Chapter Twenty-Four

The moments after were just quiet. Orion's brother whose real name is Draven, went back to his seat behind the computers and just wept silently there. We all cried except for Zayne and the boy. Who is he anyways? My thoughts snapped me out of my sadness. I looked at Draven. He was still busy covering his face with his hands. I slowly let go of Orion and let him let it out himself. I think Fayre understood what I'm trying to do, she took my place to comfort Orion. I went to the small boy's side. He was still not moving. Though he was breathing but aside from that, he's like a living statue.

'Hey, what's your name?' I asked gently. No reply. He didn't even look at me. I touched his arm, which was still hugging his legs. I pulled back immediately, it was ice cold. He didn't even react to my touch.

'What have they done to you?' I said. I can't imagine what possibly could have happened. I mean he's like a living statue and a human ice!

Suddenly, the lab door opened and in came Jayden, Linda and an old man. And the guards behind them. Superior Anton Jax. That's his name. I recognised him from screens. He's the superior of Warhem. All of us sat or stood straight, trying to not draw any more unwanted attention. Draven got up from his chair as well, quickly rubbing the tears off his face.

'You caught them good' Anton said. He's face filled with satisfaction.

'Well it's not so hard to catch these kids when you have eliminated their parents' Jayden said.

Anton slapped his head. That got everyone by surprise.

'Don't underestimate these kids Jayden' Anton said again. His voice filled the room with terror. 'Maybe their elders joined the rebellion because of them in the first place'

'Understood father' Jayden replied, holding his head, still in pain from the hit. And I can't believe what I just heard. The government is made up of family members working together? However, Jayden and Anton don't seem to look alike. Maybe Jayden is just an adopted son.

'You should be more like your sister. Not too greedy and yet so cunning'

'Thank you father' Linda said. Oh wow! This just got weirder. I could see Jayden wasn't so happy about that praise.

'Now I want that boy brought to the throne room immediately. I and Superior James will decide his fate' Anton pointed at the poor boy that I spoke to earlier. He left the room with Linda and the guards.

'You heard him Jackson. Take him out now!' Jayden shouted at Draven.

Draven went to open the door. And without thinking, I dashed out of the glass case and took a sharp object I noticed on the work table and throw it at Jayden. It caught him by surprise. The sharp object, a needle I guess, hit him on the arm. I could see blood seeping through his coat. What I just did? I snapped myself out of the guilt. He deserves it. We need to escape now. Jayden yelled in pain and frustration. He aggressively pull the needle out and throw it back towards me. Lucky I was prepared. I dodged it. The others quickly got out of the glass case. Draven was confused and not sure what he was supposed to do.

'Brother, get the boy out and help us now!' Orion exclaimed. We all grabbed any sharp object or anything suitable to be a weapon.

'Do it for mom and dad!' Orion said.

Jayden also grabbed a pair of scissors and went towards us. His face showed pure evil. Only intending to finish us here and now. Draven decided and he went into the glass case to help the boy up. We stayed close to each other. Separation will only slow us down. Zayne stayed near Draven in the glass case. I don't want him anywhere near Jayden or getting hurt. Jayden hurried towards us, holding his scissors up ready to strike. He's like a serial killer I've never encountered in video games or movies and especially in real life. This moment got my heart racing so fast. I've never felt this scared before. Not even when we're escaping Warhem. Because now, is a matter of life and death. I had just triggered a boundary. He's going to kill me once and for all. He struck at me with the scissors. I blocked it with a long wooden ruler. It wasn't strong enough to block, the ruler fell from my grip. Jayden's force was very strong.

'We need to get out of here now!' I yelled.

Fayre went in front of me as Jayden regained himself to strike again. She kicked him in the stomach very quick. He stumbled backwards, losing grip of the scissors in the process and fell down hard on the ground. Draven had just stepped out of the glass case with the boy in his arms. Zayne was close behind him.

'Let's get out of here now!' I said. We rushed to the door. I pulled Zayne to catch up with us, letting him in front of me. I made sure no one was behind me. Jayden was regaining again. He picked the scissors up and ran towards us.

'Hurry!' I shouted.

Jayden was catching up. We were already running up the stairs to the palace level just now. I could hear Jayden close behind calling my name. He really hates me. We were now in the palace hallway running down the aisle. It's odd that there's no one around not even security guards. Draven put the boy down. We all stopped.

'What are you doing?' Orion asked.

'Giving him a piece of my mind' Draven replied, taking out a very small glass bottle with red liquid inside from the pockets of his lab coat and threw it at Jayden. Jayden was still running. The bottle hit him and then broke as it smashed onto the ground. The liquid changed into a cloud of thick red smoke as it combines with the surrounding air. I could hear Jayden's scream in pain from behind the smoke.

'Come on let's go' Draven said. He went to pick up the boy again and led the way. We followed without wasting any more time. I looked back a few times, Jayden wasn't coming after us anymore. I wonder what the smoke did to him. I focused back on running. Draven pushed open a double-door on the left. There's nothing in there except for an empty bookshelf at the end of the small square room. Draven closed back the door. Why do they need two doors for such small room? Weird.

'What are we doing?' Fayre asked.

'Getting to the main base. This is one of the many entrances' Draven said.

So Atira was not lying about the entrance through the palace.

'Atira was telling the truth about the entrance' I said.

'Yes, the government knows about the entrance but they have no idea which room' Draven replied, putting the boy down again. He walked to the bookshelf. He took out a small pebble with the strange symbol from his coat pocket and placed on one of the shelves. What's with this symbol though.

'You're part of the rebellion?' Orion asked in amusement.

'I was required to go undercover until you came. Chief Willie's order' Draven replied.

The pebble seemed to have effect on the bookshelf. The unique mass of it I guess triggered the shelf. A male computer voice sounded clear. There's no opening anywhere I could find that indicates where the voice was coming from.

'Password' the male voice said.

'Hayden' Draven replied.

The bookshelf sinked into the floor, revealing a secret passageway leading down. Suddenly, the double-door burst open and in came Superior Anton, Linda, the guards and another old man. The guards grabbed us violently and forced us to face the old man.

'I told you these kids are capable of anything' Anton said.

'Hush Anton' the old man said sternly. He seemed very old, much older than Anton.

'Thank you for showing us the way to the main base' Linda said. 'Jackson' she gave Draven a cunning look when she mentioned the name.

I remembered, no wonder the hall was so empty and quiet. Because if there's anyone following us, we can't go to the rebellion entrance. Because we'll only lead them.

'Ingenious these rebels. They used the same old city safe hideout as their base' the old man said. Then he turned his attention to us. 'You must be wondering who I am. Superior James, superior of Ava and all of Dust by law'

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and disgust. How unoriginal.

'I should thank you for showing us to your rebel base Jackson. Now lead the way'

Draven was not moving. He stood his ground.

'I won't let you do this' he said.

'Come on Jackson, don't be stupid. You're defeated. Be smart and do what's right or someone you love will be hurt. And besides, you think I don't know your real name?' James said. We had no other choice. I can imagine Draven's dilemma. He picked the pale boy up again and led the way. Now what? The whole rebellion will crumble once the government wins. And all was for nothing.