello, Peas Jr."
"Hello, psychopathic maniac."
Francis laughed and picked me up. Smiling, he went level with my face.
"You and I are going to have some fun."
I doubt it…
Francis dragged me and the chair out of the room and down the hall. The walls, floor and ceiling were all concrete. The lighting was dim. Eventually, Francis and I reached a door, which he opened and dragged me in. The room was large, but mostly taken up by a machine. Francis set me next to it. The smell of oil was overwhelming.
"This is the torture chamber. I've improved it since we last met."
"When, before I got knocked out?"
"Yes and no."
He laughed and showed me a notebook. A crude drawing of a peashooter convulsing was on the page.
"I tried to maximize pain without making you unconscious or killing you. After all, you're the most useful plant here."
What? Useful? What's he planning?
"So I decided to let you live. But, not without a small price. Both your friends stay here. Their lives for yours. Or, all three of you die."
I thought about that. Maybe I could trick him. Eventually I thought of a plan.
"How about this, Francis? My life for theirs."
He was unimpressed, as I thought he might be. I just hope this works. What if it doesn't? What if he just kills me and tortures my friends?
"Well?" I asked, a little uncertainly.
"Well, fine."
Yes! Now all I have to do is confuse him. But before I could do that…
"Actually, no. I'll send you with an escort back to Suburbia and kill your friends. How does that sound?"
Not good. Not good at all.