Chapter 52: Battle
Zein's Point of View ....
I woke up in a cell, tied up. I'm not alone; there are many of us here. Some are staring blankly while others are still sound asleep.
"Z-Zein..."
My eyes turned to my side where Mia was also tied up beside me, clearly still weak.
I felt pity and annoyance at the same time. I pitied Mia's condition. Among my friends, I would say Mia is the one who loses heart quickly. I was annoyed at myself because all my promises seemed broken.
I promised that I would fight, that I would get them out, that I wouldn't let them get hurt, but what happened? Nothing. I failed them. I felt pity for myself. Shit!
This isn't where everything ends.
I won't just give up... I'll only give up when I have nothing left to fight for, but as long as they're here... I won't give up... even if I have no fight in me, I will fight.
I heard muffled sobs and felt like covering my ears, but I couldn't because even my hands were tied.
I don't want to hear crying.
"Where are the others?" I asked.
I got nervous when I realized only Mia was here. Where were Vanessa? Matt? Jerome? Dave? Where were my friends?
"I-I don't know... Zein. I'm scared."
I scooted over a bit towards Mia to face her. My chest tightened when I saw tears rolling down her eyes.
"Sshh. This will end. We'll get out."
"B-But, how?"
I couldn't answer because even I didn't know the answer. I didn't know what I was going to do. I had no plan but I also had no plan of giving up.
I closed my eyes as she started sobbing.
"T-This is all my fault..."
My forehead creased at what she said. Confused, I still tried to comfort her.
"W-What are you saying? You're not at fault, and if there is... It's all of us." I explained but she shook her head and avoided my gaze.
She stopped before grinning. I don't know why but I was nervous about her behavior.
"Y-You don't know how big a mistake I've made..."
"You have no fault." I corrected, which she weakly laughed at.
Shit!
"It wasn't all an accident... The map going here-"
She stopped when the door opened and revealed two people wearing surgical masks.
I glared at them when their eyes landed on me, but they ignored it instead approaching the woman I had been hearing crying earlier.
The woman backed away, and extreme fear was visible in her eyes. "W-What do you need?" she asked, trembling.
One of the people in surgical masks signaled their companion who removed the woman's restraints.
The woman screamed and tried hard to struggle when the two forcibly stood her up. I winced and clenched my fist when they punched her in the stomach, making her lose consciousness.
Just make sure you don't let me escape from here.
I tried to move my hands and feet but couldn't. They were tied very tightly to my hands.
"Sorry... Forgive me... Zein, forgive me."
I didn't move and didn't want to hear anything else Mia had to say because I was nervous. Why was she asking for forgiveness anyway?
Annoying! She's not at fault! Is she really not? Damn!
I closed my eyes and gathered strength to face Mia who was now just looking down and crying softly.
"Whatever your fault is... I don't care... Mia. You have no fault."
"Thank you..." she said bitterly before lifting her head and meeting my gaze. "Thank you, Zein, at least you can forgive me because I can't forgive myself anymore." she said bitterly.
"W-Why?" I asked nervously.
She looked into the distance. "I-I didn't just pick up the map going here." she said emotionlessly.
I didn't bother answering and kept my eyes on her.
"I stole it..."
"H-Huh?"
"I heard Ate Allison talking to someone... I didn't mean to hear their conversation but it was too late."
She looked at me. She bit her lower lip as if holding back an emotion. "Hell University is one of Ate Allison's missions." she added.
Ate Allison is a secret agent. Since we were kids, she would always tell me about her desire to be one. She didn't fail... My devil sister that could kill you even in just a snap. She's the most famous female secret agent and maybe an assassin also in the whole world. Many people hire her and are scrambling to get her services. They would pay any amount just to have her service.
I smiled when I remembered how scared Jerome, Dave and Matt were of her. Just seeing her, they would hide behind me. Even Vanessa submits when it comes to her.
I suddenly missed my older sister. How is she doing?
"I heard she declined the offer for this mission. I wondered why because she said it was very dangerous. You know Ate Allison, right? She's not afraid of anything but she was scared of this mission."
My chest tightened because I think I already know where this conversation is going.
"She doesn't know... I snuck out the map that was given to her. The map going to this hell."
I closed my eyes as she sobbed again. Even Ate Allison was terrified to enter this hell.
But I thought...
I have no regrets. I don't regret us coming in here. I wouldn't be who I am now if it wasn't for this hell. I wouldn't have met him if we weren't here now.
