Remember the Name: Chapter Two

Written by me.

 “Sir,” a man said. “She is in captivity with the others. There are no problems.”
   “Acknowledged,” I replied. “You are dismissed for now.”
   The tall man wearing a steel face mask nodded and walked out of the room without turning away, his hands folded carefully behind his back. The door slid shut; the automatic lock clicked.
   I looked up at the screens above me, seven of them showing clear security camera views and the remaining showing an active command-line interface. A wide keyboard sat on the table that my office chair was tucked under. I rested my elbows on the table and spun a pair of chopsticks with my index and middle fingers, thoughts beginning to run through my head itchingly.
   I didn't want to have to do this, I thought, glancing at a particular security screen. But it was purely bad luck that you showed up when you did.
   The screen I looked at, screen #7, was a wide view of a dark room, most likely used previously as a large guest room, with a coffee table shoved up against the wall; a bed and television set were tucked into the corners of the room and out of the way. The west middle wall was what I was paying intent attention to.
    Lined up against the wall were three blindfolded people, bound by the ankles and wrists, completely motionless. I, stupidly, didn't order them to be given gags; their mouths began to move ever so slightly.
   They think they can talk without me noticing, I thought. Nothing they do can get past me.
   I pressed down on a tiny button on a panel attached to my earpiece and spoke into the small microphone that was inserted into a jack.
   “Assistance needed,” I said into it.
   “Acknowledged,” came the voice on the other end. “What is the problem?”
   “They’ve begun to converse... Please give them each a gag, X.”
   “Certainly.”
   I released the button and took off my earpiece, setting it down in a nook underneath the tabletop. I glanced up at screen #7 once more and pulled out a full headset, plugging it into a jack on the screen panel and putting it on, gaining full access to every sound in the room. I listened intently to the faint sound of the voices.
   “Don’t talk, please,” the blonde girl on the left muttered, barely moving her lips.
   “Tell me what’s going on!” the brunette girl cried, beginning to panic. “Where am I? Why am I tied up?”
   “Be quiet,” hissed a boy on the right of the brunette girl. “You’ll get us killed.”
   I listened and watched closely, the chopsticks in my mouth, a faint taste of pineapple curry still lingering somewhere. I smiled slightly and stifled a giggle as I watched the three captives argue for their own safety.
   I could be more brutal to them, I thought. They’re lucky I’m being so fair to them. I guess it’s about time to show them that I’m not as easygoing as they might think.
   I put on my earpiece again and pressed down on the button, not fighting my growing smile; I was getting eager to show off just what I was capable of.
   “X,” I said, “forget the gags. Remove their blindfolds, please.”
   “Sir, are you sure?” X murmured.
   “Can’t I have a bit of fun with them? I’m not all work and no play.”
   “Acknowledged.”
   I sat back, carefully picked up a piece of curry chicken from my cooling plate with my chopsticks, and sunk my teeth into it, staring in anticipation at screen #7 again.

   I watched it all unfold: X walked into the prisoner’s room, took their blindfolds, scared some sense into them with a list of threats I had given him to memorize, and gave them each a meal. C’mon, I wasn’t cruel enough to let them starve.
   “Excellent work, X,” I praised, not turning my office chair to face him. I smiled at the screens and typed a few precautionary commands into the command-line interface quickly. “You are admirably loyal. I thank you.”
   “I’m only doing my job,” X replied. “I owe you my life, sir.”
   “Oh, you know I couldn’t leave you to be wrongly imprisoned. I fight for justice, even if the world doesn’t accept that justice at first glance.”
   Something flickering on the screen grabbed hold of my attention and I glanced up at screen #7 once again.
   What are they doing? I thought, criss-crossing my legs on the chair and trying to see what had just happened. As soon as my brain had registered what was going on, my eyes widened. The blonde girl had stood up and begun to smash herself into the brick wall, attempting to... kill herself?
   Amanda Douglas? I thought she was stronger than this.
   “X, take care of her, immediately,” I commanded. “Do not harm her. Use a tranquilizer.”
   “Acknowledged,” he replied, rushing out the door. A million thoughts began to process in my mind, teasing my calmness; testing my patience.
   There has to be a logical explanation for her actions; Amanda wouldn’t be as weak as to attempt suicide to avoid being questioned. She’s too proud, I thought, placing my fingers on my chin and glancing at the command-line interface. The first thing I saw on the screen was ‘command:-distract.’ My brain clicked and begun to whir like gears in a clock.
   That’s it. Amanda works for the police force, and she’s got intellect with hidden maneuvers to ‘distract’ the criminal until a plan was carried out in secret. Well, bad luck, Douglas. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve, as well.
   I smirked to myself, and rolled up my long white sleeves. I began typing in commands swiftly as X intercepted Amanda with the tranquilizer and dealt with the other two, making sure they didn’t follow her actions.
   I’m one step ahead of the game, Douglas. You’ve forgotten that I am not a criminal... I am Justice.    

Reviews

[Arsenic Nemesis]

Wow, this is bloody brilliant! Really interesting and suspenseful and just generally wow! I love this so much, it's really well written and had me completely absorbed the entire time. Great job, I can't wait for more!~

[Safe&sound<3 ♫]

i love this! very suspenseful, very professional, and very good! bravo!