Emerald03: I'm glad you enjoyed the Merovingian. He's the coolest character in Reloaded! Thank you for your opinions on what is being dubbed, 'The Quinn Question' and even though my decision is still not made, hopefully it will be the proper ending.
Alocin: That's my biggest problem with Quinn is that she's probably going to have to die, or just never be unplugged. Who knows. I'll try and make the ending balance the two out. (shrugs).
Protectress of Dalidon: I have to agree, Wraith is a dingbat. But I love him. I really do. I'm not sure if they unplug family. It would be a bit of a twist, just what happens to Quinn afterwards? Will she become the new 'Dawn' of the Matrix (refer to Buffy, when stupid Michelle Trachtenburg was added)?
THANK YOU PEOPLE SO MUCH!
Disclaimer: By now, you know that the characters all belong to the Wachowski's (besides Quinn, and Miranda).
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Chapter 7: This Pain is Just Too Real
Erica shook her head to clear it and lifted her limp neck upwards, looking out the windshield at the parking garage outside. She chewed on the stale gag in her mouth, trying to push it with her tongue but found it too tight. That bastard, she thought, pulling on her wrists again as she tried to free herself. She pounded herself against the seat, trying to break the bonds that held her. The eighteen year old groaned, biting down hard as she pulled her hand out from the ropes. The sweat and blood build-up allowed it to finally slip free. She grabbed the gag and ripped it from her mouth before frantically untying her legs and opened the door. Shakily, she rose, her stomach muscles sore from whatever Wraith had done to her before she fainted.
The door in front of the car was deserted, the two bodies of unconscious bouncers lying in front of it. As she approached she saw the exit wounds in their back, blood splattering the door itself. Erica rubbed her wrists, just as the door opened and Quinn ran out, nearly tackling into her sister. The young girl had a gun in her hands and nearly shot a hole between her sister's ears. Erica gaped as Quinn caught her breath.
"Quinn?" She demanded. Her younger sister lowered the weapon and caught her breath.
"There is no time to explain." The fourteen year old said, holding up a ring of keys. "Come on. We have to go. Now."
Erica didn't protest as the two bolted back to Wraith's car and both went for the driver's seat door. Quinn got in first, sliding herself in front of the wheel and starting the car.
"Get out of there Quinn."
"There's no time!" Her fourteen year old sister shouted. Erica suppressed the urge to snatch her bratty sister out of the driver's seat and throw her into the back, but as the door suddenly keeled from a gunshot, Erica changed her mind and hopped into the back seat. Her sister pounded the gas pedal and swerved outside the door as Wraith, Morpheus and a unknown woman exited. Wraith looked at Quinn in the seat of his car.
"Get out of there, kid." Quinn's eyes were stained with poison. Erica leaned into the front, prepared to shout something nasty at him, but was interrupted by Morpheus.
"This is not the time." He said, getting into the passenger seat. Wraith groaned, getting into the back with the woman and sat apart from Erica. She stuck her middle finger up at him. He sneered at her, just as Quinn shifted into drive and took off, her foot hitting the floor. She nearly hit several parked cars and heard Wraith gasp.
"Careful!"
Quinn grasped the gun she had tucked into the back of her pants and fired a adrenaline induced warning shot that narrowly missed the woman's head. Morpheus took the gun from her after that.
"Focus on the road." He commanded, and spitefully, Quinn pounded on the pedal, steering much better this time. Morpheus turned. "And Wraith. I will not miss." He seemed too sure of himself with those words, she thought. Erica watched as the wise captain turned back, Quinn driving faster and faster out of the parking garage the same way she had arrived. The blonde haired Australian sighed deeply, the woman's head held high as she glanced at him.
"What did you do to me?" Erica demanded. Wraith didn't reply, leaning his head into the window. The eighteen year old tapped him, causing his lightning fast reflexes to react with a tight grip on her wrist.
