Cloud Cent Chronicles: Part 3 Chapter 5

Live Again

    Shadow was led to an elevator in the corner of the prison. The general shoved him in and pressed one of the two buttons available: left?

    Left? What does ‘left’ mean? Doesn’t matter. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to be with Sun in the prison. I can only hope Sun helps everyone escape. He has the usb now. If he wanted, he could leave the rebellion in prison and release Cloud Cent’s articles. He doesn’t have me, but it’s better than nothing. I just have to trust that Sun will do the right thing. Man, this elevator is taking a while. Where are we going?

    “Hey, I don’t mean to sound impatient, but are we almost there? You see, I’ve got this thing that I have scheduled for later, and I really can’t be late for that.” The general didn’t respond. “Okay, can you at least tell me where we’re going? I swear we’ve been in this elevator for like, 5 minutes.” Nothing. “So...how’s your family?”

    The elevator slammed to a halt, knocking Shadow into the general. The general forced him back up and pushed him out of the elevator. They were in a well lit hallway, limestone bricks surrounding them. It was clear that they were no longer in the prison. 

    How far did we go? We were in there for a while. The direction of the elevator, is it even right to call it an elevator, anyway, it was heading inbound. But the prison is already pretty deep into the city. The only place I can think it would go is… the governor center. Which means I’m meeting The Leader on his own field. What, he couldn’t at least have the decency to come to the prison? At least there I would have Sun and, hopefully, Yun and the rest of the rebellion. I’m on my own here.

    The two continued down the bright hallway.

    Okay, I need a plan. I need to have something in mind when I meet The Leader again. But what can I even hope to do? I don’t have my external modifier, I don’t have any backup, and I’m handcuffed. I don’t suppose I’ll be able to charm him into seeing things from my perspective. 

    The general led Shadow up a long flight of stairs, arriving at the lobby of the governor center. The lobby was huge, expanding the entirety of the base level of the building. It formed a pentagon shape. In each corner of the pentagon was a set of elevators. The northern elevator was always guarded by several Sergeants, except for today. Very few people had access to that elevator. The general forced Shadow into it, entered a code into a keypad, then pressed the lone button in the elevator.

    Why does he even want to see me? He has to know that the rebellion’s plan involved revealing that I was framed to the public. Is he gonna kill me? If anyone ever talked to me or if I ever had an opportunity to speak out, he must know that I would assert my innocence. Killing me would stop me from doing that. Without me revealing what was done to me, Cloud Cent’s articles become less impactful, so he wouldn’t have to worry as much about getting the usb. 

    Wait, there’s no way he can kill me now. The government has enough eyes on it as it is with everything that’s been going on. If the mod block killer was just randomly killed, that would implicate the government right away. People would question it and The Leader would have the exact same problem on his hands that he’s been trying to avoid. The only way all of this could end favorably for him is if…

    The elevator gently stopped and its door opened. The scene Shadow faced was familiar. Shadow faced a large room with a single desk at the center of it. Surrounding the desk on all sides were windows, out of which the entire city was visible. Shadow could even see the outer area if he squinted. Sitting at the desk was a familiar face: The Leader. There was a person standing at both sides of the desk. To The Leader’s right, Shadow’s left, was…

    “Yun!?” Shadow exclaimed. Shadow attempted to rush forward towards her, but the general pulled him back. The Leader waved his hand and the general backed into the elevator, pressed the button, and descended. “Are you okay? What are you doing here? What’s happened? How...why...What’s going on?” Shadow eventually stammered out.

    “Shadow,” Yun said, softly, “I really am sorry. This...this is all my fault. I put you through all of this for...for nothing. I’m so sorry.”

    “Yun? What are you talking about? Trying to save you wasn’t for nothing.”

    “Not just that Shadow.” Yun looked guilty. “Dragging you into the rebellion, everything that happened at The Village. It was all pointless.”Shadow decided to pretend like no one else was in the room, ignoring The Leader and the man standing to his left entirely. 

“No it wasn’t! The usb is still safe,” I hope, “and I’m still alive! We can get out of this!”

“Shadow, you don’t understand,” the man to The Leader’s left spoke up, “there is nothing to get out of.” The man looked guilty. He refused to meet Shadow’s eyes. “I...I made a mistake.”

“What are you talking about? Who are you?”

“Shadow...my name is Cloud Cent.”