I have been sitting here for what feels like hours, but it could have only been minutes. Who knew that in the dark and all alone, that time really has no use? Time stands still, and with each passing moment, my heartbeat grows louder and louder. Time is unidentifiable without the watch, or even the sun. Even my beating heart can lie to me.
“She’s in here,” I hear hushed voices coming from outside where I am being held.
“Good,” another voice calls out from the same direction.
“What do we do with her?” the first voice asks.
“Take her to Jonathan, and he will take her to her father,” the second voice commands.
My breath hitches. I would rather be dead than be taken to that man, at least without Eli and Jake.
Keys jingle for a few seconds before a heavy door is pulled open. Light floods the area, blinding me instantly. I can hear footsteps come my direction, but I can’t see a thing. The darkness was my downfall, but now it’s the light.
A hand grabs my arm, pulling me off the cot.
“You’re coming with us, Miss Towers,” a voice calls out.
“I’m not going anywhere without my people,” I say firmly.
At that moment, I jerk my arm free of the man’s hand. My vision is coming back, but everything still has a heavy blurriness. I have no other choice than to stand my ground half blind.
“Miss Towers,” the voice protests.
“No! I am not Miss Towers or even Elizabeth; I am Liz Strong… You have the wrong person!!!”
“Are you sure of that Miss Towers?” a third voice says with a thick accent.
My heart picks up its pace in my chest. Is this man from The Elected? I do the only thing I know how to do, I spin around, bringing a flat palm to the first man’s nose. Through haze, I can tell there was contact.
The second and third men try to get ahold of me, but I know I must try to find my family.
“Where are they?” I scream at the top of my lungs. At this point I have lost all composure, but instead of tears, I have sheer rage coming from me. I feel anger in every vein in my body; it floods my blood stream and even the place where I had been shocked.
The men get the upper hand and grab me from behind. They are pushing me toward the door against my will. I fight with all my might. I begin to stomp on the foot of the man closest to me when I hear more footsteps coming our direction. My vision is coming back just enough to see the man with the suit come into view in the opening of the door.
“Gentlemen,” he says stoically, “please release Miss Towers at once.”
Both men release their grip on my arms immediately and walk toward the man in the suit, taking positions on either side of him. They stand just slightly behind him, reminding me they are here still, but the man is in charge.
I pull myself together enough to try to talk to this man with some amount of composure.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I am R. J. Timothy the third,” the man answers. “President of The Facility.”
“You couldn’t be,” I say breathlessly.
“Oh, but I am,” he retorted, “but if you would follow me willingly, I would like to prove it to you.”
“Blindfolded?” I ask with notes of accusation.
“Of course not, you are already in The Facility, there is no need in blindfolding you at this time. For now, you are my guest.”
I nod my head. “But I will not be seeing Robert Towers now or ever, also I have no plans to encounter Johnathon. Do you understand me? That man is not nor will ever be my father!”
The man nods his head with a grand sweeping bow following.
“Very well,” he says with a smile. Wrinkles line the crease of his eyes and mouth.
“And you will take me to my people?”
“In time,” he responds, with another noble smile on his face.
“How much time?” I ask.
“You are a demanding young lady, aren’t you?
“Yes, I am,” I answer proudly as if that part of me is a good thing.
“Follow me,” he says.
The guards step aside so that I can get past them and walk next to their boss. As I pass by the guards, I make a face, letting them know they have made it on my bad side. I make a mental note to myself; should I ever get the chance to prove it to them I am strong, I will.
The third guard has disappeared, taking care of his bloody nose would be my guess.
Oddly enough, as I walk down the aisle of what has been called The Facility, I gain my eyesight. If we didn’t get relocated after I got knocked out, then we should still be at IOUSC. We still need to find out what that means exactly.
“If you’re not going to take me to my family right away, could you at least tell me if they are okay or where they are at?” I ask.
“Yes, they are okay, as you say.” The man smiles. “They have been integrated into our society with a guard on each of them. That is, of course, except for Miss Samantha King, she remains in solitary lock down.” He glances at me. “She is the feisty one, isn’t she?”
“You have no idea,” I say with a small smile and eye roll. “What does integrate into society mean?” I ask, “And why is Samantha still