It was a chain reaction. The second he touched her Erica was up on her feet and punched him across the cheek. Quinn opened her eyes wide in the rear view mirror as her sister engaged in a private punching match with Wraith. Small interventions were made from the woman and Morpheus, until Erica was back in her seat and the two had guns trained upon them from the woman. The two glared at one another, blood moving down Erica's cheek from the bullet that had moved there not long ago. Morpheus glared at his crewmember, staring at him with cold and frozen eyes, warning him that if he and Erica tried again something horrible would happen.
Quinn changed lanes cautiously, still unsure of how to behave behind the wheel of the car. She was moving into the freeway, and was very closer to it. Morpheus shook his head.
"Move back." He said. Quinn glanced at him, changing back sloppily and nearly driving the car into another. There was honks as he explained himself. "There are too many people on the freeway. It's suicide." The fourteen year old was shaking, her teeth chattering. Erica watched her, dressed in darkness, watching the road. Her eyes were moving frantically as she tried to figure out where to go. Morpheus pointed at the exit off the highway and Quinn swerved clumsily, moving into it unscathed.
"God damn it!" Wraith shouted. "You're going to kill us." Quinn bit her lips together and tightened her fingers on the wheel, stomping on the brake so hard the air bags came out and threw the whole car forward. She grabbed the keys from the ignition and got out of the car.
"Crap." Erica said, opening her door and running after Quinn. Wraith received another look from Morpheus as Quinn traipsed off the road and onto the nearby property.
"Quinn!" Erica shouted loudly. Her sister ignored her. "Quinn stop!" The fourteen year old turned, at a loss for words. The eighteen year old held out her hands. "Look, if you're not coming then give me the keys." Quinn did nothing. Erica got angrier and drew closer. "Give me the god damn keys!"
The fourteen year old threw them over her sister and the car, where they landed softly in the grass. Erica gaped, watching their means of escape disappear. Quinn turned again, walking away. The older of the two grabbed the younger one.
"You bitch!" Erica said loudly, flipping her sister around. Quinn's lips pursed in anger as she pulled away. "You selfish bitch! Why the fuck would you do that, huh?! Huh?" Her younger sister pulled away, Erica staring at her in disbelief. Quinn's eyes were twitching and she bit her tongue, stopping her tears.
Neither of them had anything to say. The car behind them came back to life thanks to a quick move from Wraith, who had hot wired the car quickly. He opened the window.
"Anyone who's coming, better come now." He said loudly. Morpheus looked at the two, begging Erica to come. The older of the two strayed backwards, while Quinn stood on the side of the road. She turned away, moving in the opposite direction. Erica left herself on the side of the road. She moved back to the car as Trinity.
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Trinity was curled up on the floor, looking across the metal grate with sadness in her eyes. She didn't know how long she had been crying. She had no idea how long she had simply just laid there and stared off into nothing, waiting for her strength to come back and allow her to get back to her normal life. She pushed herself weakly back to her small bed and leaned on the edge, feeling almost nauseous again. Slowly, she breathed deeply, calming her nerves and allowing her to crawl back onto the bed without vomiting. She lay back on her pillows.
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Erica had only attempted suicide once, when she was sixteen. The beauty of the blade she had chosen for the deed astounded her momentarily, making her hesitate before slashing her flesh. The blood ran around the blade, dripping onto her hardwood floor and down her shirt as she slashed the other wrist. The serrated edge of the knife was covered in small pieces of skin and stained in her red blood.
She lay back on the floor, feeling her eyes close as the puddles of blood around her grew under her arms. It felt beautiful. Almost like a drug, but so much that she did not want to turn back. She was enjoying the surrender, the bliss of it, listening to the stairs creak. Her blue-grey eyes slid closed, and all she could hear was her heart thumping.
Thump, thump…
The sound of her door opening slowly, and cautious footsteps across the floor.
Thump, thump…
The flash of a camera, the hiss of the Polaroid as it fell from the camera to the ground.
Thump…
The sound of another picture.
Thump…
The sound of the phone…
Thump…
The sound of the door closing again.
Thu…
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Trinity snapped awake again and sat up immediately, grasping her chest tightly as the sounds of her own heart echoed in her ears. She took in a shaking breath, trying hard to calm herself as the whole dream shocked her to the bone.
