The Traitors

Chapter 2: A New Life in Hell

Present

Nina did not wake up until a few hours later. Her head felt fuzzy, and she almost forgot about what happened in the past 24 hours. Memories flooded back to her when she took in the room around her. Getting captured, being tortured and interviewed for hours, and then being sentenced to execution. Her eyes settled on a guard outside her room, his back facing her. She wasn’t sure how much time she had left before her execution, so she couldn’t help but ask the guard outside the room, “how long have I been out?” 

Alex’s eyes burned with annoyance. Not only did the girl faint and hit her head on the concrete, but he also had to carry her all the way back to her cell. While he rushed to get her, the crowd swarmed in, trying their best to grab her. Alex knew from the moment she fainted that the crowd would see it as an opportunity to strike. And he was right. A younger woman, maybe 20, kicked Nina’s chest, while others followed suit. It took a while (with the help of other guards), to hold back the angry crowd, pick Nina up and carry her away. At one point, he was successful, until someone threw a rock. It hit his head, striking him with surprise. Alex turned around, while still holding the unconscious prisoner, to face the young gentleman who would soon find he made a mistake. After glaring at the teenage boy, who cowered in response, he turned around and started walking. He’d deal with the kid later; he always got revenge.

It was a 20-minute walk, and he was trained to carry heavy weights--it wasn’t like she was heavy to begin with--but while he looked down at Nina’s face, he couldn’t help but feel...pity. Even though she was out cold, her face was still distraught and scrunched up, tears dried on her blushed cheeks. He thought how peculiar it was that a girl, her small size, was able to do what she did. Apart of him wanted to think she was being framed, but he’s seen her in action before. 

That was why Alex was annoyed. At that moment, when he looked at Nina’s face, he swore that he would not pity her. He would detach himself because he was a guard and this was his chance to be promoted--he’s been waiting for this opportunity for years and he won’t make another mistake again.

So, instead of facing her, he kept his posture and ignored her.

Nina sat up slowly, her body aching as she did so. She remembered feeling lightheaded as she walked out of the courthouse, but couldn’t remember why her head and chest were hurting so badly.

She tried to think of what the possible reason was. Yes, she was interrogated with force a few days before, but these pains were new. 

Her chest felt heavy; every time she breathed in she could feel a sharp pain radiating throughout her body. The back of her head also was throbbing. Something must have happened after she passed out. 

“Excuse me, sir,” Nina called out softly, wincing when she breathed in. “Did I get hit after I fainted?”

The mysterious guard continued facing away with her as her eyes burned through his back. She figured he’d ignore her anyway; regardless Nina assumed that something happened to her.

Instead of dwelling on it, she took in her surroundings. It wasn’t like there was much to take in. Her new living space for the next two days was very small, with just a bed and a bucket. There was no window; only a flickering light above her. 

It looked just like how Mason described it to her: dirty, dark and cold. 

Although Nina’s been a criminal for some time, she’s never been to jail. She’s never been punished for her crimes, until now. 

While it was a scary situation, Nina couldn’t help but feel content with her life and the people around it. However, she wasn’t ready to die. 

Just then, the guard entered the room with a tray and threw it on the ground. “Your food.” He muttered and then left, closing (and locking) the door behind him.

The “food” spilled everywhere on the floor. It wasn’t like it was food anyway; Nina couldn’t even guess what it was, it looked like goop. Maybe it was porridge. 

Despite the pain in her stomach from hunger, Nina decided it was best to not eat anything that was on this floor and laid down on the bed and closed her eyes.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn’t every day that Alex was praised for his good work. And he found he didn’t care as much as he thought.

After giving the prisoner her dinner, Alex made his way to his commander’s office. He was paged by his co-worker Starts to meet Commander Bram in his office. Starks was going to watch over the prisoner while he was gone. He was glad that he was able to make his way out of the room for a little bit. He wasn’t intimidated by the girl at all; he wondered how she was able to get away with so much. It was despicable. She deserved to suffer for her crimes. He decided that he hated her. 

Because of that, he wanted to talk to her and be in the same room with her as little as possible.

He knocked on Commander Bram’s door. “It’s Alex Cooper. Starks told me you wanted to see me, sir.”

Bram told him to come inside in his country drawl. Alex saluted when he made eye contact with his boss. 

“Welcome, Cooper. Sit, sit.” He waved his arm towards the seats across from him. Alex sat down, sitting up straight and tall. 

“You’ve done well, son. I heard that you were the one that found the girl at Madison Hall. Good job.” He patted Alex’s shoulder and smiled brightly.

“Thank you, sir.” He nodded his head. He hoped all this praise would lead to him being promoted, as he was promised.

“I was told you wanted to see me. Is there a new task for me?” Alex crossed his arms and leaned against the chair. He didn’t like praising, he wanted to get straight to business. He would not let the praise manipulate it like it did in the past. He’d rather get praised by Erik Handel, the real leader, than Bram.

“Yes, you’re always ready to work.” Bram laughed and sat down in his chair behind his desk. “This regards something that happened yesterday. You see, while the criminal was being brought into the courthouse, someone must have thrown an illegal item.” He paused, opened a drawer that was connected to his desk, and pulled out the item. “This was confiscated.”

Alex grabbed the black box and opened it. Inside the box was a heart-shaped shiny silver ring. 

“It’s a ring believed to be imported from another country. This is a type 5 felony, as I’m sure you know.” Bram explained.

Alex stared at the item, nodding to everything that Bram was saying.

“Out of all the guys I have, I trust you the most Cooper. You really have done well this time.” He grasped his hands and leaned forward. “The thing is, we all have an idea of who this man is, we just can’t touch him.” 

Alex looked up from the item, raising a brow. Bram continued. “Do you know David Ressner? Well, we are sure that this is his son’s, James, doing. But we need solid proof it’s him. That’s where I need your help. Do you understand?” Bram leaned back in his seat in a confident manner. “I have a deal for you: after Reyes, find evidence proving it was James and I’ll talk to Nelson about getting you promoted.”

“I thought after Reyes I was going to be promoted.” Alex corrected Bram, scratching his neck.

Brams laughed a hearty laugh. “That was to consider you. This is to actually talk to Nelson.”

Alex started picking at his fingers, frustration and anxiety ringing throughout his body. All his hard work was a lie? He actually wasn’t going to be promoted? 

“I see, I see.” He nodded, even though he wanted to curse out this man.

“Whatcha say? You in or out?” Bram stook his left hand out, waiting for Alex to shake it. 

Alex put his hand in Bram’s, changing his fate forever.