36Yes, I know, I haven't updated since like MAY. Really sorry about that... Well anyways, how was everyone's summers? XD Whatever, just read ahead :)
I heard a scream from where the van was. The guard followed me as I ran outside. There I saw Tom lying on the ground. He had been stunned, but it looked like it had been an accident. They were about to get him into the van, when I heard four deafening shots from next to me, and they were all lying on the bottom of the van, their knees bleeding heavily. One of them barely closed the door, and the van drove away. I faintly heard somebody screaming, "You left him behind you idiot! Now they'll get him!"
And they were right. The Bubblegum guard picked him up, and held him tightly as he walked around the café. He shoved him into the back seat, and told me to sit in the back, then he gave me a pair of handcuffs and a pair of ankle cuffs, as well a sedating drug – just to be on the safe side. I cuffed Tom's hands behind his back, cuffed his legs, put on his seatbelt, and leaned his head onto the window, so that it looked like he was sleeping. Then I assumed a similar pose and watched him carefully. I thought I had sort of known him, but I didn't think that he would actually work of the Circle. It just… didn't seem right. He looked very young as he slept, and guilt washed through me as I thought about what he would be facing.
I was feeling absolutely sick for most of the ride, and it wasn't carsickness. At some point, the guard looked at me in his mirror. I must've looked horrible, or horrified, or both. Maybe he guessed why. "We'll get Mandy, Cammie – don't you worry." I felt as if he had pulled a rubber band and snapped it into my brain. Mandy. I had hardly thought of her. The only thing I hoped for her is that she was still passed out, stunned; anything but with the knowledge that they had gotten her. All compassion towards Tom had vanished.
I only came out of my horrified trance when we were driving through Roseville. It was still all the same as it had been before. Before the Code Black, before Mandy, before Zach, before Josh. While we were driving along the driveway, I closed my eyes to avoid any curios stares. I knew very well that there would whispering, looks, and rumors. I just wanted to pretend like I didn't know about them.
It was in the morning, so there were classes. Tom – it had dawned on me that this probably wasn't his real name – wasn't awake yet, but he was stirring. Mom was waiting for us right by the entrance. I walked in behind the bubblegum guard, expecting something embarrassing. But I should have known that my mom wasn't that kind of mom. She looked beautiful as ever, even though it looked like she hadn't smiled in a really long time. When she saw me, she hugged me the way she always hugs me, and simply said, "I missed you, kiddo," even though her voice sounded a little thick. My mom was a great spy and amazing at keeping her cool, and I had a feeling that she was straining herself to stay calm, assuming that I was in shock. Which I was. "Come to my office sweetheart. You too, Mr. Large."
"Tell me the short form of the story Cam, please. You'll tell me all of it when I know what to do with him." She didn't ask where Mandy was. I couldn't help thinking that I had the greatest mom in the world.
So I told her everything. How we woke up in Mandy's old home in a tiny village, the days before and those after HappyFace13, told her about Tom, Mr. Goode, the escape, how we tried to leave false trails, and then about when we finally felt safe when the FBI dropped us off. I barely held myself together when I told her about the café. She hugged me tightly and kissed my forehead. "We'll get her, sweetie."
"No you won't," a raspy voice said. Tom had woken up.
"Yes, onto you," my mother said. "I think there's a helicopter that's waiting. Come on Cammie, you need to come too."
Bubble – I mean Mr. Large released his feet, and we walked to the waiting helicopter, accompanied by several very big, very bulky guys and a couple of girls. "What about Bex and Liz and Macey, mom?" I had kept myself from asking that question, because I knew that everything would be done in time, but now we were going into a helicopter, and even though I didn't want to admit it, I didn't want to take the risk. The Circle was still out there and I didn't want to leave so soon from the place that I'd been trying to get to such a long time.
She looked down at me from inside the helicopter, thinking for a moment. "Cam, we're just going to D.C. and we'll be back in a few hours. Come on," she motioned with her head, and I joined her, sighing. The door closed behind me. "Besides," she whispered in my ear, "I think that it might be better if people are expecting you."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I know how you feel. Gallagher is your home, and that's what it should feel like, sweetheart. Your sisters care about you." And then I couldn't stop myself from crying anymore.
I was a little embarrassed and looked around to see who was watching and if Tom was among them, but we were completely alone except for one guy that was guarding the door. I guessed that the others were in the back room.
x
x
When we arrived in D.C., I expected us to go through the women's wear store again, but the helicopter landed in the countryside. I wasn't sure what was going to happen then until the ground started to rise and we dipped below it. A hatch closed above us.
There were several men below ground, and one woman in a business suit and a clipboard. They opened the doors of the helicopter and immediately tore out Tom. He was wearing ankle cuffs again and I expected him to fall, but they didn't even let his feet touch the ground. They quickly took him through a door with fingerprint scanners. I wanted to ask where they were taking him, but I kept my mouth shut as one of the other guards offered me his hand to step out of the helicopter. I was a little surprised, but again I didn't say anything. The same guard helped my mom down, and Mr. Large stepped out by himself. Some of the others that had come with us also stepped out and went to do their own business, but most of them stayed put.
They took mom, Mr. Large, and me through a door next to the one Tom went through. The lady with the clipboard came to speak with us after we were scanned. "Welcome to our base, Mrs. Morgan, Miss Morgan, and Mr. Large. Please follow me." We followed her through many hallways, and I couldn't help but wonder what was happening to Tom right now. Then, three guards joined us. The woman stopped in a large, empty hallway with many doors. "Mrs. Morgan, you know who wants to see you," she gestured towards a door on the right.
"Of course," mom said and smiled reassuringly at me. "Thank you. I'll see you later Cam." I nodded and smiled back.
The woman turned to Mr. Large. "Mr. Large," she said, "please follow Quintus, who will show you to your debrief." Mr. Large nodded, and then nodded at me. I smiled back, even more nervous than before.
Then she turned towards me. "Miss Morgan, please turn around and put your arms behind your back," she said. It sounded like she wanted to put handcuffs one me.
"Wait what?" I asked, and she repeated herself in a calm but warning voice. My hands had started trembling, but I did as I was told, and I felt her clasp a pair of cuffs to my wrists. "What's going on?" I asked, and now my voice reflected how I felt.
They didn't answer me, but the two guards stood on each of my sides and the woman walked in front of me. We went down and elevator, and every time we passed someone, they'd nod at her and look curiously at me. Still, nobody spoke. We went through a very heavy door, and we were in a hall lined by metal doors, each with a small window. Cells, I realized and shivered.
The woman unlocked a door. "In here," she said, and the guards pushed me in. They didn't push me hard enough to fall, but it was clear that they were strong and that I could not run.
"Wait!" I yelled. "What's going on? I mean… You know who I am! Tell me!" I insisted. "I have a right to know why you're locking me in!"
"You are a prisoner of the CIA for the moment, Miss Morgan," she said.
What happened? Yeah, like I would tell you ;-) Actually, I have written on, and I'll be posting that once I know that there are people actually reading this story! Anyway... Happy Reviewing!