BACK TO THE MAZE
Jason stands frozen in the training maze, face-to-face with the creature. His hand trembles as he slowly reaches for his utility belt trying to distract the creature—.
JASON (internal, angrily, a bit scared): "That thing... I saw it the night mom died. But it can't be real. It's all in my head right… right? Only one way to find out"
Just then, Jason lunges at it but before He could get his hands on it, it disappeared yet again leaving Jason stunned as he fell to the ground, and he accidentally lands on one of the booby traps activating it but he narrowly avoids the lasers targeted at him, some of the recruits watching were wondering why did he set off one of the traps on purpose. Anyways He sprints through the maze, heart pounding like crazy as he's running out of time.
THE MONITOR ROOM
Patricia watches from the control center. Her face tightens in concern.
PATRICIA (to tech): "What is Martinez doing?"
TECH OFFICER: "No idea. But he is wasting time."
She narrows her eyes. As the The Police Chief Marcus Jackson creeps in behind her
MARCUS: is anything wrong General?
PATRICIA: No Chief, it's just some of our Cameras having some issues that's all
Marcus gets suspicious again but just shakes it off again as he walks back
PATRICIA (to the tech officer): "Keep your eyes on the others. And don't you mentioned anything about Martinez."
OUTSIDE THE MAZE
Jason stumbles out of the maze, a bit bruised, dazed and panting like crazy. Daniel and some of the other recruits are already out.
DANIEL (Almost out of breath, Concern): "Dude! Where were you? And how…*gasping for air* how did I survive the maze before you?!"
JASON: "I saw something back there...."
DANIEL (raising an eyebrow): "Something like…."
JASON (stubbing with his words): I…I don't know how to explain it man, it was from that night and…and..
DANIEL (interrupts, soft): "...You were getting flashbacks again, weren't you?"
Jason looks down and doesn't answer.
DANIEL: sorry about that Jason, I get it. Let me go and get you some water, brb.
Daniel pats Jason back walks off and Just then, Viktor walks by with a cocky grin.
VIKTOR (teasing): "Nice work, Martinez. Next time, maybe try not to trip over air. Or were you running from your own shadow?"
A few recruits laughed with Viktor.
Jason clenches his jaw but says nothing.
Suddenly—Travis Killman (one of the recruits, tall, same height as Viktor) steps in front of Viktor.
TRAVIS (nonchalantly): "That's enough. He completed the maze, didn't he?"
VIKTOR (smirks): "Didn't know you were babysitting now Big guy."
TRAVIS (calmly): "Better than bullying someone just to boost your ego. And speaking of babysitting isn't your big brother is here too? so tell me who's the one really getting baby…sat?."
Travis gets in Viktor's face. The tension simmers. Viktor glares with an angry look, then walks away.
JASON: Thanks for that man but I can take care of myself.
TRAVIS (to Jason): "Sure you can kid, I just don't like People like him bullying people just course he's insecure."
JASON (confused): Insecure? about what?
TRAVIS: I wish I knew but by the look on his face it shows. Anyways am Travis Killman and you must be the Jason Martinez
JASON (suspicious): how did you know my name?
TRAVIS: I heard your friend mentioning it and Viktor did call you by your last name so…
JASON: oh right. Well thanks for the help Travis even though I didn't need it
TRAVIS: your welcome and don't mention it
As he pat Jason back and leaves
SOMEWHERE…OUTSIDE THE FACILITY
Later, Jason sits on one of the benches, still shaken. Then a recuits walking by tosses him a cold bottle of water and sat next to him.
JASON (smiles): "Thanks."
THE RECRUIT: No prob, hey sorry about my brother earlier. He acts like that sometimes
JASON: Wait, Viktor is your brother?
THE RECRUIT: "Yep, My Little brother, even though he never acts like it."
They both laughed.
THE RECRUIT (extending his hand for a handshake): Am Bennett, by the way
JASON (extends his hand to shake Bennett's hand): "Jason, You're nothing like him though."
BENNETT: "Yeah I get that a lot, But hey can I ask you something?
Jason nods while drinking water
BENNETT (turning to Jason): What happen back there? I mean you said you saw something."
JASON: "It sounds silly but I saw something strange. Like a creature from my past. It's stupid, but... it felt kinda real.
BENNETT doesn't say a word and just sips on his water
JASON (disappointed): You must think am crazy or something, can't say I blame you"
BENNETT (calmly, dropping the water bottle): "You? crazy? Nah man, am guessing you went through some traumatic events and sometime when we get nervous or overall emotional our brain makes us remember those traumatic events."
JASON (cuddling his knees to his chest, calmly): "I guess you are right. *Chuckles* It's kinda funny, it's like you are speaking from experience."
BENNETT (with a half smiles): " *chuckles* Let's just say…am expect in this thing called trauma *air quotes*.
JASON (nervous): I…I..I don't know how to respond right now
BENNETT: it's cool man, I'll get over it. *Standing from the bench* anyways I gonna run it was nice meeting you Jason.
JASON (joyful, smiling): And you too, oh I almost forgot, why did you joi–
Before Jason could finish, Bennett already run off.
JASON (internal monologue): Man He is fast, is he a ninja or something? *Sigh* I seriously should've started a band.
THE LOCKER ROOM
Later Jason is wondering around in one of the locker rooms, and arounds a corner—
He bumps into someone and before he could respond WHAM!
In a flash, he's judo slammed to the ground with a loud THUD.
JASON (In pain, grabbing his neck): OWWWW What was that for?
As JASON looks up he sees that it was Lysa who just judo slammed his a**
LYSA (hovering over him): "Gotcha …Oh crap its you. My bad ."
