Pride, Freedom, and Humanity

I shook my head, “There’s no way. That can’t be true. Another prisoner told me that it had been
three years as well!”

“Why would I lie to you? Many prisoners have their minds swept too. It probably happened to
them too. However, you are Chloe Waters! That explains why you look identical to that guy.” He
pointed at Aaron.

“I look like him?”

“Yes, you most diffidently do.”

My head was beginning to hurt as I tried to remember everything. My mind was a complete
blank though. Why couldn’t I remember my childhood?

“I can’t remember…anything…” I shook my head.

“Then you’ll have to trust me.” He smiled.

“I guess so…”

“Why don’t you go get something to eat then we can talk later?”

I nodded then returned to where I was sitting before. After that news I wasn’t hungry at all.
How could I have my memory wiped?

“Whatcha thinking about?” James sat beside me. I just couldn’t be left alone. I looked at him
and watched as he took off his mask, revealing his face. I was shocked that he was actually doing it.
His hair was long and blonde, tied back in a pony tail. His face was square and flushed from the heat
in the mask. His skin was as white as snow and his eyes were so brown they looked black.

“What do you know about the Waters family?” I asked him taking in his facial features.

“Why do you want to know?” His face looked shocked.

“Curiosity.”

“There was a man named Josh Waters and he was the leader of the resistance. The one who
started it all. We were winning because of him for the longest time, but then they stole his daughter
right from under his nose.

He completely lost it after that. Raiding any places Newborn had been to in search for her. After
months of nothing but dead bodies, he killed himself. He left his ten year old son to fend for himself
all this time.”

I stared at him, “Is his son still alive?”

He nodded, “His song is here with us. In fact, you’ve already met him.”

“Who?”

“Aaron is his lost son. Aaron went into the prison because he wanted to search for his sister.”

“What’s his sisters name?” I was praying it wasn’t Chloe because then it would surely be true.

“Chloe…wait a minute! It’s you!” He pointed at me.

“Shhh! I don’t know. I don’t remember anything. All I know is that Aaron was saying he wanted
a girl who was still against them and he didn’t mention that he was looking for his freaking sister.
One who had been kidnapped and put in a prison with her memory wiped. Why in the hell would he
not just tell me? In fact his reason for helping me escape seemed pretty stupid before…”

“You came to us and told us exactly what he told you didn’t you? I mean…that would mean you
would’ve told Ner about who you really are.”

“What’s wrong with telling Ner? Why did Aaron say that I am still in danger?”

“Chloe, you are in the wrong group.” His voice was stern.

“What do you mean?”

“I’m undercover here with Aaron. Your dad isn’t dead. I know where to find him.” He wasn’t the
same James he was a couple seconds ago.

“Why are you undercover? Don’t you all work for the same team?”

“Chloe…Ner is short for Newborn. That’s his little brother.”

My mouth dropped open. “You mean he’s been lying to me all this time? He isn’t trying to stop
Newborn?”

“No, he tells everyone that he is so that he can be undercover for Isaac.”

“He said he’d help me.”

“That’s interesting…very interesting…”

“How is that interesting? It’s pathetic!”

“Keep it down…I wonder if Ner knows. That’d explain why he said he would help you. Usually he
wants to follow his own plan. It’s sad really. Nobody here except Aaron and I know about the truth.”
James shrugged.

“That’s beside the point. I need to get out of here. Where’s my dad?”

“Saying a place won’t get you anywhere. I’ll show you, but we need to leave tonight.” He stood
up.

“No, I’m not leaving Aaron or Shawn. It will have to wait. Plus I can get more information.”

He nodded, “Good point. You decide when and I will help. Good luck, Chloe.” Then he left.

So basically all that I think I know is a lie. Who am I then? Can I get my memory back? If I can
then how?

I was supposed to be grabbing some food to eat, but there was no way I was going to eat. My
stomach was going haywire, along with a throbbing head, so I decided to find Shawn.

He smiled when he saw me walking toward him again and patted a seat beside him. “Did you
eat?”

“No,” I sighed.

“Why not?” His blue eyes looked concerned.

“Would you be able to with all of this going on?”

He laughed, “No, I suppose not.”

I ran my hand through my hair and sighed once again. “I don’t enjoy not knowing who I am…”

Shawn grabbed my hand and held it in front of me. “You are who you make yourself out to be
right now.”

