*Beval Hernandez's POV:*

No dread has ever overcame me like the one I was experiencing at that given moment. I felt helpless, which is a feeling I am very familiar with. But I also felt responsible. I felt like it was my fault that we were in this situation. I felt like I deserved everything that was coming to me and everything that did come to me. I was still terribly sore from my beating. A busted lip, a black eye, bruises and tenderness around my torso.

Why was I so stupid? Why did I help convinced the others to change their minds and trust Alex? And because of me, we ended up in the same situation we were in exactly five and a half  years ago. Getting betrayed by Mina was my fault, but so was being betrayed by Alex. I was too trusting and here we were, being guided in a line into a prison. One by one. The line went on forever, but I was right after Gaia.

"Full name?", a female FEMA officer with a business iPad asked in a demanding voice.

"Beval Garcia-Hernandez", I responded, not making eye contact with the lady, but at her shiny black boots that looked like they could stomp someone out.

"Age?", she asks again in the same tone.

"I'm twenty".

"Birthdate?", she asked again.

"June 10th, 2004".

She looked at me for the first time. "Ethnic background?"

"Hispanic, Mexican".

"Look forward ahead at the camera so we can take your picture."

For the first time in a while, I looked up at the world in front of me, well, that world included another FEMA officer carrying a black camera a few feet from my face. The bright flash blinded me, causing me to squint and groan as black spots appeared in my eyesight.

Another officer pointed their gun at me, making sure I wasn't going to make any sudden movements.

As much as I wanted to, I wasn't that stupid. I wasn't ready to die just yet. I wanted to lengthen my life as much as possible regardless of the death sentence. For my parents, for Isabella, for my friends, for Gaia.

I grunted in pain as I felt my tender arm being stretched behind me, only to have a steel bracelet placed around the wrist.

"For tracking purposes," the female FEMA officer explained with a flirty tone.

I ignored her as I took a deep breath. The officer with the gun pushed me from behind, signaling for me to make my way from the sally port's entrance following the line into the prison itself.

A square-shaped sally port surrounded the prison, barb wire covering the top.  The actual prison itself was at the center. It wasn't a big nor a small prison.  It could easily contain a few hundred people.

I shivered as I followed the line. It was at least thirty degrees there. The line spread out in between people, for the lady at the entrance took her time getting information about us. Gaia was ten feet ahead of me. Officers with semi-automatic guns in their hands scowled at us, watching the line from each side, but also from above, at the top corners of the sally port, watching every part of the prison. It was clear, there was no escaping this. We didn't have the military experience of Shimizu or the intelligence of Danny to do this.

I didn't want to have any regrets for this last bit of time I would be alive. I didn't know how much time we had. All I knew was that I wanted to spend as much time with those I loved.

"Gaia!", I called out. She turned her head back towards me. I walked faster, catching up to her. Because of the handcuffs I couldn't hold her, but I did kiss her lips. "In case we die after this, I love you".

"I love you too, but please Beval, don't make me think of that. Not this soon, please", she pleaded, tears falling down her face.

I felt guilty for even saying that. She was trying to get death out of her mind and all I was doing was reminding her of it. I blinked rapidly, holding back tears, not saying another word as I let her get farther from me. Maybe it was best to leave her alone, she had been through enough and all I did was drag her along.

"Jesus, they should've died in the pandemic. Fucking freaks. They're probably not even human", an officer cringed after the other officer slammed our cell bars shut, locking them.

"They disgust me. They cause nothing but trouble", the other officer responded, loud enough for all of us to hear. I laid in the cell, on the bed just eyeing the men who talked shit about us, not carrying that we were right there. I was in a cell with Thomas.

Our cell was number 106. I remembered watching them take Gaia and another woman to cell 94. I made sure to take note of that.

The guards allowed my mother to share a cell with my dad because she needed someone to translate her words to English. They were in cell 87.

Kimberly and Celosia were in two different cells. Kimberly shared with another woman upstairs in cell 201. Celosia was across from me, sharing with Gaia's mother. I wasn't sure which cell Gaia's father, Mr. Hada, Noah, and Celosia's parents were taken to. Isabella and Katie shared cell 90.

"Don't give up man", Thomas spoke up. From the corner of my eye, I could see his feet dangling from the top bunker as I laid my head on the pillow, staring upward. When I didn't respond, he kept going. "I know it wasn't successful. I know you are beaten up and bruised, but we really appreciated your attempt to fight for us. That showed courage. You guys are heroes."

"Heroes?!", I snapped as I sat up, getting off the bed, I faced Thomas. "Explain what's heroic about any of this when the end result was everyone getting locked up, and us getting sentenced to death?! Explain what's heroic about lallygagging in the Philippines with Shimizu for weeks, trying to plan our next attack on the world leader when we should've been worried about the condition of our home shelter?! When we should've brought him back home to be with his family! Explain what's heroic about trusting Alex like the dumbass I am, only for him to turn on us like we were nothing?!"

Thomas sat, quiet, a bit shaken by my intimidating voice and posture. 

"Who is Alex?", he asks.

