Chapter 10

Live and Die

Jake awoke from his deep sleep and to his surprise he was laying on a soft bed made of silk with a high gloss table of fine wine and two glasses sitting on top of it. Jake looked down at his wrists and ankles which were unchained... how could this be also realizing he was naked too. Then when he barely moved his head up to get up a glimpse of sunlight blinded him for a short period of time.

He looked over toward the direction of the light still blinded by the it but then once his eyes adjusted he saw a young naked women out on the balcony, leaning on the edge looking out at the desert landscape. He wondered who this women was and how the hell he ended up in a desert but as she turned around... it was Natalie... she smiled at him as if there was no care in the world and that everything was alright "We'll always be together." Something about that didn't sound right...

As soon as he was about to say something he could see a ray of blue light come down from the sky a hit the ground then the ray of light disappeared and a few second later a shock wave came and shook the whole environment and the build they were in following with a big burning and blinding flash. In front of him he could still see Natalie who's skin was melting and tearing away. "For ever... and ever..."

He jump out from sleep shocked and relived that it was just a dream but soon new problems began arose. Everything was shackled from his ankles, to wrists, and even his neck. The Cell he was in wasn't pleasing either with no windows or and not even a bed just the old fashion hard concrete floor... definitely no wine to be seen... "So you have finally waken from your dreams..." Jake looked up to see the 2nd Apprentice standing in his cell in front of him. Jake screamed in fury charging toward him with all his might towards A2 but the chains held him back. "You filthy bastard where are my friends!" "Oh shush shush chosen one their just fine..." Jake clenched his fists in anger staring into the eyes of the mad man.

"I know who you are... in fact I know your brother very well too." "Yea I know you did and I know that you also mercilessly killed all those soldiers too!" Usually that would've made any mindless blood thirsty apprentice scream of laughter but he stood there with out the intention of doing so. "Just like your side does to ours... its a little game mankind has and stills plays up till this day called war, I find no pleasure in it and I find no meaning in it I just do as told." That's all these apprentices were good for anyway.. that's what their purpose was and why they were created. "How bout your little prisoner camps then? What about all those men and women who end up digging up their own graves!" The apprentice had a look of disgust on his face from the thought of it. "That was from their own amusement and thoughts of what had to be done there but indeed wasn't what we wanted and we punished the survivors left from the mess of your escape and riot."

Knowing the french they killed every single one of them... wonder how they told their families what happened even though most of them deserved it for killing all the Brits and Americans mercilessly. But why was he here what did he want other than the fact that he was considered the chosen one. "Whats is it that you seek?" The apprentice finally showed a bit of emotion by barely winking a grin "Its not me who seeks anything from you... but from within all of us we seek many things..." What the hell was he talking about... probably just playing with his mind that's what all these apprentices always try to accomplish. "I sense you are trying to resist something am I of bother?" He asked politely. What the hell kind of little chat was this! "No but seriously what do you want and why are not you torturing me ain't that what you French bastards usually do... use force and ruin peoples lives until you get what you want..." "Why do you keep thinking I want something from you? It is not I who wants anything from you but I would like to talk to you, we'll dine and feast on many good foods later... fare well."

Somethings going on but Jake definitely wasn't going to take a bite out of anything. Knowing them they probably drugged it or poisoned it especially during the time of war... and he was a prisoner...

A2 walked out of the cell and could hear his steps echoing down the hall then a door slamming shut. The chained up SH sat in his cell alone wondering what had happened to him and what became of Ron and Tom, as he stared down at the shackles around his wrists and ankles he knew he must had not been in a highly secure prison. They were rusty and made of iron also looked like they would be up in a museum but they weighed a ton. The the next thing he had to check was weather the little tiny black earpiece was still in his ear. He barely manged to lift one of his shackled arms up to his ear to non surprisingly realize the earpiece was no longer in his ear. With an angry sigh he let the heavy shackle

bring his wrist to the ground with a loud thud that echoed through the hallway,

Then far off into the distance from out side his cell he could hearing chanting which sounded like a religious choir. And soon enough he realized they were singing in French, he couldn't have been in Germany where they kept the prisoners of war. Then from outside his cell he saw a cross with Jesus on it hanging on the wall. Was he in a church? Then the whole building was sounded by nothing but bells. The rhythm of the bells were so familiar... they were at the Notre Dame. What in gods name were they doing here... Who knows but the Apprentices definitely had no beliefs, they didn't even have a mind of their own. Once turned into an apprentice your mind is permanently rewired to follow and only follow the masters orders and needs.