His hand was huge compared to mine. It was warm and comforting though. Almost like a hug
without the full embrace.

“As sweet as that it, I would still like to know who I am.”

He nodded and released my hand, “I wouldn’t know so I won’t argue.”

“Thank-you.” Then it got silent between us. I felt like I had done something wrong.

“You know this cave floor isn’t nearly as comfortable as the good old hospital beds.”

I laughed at him, “I would guess.”

“So…Chloe. What are you going to do?” he was serious now.

“I’m waiting for you and Aaron.”

“Chloe, the longer you wait, the more danger you are in.”

“Wait…how do you know that?” I felt my stomach drop slightly.

“Ner isn’t who he says he is.”

“How do you know?”

“I worked under Newborn. I know his little brother when I see him.”

“So James wasn’t lying…” I mumbled.

“James?”

“You’ll meet him soon enough…”

“It will be okay, Chloe.” He reassured me.

“I hope so.”

“Hey! Chloe!” James ran up beside me. “Do you want to go on a hunting trip with me?”

“A hunting trip?” Why would I want to go on one?

“Yeah. You and I will travel up to the great mountains and catch fish, hunt game and have fun.”
James was smiling at me. I had never seen this side of him.

“How long will it take?”

“A month or so. We really need to stock up.” That’s when I saw the glimmer in his eye. He
wanted me going for another reason.

Shawn must’ve noticed it too because then he began encouraging me to go. “Sounds like fun.”

“Okay, sure.” I stood up and looked at them both. “Does Ner know?”

James laughed, “He will in a little. Say your goodbyes.” Then James was gone.

Shawn grasped my hand again. “Be careful.”

I nodded. I didn’t want to leave Shawn or Aaron behind with Ner. I wanted them to come, but I
knew James wanted me to go for a reason.

“You too.”

“Well, get going. See you soon.” He smiled at me.

As I turned around, Ner was right behind me, causing me to collide into his chest. I glanced up
at his face only to find it stone cold. It was actually his face. He looked a lot younger when he had the
mask over his face. Now it wasn’t anywhere near flawless. He had scars all across his face and his
skin was paste colored. His eyes were a light brown, but the intensity in them made them as dark as
James. His hair was black and shaggy as it covered half his face. Not only was I taken aback by his
sudden appearance, but what in the world could’ve pissed him off so bad?

“You want to go with James?”

“Yeah.”

He stepped back with a sigh. “I won’t order you to stay; however, I recommend that you do.
You haven’t seen the world and what is has become.”

“Then I need to see it. Besides, if I’m out there I can learn to kill. Plus how else can I help?”

Ner looked down at me and nodded, “If that is what you believe then by all means, follow it.”

Why was Ner acting this way? Clearly he didn’t want me to go, but he was trying to hide it. I
was bothered by the fact that I could no longer trust him.

I nodded then walked past him in search for James. I wanted to get away from Ner as soon as
possible. I also wanted to know why James was acting weird.

I finally found him at the entrance of the cave with two big bags beside him. As I walked up, he
smiled at me then handed me a glock. “For your safety.” He knew I didn’t want to kill anyone.

“Thanks…” I shoved it into my pocket.

“Well, let’s go. It’s almost dark so now is the time to go.”

I nodded then lifted up one of the bags off the ground. After I managed to get both straps
around my shoulders, we left.

James had walked out ahead of me with a small flashlight leading our way. Slowly the sound of
the waterfall went away as we continued to walk. Eventually all I could hear was the crunching of the
ground beneath our feet. The silence was getting more awkward and harder to follow.

I wanted to ask James so many questions, but I knew that he would tell me when he knew it
was safe to do so. Everything seemed so different now. I didn’t know who to trust or who to run
from. How could this all happen?

The woods were a lot scarier at night then I would’ve expected. Every shadow, every vine, and
everyone rock tricked my eyes into believing that something was there, but as we got close to it I
realized that it wasn’t real.

After we walked for some time, James finally spoke up. “I think it is okay to talk now.” His voice
didn’t sound happy or excited anymore.

“What was that all about?”

“What?” He slowed his pace so that we walked side by side.

“That back there. You acted like someone drugged you.”

He laughed, “Yeah, I was trying to give you a message. Shawn was quick to catch on.”

“To what? Where are we going?”

“To see your dad.”