Chapter 20 Interrogation

It wasn't an attendant that went to our suite but a uniformed female soldier whose face was so emotionless that it made me wonder if he"s an android or something. The thumping of her combat shoes on the floor was disturbing. The soldier was almost six feet five inches and even Jayson looked small beside her.
People were gawking at us while we passed the corridor towards the Investigation Sector. I averted my eyes from them because it was awkward and I was starting to get uncomfortable from their stares.
"It's ok, Harriet. I think they'll just want to interrogate us about how we survived almost a week out there with the Creepers around the Area. Timothy won't let them hurt us here." Jayson murmured to me while we followed the soldier side by side, his eyes were apprehensively looking straight to where we were heading.
I didn't know he trusts Timothy that well. Ever since we stayed on top of the tallest building in the City of Area 9, they didn't have any long conversations or share any thoughts with each other. But then I realized he owed Timothy his life when it saved him from being thrown to prison because of his records. We all owe Timothy and I wonder if he already severed his ties to us since he had already made us all this favor for saving him and leading him to this bunker.
That fifteen-minute walk seemed like forever for me. When we reached the end of the corridor, the light started to dim and the soldier continued to lead us to a room at the corner of the place labeled Interrogation Room".
But she didn't lead us straight to it. She made us all wait in a lobby where a couple of soldiers were also waiting, sitting on the couch across from us. Their faces look apprehensive as they curiously stare at the four of us. When I looked back at them, I got confused because they were just our age and it seemed they were not happy wearing that uniform.
I was about to open my mouth to ask them when Commander Leo got out of the interrogation room and saw us waiting in the lobby.
"Ah! You're all finally here. I apologize for this short inconvenience, children but we need some information from you that we need about the Creepers and what had happened to the airport." Commander Leo looked at me and smiled crookedly, his scar on his right cheek stretched together with his lips.
His creepy smile made my skin crawl and Jayson must have noticed that creepy look on his face because he stood and faced him, his face looked vexed but firm. "You promised us you won't bother us anymore. We had enough trauma already. I hope you don't force us to do something we don't want to deal with."
Commander Leo looked down at Jayson. His face turned grave as his dark circled eyes glared at Jayson. This seven feet tall man was more intimidating than the Creepers we've encountered and I don't want us to get into more trouble just because Jayson's just trying to save me from the disgusting eyes of this giant.
"Stop it, Jayson. We just need to comply and then you'll let us go, right?" I asked Commander Leo in a brave tone. He smirked at me and Jayson frowned.
"Yes. We won't bother you after this." He replied to me with a mischievous smile on his lips while staring straight into my eyes. A revolting sensation suddenly emerged in my stomach. I don't know why I felt disgusted by his odd behavior.
When the Commander went inside the room, Jayson stepped near me and he whispered as low as he could. "I have a bad feeling about that guy. Be careful, Harriet."
"I know," I murmured to him. His eyes suddenly went sharp and wary, not trusting the seven-foot-tall man.
Why was I feeling scared and nervous? I couldn't understand why that man suddenly gave that kind of look. I've never known a man so creepy as him before and I wonder what made him behave like that. I wish we could get out of here as soon as we can because I was starting to hate this place.
Li kept on fidgeting his fingers and Mona was staring blankly at the wall in front of her. I pulled her and embraced her sideways and she gave me a small, worried smile.
"Resident ID number Z4A9-F1555, Please come inside!"
The led light on Mona's tracksuit went red and Li nervously stood, still fidgeting on his fingers. "Can I go with her? She's mute but she can hear. She can only communicate with her hands."
The guy who called her hesitated at Li's request but then he just nodded and Li helped Mona stand from her seat and they went straight to the room after he made a short glance at us. Jayson and I waited for another twenty minutes. The young soldiers in front of us stood and were guided to somewhere else by another soldier who looked like their trainer.
"Do you think they're recruiting young people in the army now?" Jayson asked me, looking as they marched away from this corner of the facility.
"Probably," I answered back, not certain since young people at this level were not aware of it. "Or can it possibly be that they're only taking new recruits from the middle-class down to the bottom of this bunker?"
"Douchebags." Jayson snorted, his face was so angry.
The door opened and Li and Mona went out with anxious expressions on their faces. They sat beside us, both silent and upset.
"What happened?" Jayson worriedly asked Li, who was thinking deeply. His brow was creased.
"Maybe it's better if we talk about it later in the suite," Li suggested.
"Z4A9-M3247!"
"I think I'm the one he"s calling," Jayson said and stood. He straightened his tracksuit and entered the room.
I wish I could ask Li what happened inside but he"s right. It's not safe to talk about our own opinion in random places especially since this place is controlled by these soldiers and upper-rank officials. Even though we're under Timothy's protection, he can't do anything if these people will accuse us of being traitors or anything.
Another thirty minutes had passed and I almost fell asleep when Jayson got out of the room. His brows were furrowed, looking upset just like Li and Mona when they stepped out of that door. He didn't say anything to me but I feel there's something that made him angry like that and I want to know why.
"Z4A9-F1603!"
I stood and nervously went towards the door. When I opened the metal door, a small square room welcomed me with a single light bulb above the small table, a typical view you'll see when you watch old investigative videos or movies. I anxiously sat on one of the chairs and Commander Leo appeared from behind the door inside the room. He has this grin again that makes my skin crawl.
He cleared his throat to get my attention. I sat straight, my back stiff against the backrest of the chair. I made my face serious and tried not to get too intimidated by this creepy man in front of me. I shouldn't let him see that I was afraid of him. I will never let him take advantage of my weakness.
"It's good to know that you all survived and brought the son of the richest man in Arcania. I can't believe a small girl like you could pull through that crazy plan. You amaze me, Ms. Fontaine."
"What are you talking about?" I asked, looking at him confused and sharp.
He pushed a button on a remote control he was holding and a hologram appeared. He played videos of us that they must have collected from the storage building that we went to hide from the creepers after we escaped the narrow alley. I saw how I slashed the head of the Creeper away from its shoulder and my brave attempt to lure them inside the narrow lane in the middle of the heavy piled boxes. It also showed how we all worked together to kill all those Creepers by crushing and burying them with those hefty boxes.
It went black and then a video of us escaping from the alley towards the opening of the subway, how I made an expert shot at the heads of every Creeper that came near my friends. I also saw how Timothy tried to protect me.
"How did you know such fierce skill like that?" He asked me. There was a tone of amusement in his voice.
"I was trained by my dad how to shoot. We've always been present during hunting season in Coleshire and I've been practicing my shooting skill since then." I explained with straight honesty because there's nothing for me to hide anymore. The videos were clear.
He asked me about what had happened at the airport and I told him everything I knew. He must be testing us if we're all saying the same information and I better say it truthfully.
"Okay, that would be everything. It's nice seeing you around, Ms. Fontaine." He took out his hand for a handshake and I was reluctant to accept it. But he raised his brow and I was forced to take his hand.
I felt disgusted because it was sweaty and his eyes were staring at me so weird that it made me uncomfortable.
What's up with him?