He knew Ron or Tom wasn't around because he couldn't sense their presence anywhere within the cathedral. The only sort of presence he could sense was A2's which almost seemed to overwhelm him like the strong scent of perfume. But in a way it felt familiar like this wasn't the only time he had encountered him before or had been near but if he had been near he would of surely been aware of him and chase him and his friends around the city like rats in a cage. Very funny to say that because in a way that's what had been going on at this very moment... that is if his friends made it out of the catacombs but he was sure they made it out. Francis would make sure of it and he was sure his beloved Natalie was just fine along with the pretty little girl Olga. Hard to believe such a little innocent thing would be the key to a weapon that could kill millions. There was no way in hell they'd ever lose her to the French either.

Jake had probably been sitting in this old dusty cell for hours. The sky had turned from day into night... he could tell from the window with moonlight pouring through. The only person he had seen this whole time while in this cell was a robed figure most likely a man come by and light the torches once the the sun had set. This Cathedral was very old fashion or the area within this holy place must had been not been updated for awhile. Their had also been a storm that began not too long ago cause he could hear the rain hit and drizzle from outside of the walls in the back of his cell. The atmosphere in the cell also grew a little damp. Meaning the wall must not be that thick which could be busted through with his superficial strength but the shackles that had been put on his two wrists kept him from activating SH abilities.

Overtime he had discovered that instead of iron they were made of pure steel. Atleast three inches thick of it wrapped around his wrists completely weighing them down and almost impossible to even hold them up for a lousy few minutes.

Finally he heard the same doors that A2 exited out of creak back open as the sound of his steps clapped on the hard floor toward his cell. In a matter of moments the 2nd apprentice stood in front of his old fashion cell with two guards side by side both wearing protective padded suits covering them head to toe.

"Release him..." The apprentice ordered. Ha how typical... let your guards do all the work. The barred gate was unlocked by the prison guards. One walked in with the keys the other with a fully automatic weapon. He aimed it right at him then said in rough English "You try anything stupid I will shoot you like a dog."

As the guard walked up with the keys to his shackles Jake noticed the guards hand was shaking. Haha he couldn't resist... he wait till he hand the key close to his shackles then jerked toward the guard to frighten him. The guard jumped back pleading for his life then soon realized nothing happened, the other one with the gun shook his head then again warned him. "Nothing stupid" now he noticed the barrel of his rifle was shaking a little. Ha I never thought I'd see the French shaking in their boots like this.

After a few clicks of the key removing the secured chains off from his shackles all that remained was the heavy steel that still held his wrists down but could now walk outside the cell. "Bring him with me to the dining quarters" He walked off with both the guards handling him from behind walking down the hall to the double doors that laid ahead. I guess that's where its at?

Once they were standing in front of the door one of the guards walked to the doors and opened them. As he walked in he examined the room. Like the apprentice said before there was a table with literally a whole feast laying on it with all sorts of dishes and beverages. He wasn't going to eat or drink anything

but even if he was some how tricked he could even lift the pounds of weight that still held his hands down.

"Gentlemen this will be a private dinner can you please remove the shackles on this one." Both the guards grip on his arms tightened in shock when he gave out the order even Jake himself was dumb founded when he gave out the order "Sir... are you.." But the guards stopped reasoning when the apprentice glared back at them with his glowing red eyes. They both nervously unlocked the shackles arm his wrists, both dropping the key at times then finally they gently removed it from his wrists,Jake decided not to do anything 'Funny as they described it. He wanted to know what A2 wanted.

