They Sent Him

   I sat back and looked at him. I grabbed a hamburger off the tray, and started to unwrap it. He watched me closely. Finally I asked, "So, what are you going to do?"
   Ashton sighed and leaned back in his chair. Running his hand through his hair, he said, "I'm not sure. They told me to find you, and bring you back. If you wouldn't come willingly, I am to use this," he pulls a small bottle, the size of my pinkie finger, out of his pocket.
   "What's that?" I asked, then started on my burger.
   "A knock-out serum. It's supposed to go into your drink."
   "Are you going to use it on me? You already found me, and this place is pretty hard to run out of. Plus, you know, I'm not one to come easily."
   He opened his mouth, then closed it. "I don't think--I'm...I'm not going to do anything..."
   I almost choked on my burger, "What?"
   "I'm not turning you in. On one condition..." He paused unsure of himself. "I come with you. Where ever you are going, I'm going. Whatever you do, I do. If I go back there...They'll just use me again."
   I'm not sure what to say. Could this be a trap? Is he saying this to gain my trust, then to later on turn me in? "Why do you want to come with me?"
   "I like this freedom. The air, it's so...fresh...Please. Just let me come with you."
   "I...Alright. But you have to listen to me, no questions asked, and I need to run, and your still sleeping, I'm leaving you behind. And if I see any funny business, I'm out." Ash nodded. I finished off my burger then started on some of the fries. "Are they in contact with you...Are they tracking you?"
   "They call me every hour, I think I have a tracking device in my phone somewhere...If I don't report back, they'll know something went wrong. They'll send out a squad."
   Hmm. "Let me see your phone."
   He handed it over. I studied it for a moment. It was a newer phone, flat, with a three by two inch touch screen. Ash handed me a pocket knife, I raised my eyebrow at him, but he only shrugged. I began to pry the phone apart. I looked around the phone's motherboard. I poked around at the motherboard a little while, finishing off my fries. I finally find the tracking device.
   It's small, flat, and almost transparent.
   I pull it off the phone then I hand it to Ashton. "What do you want me to do with it?" He raises his eyebrow.
   I sigh, "I don't know...Something? Hey here's a thought, get rid of it, that might work." My tone was dry.
   But Ash just laughed, "All right then," he stood up, "Getting rid of it now. Be right back, don't go anywhere."
   "Fine."
   I watch him walk over towards the bathrooms, but on his way he accidentally bumps into a twenty year old guy. He apologizes immediately, then continues to the bathrooms. While I was waiting I emptied my drink.
   He walked back grinning. As he takes his seat he said, "All done."
   I smirked, "What? Going to the bathroom, or getting rid of the TD?"
   "TD, tracking device, clever," Ash mumbled under his breath, then in a louder voice he said, "The TD."
   "Aah, that's good. So...Wanna blow this Popsicle stand?"
   Ashton burst out laughing.
   "What?" I asked irritated.
   "Nothing, it's nothing. I just never pictured you saying that."
   "Fine what ever. I won't say it again. Can we please go now?"
   Ashton laughed again, "Okay let's go." He picked up my tray, and emptied the wrappers into the trash bin. I grabbed his phone off the table and headed for the door. Ashton followed me out onto the streets.