Chris opened his eyes. Heather was still sitting next to him, fast asleep. He assumed the other had survived as well. Chris scanned the room. Francis had already left and went somewhere. Chris stood up and immediately sat back down. He felt dizzy and everything was spinning. Chris stood up again. The dizziness had faded, and he could see straight. A sword was lying on the ground next to where he had been.
"I guess that's what hit me," he said to himself.
He decided it would be good to bring it along with, just in case. Chris grabbed a strap and fastened the sheath at both the top and the bottom. Then, he took the strap and fastened one end around his waist and the other over his shoulder, so the sword was against his back, and fastened it to his waist. He grabbed the hilt and with a single motion pulled in out of the sheath and held the sword in front of him.
The door was flung open. Evan was standing in the doorway.
"You're finally awake. You're needed in the conference room. There's an audio message that just came through," Evan said.
"Give me a minute. I need to get her up," Chris responded. He shook her a few times, but she showed no reaction. "Screw it. Help me carry her. I'm in no condition to do it myself."
"Okay, but is she even alive?" Evan asked.
"Yes, I checked when I woke up."
Chris and Evan lifted Heather into the air and carried her to the conference room. Everyone else was waiting, bordering the table.
"Good to see you two are alive," Max said with a large smile. "I believe that's everything then. Shall we get started?"
Max leaned over the table and reached for a button on the machine.
"Wait, before you do that. Don't you think we should wait for Heather to wake up first? She deserves to hear this message just as much as anyone else," shouted Chris.
"You're right," said Max in reply. "Then why don't we introduce ourselves. We should get to know each other, because after all, we're stuck with each other for a long time." Max pointed at the man in his thirties. "Why don't you go first."
"My name is Jackson Bucksbin," the man said.
The Max pointed to the Father of the two teens.
"My name is Garret Feltzler."
"I'm Nicole," the girl said unenthusiastically.
Evan stood up straight and put his fist on his chest. "My name is Evan and I'm-!"
"A complete idiot," Nicole interjected.
The happiness on Evan's face drained away and left a shell of utter disappointment. Max pointed to Francis.
"My name is Francis Shirker."
"Hold on. You mean the Francis Shirker. The son of Daniel Shirker, the one behind this project," shouted Jackson. "I'm gonna kill you for what he did!"
Jackson lunged towards Francis, winding up for a punch. Chris stepped in front of Francis and drew his sword.
"I don't know what you're doing, but it won't end well," Chris said, pointing the sword at Jackson.
"What does it look like," said Jackson. "I'm going to beat this boy to a pulp for what he did to us. The best part is there are no laws that say I can't."
"Well then, I guess there are no laws against me slicing you in half," Chris replied.
"I'd like to see you try," said Jackson, pulling out a long hunting knife from his belt.
Chris stepped back, lowering his sword. Jackson lunged forwards again, preparing to swing his knife. Chris swung his leg forwards and kicked Jackson in the side of the head. Jackson fell to the ground and was immediately restrained by Garret and Evan. Chris put his leg down and instantly fell a sharp pain in his knee. He looked down at the knife to find that it was covered in blood. Then Chris looked at his leg. The once blue jeans were now a crimson red. Chris's vision was darkening and his head spun. Chris collapsed on the ground. The side of his knee had been sliced open by the knife.