Hacker

Chapter three

Alison gaped-as in cartoon caricature gape. I'm in the hands of madmen and stupid madmen too she thought. Ali was frozen in that position for an indeterminable amount of time. She felt a tightening in her stomach and knew a laughing fit was surfacing, either that or she was going to cry, possibly both. Alison concentrated on Lucien’s deadpan expression, hoping it would calm the whirlwind crashing through her thoughts. She finally found her voice,

"I’m seventeen, not an idiot"

 "Really? I thought idiocy and adolescence went hand in hand" The doctor murmured, busily shuffling paperwork.

 "Do you know what the punishment is for trespassing on government grounds is?" Alison asked, deciding not to acknowledge the doctor's statement.

"Life in the camps or public execution. It’s not a very well known law" Lucien said quietly, a little off balance. Alison blinked rapidly, she hadn’t actually thought he would know. It felt like her mind was encased in jelly, something bothered her but everytime she tried to grasp the thought it would disappear. The words finally sunk in and Ali became more and more convinced that she was in the company of lunatics.

 "That’s because no one is stupid enough to try it!" Her voice pitched high to match her rising panic. Hearing the strain in her voice caused Ali to ground herself.

 "Who the hell are you people?" Alison growled, no longer caring what they were going to do to her.

 "We’re the organisation who want to take down the dictators that have been oppressing this city for the past century and a half" Lucien said grandly, even puffing out his chest a little.

 "You’re not being very specific" Alison accused him.

 "Well we haven’t really thought of a name yet" Lucien said, crestfallen

 "You should work on that"

 "I know" Lucien said. Sensing that he was fighting a losing battle Lucien dangled the metaphorical carrot in the form of cash.

 "We can pay"

 "Yeah, that makes it so much better. You can’t pay a corpse." Alison retorted.

 "Two hundred tal" Lucien said. If Alison had been standing she would have fallen flat on her face. She still needed to grab the edge of the bed to keep steady.

 "Tw-two hundred tal" Ali repeated and began doing the math in her head. She could buy a place in the country for that money and food to last the rest of her life. Alison groaned, she was actually considering this death wish. The thought brought her up short- why shouldn’t she? What did she have to lose? The answer was painfully simple: nothing, she had lost everything she cared about a year ago.

 "What can I do that buttercup over there can’t handle?" Alison said voicing the persistent doubt that had been bugging her since the subject arose and jerking her chin towards David. Her former attacker turned red with barely contained rage but was kept silent by a look from Lucien. Alison smiled sweetly at him.

"You can hack" The doctor said as if it explained away the worries of the world. The words were like a punch to the gut. The doctor watched her reaction closely.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about" Alison said weakly, trying to put back together a semblance of her cover.They didn’t buy it.

 "We know that you can, we have it from a reliable source" said Lucien. Alison was stumped. She had never told anyone her secret and then it dawned on her. Jubin you bastard! A few months ago she had helped the weasel out with a job. She had been careful throughout it not to show her ability but Jubin had a mind like a fox, quick and calculating. When Alison found him she would show the snitch no mercy, that was if she was still breathing. Lucien distracted Ali from her murderous imaginings.