Chapter 40: Flash Drive
"Well, after all... like father, like daughter, right?" Everyone in the room began talking. Eyes went wide and the voices were like mad chaos.
"Order in the court! Order in the court!" The judge yelled, knocking on the hard wood with the mallet-like instrument. The voices quieted quickly and the judge sighed, clearing her voice. "The trial will resume at ten o'clock sharp tomorrow morning."
I was pulled off the stand by a guard and then immediately stopped.
"I want her in the best cell you have. Keep one guard with her at all times. No one goes in or out no matter what. Got it?" The guard dragged me towards the door and that was when I saw him. The messenger. Benjamin smiled mischievously and I practically fell. Oh shit. Whatever he was smiling about wasn't good. Anyone would know that.
Soon enough I was out of there and in a tiny cell. It wasn't like most places, you know, barred walls and chains wrapped around my feet. The walls this time were solid, gray, but solid. And the chains...weren't there.
I sat down on the uncomfortable bed and put my head in my hands. What had I done? God, I had practically signed my own death certificate. I heard the door open and the guard walked out. I was frantic.
"Uh, hello? The guy said to not let anyone in or out! Hello?" There was no answer. I sighed and closed my eyes, groaning.
"And I thought that you'd be pleased to see me." A deep voice said as I heard the door shut. My eyes flipped open and I stared at the man at the door. I swallowed.
"Aaron." Everything else was on impulse. I stood up and ran to him, hugging him tightly as I let a few tears slide down my cheeks.
"Okay, maybe I was judging a book by its cover..." He laughed as he embraced me.
"You ass..." I murmured. I let go and looked at him. "What the hell are you doing here? I thought Benjamin was the messenger."
He smiled. "Well, you're a lucky girl. Your father sent two messengers to retrieve information. Luckily Cathryn had a little 'accident' last night, so I offered to fill in. Benjamin doesn't know shit about any of this court stuff anyway, so it's practically a win-win situation."
"Okay, then, why are you here? In my cell? And what the hell happened to the guard?"
Aaron glanced down at the floor. "God, sometimes I just can't help but hate myself... your father has told us to...kidnap you again. And honestly, I don't think that I can do it. I mean, I know at some point in time your father is going to crack and just kill me because I keep on loosing you to the world, but I can't bear doing these jobs for him anymore."
"You can't do anything, though. Quitting just makes everything worse. And you can't die. I won't let you."
"You've really become soft haven't you."
"Sometimes you just need to let your walls down, even if its just a little."
"Yeah..."
"What are you going to do?"
"Fake my death. It's the best way. Get out of the country, go to some remote place, maybe Fiji or Antarctica." I laughed, which made him smile.
"You wouldn't survive in either of those places."
"I know. I just wanted to hear you laugh." There was a silent pause as he looked down at the ground and then back at me. "I didn't just come here out of your dad's order. I also came because I missed you. Not only that, but I needed to officially apologize for how I left our relationship. It was immature of me to-"
"Don't be sorry. It wasn't all your fault. I was acting like a complete bitch that day."
"No. You weren't. But no matter what happened, I hope this makes up for it." He slid his hand into his pocket and pulled out a flash drive. "For you. All the data your father has stored on his computer."
"How-"
"He trusts me. Thank God. But before I go I need you to do something for me."
"What?"
"I know for a fact that your father taught you well. So please, make me look like I deserved it."
"Aaron..." I whined.
"Sarah, please. This is how I fake my death. This is how I can save you in the end."
"What do you-"
"Just do it, okay? No questions. No answers. No talking. Please..."
"I can't. It's hard enough knowing that you want to fake your death and that my father will surely kill you if he ever sees you again."
"Please..." His attitude wasn't the only thing pleading to me. His eyes were filled with it to. I sighed.
"God, I can't believe I'm about to do this." Winding my arm back and releasing it wasn't easy, but I still did it. Aaron was on the floor, Blood running out his mouth and nose. I cringed.
"Thank you. Now take down that bastard down."