Lyod's P.O.V
"If you're the last person, I'm gonna see before dying," Jaden muttered, "I might as well start being honest with you."
"Shut up, kid." I replied, my mouth only partly opened while speaking, so nobody would notice us talking.
We were walking closer to the building, the infected already staring at us suspiciously. Some had guns, pointing at each other while others talking. There was one vigorously peeling of his rotten skin. Like that would work. He seemed satisfied when blood started streaming from scratches on his cheeks.
"I think that you're the most blank, dull and the-kind-anyone-will-hate person in the world." Jaden expressed his feelings. "Just thought you should know, my friend."
I roll my eyes, "Thank you for randomly telling me that even though I had no interest whatsoever."
"Anytime."
I turn my head sideways, trying to glimpse where Nickie was standing but quickly turn away when I see a female infected narrowing her eyes at me.
"Do you think this will work?" He asked, his tone serious. We were more closer to the door, but we walked slowly, as if not wanting this at all.
He didn't let me reply, instead whispered, "I know I was supposed to be the one to be firing from there." He gulped, "It's because of my stupid disease that you won't let me right?"
I shrugged, "If Nickie gets caught she'll be able to outrun them. If you get caught -"
"Then I'll have my attack and will slow everyone down." He finished.
"Not true," I shake my head, "You have you're own part to play."
"Really," He scoffed, "And what's that?"
"Who's gonna be the one to beat that jerk up?" I smirked.
He gave a small grin, "Count me in, on that."
We reach the door. I take one quick glance to where Nickie was and then gestured Jaden inside. As soon as we did... Nothing. No firing.
Jaden looked at me with worried eyes. He was thinking the exact same thing I was. What was taking her so long? I shake my head and we continue walking. It'll happen. I know it will. There're less people inside, which was a good thing. Jaden walked to the stairs but I grabbed his arm to stop him. He frowned.
"The stairs will take up our energy," I explain, "Elevators take less time."
He nodded, and we walked to the elevator. Although these people were completely mad, they knew how to work an elevator. It worked. We enter inside, only us two but we don't say anything. What was she doing? The speakers playing a sweet tune, not at all matching the intensity between us. Jaden shifted on his feet, nervously.
I looked at him and sigh, "Don't worry. Nickie will-"
My words are interrupted when the lights start blinking, the floor shaking. Jaden pressed himself on the wall, the melody coming from the speakers stopped.
"What's going on?" Jaden breathed. Without thinking he takes out his inhaler and takes a deep breath.
I understood what happened. Exactly what happened. We failed.
"Helooooo, there, Mr. Warren!" A voice abrupted in thin air. Jaden's eyes grew as he stared around. The voice was coming from the speakers. "Long time no see, huh?" The voice snickered.
"What in the bloody world?" Jaden yelled, his face red. With fear? With anger? Or both? "Show yourself, you moron!" He shouted.
"Be careful with that language son," The voice tsked, "Her life's depending on it."
"Wh-What are you talking about?" Jaden spluttered, not letting me talk. Like I was the one at fault.
"That pretty little girl, with ya?" Shit, "I have her. Think we're that stupid. You think we won't find out frauds when we see em? You're wrong, then! I tell ya, you're wrong! Plus that makeup ain't nothing like us!"
His thick accent congested the air between us.
Jaden looked at me, hesitant to speak further to him, "Who is this, Lyod? What's he spitting out of his mouth?"
"Oh, you didn't tell your kid?" The voice boomed, "I'm Martin! Nice to meet ya! Oh well, you'll meet me at the top. I'm waiting. With your girl."
"Jaden! Jaden!" I heard a muffled shout, "He followed me! They were in the building! He'd been following us! He doesn't have Harry, he doesn't uhmmmbmbm."
Nickie..
I saw the blood from Jaden's face drain as he said, "If you do anything to me cousin, Martin, I'll rip your face off!"
"I'd like to see you try. All I did is put some tape on her mouth, is all. She just wouldn't stop swearing." Martin assured, "Ya'll just hurry, now."
There was a beep. He was gone. Martin and Nickie. How did he get her?? How!! This was not part of the plan! Had he been following us? That creepy bastard!
"Great going," Jaden muttered, "Real smooth plan of yours, Lyod."
One thing hit me though. I was wrong. Martin - as Nickie put it - doesn't have Harry. That means...
Bryce. Damn it.
*************
Harry's P.O.V
"Hey!" I yelled, frantically kicking my tied legs at the trunk hood, "Get me out of here!"
"Why's that, kid?" Mark sniggered, "Give me one good excuse."
I stay quiet, then say, "I'm... claustrophobic..."
"Uh-huh." He snorted.
"But it's true! It is! Get me out! Get me out!" I shout, desperately, "You'll regret everything when I'm out!"
"Keep telling yourself that kid."
I sigh, in the darkness, swearing under my breath. It's been... a while. A day or two? Still no Lyod, no Nickie or Jaden. I was missing them. Even Lyod. Were they looking for me? Well, were they?
I closed my eyes, the air stuffy and hot. Sweat trickled down my forehead. I raised my shoulder to my face, trying to wipe it off. I was breathing through my mouth. Maybe I was claustrophobic. I mean, Jaden didn't know he had asthma, did he? That idiot Mark should have injected me or something. Because I couldn't bear laying here, the air I was breathing was like drinking fire.
My hands - again - pathetically tied behind me, I tried to lift myself up. But I hit the top as soon as I did. Screaming in frustration, I heard Mark chuckling as he drove on.
"Shut up!" I gritted my teeth.
He laughed, "Hold on kid, we're going in for a rough one."
"Whatever." I said, the floor beneath me rumbling. Sweating like crazy, I spoke up,
"Why do you guys want me, huh? Am I like a criminal?" I just wanted to know. I mean, being a criminal could be a possibility, right?
"Not at all." He drove.
"Then why am I-?" He took a sharp turn and I hit my head, "Ow!"
"Sorry." He said, simply, "Forgot a turn."
"As if." I try to straighten up, my hands still tied behind me.
"What were you saying?" He asks, wanting to make conversation.
"If I'm not a criminal," I shrugged, "Then why am I in a trunk right now?"
I felt him hesitate. He was hiding something. He was hiding the answer.
"Is it related to... my father?" He always had foes.
"It's related to no one except you, son." His voice was gentle. He even called me... son. Something was up.
"Why?" I asked, "How?"
The trunk all of a sudden, not crampy at all.
"Stop talking, now!" He snapped, "You want me to get in trouble?"
"Obviously, I do." I roll my eyes.
Bryce, I think, was in his own car.
"Is it true Lyod's Bryce's twin brother?" It just came out of my mouth. Was it true?
"Yes." That's that. Yes he was. No more further explanation. The way Bryce had described him, Lyod was the good one. Lyod was taking me to safety. I was an idiot to doubt him. Will he save me from this wrecked man? Who's also his brother?
I sigh. Mark won't tell me that though. But I just wanted to know something else. It was childish to ask but.. Who wouldn't want to be prepared?
"Am I.." I find my voice cracking but I quickly recover, "Am I going to... die?"
He doesn't reply. At least I thought he wouldn't. There was a long silence before he said,
"Let's hope not."