Chapter 7: A Tough Ride to Death

Chapter 7

                I grip Colby’s arm as the room rotates.  This is the last time we’ll be in Colby’s lab.  We can’t risk getting caught with a secret room or we’ll be dead for sure.

                Colby thinks I’m stupid and trying to sound optimistic when I say we’re going to catch up to Emedee.  I don’t think we will.  I know we will. 

                I follow Colby through the shop and into his house.  Colby lives in the shop, well, above it.  It’s a two story building, okay?  He mixes up some coffee and I make some tea.  We both have to stay awake tonight.  We walk towards the couch and sit down, reading magazines, trying to act normal, like our best friend didn’t just run off to a dangerous place where there’s a nine out of ten chance she’ll be killed.  No, we’re just normal teenagers, lounging around, waiting for one of the Queen’s guards to come take us away.

                “So,” I say.

                “So,” Colby replies.  It seems like hours of this awkward silence before there’s a knock on the door.  Colby calmly walks over and opens it casually.  A tall armed dude stands before us.

                “I’m sorry sir, we’re closed.  You can come back tomorrow,” Colby says.  The guard raises an eyebrow.

                “I’m not here for your shop.  I’m here to question you,” the guard says.  “Why are you closed, anyways?”

                “Come, take a seat,” Colby beckons.

                “Why are you closed?” the guard repeats.

                “Oh, sorry, sir.  Didn’t hear you.  It’s Sunday.  I’d prefer people to go to church and to the Queen’s service then to come here,” Colby says.  I’m surprised by his quick thinking, although the shop actually is closed on Sundays.  The guard so rudely steps inside, followed by three others.

                “You two check the house, upstairs and down.  Leave no spot untouched,” the guard says.

                “Yes sir!” the two guards dash off.  The guard takes a seat on Colby’s couch, leaving hardly any room for us.  We sit on the floor.

                “Now then,” the guard says.  “We’re here to talk to your father.”  I see pain in Colby’s face.  He hates to talk about it.

                “My father died a year ago,” Colby says strongly.  The guard lifts an eyebrow again.

                “Alright, then.  I’ll talk to you then.  And who would this be, exactly?” The guard says, looking at me.

                “I’m Awesome,” I say.  The guard snorts.

                “I have no time for games, missy.  Don’t play with me,” the guard warns.

                “I’m sorry.  Awesome is my name, sir.  I would never play games at a serious time.  Exactly, what’s going on?” I say nervously.  Colby and I rehearsed this, but the guard is seriously freaking me out.  He looks at Colby, who nods.

                “Yes, that’s her name.  Exactly what is going on?” Colby asks.

                “Why is she here?” the guard asks.

                “She’s my friend, Colby replies.  We exchange a glance.  Why does he even care?

                “Alright.  I understand you’re friends with miss Emedee Harless, correct?”

                “Correct,” Colby replies.

                “And your families are too?”

                “Yes, both of ours, until my father died.  My mother died when I was young.  I’ve been taking care of the shop,” Colby replies.   Just then, another guard bursts into Colby’s door.

                “The youngest Twilight girl is gone, sir.  She’s no where to be found.  The parents claimed that she was gone when they woke up!” the guard said.  Not.  Good.

                “What!?  Call the northeast station, right now!  Sent a search out to Briarwood, Sunstone Vale, Lakeshore, Snowhill, and all around there!  They probably sent the girl out with it!” The guard instructs.  The other one runs out.  Colby and I look at each other, our faces shocked, half fake, half natural.

                “Emedee’s gone?” My voice cracks, just like we planned it.  We got her there just in time.

                “That’s it.  You two are coming with me, right now.”  The guard grips our arms and drags us outside.  Emedee’s parents are outside, their arms in handcuffs.  I meet Mrs. Harless’ eyes, and she has that look.  I blink once, and she seems to get the message that her daughter is safe.  The guard throws us onto the ground.

