Nation 27

CH 25: Proposition

[20 October 2021, Wednesday…]

[11.13 pm]

[3rd floor, recreational area…]

Faint rasping from cicadas could be heard despite the wide, thick tempered glass windows whose frames have been completely reinforced to prevent any incidents of the facility’s patients breaking through the glass and inevitably hurting themselves. 

‘Strange… I don’t remember cicadas still being around during the late summer. Well, it’s practically autumn now, and those insects don’t like the mild and dry climate. In fact, the heat of the summer would have long subsided by now…’ Jared thought to himself as he gazed out of the window from his seat.

Although Jared was seated fairly close to the windows, he was unable to fully see the trees. At best, he could see the very top of some of the nearby trees- but that was about it. Being on the third floor in a facility that was located on the highest ground in the entire county, it was difficult to see much unless one were to stand directly at the window.

Somewhat curious, Jared nearly got up from his seat but decided otherwise.

‘What the heck am I doing? It’s not like we’re alone...’ 

In comparison to the rather lively forest that surrounded the outside of the facility, it was however suffocatingly quiet within the facility itself. For the last few minutes, it was so silent that arguably, a syringe dropping on the furthest end of the floor could still be heard.

Never before had the facility been this muted in the months he had stayed here. Jared glanced towards the opposing end of the recreational room and silently berated himself for easily getting distracted.

It was not long ago that Clara and Adam were held at gunpoint by two dangerous men while the men’s leader was at the mercy of Louis’ six inched knife. After much negotiating- more like yelling and endless threats- the weapons of both parties were surrendered, and the hostages were released.

‘If you ask me, the way the whole situation was solved is rather cartoonish. I mean… If they really think we’ve done something unthinkable to their comrade and heard that one of us is still unaccounted for, why should they relinquish their weapons so easily? Or rather, why would they allow Clara to hold on to all of the weapons? Are they that confident that we won’t be able to harm them or have we somewhat gained their trust?’

Jared looked over at Louis who had been sitting at one of the small round tables of the recreational room. His friend had been watching the intruders with his head propped up on the table. It was obvious that the boy was deep in thought but his expression remained unreadable.

‘We’re nothing but merely scrawny kids and there’s no certainty that these men can be trusted. Even without their weapons, the men are muscular and strong looking enough to take on all of us… I’m sure that Louis has a plan but was it a wise decision to release their leader? He was the only leverage we had in case things were to go sideways…’

“So, are we going to keep on staring at each other?” the one named David asked grumpily, but due to the abrupt sound in the extremely quiet setting, it sounded as if he shouted.

The men’s leader, Brien, cleared his throat and looked pointedly at Louis.

“You boys said that there’s still one of you unaccounted for, right? Do you know when she might be headed this way or where we could find her?”

“Around this time, Sam would be making her rounds to attend to the patients. That should place her between the second and fourth floors. However, during our ‘little game of chase’,” Louis said sarcastically with hand gestures of inverted commas, “I didn’t see any signs of her… Which makes me think that she could be hiding somewhere. Somehow or rather, she became aware of your presence and had taken the opportunity amidst the chaos to seek a hiding spot.”

“Shit! This damn place is a maze!” David cussed.

“Well, there’s no way she would venture outside. So, that leaves only a few places to check,” Louis replied calmly.

“Little boy, you are aware that we’re probably the enemy, right?” the third man, Mike, asked. Even the seemingly level-headed and quiet man was unable to reason with Louis’ behavior. No longer under immediate danger or threat, no one would willingly give up the location of their unfound friend.

Even Clara and Jared could not help but stare at Louis in utter surprise.

Louis chuckled.

“You’re all going to make me blush by staring so intently like that. Good thing that Adam is still unconscious. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to handle the additional attention on me~” Louis joked but when everyone seemed unamused, Louis continued, “…Ahem. Anyway, let’s just say that I’ve my reasons to believe that you men do not mean us any harm. Besides, I’ve been wanting to get a proper grasp of what Sam has been up to as of late.”

“What a strange boy. If I hadn’t personally witnessed your indifference and wit earlier, I would be inclined to say that you’re mad. If anything, I’d assume that you’d attempt to lie to us, but seeing your friends’ horrified and surprised reactions, you seem to be telling the truth… Alright then. David and Mike, I want you guys to follow this blond one. He’ll help you locate the girl and hopefully, some clues of Boyan’s whereabouts,” Brien said.

“But-”

“Don’t worry, David. Brien knows what he’s doing,” Mike said.

“Ah, that reminds me. In the event that you’re indeed luring my men into a trap, I’d like to have this boy as a hostage,” Brien pointed at Jared, “The girl and her brother can be locked up in a room. I know that you’re quite fond of this boy judging from the way you act around him.”

Brien smiled when he briefly saw a tic on Louis’ jaw. Although seemingly calm, the proposition definitely did not please the blond-haired boy.

“Will that be agreeable with you?” Brien prompted.

“...Yes.”

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It was silent again for what seemed like an eternity. Jared could not help but glance between the stars that twinkled brightly in the night sky outside the window and the wall clock that was hung up on the center pillar of the recreational room.

‘Uh… It has only been a couple of minutes… I don’t think he’s going to hurt me but I don’t know what to say,’ Jared thought as he glanced up at Brien only to realize that the middle-aged man had been watching him the entire time.

“Oh!” Jared gasped.

“Easy, boy. I mean you no harm.”

“I know…” Jared rubbed the back of his head in awkwardness.

“So, what’s your name?” Brien asked gently, “I know you kids heard our names since we were constantly yelling it out… But I’ll properly introduce myself. I’m Brien.”

“Ah, yes… I’m Jared.”

“Mm. It suits you well. How old are you?”

“Ninete- Oh… I mean, twenty…”

Despite the odd reply, Brien continued to smile kindly.

“What’s your friend’s name? The blond one…”

“...Louis,” Jared said uncomfortably.

‘It’s okay to say that, right? It’s not like I’m giving away any secrets or information that can be used against us…’ Jared thought to himself.

“I see. That boy has a good head on those shoulders. Ah, what I’d give to have one of my men as smart and calculative as him. Mike is pretty smart, but I doubt he can be as cold and decisive as your friend.”

“Ah…” Jared uttered awkwardly.

‘Is it okay for him to be telling me, the potential enemy, these things?’

Then as if reading his thoughts, Brien chuckled.

“Ah, my boy… It’s alright for me to divulge that piece of information. I can see that you’re an honest boy. Besides, from what little interaction we had earlier, I’m pretty sure that you’re able to determine whether or not my men are as cunning and strategic as your friend.”

“Ah… Haha… Yeah…” Jared admitted meekly as that fact was quite undeniable.

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[Author’s remark:]

So, we know that in chapters 4, 5, and 23, Jared is 20 years old. 

But why did he almost say ‘nineteen’? Did he jump a year or has the time in the game been set wrongly? Or are his memories still jumbled up?

What do you guys think?

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