She couches down.
LYSA (Nervous smile): "Sorry! Thought you were a threat. Reflexes."
Jason groans, still flat on the ground.
JASON (sarcastic): "Wow... remind me not to walk next to a vending machines again. Pretty sure even they aren't safe from you."
Lysa laughs and offers him a hand. Jason grabs it as she pulls him up.
LYSA (teasing): "You're not bad at falling on your a**, I'll give you that.
JASON: Oh haha, I fell in the maze and now am a joke *folding his arms*
LYSA (grinning, concern): Am just messing with you but seriously What happened in the maze?."
Jason freezes for a second. He opens his mouth... but stops thinking she won't believe him anyways.
LYSA (Waving her hand at him): Heeelllllo?
JASON (Nervous): "Yeah, I uh... I got scared. Thought I saw something weird, but it was probably just my imagination. You know—Elite stress or whatever."
Lysa raises an eyebrow but doesn't press.
LYSA: "Hm. Alright..."
Jason rubs the back of his head, nervously chuckling.
JASON: "But hey, speaking of weird... my friend Daniel totally has a crush on your friend. Amanda."
LYSA (smirk): "...Really or are you talking about yourself?"
JASON (defensive): "WHAT? ME? No of course not"
LYSA (gets in his face): Then how do you know her name?
JASON (Gets in her face): He told me
LYSA (Backs out and stocks her chin): And yet you remembered her name, interesting.
She gives him a grin then Jason blurts without thinking:
JASON: "—look I don't have a crush on your friend and Besides I think that you're way cooler than her anyways."
LYSA (folding her arms): Was that a compliment?
Jason clears his throat immediately.
JASON: "Okay, wow. That just… came out of nowhere. I meant that in a respectfully Elite-compliant way. (Inter monologue, embarrassed) Where is a Daniel made nuke when you need one"
LYSA (smirks): "...You're a weird."
JASON (snaps his fingers and points at her): "Word."
She chuckles and walks off, tossing him a quick wink as he pata him on his shoulder.
LYSA (over her shoulder):
"You're alright, Tell your friend *air quotes* Daniel that Amanda likes chocolate milk. Could help."
JASON: Alright thanks for the tip.
LYSA: My pleasure, See you around
JASON: Just as long as you don't slam me to the ground again
LYSA: *chuckles* sure, later Jason
Jason stands there, confused on how she knew his name but kind of impressed that she did.
THE VIDEO CALL
That night, Jason video chats Jessica. She's exhausted from her second job.
JESSICA (teasing): "Hey Lil bro, You look like you got hit by a truck."
JASON (without thinking, muttering): "Yeah. One with claws and glowing red eyes."
JESSICA (confused): "What??"
JASON: "Nothing. Just tired."
JESSICA: "*sighs* Relatable, how was the tryouts?"
JASON (low tone): "It was alright, I guess"
JESSICA (concern): You sure J?
JASON (fake smile and trying to be positive): Yeah of course, it has been a long day that's all *chuckles*
She raised an eyebrow while staring at him but she just brushed it off.
JESSICA: Alrigh, anyways it looks like I'll be coming home late again. My boss want us to work on some designs for a dress for a billonaire wedding tonight and I got about 15 minutes to finish it
In the background two girls carry bundles of dresses ran into each other and they start arguing with each other while picking the dresses up
JESSICA: *sigh* make that 10 minutes
They both chuckle
JESSICA (with a half smile and almost teasing voice): Remember If you get hungry, there is some snacks in the fridge but stay away fro--
JASON (finishes her sentence mockingly): the ones with your name on it, yeah I got it….
JESSICA chuckles
JESSICA (softly): "Good, Take care of yourself, J."
JASON: "And you too."
Ends the video call
SIDE NOTE:Jessica has two jobs (she works part time for a resturant as a waitress and she also works as an apprentice at a local boutique called)
(JASON'S BEDROOM)
IT'S LATE AND JASON IS STILL AWAKE
Jason lays on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
He was thinking about what happen in the maze
JASON (internal monologue): "It wasn't all in my head. That thing was real. But why it's following me?.and why did it come after us that night?"
" I got so many questions, but who can I ask? *sigh* I need to go to bed, i got more training drills to survive tomorrow…oh and school."
He groans whiles covering his face with a pillow
MEANWHILE…SOMEWHERE IN ASHVILLE…
At a high-rise downtown, Marcus Jackson gets home as he walks into the living room.
He hangs up his coat, pulls a book sorta like a lever from the bookshelf then—a secret passage opens behind the bookshelf.
He steps inside. A dimly lit underground chamber.
some ominous noises were heard in the background as he walks towards a chair and desk. As he sat down the noise stopped and incomes a shadowy figure with pure white eyes and a very eerie voice
SHADOWY FIGURE: "So any news for us, Marcus?."
Marcus turns, hand to his face.
MARCUS (calmly, Nonchalantly): " Not yet. But i don't need you guys to interfere. I will find her."
SHADOWY FIGURE (Grinning, with an almost playful voice): Well you better hurry it up, we don't want the master to pay us a visit now, do we?
The Shadowy figure disappears in front of Marcus
Marcus sighs then starts going through some of files (The Junior Elites Recruits data files) and starts looking through them one by one then he stumbled upon Jason's file—and flips it open.
His eyes narrow on the name.
MARCUS (internal monologue): "Jason... Martinez?."
"Why does that last name sound so familiar?"
As he continues to look though Jason's file he saw his passport photo with a lit lamp and gasp
MARCUS (internal monologue): That... face could…could it be…?
END CHAPTER 4