                “Take these two to the station for questioning and make sure to search the boy’s shop.  I have a feeling they have something to do with the girl’s disappearance.”  Two more guards grab each of us.  The one holding me is way too tight, and I feel like I’m being squeezed to death like a lemon.  They throw us onto a truck like you’d throw luggage.  I guess to them we’re nothing more.

                Before the guards came, Colby and I cleared out the secret lab.  The only thing Colby made we have on.  I have a charm bracelet with two letters- A and B, my initials.  They stand for Awesome Blackstar, an awesome name, if you ask me.  We cleared out anything suspicious, and after Emedee got her things, there wasn’t anything.  Those were the only things Colby worked on because he knew that this was coming.  There would be no place to hide it.  So he just worked on the four projects and gave them to Emedee and me.

                The guards throw in more boxes and stuff.  I can’t see Colby at all, and even if I could, it’s not like I can reach him.  They tied my arms together and then my legs, so I can’t move at all. 

                The ride is super bumpy.  I feel like throwing up again, but there’s nothing to throw up anymore.  I hope they feed us.

                A huge bump causes the boxes to shift.  I can see Colby now.  For a while we just start at each other.

                “Well, this stinks,” Colby says.  “What good are suspects when they’re dead?”

                “Do you really think we’ll die?  There are so many things I’ve always wanted to do!” I say.  Colby tries to shrug, but he can’t.

                “Me too, Awesome.  Me too.” Colby sighs, and another giant bump separates us with boxes.  It’s the most boring ride ever, only being able to stare at boxes and think about my future.  I miss Emedee, and I even miss Colby, for we probably won’t be together when we’re questioned.  Not that I’ll miss him that much, though.  Soon, the truck stops.  I realize I’d fallen asleep.  A guard picks my up and drops me on the ground.  Another truck appears behind us.  It must be carrying Emedee’s parents.

                “Abert Twilight had the recipe.  We need to take them to the Queen immediately,” a guard says.  Mr. Twilight is thrown out of the truck and two guards carry him, to where, I don’t know.

                “What should we do with her?” the guard asks another.

                “We’ll take her along with these two for questioning.  Go look for the girl’s parents.  They must be around somewhere if the girl’s in on it,” the guard says.  The other nods, and grabs me by my hand.  I try to walk beside him, but I can’t.  He’s too tall, and I have no choice but to be dragged behind him.  I can see Colby being carried by another guard nearby.

                “You’re going to rot when we prove you guilty,” the guard says with a wicked smile.

                “I don’t know what’s going on!” I say.  Honestly, I don’t even believe myself.  The guard laughs.  He purposely drags me across these pointy rocks that scrape my legs.  I glare up at him.  He just laughs again.  This is too much.  I use all my energy to jump up in the air and kick his leg.  Hard.

                “OW!” the guard yells.  He releases me to hold his leg, jumping up and down.  “You’re going to get it, little brat!” he screams.  He grabs me by the head and shakes my body.  It hurts like crazy.  I feel tears stream from my eyes.  The pain continues as the guard laughs and shakes me.

                “Stop it!”  Colby.  He kicks the guard’s leg.  The guard howls in pain. 

                “You okay, Awesome?” he asks. 

                “I’m fine, I guess.  Thanks,” I reply.  For a moment we just look at each other.  I sigh.

                “It’s too bad we’re stuck here.  Thanks so much, Colby,” I say.  Colby shrugs.

                “Now you’re both going to get it!” The guard yells.  Colby and I stand there, frozen, as the guard grips our arms and squeezes.

                “Stop!” Someone yells.  “Don’t hurt them.  We need them to question.  If you hurt them now they might lose their memory or something,” someone says.  A little boy in a guard’s suit stands facing the chief guard hurting us.

                “You dare address me that way?” The chief asks.

                For what the boy lacks in size, he gains in guts.

                “Yes,” he says.  “I do.”