When All Was Lost...
Chapter Twenty
20
Awakening
I awoke once more to the sound of buzzing and beeping machines. I moved my eyes slowly around the room. This room where Sayer did his frequent brainwashings to keep us in check.
I'm back...
And I remember everything.
Yusei...Jack...Kalin...Crow...
I remember everyone.
We fought together, side by side for Satellite...
Yusei, Crow, Jack and I...
We grew up together.
And now...something bigger is coming to threaten us.
I don't know what yet...but I can't stay here any longer...!
"Ah, Sayer! The subject is awake again!" said Seria.
"We will need a more powerful regiment of brainwashing if we are to keep her under our control." said Sayer," In order to strengthen her resistance when coming into contact with those who knew her well in her past like close friends..."
"...Over my dead body!"
"What!?" Sayer gasped darting his attention back to me. My eyes were sharp and ready.
"I'm awake now Sayer...and I know everything. Which means bad news for you."
"What is this!?" said Sayer as he struggled to punch in the keys,"The effect is wearing off!?"
"Looks like it~" I smirked and forced myself up slowly. the systems all seemed to be going haywire I rose and struggled my way against the machine.
"Speed up the process, Seria!" Sayer snapped,"If she breaks free things could get really messy!" he said," Increase the output! Whatever it takes to make sure the process can never be reversed!"
"But sir- the subject's life signs are still weak-"
I let out struggling grunts as I fought against the magnetic weight that tried to keep me down.
"Does that look like she's too weak to you!?" he snapped,"To a certain extent, I am not worried about the danger."
"She's already lost consciousness once!" snapped Seria,"Her life readings on the monitor state that if we press on, she could very well die, I am stopping the brainwashing!"
"No!" Sayer grunted,"With this kind of incomplete brainwashing, who knows when it will be reversed!"
"Too late~" I beamed bringing his attention back to me only to have him be met with my foot against the glass, shattering it to pieces.
"Ahhh!" he screamed and covered his eyes for protection from the shattered glass.
Now's my chance!
I thought this to myself and made off like a bullet to my great escape.
"Weak, she may be, but reckless if anything!" Sayer growled. "Don't just stand there, Seria make arrangements for her capture! NOW!"
"Yes sir!"
"Man, running through these halls is worse than when I had to make my way through the impound center to try and find the card vault!" I muttered to myself,"Each door is repeated...it's as if this hall way just never ends!"
I managed to finally find my way back to my room.
"Quickly now...gotta move quickly." I muttered and began sifting through the drawers of the provided dresser.
"Bingo." I found my old clothes. And my precious deck of the undead. Foolish of them to leave them with me...I guess they felt really confident about their plan and my capture that they thought they didn't have to worry. I quickly changed into my old Enforcers uniform.
It seemed to fit a little tighter than before...
I took a glance in the reflective glass and noticed that my hair also got longer...
"I wonder how long I have been here..." I aksed, twirling a strand with my finger," Have I gained weight? Would Crow even recognize me anymore...?"
Would Crow even be there...?
I didn't have time to hold doubts. The alarm sounded quickly and I knew that meant they were coming after me...I had to make tracks. I quickly clipped my deck holster onto my thigh and gave it a pat.
"Welcome home to mommy, my precious zombie babies."
These cards were my brother's last gift to me before he got taken away...I'd never leave home without them.
Speaking of home...I needed to move quickly if I had any hope of making it back there again...
"Heeeeeeeey! Let me out!" a familiar voice sounded from the cell next door and I saw through the glass between our rooms.
"Hey...That's...Carly, isn't it?" I moved to the window and got a closer look.
"Please let me out! if I don't get my story in the editor in chief will have my skin!" she sighed,"I've just gotta get that exclusive on Jack Atlas before the Fortune Cup starts!"
Fortune Cup? What's that? Was that what Sayer wanted me to investigate before?
My body twitched as she said his name.
...Jack...
I had a feeling deep inside...that whatever was coming was coming for him too. He might be in danger... and it might just be tied to this "Fortune Cup" in the plannings...
But I couldn't leave that reporter here. Even if she was a pest.
I quickly darted out and began to work my magic on her door.
"Huh? is someone picking the lock?"
"Yeah, growing up in Satellite taught me a thing or two..." I said to her as the cell door began sliding open.
"Huh!? Hey!" she gasped as she pointed at me,"Y-You look familiar...weren't you at the event hall?"
"Yeah I was..." I said softly," But not for a pic nic."
"I knew it! It's you! But why was an Arcadia Movement Duelist thrown into a cell?"
