Locked In

October 27, 3030 7:03 A.M.         We sneak around the campus, alert for any security camera or alarms that may trigger. Up ahead, we hear the unmistakable sound of a glass bottle rolling across concrete.          I mentally groan. Damn.         "You have got to be shitting me," Karter growls as a guard rounds the corner.         I raise my gun, aiming at the figure nearing us. I can see Scarlett ahead of Karter and I, seemingly shielding us from danger. Bennett, of course, stands right beside her, gun cocked and ready. Chloe stands off to Scarlett's left, providing another defensive position for the group.          "Drop your weapons!" My eyes widen a bit and I falter, hearing the guards orders.          He sounds so familiar...          I shake away the thoughts, and tighten my grip on my gun. Any moment of weakness could kill us all. I narrow my eyes, tilting my gun for a headshot.         "We don't want any trouble," Scarlett says. "Please."         "I have direct orders from the President." The guard doesn't lower his gun. "You five are considered dangerous. I have to kill you."         "The President is dead!" Bennett informs. "You don't have to take orders from him anymore."         The guard lowers his gun for a split second before raising it again. "I don't believe you."         "I killed him," Scarlett claims. "Just let us go and we won't shoot."         "I can't do that. Even if the President is dead, his orders are not. I have to follow through with them."         I furrow my brows. That voice... His body language... there's no way. It can't be-           "Ashton?" I gasp, pushing past Scarlett and Bennett.           The guard staggers at the sound of his name. His mask covers most of his face, but those eyes. I know those eyes. I choke back a sob.         His eyes widen, clearly thrown off guard. "How do you know my name?"         I lower my weapon, slowly inching closer to him. "Ashton, it's me, Madison."         "I don't know a Madison."         I shake my head. "The attack. We were together before the attack on the school. We were running and you fell and I-" I squeezed my eyes shut, pushing back hot tears as the memories flooded back to me. "I'm so sorry, Ashton. I never should have left you behind."         Ashton remains silent for a moment, eyes darting between me and my friends. I have no clue what's going on inside his head, but I pray there's still a part of him inside. I smile as he begins to slowly lower his gun. Dread fills me as darkness clouds his eyes once more, raising the gun straight back at me.         "I don't know a Madison." He pulls the trigger.          I can hear Karter curse while he fires back, as I simultaneously drop to the ground to avoid the bullet. "Shit!"           We take cover behind a wall, being careful to fire only warning shots at our friend. The gunfire soon stops and I breathe heavily as Chloe looks me up and down.            "Are you hit?" she asks, lifting one of my arms to check me over.         "No." I shake my head, adrenaline pumping through me. "He missed."         "He had a perfect shot," Scarlett frowned. "He couldn't have missed."         Karter reloads his gun, peeking over the wall quickly. "Yeah, well, let's just be glad he did."         "How does Ashton not remember us?" Bennett asks. "The attack wasn't that long ago."         "I don't know," Scarlett says. "Right now, we just need to find another way into the school."         "And how do you propose we do that?" Chloe pushes back a hair on her forehead. "We just waltz right in?"         Scarlett raises a brow, checking her ammo before shifting in her spot. "We need to split up. It's five against one, he can't keep track of us all."         "Where do we go?" I ask.         Scarlett shakes her head, closing her eyes as she thought of a plan. She opens them again, making eye contact with the group. "Okay. Bennett and I will hold off Ashton. The rest of you three will sneak into the school." She gestures her head in the direction of Ashton. "There's a window right behind him. We'll make sure to distract him and keep him from turning around. Send us a signal when you get inside. After that... Bennett and I will find a way to get past Ashton."         "That's my best friend, Scarlett," Karter says, eyes filled with worry. "You're not going to kill him, are you?"         "Not unless I have to." Scarlett glances at all of us before she nods. She takes a deep breath and grips her gun. "Go!"           Gunshots fill the air once more as Bennett and Scarlett fire at Ashton. He stays distracted just long enough for us to sneak our way behind the school. Chloe rushes to the back doors, slamming her gun against the chains to break it open. We make our way inside, alert for anyone inside. Though the building is empty, we still keep our guns raised.              It doesn't take long for us to make our way to the front of the school. We quickly locate the window Scarlett mentioned. I can see Ashton, still firing back at our friends behind the wall. He pauses for a moment, reloading his gun. This gives Bennett the chance to peek over the wall, as I wave to him and signal we are inside. He quickly ducks back down, presumably telling Scarlett.         I can't stand the sight of the shootout, knowing that anyone could be killed at any second. I rush to the front doors and unlock them. I ignore Chloe and Karter's protests as I swing the doors open.          Without a care for my safety, I cup my hands over my mouth and call out to Ashton, instantly catching his attention. He scowls, realizing he had failed in keeping people out of the school.         "Madison!" Scarlett cries out. "Maddie, what are you doing?"         I ignore her, refusing to break eye contact with my boyfriend. "Ashton, please listen. They've been brainwashing you. I know you're still in there!"         "I am a soldier," he replies coldly, cocking his gun at me.          I mirror his action, aiming my own gun at him.          "No, you're not," I reply. "You're still your own person. You still can make your own choice. Do what you want, not what the President wants!" There is desperation in my voice as I continue. "Now I'm giving you a choice. I'm going to lower down my gun. And when I do, you can kill me. Or, you can lower your weapon and stop this insanity."         "Why?"         I take a shaky breath, swallowing thickly. "Ashton, I know some part of you remembers me. You would have killed me by now if that wasn't true. And no matter what you choose, I will still love you." I slowly lower my gun to the ground, listening to it clatter against the concrete. "But I left you once and I'm not going to leave you again."          I glance over to Scarlett and Bennett and shake my head, silently telling them not to shoot. I can feel Chloe and Karter's gazes, helplessly watching from the window behind me. When I return my gaze back to Ashton, he seems hesitant.          "I love you, Ash," I say softly, a stray tear trickling down my cheek. "I always will."         Ashton sucks in a breath, then he drops his gun. I sigh in relief, then lower down my hands. In a split second, faster before anyone could react, Ashton pulls out a handgun from his side holster, aims it at me, and pulls the trigger.