It wasn't real. It was just the Matrix telling your mind that it was real. None of it really happened.
The warrior lay back again, taking in a deep breath and shivered lightly as she sat up once more. She grabbed her sweater off the floor, pulling it on over her bare skin and rubbed her arms with her hands. Sitting there, on her bed with her head in her hands gave her little comfort, especially with the worsening dreams. All she could see was that blood, her sister's vivid eyes in the air, flashing pictures and capturing the moments of her sister's death with a huge fascination. And then when she left her there on the road, prepared to walk off without looking back. Everything was like it was happening to her again and again, like the knife that had cut her wrists just kept cutting.
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The woman had called herself Winter, and they said nothing else on the matter while Morpheus made arrangements with the 'operator' on the phone. Trinity didn't feel like looking back, but the nagging sound of Erica forced her to see the silhouette of her sister shrinking into the distance. The captain had arranged for a taxi, wanting to apologize, but said they had no time to lose.
Wraith was driving again, glancing back at Trinity anxiously as if she were about to explode. She glared at him.
"What?" She asked, demanded rather. Wraith glanced back once more. Morpheus shot him a glance for him to relax. Trinity waited for a reply. None came. "What?" She demanded a little more sharply. The driver looked back at the road.
"All your life you have feared a system, Trinity." Morpheus said, holding the gun. "As long as anyone is connected to that system, they are an enemy." He made a special look at Quinn. Trinity found herself staring at the disappeared silhouette.
"Who were those men?" She asked.
"Sentient programs." Winter said. "Believe me it makes a hell of a lot more sense after the red pill." Trinity looked back at Morpheus, who took out the pills once more.
"Once again. There is no turning back after this moment."
Trinity reached forward and took the red pill without hesitation. She glanced once more over her shoulder, and Wraith pulled into a deserted road. Small smiles came on the faces of everyone in the car as she swallowed hard. The pill tasted like tin foil.
"Follow me." He said as the car came to stop.
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Thump, thump….thump, thump…
The mirror was coming back together, creating a solid face instead of a cracked one. It moved up her fingers, coating her in a silvery colour of the mirror.
Thump, thump…
"You're convinced that this world is a dream world…" His voice. It threaded through her consciousness as she blinked against the unforgiving fluid surrounding her body.
Thump, thump…
"It's time to wake up, Trinity."
"Wake up with me, Erica." Quinn's whispering. Somewhere, far off now in her memory. Trinity reached upward, the dim lights peeking through the gel she was suspended in. She finally got upward, breaking through the curdled top and broke free, trying to breathe in.
She was suffocating. She couldn't breathe.
She frantically grabbed her mouth, yanking the tube out of her mouth so harshly it cut her lips and throat. Trinity gagged, vomiting up basically nothing down the edge of the pod besides bile. She blinked. What she saw couldn't be true.
Her heart rate peaked, pounding under her chest in a hum instead of distinct pounds. There were millions of pods over millions of columns of darkness. She stared off, breathing heavily as she leaned over the pod lifelessly. Everything was shaking. She hugged herself slowly, mesmerized by the red lit pods and machines floating around her.
Something was running from her arm. She could follow it with her fingers. Trinity was certain she fainted when she caught sight of it.
The tubes. Each connected to her body. Over her arms, down her back, in her legs. Her head fell back, causing a build up of tubes to make her reach for her head in pain. The socket on the back of her scalp alarmed her under her fingers. She didn't have any hair. Just a massive, metallic tube that move between her fingers.
Trinity fell back in the pod and nearly drowned. She gasped on the gel, choking and finally bringing herself back to the edge of the pod. A red eye stared at her, attached to a spider-like machine that recorded her movement. There was a snap as it grabbed her throat and tightened.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.
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I will include:
1) What happened when the Merovingian and Morpheus 'talked'.
2) How Quinn became armed and not-so-dangerous.
Cool Matrix Fact: The room 303 was used twice in the movie-once at the beginning when Trinity was in the room and kicking ass with the cops, and it is also the Oracle's apartment number.