recall,” Brooks began again, “we nearly lost one of our own that day. One of our nation’s beloved superheroes was critically wounded in her fight to contain the rebels from slaughtering innocent civilians. She was shot in the upper chest by another rebellion member as she attempted to detain their leader, Marshall Leitner. But in a valiant act, her partner managed to save her life, swiftly helping her obtain the medical attention she so desperately needed.”
I glanced over at Ian, and brushed my fingers across his forearm. He briefly broke his gaze away from the television to return my stare; a small smile flirted with the corners of his lips, both comforting and sad at the same time.
“I’m happy to tell you all today that she is alive and doing well, considering the circumstances. Her body has healed at quite a miraculous rate, readying itself for our ongoing battle against the rebellion, and our fight to take back our country.” As usual, he was perfectly coiffed, his blue suit neatly pressed. He’d be handsome if it wasn’t for the evil that flowed through his veins from the black heart that beat inside his chest. “And it is my honor to announce that she has agreed to give a live statement to you all this morning with a message concerning her firsthand experience with the rebellion, including their motives and measures you can perform to keep your family safe.”
“Isn’t he going to be surprised,” I muttered to Ian.
A moment later, my image appeared on the screen. Despite my mask, if you looked closely, you could see my lips pursed into a hard line, an obvious hardened resolve imprinted on them. “ Good morning .” My voice came through the speakers as I began to talk. My shortened speech would be seen as yet another act of defiance against Brooks. There were only so many of those I would get, and my last one was fast approaching, if I hadn’t already expended it. I had to do something, and it had to be soon, before Brooks and Victor found a way to silence me forever. My life must mean something before I could allow my heart to stop beating a final time. “… to fight by your side and keep you safe .”
“Well, that wraps that up,” I said, turning around to walk down the hall. But I only made it two steps before my voice came across the speakers again, louder and more resolute than before. “ Members of an organized rebellion have chosen time and time again to defy our president…” The speech, the one I was supposed to give, was somehow coming from my lips in my voice. Stiffening, I watched while the words I had been ordered to say came from me seamlessly. Words I would never say, words that condemned the rebellion, words that would cause more chaos than good. Then as soon as I had said them, I was gone, the damage done, and Brooks getting exactly what he wanted. “You son of a bitch,” I all but yelled as I turned around and made a mad dash toward Victor with one purpose in mind.
*****
“Chase, it’s about to start,” Paige called from the living room.
“Okay,” he answered from the kitchen, closing the door to the dishwasher before grabbing a glass of water from the counter.
“What is this, another address?” Trey asked.
“I’m not sure, but I’m willing to give someone who saved my life a moment of my time, no matter what forum they’re using.” Chase sat on the couch next to Paige, while Trey slumped in a recliner. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Who knows, as much trouble as you’ve been finding yourself in lately, you’ll probably get a chance to thank her personally,” Trey said with a laugh that was cut short by Paige’s annoyed glare. “Or not,” he muttered.
“Finally,” Chase said, leaning back against the couch.
The television switched from President Brooks to the image of the masked superhero, dressed in black.
“Would it kill them to add a little color to their wardrobe?” Paige muttered.
“Yes, I totally agree,” Trey said,
I glanced over at Ian, and brushed my fingers across his forearm. He briefly broke his gaze away from the television to return my stare; a small smile flirted with the corners of his lips, both comforting and sad at the same time.
“I’m happy to tell you all today that she is alive and doing well, considering the circumstances. Her body has healed at quite a miraculous rate, readying itself for our ongoing battle against the rebellion, and our fight to take back our country.” As usual, he was perfectly coiffed, his blue suit neatly pressed. He’d be handsome if it wasn’t for the evil that flowed through his veins from the black heart that beat inside his chest. “And it is my honor to announce that she has agreed to give a live statement to you all this morning with a message concerning her firsthand experience with the rebellion, including their motives and measures you can perform to keep your family safe.”
“Isn’t he going to be surprised,” I muttered to Ian.
A moment later, my image appeared on the screen. Despite my mask, if you looked closely, you could see my lips pursed into a hard line, an obvious hardened resolve imprinted on them. “ Good morning .” My voice came through the speakers as I began to talk. My shortened speech would be seen as yet another act of defiance against Brooks. There were only so many of those I would get, and my last one was fast approaching, if I hadn’t already expended it. I had to do something, and it had to be soon, before Brooks and Victor found a way to silence me forever. My life must mean something before I could allow my heart to stop beating a final time. “… to fight by your side and keep you safe .”
“Well, that wraps that up,” I said, turning around to walk down the hall. But I only made it two steps before my voice came across the speakers again, louder and more resolute than before. “ Members of an organized rebellion have chosen time and time again to defy our president…” The speech, the one I was supposed to give, was somehow coming from my lips in my voice. Stiffening, I watched while the words I had been ordered to say came from me seamlessly. Words I would never say, words that condemned the rebellion, words that would cause more chaos than good. Then as soon as I had said them, I was gone, the damage done, and Brooks getting exactly what he wanted. “You son of a bitch,” I all but yelled as I turned around and made a mad dash toward Victor with one purpose in mind.
*****
“Chase, it’s about to start,” Paige called from the living room.
“Okay,” he answered from the kitchen, closing the door to the dishwasher before grabbing a glass of water from the counter.
“What is this, another address?” Trey asked.
“I’m not sure, but I’m willing to give someone who saved my life a moment of my time, no matter what forum they’re using.” Chase sat on the couch next to Paige, while Trey slumped in a recliner. “It’s the least I can do.”
“Who knows, as much trouble as you’ve been finding yourself in lately, you’ll probably get a chance to thank her personally,” Trey said with a laugh that was cut short by Paige’s annoyed glare. “Or not,” he muttered.
“Finally,” Chase said, leaning back against the couch.
The television switched from President Brooks to the image of the masked superhero, dressed in black.
“Would it kill them to add a little color to their wardrobe?” Paige muttered.
“Yes, I totally agree,” Trey said,
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