The Downfall

Chapter 11

They should have made their rounds before deciding that they were safe. They should have never let their guard down. They should have done a lot of things that they didn't. Within an instant, the two rebels were surrounded. Guns were drawn, pointed at the two. Nick had his gun drawn and Nadia had her knives. She mentally cursed herself. She brought a knife to a gun fight. To say she was uneasy was the understatement of the year. Her green eyes narrowed, calculating on an escape route or plan of action. It was five against two. No matter what Nadia saw, there wouldn't be a way out unless they surrendered. The two locked eyes, they had no choice if they wanted to live. But would living without emotion really classify as living? " Drop your weapons! " A soldier yelled, advancing. The two didn't need to be told twice. They put their weapons on the ground and kicked them away. They knew the drill by now. Their hands were up by their heads, waiting for further instructions.

From behind them, a shot was sounded. Nadia's leg crumpled from beneath her, the victim of a bullet. Before either could truly process what had happened, the group was on them. Nick tried fighting, but it gave no advantage when he was hit roughly over the head. He instantly fell slack, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. A sharp pain ran through her own, and she found herself copying Nick's actions, slumping beside him.

Nadia heard shuffling from beside her and eventually a grunt as if someone had given up. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, before opening them, blinking at the sudden brightness. She lifted her head lightly, biting back a groan. Next to her was Nick. He narrowed his eyes at her as if silently judging her and blaming her for their current situation. Outside the door, people were shuffling. Each fell slack to their past positions, head slumped forward and eyes closed. " Get up. " A gruff voice commanded.

" We know you're up. " A female voice spoke. This voice was oddly familiar. Nadia could tell Nick stiffened up by how he shifted. She figured it would be easier to cooperate rather than to go against these people at this point. Apparently, Nick had the same thought as they lifted their heads at the same time. Her green eyes widened at the woman in front of her. It was General Shannon Lee. She was working with the government. She was working for the government and wanted to kill Nadia for being affiliated with someone who worked with the government. Judgment rolled off of her in waves, her eyes narrowed at the blonde in front of her. She hoped she would feel it.

" Careful, Nadia. " Shannon taunted, a smirk on her lips as she approached the two. " You're showing emotion, browner. " Nick's eyes flitted over to Nadia, she was a browner? A lot of the browners, you could point them out easily typically. They were part of the lower working class. Dishwashers, field pickers, gutter cleaners, you didn't see them often. Nadia didn't carry herself that way. She had made a name for herself as something other than that, but that was in the rebellion. This was her past coming out to play. She glared at the other, her green eyes darkening. Nick, he was a green. He was dead set in middle class. He knew she was fighting her natural instinct to make a smart comment. It was how she defended herself. Words, fighting back with insults until it got physical.

Shannon's eyes narrowed back at the other female, a bit disappointed that she didn't fight back. That was unlike the hothead. " How'd it feel seeing Cierra and Taylor dead? " She questioned, pulling a chair up to sit with her two strategists. Seeing the looks they gave her she gave a small scoff, sending the male off.

" I am still your friend, you know. " She spoke, crossing a leg over the other and twisting a strand of hair around her finger. ' If only looks could kill. ' Nick thought bitterly to himself as his glare only hardened. She had betrayed them all. He didn't bother looking over at Nadia, he didn't want to meet her gaze. She now came to the conclusion on that was why he had covered her eyes in the first place.

" They're dead? " She whispered out, voice cracking yet sounding as if she didn't believe it. Shannon laughed loudly, nearly doubling over. Sitting up she dabbed at her eyes.

" Of course they're dead. I was aiming to kill you as well. " That overconfident smirk was back on her face. As if their living was just a mild inconvenience that wasn't important either way. " Although, if I am being honest, I'm glad you two survived. You just became much more valuable. " Her purred out. Nadia wasn't looking forward to finding out what she meant by that. She let out a fake yawn and stood up.

" This is getting boring. " She spoke and the broad man from before came in. " Harry, take 'em out. " She commanded and walked towards the door, only pausing to send a small wave our way before continuing on her path to God knows where. The man held a creepy smile as he loomed over us, a shot in either hand.

" This won't hurt. . .much. " He promised. He looked like the classical creepy guy from a movie. His eyes were rat-like, and his smile. It was the smile that sent chills down your spine. He moved around behind Nadia, and moved her hair out of the way, exposing her neck. She struggled, trying to break free of her bonds and get away from the man. Her tries didn't mean anything. He struck her with the needle and inserted the nasty blue liquid into her veins, whispering, " Nighty night, Kingsman. " Into her ear before she had fallen unconscious once more.

The next time the girl woke, she was hardly sure of who she was. Confused, she sat up looking around the white room. Everything was white. From the bed, to the walls, to the floors, even the gown she was wearing. She eyed the clothing with distaste, before standing. It was completely bare, she couldn't even find a door. Her eyebrows furrowed as she took a step forward. Her body seemed to have a mind of its own, pushing her until she stood in the middle of the floor. The floor opened up and she was falling, air rushing past her, doing nothing to stop it. It was like a crowd splitting for the queen.

A scream ripped from her lips as she sat up in the bed, her green eyes wide with confusion and fear as sweat dripped off of her in buckets. ' It was a dream. ' Her mind screamed at her, trying to calm her racing heartbeat as she took in the room. It was different from the one in her dream. It was a prisoner's room, dusty and dirty with a bed that hung by chains and only a bucket as a toilet. Her hands went to her hair. She always played with it to help calm her down after a nightmare. Only, it wasn't there. It was nearly all gone, the brown locks that once went down to her butt now cut short. Judging by how it felt, they had made it into a pixie cut style. A strangled gasp left her lips as she ran her fingers through it. She had never cut her hair, not once in her life.

She had always thought of her hair as the one thing she could control within the chaos of everything. Having that ripped away did a number on the girl, more so than she'd like to admit. " Good, you're up. " Someone spoke, standing up. A wall of bars separated the two. Hesitantly, Nadia approached, hoping to get a better look at the woman on the side of the free. It wasn't Shannon, although, part of Nadia wished it was so she could bang her head against the bars.

" How do you like your new, 'do? " She smirked lightly, twisting a pair of scissors around her fingers. She was the one who cut Nadia's hair. Nadia refused to answer, biting her tongue to hold back the temper she was known for. Arguing wouldn't let her know anything.

" Where am I? " She questioned, her voice hoarse and rough. It had taken her a few tries to get the words out. She was in need of water. As if reading her mind, the girl handed her a water bottle through the gap of the thick, cylinder, black bars. She greedily grabbed the bottle and gulped down half of the water. She knew better than to waste something as precious as the clean water.

" Government territory. " The girl answered, fiddling with her braid. She was in Government territory? She was back near civilization if that was true. " You're one of the lucky ones. " The girl spoke before turning and walking away, a hint of disgust and sorrow mixed along her features. Who was she?