"Is there anything I can get for you, Mr. Armega?" The tall man asked from behind the mahogany desk.
Isaiah glanced around the room at the massive bookcases that surrounded them. They were both dwarfed by the rows and rows of books that the stands held. Isaiah was able to recognize most of them, too. The immense study smelled just like the one in Isaiah's old home. It had been years since he'd smelled anything like this. He let himself indulge in the scent for only a moment before coming back to reality.
" Enough with this garbage. I'm not some kid who witnessed his first murder. Take this down."
The tall man remained poised.
"I apologize, Mr. Armega. Our scans informed us this was the most soothing room setting for you. We just simply want you to be comfortable."
"Well, it’s pretty damn insulting. Take it down."
"As you wish."
Suddenly, the study disappeared and so did the beautiful smell. In its place stood four concrete walls. The mahogany desk turned into a plain table and the sweet scent was replaced with a stale odor.
"Well, Mr. Armega, are you ready to talk now?"
Isaiah stared intently into the man’s eyes and remained silent.
"Mr. Armega, may I remind you how courteous we have been to you, given the circumstances. Many men in your position would already have been executed."
Isaiah scoffed.
"Yeah, I’ve seen all of em. It’s turned into the nation’s hottest reality show."
"Please, Mr. Armega, all we want…"
"Shut the hell up and stop using that name. You don't deserve to have it pass through that mechanic mouth of yours." Isaiah sat shaking in his chair. His handcuffs, sensing his aggression, tightened around his arms behind him. The man spoke back.
"I apologize, however, I'll remind you again that despite this kind demeanor, I have permission to execute you right here at a moment’s notice if you do not comply."
The scent of the old library slowly crept back into the room. Isaiah knew they were trying to calm him down. He took a deep breath and sat back in his chair.
"It's funny how human they can make you guys seem, yet you still can't lie for shit. It's like the most basic human ability there is, too." Isaiah gathered himself. “You need me. I'm your only lead. You kill me and you're all back to square one."
The tall man still remained un-phased at Isaiah's comments.
"These charges are not light ones and it has become obvious that our generosity is being thrown to the wayside. We will give you one last chance before we are forced to take drastic steps."
The smell had now completely refilled the room. In his mind, Isaiah was taken back to his family's old library again. He recalled the countless shelves of books he had yet to read. He remembered how much the thought of so many unread books excited him. He couldn't wait to get to them all. He remembered his dad's personal collection that sat in the front of the room.
"One day, when you're old enough, I'll let you read some of those." He would always tell Isaiah. It was all he ever wanted.
Suddenly the memories turned red. The library became engulfed in flame. The bookcases began toppling down all around him. The skin curling screams repeated over and over again in his head now. The short-lived pleasant escape turned into a nightmare. Isaiah clenched his fists.
"Drastic steps? You say that as if you people could really do anything more to me. It's hard to threaten a man you've already killed. I don't care what made up garbage you're accusing me of, you can't make me say shit."
"Let me assure you they are certainly not "made up". These are all incredibly serious charges. Destruction of government property, obstruction of justice, false portrayal of The Great Leader...”
"Accurate." Isaiah mumbled under his breath.
"Excuse me?"
"I said accurate portrayal, you deaf, ass hat."
The tall man stood up from his chair and pulled his pistol from its holster, pointing it right at Isaiah's forehead.
"Oh wow, you guys can get mad. That's so cool! I didn't realize lifeless blocks of piss could actually feel."
"I'll remind you one final time, Armega, that I have permission to shot you right here and now."
Isaiah stared right into the tall man’s eyes. A soft smile formed on Isaiah's face.
"Hard to be afraid of threats that are as empty as you."
The tall man smiled right back.
"Can't say I didn't try to help you, Armega."
As the trigger was pulled, Isaiah bent forward quickly in his chair, just missing the bullet passing over his head. As the man shot again, Isaiah flipped his chair backward, knocking the table up with his knees. The bullet ricocheted off the table into the tall man’s side, staggering him. Isaiah kicked himself upright back on his feet, hunched forward with the chair still on his back. Swiftly, he jumped up on the table’s edge and launched himself towards the tall man. Before the man could gather himself, Isaiah kicked him down and stood on his shooting arm. He kicked the pistol away with his other foot, then stepped down on the man’s face.
"I would say "See you in hell", but I don't think they'd let you guys in."
Isaiah stepped down with all his force and kicked off the man’s head. The mechanical insides spilled out onto the floor. Isaiah knelt down and grabbed the handcuff keys from the man’s hip and un-cuffed himself. He stood up straight and stretched his back.
"Now for the fun part." Isaiah checked the watch on the man's wrist. He had roughly ten seconds left before the others were alerted. He grabbed the pistol and peered out the door. At the end of the hallway, Isaiah could make out a window.
"Well, let's pray to God I'm on the first floor." Isaiah sprinted out of the room as fast as he could. The alarm sounded as he made his way down the hallway and soon, men identical to the one from the interrogation began pouring into the hallway.
"We have a runner on seven. Lock everything down." Isaiah heard one of the men shout.
Damn. That's a hell of a lot higher than the first.
Barricades began coming down and closing off all exiting hallways, making any alternative escape now impossible.
Goddamnit.
With no other options, Isaiah pointed his pistol at the window and fired four rounds into its corners.
Well, if there was ever a way to go...