Part: 12

Viaje POV:

Hobbling down the hallway, smoke smothered my lungs. Covering my face as best I could, I hastily grabbed important folders and tossed them into the fire. Managing to go from room to room, when flashing blue and red lights decorated the walls and lit up the area like a rave party. Not long after, banging rang down the hall, followed by hurried footsteps. Not wasting anytime, I dashed to the backrooms, which held one of our testing rooms. Making sure that I input a code in that only I knew, was a bit tricky, my fingers shook ferociously as the frantic footsteps grew closer.

“Viaje! You stop right there!” An angry yet familiar voice bellowed out.

Keeping my focus solely on the machine and with only seconds to spare, I changed the code and stumbled in. The door slid shut just seconds before my attacker could slide through. His face twisted in anger and he began to bang ferociously against the bullet proof glass door. Catching my breath as I placed my free hand onto the cold and comforting metallic table, I couldn’t help but laugh. Watching with amusement as he shouted inaudible insults at me through the sound proof walls. After he mange to calm himself to think properly, he lifted up his arm, pulled back his sleeve and swiped at it. My arm began to buzz, on the first ring I answered. “Don’t think you can get away with this.” He smiled coyly. “And don’t think I didn’t see this coming.”

“Kid.” I said, happy to wipe the smile from his face. “I chose you to help me all these years for one reason and one reason only. Don’t think I did it because I actually trusted you.” I shook my head and glared at him. “Do you really think I would chose a sane person for an insane project such as this one? Do you really think I would ask help from someone who actually had a conscious?”

“Old man, You…” He began, a bit taken aback by my harsh words.

“I wanted to do this project without having the extra baggage of guilt and regrets. I didn’t want to leave here knowing I hurt someone dearly, so I chose you… you’re mind is beautiful and dark, corrupted but genius. I needed someone like you to aid me in this selfish mission of mines, so I could simply destroy it after I achieved what I wanted. I don’t have much time and I needed someone to accomplish what I couldn’t do by myself and you managed to do that in record time.” The kid opened his mouth to say something but I lifted my hand to stop him. “I made sure that each data was encrypted with corrupt files that would ultimately cause a massive computer crash and wipe clean of all my work. Anything you need is…” I pointed to my head, leaving my sentence open for him to guess.

The smile from his face did indeed fall. “Th~there is no way! The data I sent to everyone.”

I waved my hand and a hologram popped up, showing a warning sign. ‘Unauthorized access! Would you like to grant a pass? if not, virus will take affect in sixty seconds.’ I chuckled, bemused by my own carelessness “Unfortunately… I would have to physically go in and hit yes and also input an access code.” I shook my head “Could you imagine how I’d have to pop up out of my sleep, just to quickly authorize the access?! You’ve been quite busy selling my work haven’t cha?”

His face paled, all color draining from his face. We both understood that he’d have to face quite the angry crowd after this and that he’d owe a lot of people quite a hefty amount of money. Although he was a genius, he was still young and the greed for money can destroy anyone, as it wasn’t picky with its victims. “Y-you how did you…? And how did I…?” He mumbled inaudibly, sounding confused on how he missed such crucial signs.

“Like I said…” I coughed. “You’re indeed a genius and it wasn’t easy dancing around you… I played you and you played me and feeding your ego made it precisely that.”

“Made it what?” He asked in a daze.

“Easy.”

“B~but you messed up too…” He said dejected, while trying to think of something. “Old man…” He growled out, while pointing at me as if he found a light at the end of the tunnel. “What will happen if you fail huh?! If that watch doesn’t do what you say!?”

I practically laughed, until it turned into a cough. Reaching for my rag, I pulled it out of my pocket and covered my mouth as my body violently went into coughing fits. Finally able to catch my breath, I Looked down at my handkerchief, noticing my blood was covered in soot, the ashes had indeed invaded my lungs. I closed it and put it back into my pocket. “Well my child…” I said, continuing where I left off as I returned my gaze back onto him. “…I’d die and I’ll die either way, weather I’m out there or in here… I have nothing to live for and the only person I had ever loved was taken from me, along with my unborn child… a child I wasn’t even aware of and I regret that I took her love for granted, that I let my mind spiral and depression over take me…” I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter, forgive this old man for rambling.”

Crack!

The sound of the ceiling cracking above, made me momentarily flinch as smoke began to bleed its way in.

A cough from the other end, along with frantic shouts that screamed that they should leave immediately, plagued my phone. “Like I said!…” The voice from the other end began through ragged breaths and fits of coughs. “I will not let you go so easily!” He turned to his men and pointed at the door. “Tear this door down!” His piercing brown eyes that looked almost black stared straight into mines “You hear me you old coot! You son of a…”

I hung up the phone and as the floor above me began to cave in, I rushed to set the date and time on my watch.