"I'm not an Arcadia Movement Duelist." I said to her,"Not anymore...right now, I'm on the top of Arcadia's most wanted and unless you wanna get caught all over again, I suggest not sticking around." I grinned.
"O-Oh, Right...g-good idea."
"This way, hurry and capture her!"
"Oops here they come~" I grinned,"Get runnin' Carly! I'll hold'em off for as long as I can!"
"Y-Yeah you got it!" she said to me,"Thanks a million!"
Not long after I let Carly get a lead on my escape route, I was soon greeted by Arcadia Guard Dogs...
"Crap, this isn't good...if I get sucked into a duel with them I might not make it out..." I quickly ducked for cover behind the statues and tried to think.
Despite the energy I seemed to portray in my run away, Seria was absolutely right. I was weak. Breathing was hard and unsteady, and my body was aching, in fact moving hurt but I knew I had to or it might be the end of me. I sighed getting a read on my surrounding area. Whatever happened...I had to ensure I didn't get sucked into a psychic duel...in my current state...I would never survive I leaned back against the stature I hid behind I noticed it was a bit wobbly.
"Hmm...I might be able to use that..." I said softly, peeking around to see the Guard's position.
"Got it...if I knock this over...I'll create a ruckus, during that window of distraction, I can take my chance to give'em the slip." I blinked,"Well...here goes...something." I said and began kicking the statue to make a lot of noise until it fell over.
"The intruder!" I heard the guard cry and I quickly ducked for cover, as he huddled over, thinking he caught me, I gave him a jump and used him as a stepping stool to get ahead.
I made it all the way to the elevator.
"A Card key? Crap!" I muttered and began tinkering with the control panel. "Crow's skills in forming false keys would surely come in handy right now." I grumbled, wincing. I could feel my body start to shake, "No...not yet...don't quit on me now!" I groaned and pushed through it, "Good thing Yusei and Crow know a thing or two about this type of thing..." I said to myself,"I can't wait to tell Crow I escaped using tricks he taught me." I chuckled when the door open and I dipped inside.
That is...
If I ever get to see him again...
"Well well well..." A hand stopped the elevator door from closing and Sayer managed to force it back open with his strength," I came to trap a mouse only to find that she is more clever than I anticipated..." he chuckled," You almost got away too..."
"Bold of you to think I won't" I snapped and took a step back against the wall.
"My... quite snippy, aren't we?" Sayer chuckled,"You should know that escape is can't get to the exit without this elevator and I seem to be blocking your way...what will you do?"
He was right.
No matter how you looked at it...I was trapped. I quickly darted my eyes around, analyzing the area.
Left.
Right.
Down... Hmm...
The elevator was had space between him and both sides of the were no stairs but we were on a higher floor...which means there's...
I gasped.
"A balcony..."
"What? What are you whispering about, little mouse?"
My eyes fixated on the balcony ahead, my only road block, being Sayer himself.
There were no stairs...but that didn't mean there wasn't more than one way to go down. He probably had guards only on the upper floors, since I couldn't escape to the exit he would have built a wall so that there was no way I possibly could getdown there. If I tried, I would be taken out before I even made it to the bottom floor...which means...he had no one on the bottom floor...because they were all scrambling around up here to catch me.
I smirked.
"What's so funny, little mouse?" Sayer gruffed and I shot my amber eyes sharply at him.
"Catch!" I said quickly tossing my vest at him in full force. Leather was tight anyway if it didn't fit right. I would miss it, but I can;t risk anything holding back my mobility for this next move.
"What!?" he cried out as he reached his hands to guard against the brown mass that distracted him, allowing me to duck and roll between his legs, causing him to fall as I went and leapt to the balcony railing.
"What are you doing!?" he called out,"Don't be reckless!"
"Reckless..." I laughed,"I've been called that once or twice~" I flashed him a grin before taking the leap of faith below.
"NO!" he tried to reach out for me but didn't manage to scramble up in time. This was a risky move, but I had faith that I would make the landing, albeit not without a few bruises.
Just had to tuck and roll and then...I was gone.
"DAMMIT! " Sayer cried,"She got away...this isn't the end, Akarii!"
"Sayer!?" Akiza called to him,"Sayer what happened, I can't find Akarii."
"Hmph...Akarii is no longer with us." said Sayer.
"What!?" Akiza gasped,"What do you mean!?"
"She betrayed the movement, Akaiza..." said Sayer," And you know what we do with traitors..."
Akiza felt her heart stop. She was shaken...a person, who she thought of as a friend...why would she ever want to escape the Movement...?
Akiza narrowed her eyes and sighed sadly, mourning the loss of her friend for the moment before changing her face.
"Yes Sayer..." she said firmly,"I understand."
To Be Continued