Chapter 4: Capture

Ben's POV

I went to the cafeteria. I thought she might be busy preparing lunch thus didn't come to greet us earlier. I saw the ladies busy cooking with big pots of steaming porridge, soups, and veggie but there is no sign of Kym. I saw Julie at the far end. She must have some ideas since both of them are great friends.

'Hi Julie. Did you see Kym?' I asked casually. She gave me a smiled and shook her head.

'She went to visit Lisa in the hospital a while ago,' she replied and then continued stirring the pot in front of her. That was strange. When I met Lourdes earlier, she didn't mention about seeing Kym in the hospital. I left the cafeteria and went to the building where we used as hospital for patients.

I looked through row of beds with patients but there were still no sign of Kym. One of Dr. Glass' assistant walked by and I stopped her.

'Sorry, did you see Kym?'

'She was here an hour ago to visit Lisa but she has already left', the lady replied. That's strange. Kym isn't in the kitchen and neither is she here. Where did she go? I was curious. That's very unlike her.

I passed by Denny, Hal, Maggie and Anthony in the hallway after I have searched several places that I thought I might find her.

'Hey Benji, looking for your girlfriend?' Denni taking the opportunity to tease me again. But I wasn't in the mood to respond. I just wanted to know if they have seen Kym anywhere.

'Did anyone of you saw Kym?' I asked. They all looked at each other and then shook their heads.

'Why? Your girlfriend is missing?' Denny teased again.

'She is not anywhere here. I have checked several places already and…', before I could finish, I heard the siren sounded. We took off as fast as we could. I will search for Kym later but somehow I don't have a very good feeling.

By the time we reached the front of our camp, we could hear Weaver and dad barking orders for the people of 2nd Mass to take cover. A few feet from us we saw mechs and skitters surrounding our camp. There wasn't any fighting…yet. All the fighters took our positions and aim our weapons at them. Standing in the middle was none other than Karen. I can't help but think how we had lost her to the Overlord. She was in the mission with Hal to rescue me but she got captured instead. But I don't have time to dwell on that. My focus now is like anyone in 2nd Mass, preparing to fight and protect each other.

'Hi Weaver. Hi Tom. We meet again', Karen's voice sounded so proud and assured.

'What do you want?' dad shouted across.

'I am here to strike a deal with you', she said as a smile appeared.

'What kind of deal?' dad asked, his voice hard. I can't blame him. Karen has tricked us numerous times in the past. She was the reason dad was missing for three months without any news.

'I want to form an alliance with you. I know we both do not agree on many things but I am sure you will consider it this time.' Just then a skitters came from her behind holding on to something or someone. My eyes grew big as I recognized the person was Kym.

'KYM?' my voice was barely audible and I started to charge forward when Hal and Maggie pulled me back. From afar Kym appeared weak and there were some blood on her face.

'This is just a warning Tom Mason. Think about the deal if you do not want anyone to get hurt.' With that she turned and left followed by the mechs and skitters. Kym's body was sprawled on the ground.

Dad, Hal, Colonel Weaver, Maggie, myself and a few others ran towards her with me reaching her first. Anger shot up in me when I saw Kym's battered body lying motionless on the ground. When I lifted her up she was barely breathing. I prayed silently that she would be fine.

'Go get Anne!' I shouted as we all ran back to our camp. The rest of it was a blur to me. All I remembered was I carried her to the hospital and Anne refused to let me in. Dad and Hal had to drag me away. I was just so distraught. How could Karen did this to her. She must have been so frightened and in pain.

'Ben, calm down,' dad said and gave me a squeeze on the shoulder.

'Who do you think she is? She thinks she could just go and hurt anyone she likes? Kym…Kym…is she going to make….,' my voice trailed off and I slumped into the chair just outside of the operation room where Anne, Lourdes and a bunch of the assistance were trying to save Kym.

Dad looked at Hal, Maggie and Denni with such sorrow. Weaver who was standing at the corner with Miss Peralta looked defeated. We never thought Karen would have the nerve to kidnap one of us with the volm forming alliances with us. I should have taught Kym how to fight to protect herself. Why didn't I?

'Tom we need to talk,' Weaver said. Dad nodded.

'Hal, take care of your brother,' he told Hal. He gave me another pat on the shoulder before walking away with Weaver and Miss Peralta.

'Ben, Kym is going to be ok,' Hal comforted me and sat down next to me. Maggie and Denny were exchanging glances.

After Jimmy's death, I told myself that I will not let anyone whom I care about die or suffer. I can't even keep this promise.

'Ben, she will make it. Kym is a strong person,' Denny affirmed me. I prayed silently that she would be but I can't help feeling worried, anxious and angry.

Kym's POV

I drifted in and out of consciousness. I saw people moving around me but I couldn't make up their faces or their voices. I felt weak all over my body. I was in pain too. My memory came and gone. I remembered bits and pieces of it.

[Flashback]

After visiting Lisa, a 12-year-old girl whom I have gotten to know earlier, I went back to the kitchen. It's almost time for lunch. The crowds will be streaming in soon. The ladies need all the help that they needed. But as I was walking back to the cafeteria which was in another building, I heard a faint sound, like a child in distress. I followed the sound and it seemed it came from not far from the kitchen. As I looked behind the building, I saw a young girl in fetal position, moaning in pain with her back leaning on the wall. My immediate reaction was to see if she was hurt. I crouched down and extended my hand and as I did that, the girl jumped on me. She overpowers me and I was surprised by her strength. She looked barely 10 yet she exudes such strength. I tried to fend her off but in no avail. In the midst of our struggle, I saw the glowing harness on her back. Right at the moment I heard a wicked laugh and immediately my heart sank. It was Karen.

She took me away and held me captive. She kicked, punched and shoved me to the ground several times and that knocked me out. When I regained consciousness, she repeated.

'Tom Mason thinks he could win this war but he was wrong. The 2nd Mass was wrong. He will never win this war even with the volm,' Karen kept saying in between kicks and punches. My head felt dizzy. 'He will eventually form the alliance with me. He will not let anyone in 2nd Mass suffers what you are suffering now. This is just a warning. Next time, it will be worst!'

'Stop it Karen. Even if I die, the 2nd Mass will not form alliance with you,' I said through gritted teeth. She delivered another punch to my face and darkness overcame me.