Memory

Chapter Thirty-Five - Trystan

I am able to catch a glimpse of assorted guns and such when I am pulled up and back away from the box.

Instinct immediately kicks in, and I thrash in my attacker's arms, fighting to be free. But his arms are way stronger than mine, especially when I am practically shaking like a leaf in the air. I try another tactic. Slowly, I go limp and sink down to my knees, as if I have given up. My attacker seems to think it is over, for his grip loosens on me.

Quickly, I snap out my left leg to hit against his foot, causing him to go unbalanced. He stumbles to one knee and reaches for me, catching the collar of my gown. I feel him pull against the piece of fabric he holds and I am suddenly thrown down to the ground.

The cold ground smacks against with my back sharply, causing me to inhale painfully, sending tingling nerves of go haywire all over my body. It feels just like after I was electrocuted.

I struggle underneath the man's weight, twisting side to side to push him off of me. I see the beam of the flashlight a little ways off from where I dropped it. I reach out a hand to grab for it, but the man's boot holds my arm in place; the flashlight shifts under the touch of my fingertips.

Damn it. I cough, struggling for proper air. A hand smacks over my mouth, and I am almost about to fight it when an unmistakable voice hisses into my ear. "Quiet, or else they'll find out I'm here."

I calm my breathing, twisting my head to the side to speak. "Jake?"

The weight of Jake lifts a bit as he says, "Trystan?"

He stands, and I am finally able to move. I take the flashlight and hold it to my face. I then hold it to his, taking note of his disheveled hair and eyes twinkling with bemusement.

"What are you doing here, Trystan? How'd you get out?" he asks me, and I balance the flashlight on its bottom on the ground before sitting down, tapping his leg so he's do the same. Now we're both visible to each other.

"I have my ways," I reply to him, shrugging a shoulder. Then, I frown at him. "Wait, what are you doing here?" I ask him. "Don't you belong to the court section of the Government?"

"Well, it's a complicated story," he says. "See, I've been with Sedition Forrester mentioned before. They asked me to come here to do some research about the Government."

I frown. "But, you were with us the entire time."

"Thought about the time before I went to the Survivors?" He gives a soft chuckle and shrugs. "Whatever. I was just sent there to see how you guys work."

"So," I say, drawing up my knees to my chin and hugging my legs. "What else are you here for?"

His lips turned up in that familiar, mischievous way he had. Just seeing that sends goosebumps along my arms, making the fair hairs stand on end.

No wonder he's bipolar.

"I'm going to blow up this joint. Tomorrow."

I gape at him, eyes wide. Did I hear him correctly? He's going to blow up the Sacramento Building?

He shrugs. "Just the Government sections; the East and North divisions." Jake gives an amused chuckle. "We need to get you out of here after the third explosion," he went on, taking note of my reaction. "The Survivors are bound to return here for you."

"We?"

He nods. "Yes, we. Me and Sedition. That's why I'm here."

I laugh roughly. "I knew you weren't here because you're a traitor." I almost talk to myself, stealing a glance at Jake. I fumble with the hem of my hospital gown, shaking my head.

"I'm taking count of the amount of weapons that is stored in this room. Before the first explosions, your warden will return with your lunch tray. You need to make your move by then. Decapitate him."

I stare at to make sure he's serious. He then laughs softly again. "No, don't do that," he tells me. "Just make sure he is silent as you get out of the cell."

"Where do you want me to meet you?" I ask him, hands folded upon my lap eagerly at this new event. He gestures to the room we are sitting in, and I nod in understanding.

He stands and takes the flashlight from the ground. I follow suit, folding my arms with a shiver as a chill sweeps through the room. Jake then goes over to the box that I had opened before he attacked me, peering inside. "Which do you prefer, an assault rifle or a shotgun?"

"Why aren't we using tranq guns?" I ask him.

"We aren't going to make a difference if we just put people to sleep."

I think about it, and I find that what he is saying is true. Then, my answer is immediate. "Both."

Jake eyes me skeptically. "Both? Are you sure you can handle them?"

Nodding, I walk forward and look into the box. It was just as I saw before. Black, sleek assault rifles line the edges of the foam mold, and in the middle there are about six to seven shotguns. All of the weapons are on safety. Though, the sight of them send chills down my back. I wonder what Forrester will make of this if he found out.

"All of each are of the latest issues of gun weaponry," Jake tells me, picking up one of the shotguns. He turns it around in his hands, and for a moment I feel a brief stab of fear. Is he going to shoot me? "These handguns hold a lot of power. This one is a Arsenal Firearms AF1, also called 'Strike One.'"

Then, just as I took a step back, he hands me a shot gun and holds the rifle while I put the handgun in my bra. It's the only place I can store it for now. He eyes me with a smirk. "Wishful thinking," I tell him, raising a brow. He laughs, and winks at me. He gestures to the rifle he holds and then hands it to me, saying, "That one is an AK-12. On automatic, its power is 650 rounds per minute. Pretty cool, if you ask me."

"I didn't."

"Well, now you know."

Footsteps ring out in the hallway, and I look hurriedly at Jake. He nods and closes the lid to the gun box. He speaks quickly. "I'll deal with them. Find a way around them. The day of the attack is the day of your execution. Armed soldiers will come to your door right after your warden comes to you with food. Make sure you take care of the warden and get out of there fast. Put on your suit on that day too." He looks at the door quickly before continuing. "A load of ammunition will be distributed before the countdown in here, all in backpacks. Now, go!"

Heart beating violently in my chest, I nod and strap the assault rifle around me, then run out the door. I am met with a cold draft; a window must be open somewhere. Wait, if that's true...

A window! I can crawl through there before the explosions. No; I can't abandon Jake.

I review the information given to me in my mind. Three days from now, we will rain havoc on this place. Although I have no relations with Sedition, but I have enough confidence in them to feel as if they can be trusted with my life.

Dammit, I can't wait for my execution day.