Chapter 17: The Flashback

Hey. Guys. I know I am starting to make this more of a habit of not updating but I just got promoted from part time to full time in retail. The holidays were crazy, and just to top it all off, my computer broke. And the internet crashed after that. So when I got a new laptop for Christmas, I never had internet to get it fixed up and get this chapter out to you guys. I'll hopefully have another one for you guys soon.

IF you are even reading this anymore. Either way, I'm continuing this story until it's finished. I won't quit on it. I'm taking this semester off of school, so I'll only be working. Hopefully, leaving me with more time to write. Let's see how this goes. Shall we? Let me know what you guys think. As always read and review.

Eli's POV (Flashback)

I had stayed awake throughout the night. I figured during the dead of night, when most of the guards were sleeping it would be best to wander around and check exit points. I didn't want to tell the others and get their hopes up, or have them slip up in front of guard, before I had time to execute it.

I wanted out. I needed out. I wandered around using my master key, to get from one side of the building to the other. Most of the hallways were just blank walls cut off by doors on both sides. Nothing really interesting about them. I brushed passed the placement rooms and Asher's office. There were no exits over here for a reason. They didn't want any of us getting too close to the exits when we were brought over here.

I walked towards the area, where they bring in new 'recruits', as they call them. In other words, where we get brought in from when we are taken. They have a van always parked there. I would just need to get the keys. They were most likely with Fitz. Asher doesn't go on runs, so that was my best bet.

The doors leading out to the van, were unlocked but there was a camera showing the van. I knew that if we were to use the van, we had twenty seconds minimum to get into the van until the guards would be upon us. After finding the possible getaway, I headed back to the room. I didn't want anyone to catch me down here. I wasn't exactly in the best position at the moment, and couldn't exactly get myself out of that one.

Realizing that I needed to get the keys before even deciding to try an attempt, I sit down in the room. My mind was spinning. I needed help. But who could I trust? The only person I thought I could trust, I just sent off to the hospital. Could I trust Julia? With this? I only have one shot. I can't blow it.

I know she wouldn't mess this up if she got something out of it, but I don't know if she would intentionally screw with me, so I would get beaten or possibly killed. I think I would rather take my chances with a rabid bear, but since that wasn't an option, I guess I was stuck with Julia. I looked over at her sleeping form. I decided waking her now was a better option than waiting for the others to wake, and could possibly overhear everything.

"Julia." I whispered, shaking her lightly.

"Eli? What? What's going on?" She asked, yawning and sitting up.

"Be quiet. Just listen." I stated, as she leaned against the wall. "Fitz carries a set of car keys in his front left pocket. I need you to steal them for me."

"What?" She asked. "Why would I do that?"

"You want out of here don't you?" I retorted.

"Yes, but—" She began.

"No buts. Do this, and I guarantee we will be free by tomorrow night." I stated.

"Tomorrow night?" She gasped. "How the hell are you going to pull that off?"

"You don't need to worry about that. All you need to worry about is that you will be home to your family by tomorrow morning." I reassured.

Julia nodded in agreement, before we went back to not speaking. The rest of the night was silent. Not even a peep aside from the occasional snoring. I didn't sleep, but Julia seemed to. I have been noticing lately, that I am not able to sleep as well as I was able to. I guess this whole thing with Julia has been making me more alert, and almost like I can't shut off my brain.

Most of the day went by without an incident either. Not much happened that was out of the ordinary. By the afternoon, I was getting nervous. I was confident that we were going to get out of here, but I was nervous about Julia. If she was going to be able, and willing, to pull off her part. To go against the guards. It was early evening before anything significant occurred.

"I got the keys." She whispered sitting down next to me.

"What?" I asked, shocked. "How?"

"I seduced Fitz." She shrugged.

"God, Julia." I groaned.

"What? We aren't together any more. Why does it matter?" She shrugged again.

"I figured you might have some decency. Apparently, that ship has sailed." I muttered.