After the guards departed from the room closing the door behind them A2 motioned him to his seat. He first hesitated to do so but he played along and sat down at the table keeping his eyes at the apprentice the whole time.

He sat down like it was a regular dinner, took the cloth from the table and put it over his lap then began to dig into the food on the table. It was awkward sitting across the enemy like this... usually they were pointing a gun at him. Jake still haven't touched any of his food he wouldn't even dare take a bite.

Then that's when A2 looked up from his plate with puzzled look "Why wont you eat? Does something worry you?"

That was all it took for Jake to snap before he knew it his anger boiled beyond the point of going back, he stood right up leaning the table and yelled right at him. "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT? YOU FRENCH NEVER TREAT THE ENEMY LIKE THIS! I..." Jake stopped yelling at him when he realized that A2 didn't even glance at him instead he began to eat again.

At first it overwhelmed Jake that all this thing did was continue to eat while a normal apprentice would've flipped his world upside down but soon it began to piss him off even more as A2 took another bite... then another... then another. That's when Jake made the big mistake of... CLASH! A2's plate soared off the table and fell to the floor shattering all over the place which made quite a mess. Before Jake could move a muscle A2 placed a hand on his own then pulled him down onto the table with all the food on it.

In the stance they were in A2 could have easily broke or torn his arm off but instead he said "Look into my eyes..." Why? He questioned himself in his thoughts but eventually did as told. Jake glanced up to the mans face who put him in the dangerous stance but instead of the red glowing eyes he had regular human eyes. They were blue like... like "I can read your thoughts right now your wondering how they got this way, well that's a long story" after that the grip on his arm loosened up then he let go.

"Sit back down I have to talk to you cause I don't have much time" His tone of voice even changed he sounded kinda... vulnerable but he didn't know where that vibe came from. He brushed off the bits of food off his shirt leaving the tough stains remaining but ignored them and sat down.

He looked into the eyes of the man who sat across him awaiting to hear what he had to say then "Jake my real name his Johnathan Mc Archer, I am you and your brothers father." Before Jake jumped out of his chair to shout an insult he sat and examined him, the look in his eyes told him all... he could tell this man who said he was his father could possibly be the same man and that the statement he handed to him was hard for him to spit out as well so he gave him a chance and let him continue.

"I know that may be hard to grasp at a moment like this in fact that the one you were trained to kill is in me at this very moment fighting to take back control of me at this very moment that is why I don't have much time to explain so take these words in and well and don't forget." Then came the expected question "Why should I believe you." The man opened his mouth about to speak but grasped his chest like he had a heart attack then trembled out the words "I loved your mother Kate and I still do... I love you and your brother as well and it pains me up to this day that I never got to be with you two while you grew up..." He again wrenched in pain but this time holding down his arm. His hand moved around uncontrollably like it wasn't his own.

This man who he could now call his father was speaking the truth, he could sense it... he could feel it that explained why he knew the feeling of his presence so well... but he couldn't stop and think to deep into it now cause he knew that he didn't have much time left to get the words out.

After taking back control of his arm he trembled the words "I'm sorry I can't speak those matters clearly at the moment but I have to tell you this right now... your other two friends which had been captured are down three floors being held in another cell." "How bout the others?" He moaned from the pain leaning over like he had a stomach ache "They were never reported captured so they may be safe but that is unknown... but you have to go now and leave, here take this." His father pointed over to a folded guard uniform. Jake rushed over grabbing the clothes and putting them on. "Disguise as one of them and bust your friends out, you'll have to find the keys which should be close nearby... now go I'll make it look like you attempted to escape so you can slip past them easier NOW GO!"

With the uniform on he walked to the door but before leaving he turned around to his father who was gripping a chair ready to throw it at one of the windows and said "Good luck out there" His father who had one blue and one red one smiled and managed to say "You too"

As Jake walked out of the room into the empty quiet hall he could hear the glass in the other room shatter then heard the screams of his father, it was dead silent for a while then "How dare you interrupt me like that John... wait wheres the prisoner?" As soon as he heard that he ran down the hall to the door at the other end.

So he never died years ago... it was a good thing but his body wasn't really his at the moment.