<<You are making a big mistake with this parole hearing. Richard Roger deceived and manipulated everyone around him to tell his story and avoid the hard truth that he was directly responsible for Amy Bell Lewis as a result of his own stubborn arrogance. He terrorised Hannah Donfort, Jessica Hawkins, and MC while under the guise of being their confidant - his deception knowing no bounds. When caught in his lie, he set fire with accelerant to a set of mines well known for being volatile. There was no way he didn't know that the explosion would cause grievous harm to anyone caught by it. This time it was the person pictured in those hospital records. Next time who will be engulfed by the flames of his own reckless arrogance? There is no way I am going to accept the fact that you are looking to release such a destructive individual back into society early when he has not seen even a moderate amount of punishment. Quit wasting our time with this useless hearing and send him back to face his full sentence. You may choose to overlook his dangerous misdeeds, but I won't. Don't forget that.>>

Alan turned me around forcefully while Jake spoke with his distorted voice over the loudspeaker, "Tell him to stop!"

"There is no stopping him!" I grinned. "They challenged him, and he responded! What do you expect?"

"MC! I was prepared to overlook your presence here today, but if this continues, I will be forced to arrest you!" Alan warned. "You need to stop this! Now!"

"No! I won't let anyone silence him! He exists! He lives! He suffers! His name is Jake and he deserves to be heard!" I yelled. "His voice matters!"

"MC, put your hands on your head," Alan gritted his teeth.

I smiled as I put both hands on my head, "But before you arrest me, Alan, you better have a solid excuse to hold me..."

"Ah, but he's watching," Alan whispered in my ear, then pushed on my shoulder to force me down on my knees. "Let's see if he values you more than his tirade."

<<Alan Bloomgate, I am in possession of your accounts and passwords. You would do well to not test me.>>

"Threatening a police officer is a severe crime, Jake!" Alan called out.

<<Detaining an individual who has committed no crime other than speaking her mind while outside your jurisdiction will not be ignored, detective. Everything is currently being recorded. Think of the public outcry. I am sure you do not want a riot on your hands.>>

"You can't fool me, Jake. I know she's wanted internationally," Alan argued.

<<You and I both know that to be merely a ruse. MC is innocent. She played no part in any of my activities. Please do not force my hand, detective. I have hacked into the prison's multimedia system, and I can do far worse. Let her go.>>

"You will stand down and end your interference in the parole hearing of Richard Roger," Alan demanded. "If you two pull this shit again, I will arrest her for aiding and abetting."

<<You will let her go; I will do as I wish in response. Do not think for a moment I won't be watching as she leaves the property. I have already broken into the cell system. If anyone should so much as approach her, the inmates will riot.>>

"You would hold the prison hostage for her?" Alan scoffed.

<<I would bring down a whole lot more than one prison for her.>>

My heart skipped a beat. It was such a Jake way of declaring his love, to create total anarchy for me. The scary thing was though, I couldn't tell whether he was bluffing or not. And I sure as hell didn't want a prison riot just for me. However, the allure of his power was intoxicating and left me speechless.

"That's a severe crime to be adding to your record, Jake," Alan warned.

<<It won't even make a dent.>>

Alan stepped away from me, "Don't ever let me catch you in Duskwood."

<<As if you could catch me, detective. If countless international law enforcement has tried and failed, what makes you think you even have a chance?>>

I got up slowly, feeling the entire room's eyes on me. I picked up my bag and walked out of the room under the intense gaze of Jake's digital red eyes. In the corridor the guards watched me with disdain, but not one dared to touch me. Suddenly Dan and Jessy came up beside me and walked with me past the security door that was held open for us.

"What are you doing?" I exclaimed.

"Making sure no one tries to get creative," Dan replied.

"You shouldn't associate yourselves with me!" I argued.

"No way, you're one of us, remember?" Jessy smiled.

"You are, hacker boy still hasn't earned his membership card," Dan clarified.

"Ignore him," Jessy rolled her eyes. "How are you getting out of here anyway?"

"I don't actually know. I came by bus," I admitted as we stepped outside.

"You mean he's not going to pick you up on his steed?" Dan mocked as we went out towards the road.

"It appears not," I shrugged. "I was kind of hoping so since you mentioned it just now."

"I bet he needs to stay near the computer," Jessy pointed out. "Dan, it looks like it's up to you."

"Guys, no!" I refused. "It's too dangerous!"

"So?" Dan looked at me perplexed.

"Come on!" Jessy grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the parking lot.

"If anything happens, we'll just say Jake threatened us, ok?" Dan persuaded.

"Even though we know you guys are the good guys," Jessy beamed.

"Hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves," Dan frowned. "I like MC and that's as far as my trust goes."

"These people that are after us... they're not afraid to shoot innocents to get to us," I mumbled. "I don't want you in the crossfire."

"Hmph, maybe you haven't heard. I shot a legend," Dan boasted as he unlocked his car.

I couldn't help but laugh, "Ok, fine, you convinced me."

"Good," Dan smirked. "Now get in."

"Hmm, where are we going to go?" Jessy questioned as she got into the front passenger seat. "Going back to Duskwood sounds like a bad idea. Alan will be watching MC like a hawk."

"No, I need to disappear. Drop me off in the city," I asked while I slid across the back seat to sit in the middle.

"What, so you can go back to living on the streets?" Dan frowned as he adjusted the rear view mirror.

"I'll have you know we had a roof over our heads for several days," I pointed out.

"I've got a crazy idea!" Jessy grinned.

Dan turned over the engine and his car roared to life, "You know I get nervous when you say that."

"Let's go visit Angela!" Jessy suggested. "I am sure she'll let you use her shower!"

"Why do I feel like you guys are telling me I stink?" I asked.

"No offense, but you smell like a barn," Dan commented.

I paused for a moment before responding, "That's actually fair. I did sleep in one last night."

"Ok, Dan start driving, I'm going to call Angela," Jessy rummaged through her purse.

"Oh yeah, she's going to be real happy to see us," Dan said sarcastically as he reversed out of the parking spot. "I look forward to this conversation."

I relaxed in the seat as Dan started driving away from the prison, "You know, I really missed you guys."

We went past a roadblock with armed guards that watched us with looks of annoyance on their faces.

"I was going to say 'Of course, you did. It's never a dull moment with us around.' But now I think you have us beat," Jessy mused.

Dan scoffed, "This is still nowhere near the craziest thing we've ever done."

"I didn't know it was a challenge," I teased.

Dan gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, "It is now!"