"Never-mind. Just never-mind", I groaned sitting on my bed, not wanting to explain the long story of how we met him.

Thomas hopped off the top bunker and sat next to me, sighing.

"None of this was your fault Val. You guys didn't see this coming. I need you to understand that. You are heroes because if it wasn't for not just Danny and Shimizu, but all of you, we would've all been long dead. If it wasn't for you all coming back, Mr. Hada wouldn't know that his son is still alive. If it wasn't for you all destroying the W.E.A headquarters, more experi-babies would've died."

"Shimizu was the one who bombed that place", I explained in a low voice, full of discouragement.

"But he still wouldn't have been able to have done it without you. You guys have done so much with and without Shimizu. Don't ever discredit yourself. You're amazing, Hernandez. You and your sister. You're a great friend, son, brother, and I think you will be a great uncle, but even a better future brother-in-law."

I looked up at him, smiling at the thought of someday tying the knot with Gaia and even having children. She always wanted to be a mother, as I have always wanted to be a father. That was one of our dreams in life. But fortunately and unfortunately, we made sure to prevent it during the nights we were one. Gaia getting pregnant and raising a child in this environment wasn't ideal.

"Don't make me think about that kind of stuff, you'll make me think I have some sort of chance in this place", I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

"But what if you do?", Thomas asked hypothetically.
I looked at him with furrowed eyebrows and crossed arms.

"That female FEMA officer that took our information, I noticed looking back that she was fancying you. Even though you are bruised up, you can still use your looks and charm to your advantage", Thomas explained.

"My pretty-boy days are over. I'm not fourteen and girl-crazy anymore. And in case you haven't noticed, for five years I've been dating your sister", I said, dismissing his claim.

"I never said you had to like the woman. All I'm saying is to pull a "Mina". Which means, act like you like them. She seems like she would lose her mind and common sense over a guy like you. You're tall, in shape, attractive, you can speak another language, shoulder-length hair and a great smile. Dude! You are the male beauty standard!"

I sighed as I rolled my eyes.

Since I was a child, I suffered (if I can call it that), from pretty privilege. Girls really only wanted me for my looks. Guys envied me and the attention I received from the opposite sex. But once noticing that I was an experi-baby, they'd run or admire/hate from a distance. I wasn't taken seriously for the things I said like Celosia. And unlike Gaia, I didn't have musical talents admired by experi-baby sympathizers. I was always "the cute/hot one" of the friend group. The "pretty boy" at times. "The one with the braces" when I had them. "The purple-eyed one". "The Latino one". Always physical. So that's all I ever knew. I felt like that was the only advantage I had. Not intelligence, assertiveness, or kindness.

Gaia was the only girl who saw me for who I was and saw my personality more than she saw my physical. She was the one who revealed who I actually was on the inside and not to just rely on my looks.

"Just think about it, okay?", Thomas said in defeat mixed with hope that I would come to my senses.

For hours I laid there, my hands behind my head as I stared upward. The sounds of his slight snoring could be heard from where I was, down below.

I began thinking about what Thomas suggested. I would have to manipulate and make it seem like I like this woman. But doing something like that wasn't who I was. I didn't manipulate and lie to people. I guess in that case, it doesn't matter because we were already shitted on by the officers.

I would have to feed her all of these lies, and have her actually believe them. Flirt with her. Charm her.  Engage with her and then.... when she had her guard down, I will take her keys. And yet, how do I free four hundred people when we aren't outnumbered, but are "out-weaponed"?

Eventually, the female FEMA officer showed up near my cell. She was a Caucasian lady in her thirties. Her hair was brown and pulled back into a low ponytail. Her facial features were strong and she looked older than what she was. She was lanky in her FEMA officer wear, and yet had a intimidating demeanor to her. That vibe demanded respect.

"Shouldn't you be asleep Mr. Hernandez?", she asked with a flirtatious tone, placing her hand on a cell bar.

I shivered in disgust but held it back efficiently.

"I really should be," I let out a fake laugh as I walked up to her. "But I have to admit, I've been in hiding so long I forgot what a pretty girl looks like."

"Too bad you're locked away. You could've taken me out on a nice date. Could've showed me a thing or two with those powers."

"What do you have in mind?", I cocked a brow, still forcing a smile.

She smiled back, taking her hand from the bar and ran the tips of her fingers down my chest. "You'll see," She winked before she walked off.

From across the hall, I could see Celosia and Gaia's mother, staring at me in confusion mixed with devastation.

"Trust me", I mouthed to them as clear as I could.

They knew I would never do that to Gaia, so Celosia and Mrs. King easily let their guard down, trusting me with what I have planned and with what I must do.

That's when it hit me...

Those keys the female FEMA officer had on her hip could open every cell. Those keys could open the sally port's entrance. It could open the security's door to reveal cameras that shows every itch of the prison. It could take these uncomfortable, silver bracelets off. But that's not what I was aiming for, no, not that.

From watching a random officer, I noticed those keys can open a small employee lounge with a telephone. Every officer must have the key to the room, especially since it's employee lounge.

This will be one of my last attempts to ensure our survival. I had to contact Shimizu.