21 Trap
The car had grown silent. Taylor was in the back holding Tessa, who was quiet. I felt wrong. Why did I leave Shock like that? Tessa probably blamed me for the whole thing. What if I had gone instead of him? Would Shock be in my exact place? So many questions, and so little answers. I couldn't stand it. I couldn't stand the fact that I may have killed Shock.
The road was evening out, and the bumps and jumps had grown to a minimum. Suddenly, the forest opened, and lead out into a wide green field.
"Do you know where we are, Michael?" Taylor asked.
"No clue," I said. "I just want to see the Electroclan again."
"I wonder what they're doing right now."
"Probably tracking us down as we speak."
"Let's hope they are."
"They are." I said, half believing my own words.
"Stop!" Tessa screamed. I veered to the right and pulsed out of instinct. The car made a sickening squeak, and the lights went out. The car rolled for another thirty meters before coming to a stop.
"What?" I yelled, spinning around. Tessa was pale white, pointing a shaking finger out of the window.
"I saw him!"
"Who?" Taylor asked.
"Shock!" She screamed, forcing open the door. She jumped out, then proceeded to sprint down the path we had just been on. Taylor and I were just behind her.
"Where did you see him?" I yelled, Tessa didn't respond.
"Michael!" Taylor yelled as she began to fall forward. I quickly pulled back and caught her. She was sweating, with a pained expression on her face. "My leg, it's hurting again." She managed through ragged breaths. I gently set her down on the grass.
I looked up to where Tessa was running. "Tessa!" I yelled as she ran out of sight into the dark forest.
"How's your leg doing?" I asked, looking back down to Taylor.
"It hurts." She mumbled, grasping her leg.
I propped her head up onto my thigh. "You'll be okay, I promise."
She looked up at me smiling, but pain evident in her eyes. "I love you, Michael."
Before I could respond, a gunshot rang out from ahead of me. A searing pain shot through my bicep, and I grasped it. My vision blurred as I fell to the ground.
I couldn't make out much. I saw figures surrounding me and Taylor, then I was picked up and dragged for what seemed like a lifetime. I was then put into a vehicle of sorts.
The pain in my arm was growing. I tried to scream, no sound came out.
I thought of my mother as I passed out.
"Michael, wake up." An all too familiar voice said. I slowly opened my eyes and groaned. Hatch was sitting just beside me, grinning. Behind him was the whole team. Torstyn, Quentin, Tara, Bryan, and Kylee. A strange boy was on the other side of me, sitting alone.
"Looks like the little worm woke up." Torstyn said, spitting on me.
"Oh, look at him. He's practically crying." Tara sneered.
"What a loser," Quentin said, laughing.
"Looks like somebody isn't too happy about their boat." I added. The room grew silent.
"I believe you know somebody here," Hatch said, ignoring my comment. "Send him in."
Shock entered the room. I held my tongue.
"Hello, Michael." Shock said, half grinning.
"Where's Taylor?" I asked, looking over to Hatch. He smiled.
"Your girlfriend is currently being detained for putting the Elgen corporation at risk, as are you. The only difference is, she'll be executed first. I'll have it streamed live directly to this monitor. All for your enjoyment, of course." He said, nodding towards a Television Monitor just above me.
I clenched my jaw. How could a human being be so evil?
Suddenly, a hooded figure was pushed on-screen. I paled.
Hatch chuckled. "There she is, Michael. Just imagine how scared she is."
Bryan sneered. "I bet she wet her pants."
"You touch her and I'll break your neck." I shot, anger seething inside of me. Bryan paled for a moment, quickly stepping a few feet back.
"Don't tell me your afraid of him, Bryan?" Hatch dangerously asked.
Bryan shook his head, adding in a slight nervous laugh.
"Let's get this show on the road." Hatch said into a radio on his shoulder.
"Copy," A voice on the other side responded.
The two men on screen pushed the hooded figure into a chair, quickly zip-tying her against it.
Four armed gaurds marched infront of the figure, aiming each weapon towards her.
I slowly shook my head. "No...no..."
Tara anxiously looked at Hatch. He seemed to notice and sent her out of the room.
"I will not have anybody saving her this time." He mumbled.
The sound of gunfire shot through the speakers.