"That ship has been gone for months." She smirked as she spoke. I shook my head in disgust. She was no longer my Julia anymore.

"Since you know more of these people than I do, I need you to talk with them. Get them on board with our plan. I am going to go survey where the guards are and how many are on patrol. We leave in a half hour." I stated standing up, heading towards the door. Julia nodded and immediately went off to talk with others.

Time. That's all we were waiting on right now. Waiting for the right time. It's been thirty minutes since I left Julia talking with the others. I have been walking back and forth the route we are going to be taking to escape; timing myself to see how long it would take us walking, jogging, and running.

If we weren't heard, we would be at the van within five minutes. When I made it back to the room, Julia had everyone gathered around her, and they were whispering.

"Eli." Julia spoke, turning around to notice me. "Is everything clear?"

"Yeah. Is everyone ready?" I asked.

"We all want to leave. If that's what you're asking." Mia retorted.

"Yes. Everyone is ready. It's just that some people are unappreciative, that you are willing to take them with you." Julia replied, glaring at Mia.

"Whatever. I don't care. We just need to get out. And then you never have to deal with me again." I walked towards the door, and opened it. I glanced into the hallway quickly, before turning back to them. "We have six minutes to get there. Before we have a possibility of running into the guards beginning their rounds. We need to leave now."

"Alright. Mia. Get over your issues or get left behind." Julia stated, following after me as I left the room.

We practically bolted down the hallway. I directed everyone, using my master key to get us from one area to the next. I urged everyone to stay as quiet as could be, and we actually weren't that loud. When we made it to the loading dock, I knew that something was different. The lights were off, and they were on when I came through before.

"Someone flip the lights." Kelly called.

The lights flicked on, and I saw that the van wasn't there.

"This is wrong. We should go back." I stated confused.

"That was the last thought I had before I felt a sharp pain on the back of my head, and lost consciousness." I said, looking down at my hands. I couldn't bear to meet Clare's gaze. I was too ashamed. "When I awoke, I realized immediately how much pain I was in. My whole body hurt. My whole body. My head throbbed. My muscles ached and burned. I felt burns, cuts, and bruises all over my body. I didn't open my eyes, but I felt them all. I almost wanted unconsciousness to come back."

"Eli. I am so sorry. I had no idea." Clare stated, putting her hand over mine.

"You couldn't have known." I sighed, still not looking up at her.

"You don't have to go on." She continued.

"It's fine. There isn't much more to tell you anyways." I waved it off. "When I opened my eyes, I realized that I was back in this room. On the floor, covered in blood. By the streaks of blood from the door leading to me, I realized that they dragged me into here. I was left alone for a long time. I wasn't aware of how much time had passed. They took away my key and the door was locked. Fitz came by sometime later and told me everyone was dead. They only kept me alive because they didn't want to lose me. They wanted to train me. To turn me into a guard. So they let me live. They gave my key back about a week before Adam was brought in. He was the first person they brought in after. They weren't sure if they could trust that I wouldn't break out again."

"That had to be horrible to go through. How did you get passed it?" She asked, as I finally met her eyes.

"I didn't really. Not until I met Adam. We were friends instantly, and even though plenty of people have come and gone since he came, we were always the closest. Always keeping to ourselves, but trying to bring over the newbies. Never truly works. They either get themselves killed or become savage." I sighed.

"So. Placements are in a few minutes." She stated.

"Nervous?" I asked.

"A little. Always that fear of not knowing. Plus, I avoided anything happening before. I don't think I will be so lucky next time." She sighed.

"Don't worry. Whatever happens, I'll be here for you." I said taking her hand in mine. Our conversation went into a lull and Clare leaned her head on my shoulder. We stayed that way until placements.

Let me know what you guys thought. This was tricky chapter to write. I wanted everything to be perfect. Hopefully it was close, and not a disappointment. I have plenty of free time on my hands coming up, so I will work on writing more! Thanks! Read and Review!