"Thank you..."
His brow furrowed when she heard what I said.
I smiled at him. "Thanks for bringing us here. You have nothing to regret but this is not where it ends..."
I smirked before lifting my eyebrow. "It's just beginning." I whispered.
SHe smiled at me and rested his head on my shoulder. Silence prevailed around us.
There's no regret. I just laughed when I thought how brave Mia was. She thought it was her fault but she amazed me with her bravery. She knew this place was bad but she still brought us with her. It is not just a curiosity.
I was startled when I heard the door open. Two more people in surgical masks entered.
I straightened up and Mia was also startled awake.
We watched them bring back the woman they had brought earlier who was still fast asleep.
"We're going to have a hard time with this..."
"It's just so rare... Maybe even if we use them all up it won't be in them."
I didn't understand what they were talking about but I knew it was about the secret formula. Psh.
I was alarmed when they approached Mia who was now tightly clutching me. Anxiety also consumed me but I didn't show it.
Mia didn't resist when they started to untie her bonds. Mia looked at me with a bitter smile.
"Z-Zein-"
"Take me with you too..."
The two men stopped when they heard what I said.
Even Mia frowned.
"Are you sure?" one of them said, laughing.
"Yes."
The two looked at each other as if talking before one of them nodded and also started to untie my bonds.
I smirked when my bonds were removed. In just one swift move I quickly stood up and punched the man who untied me in the stomach.
I followed the other one. With full force I pushed his head into the steel followed by his unconsciousness.
"Zein...
"Sshhh..."
I held her hand which was trembling. "W-Where are we going?" she asked nervously.
I also don't know where because I don't know where we are but we need to escape here and find the others.
"Wait-" She stopped me when I was about to leave.
"A-Aren't we going to help them?" she asked the others.
I looked at the others who were looking at us. "We'll come back for them... I promise." I said because we might get caught if we stayed any longer.
If we get caught we will lose the opportunity and we might not be able to help them even more.
I frowned when Mia struggled out of my grip. "M-Mia." I said nervously.
"W-We can't leave them..."
"We won't leave them... We'll save them all. We just need to find the others so we can build a force."
I grimaced when Mia went back inside and started untying the others. Shit! Why doesn't she understand me?! We won't abandon them!
I closed my eyes before following her. We were in the middle of untying the bonds when we heard voices outside.
Mia and I looked at each other.
I held her hand and the others who were already untied were just behind us. We quickly snuck out of that cell.
"Someone escaped!"
We turned left when there were guards on the right. I was holding Mia's hand while the others we freed were behind us.
Shit!
"Zein... We can't outrun them!" Mia said.
I turned back. Shit! They are fast. We really can't escape unless- "Mia... Listen. Get them out of here." I said referring to our companions in the cell who were now also escaping with us.
"H-Huh? What are you saying?!"
"Someone needs to stay behind to stop them! Damn! We don't have time!" My grip on her hand loosened but she held me instead.
"I-I don't want to. I won't let you-"
"Damn! We don't have time!" I shouted because they were close to catching us.
I smiled when I saw the exit. "Mia... I'll come back. Please." I pleaded.
"Z-Zei-"
"Promise."
I quickly removed her hand from mine and stopped running. I just smiled when I saw tears fall from her eyes.
Mia... Be careful.
I turned my gaze to those chasing us. I just laughed that there were so many of them. I can't fight them but I need to stop them.
I ran towards them. I managed to fight some of them when I felt something injected into me.
I grimaced but I still managed to knock him down. I felt my knees weaken at the same time as being punched in the stomach.
I knelt down at the same time as blood flowed from my mouth. That hurt ah.
I smirked and tried to stand up again. I hadn't fully stood up when I felt a very strong voltage of electricity hit my back.
I fell to the floor and my vision faded. My whole body trembled from the strength of that electricity that even my breathing tightened.
"You're really brave... Just like Samantha." Said Madame Violet with a smirk.
"F-Fuck you."
I screamed when I felt the electricity on my back again. My vision was blurry but I still managed to look at the way out that Mia and the others took.
Forgive me.....
_______
Someone's Point of View....
I just smiled as I looked at her picture. "We'll be together again." I said bitterly before putting her picture back in my pocket.
I looked at the people running out of a building where everyone was imprisoned....
"Let the battle begin and the victory will be mine..."