Alone

by Abigail Wallace

  “Nathan…” I begin, “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry.” He lets out a short, humorless laugh. “You held a gun to my head Finn. You threatened my life.”

  “I’m here to apologize. It got out of hand, it won’t happen again sir, I promise. I lost sight of my job but I’m ready to get back to my mission now.”

  “So, you want me to put you back on the mission, after you sabotaged it for the girl that’s trying to sabotage me.” We study each other in silence for a moment. “Ah, I get it. She found out. Didn’t she?”

  “Yes.” I swallow. Lying to Nathan will only make this more difficult.

  “And she left you. I’m all you have to turn to.” He grins.

  I nod cautiously. He chuckles, an evil grin spreading across his face.

  “I could use your knowledge of the group,” he says. “But I’ll be moving you to the military dorms. I can’t risk you being so close to Scarlet again. I don’t trust you won’t betray me for her again.” He glares at me.

  “So then how do you plan for me to continue my mission? They’ll become suspicious if I suddenly stop staying in the guest bunks.”

  “I don’t need you to be close to them anymore. I know everything I need to.”

  I study his demonic expression for a long moment before replying, “What do you know?” I ask cautiously, fearful that I may have reignited any suspicions he has of me.

  He cocks his head slightly, “I know that you lied to me about Scarlet. You told me she wasn’t planning anything. She was harmless.” he scoffs. “But I know that she has my bomb and I need it before Cyrus gets here next week.”

  “Cyrus will be here next week. At least that gives me a little time.” I think. “Why don’t you just take it?” I ask. “If you know that she has it.”

  “Because once I find the bomb, I will be obligated to kill her and to be completely honest with you Finn, I love watching that girl fall apart.” A shiver makes its way up my spine, I fight the urge you shake it out of my body. “But time is running out. Cyrus and his team need the bomb to approve the rest of phase two.”

  “Nathan,” I pause for a moment to reevaluate the question I’m about to ask. “Forgive me for asking, but before I fully recommit to this, I just need to know, Why is finishing phase two so important?”

  Nathan glares at me and for a moment I think he may be about to jump over the desk and grab my neck, but he only sighs and looks at the picture of his wife.

  “Because of overpopulation Finn, you know why.”

  “Haven’t we’ve killed enough people to solve that problem? At least for a long while.” I argue.

  “Do you know what it’s like to lose control Finn? To watch somebody you love, die in a pool of their own blood?” He gives me no time to respond. “This bomb gives me the power to control who lives and dies. I’m in control now. In this bunker, I am king. If this plan falls through and I don’t have the bomb when Cyrus comes, I lose my kingdom. But, if we finish phase 2 and ‘save the planet’ I get to stay on my throne. I’m not willing to give this up, not while I have the power to make sure that your friends don’t make it out of here alive.”

  “This is all about power?”

  “If you back out now, I can assure you that your dear Scarlet’s death will be prolonged and painful.” He smirks. I feel myself begin to sweat, as much as I wish my fear of him would disappear. I swallow hard, weighing my options. Either I back out and try to get Scarlet out of here as fast as I can, or I follow Nathan’s lead until I can think of a better plan.

  “Are you with me? Or should I make a trip to the guest dorms?”

  “I’m with you.” I choke out.

  “Then start moving your stuff and meet Richard and I back here for breakfast.” He orders.

  “Yes sir.” I reply as I stand and turn to leave his office.

  I hurry back to my dorm to get my stuff, keeping my head down in the hopes that I won’t run into Scarlet. Even though I don’t believe I have to worry about it, Scarlet hasn’t left her room since she’d learned who I really was. I don’t blame her. When I arrive at my room, Laura is waiting for me. I make eye contact with her as I close the door.

  “Why?” she begins. “You should never have gone back to him Finn!”

  “How did you—”

  “It is my job to know! You are my son, I know when you’re in danger. I know when you do something stupid! He could have shot you the moment you walked through his door? Are you trying to kill yourself?”

  “He didn’t shoot me.” I argue. “I did what I had to, to keep Scarlet safe.”

  “You can’t keep her safe if you’re dead! How many times am I going to have to say that to you?” she shouts.

  “Would you stop yelling at me?” I snap. “I’m just trying to keep everyone safe. I don’t want to work for Nathan again. He terrifies me. But losing Scarlet, scares me even more. Look, I know that Scarlet doesn’t want—” I have to stop myself before I let the words slip from my tongue, “I just have to keep her safe.” I finally say. “I’ll be careful, I promise. I just…I need to at least try to save her.”

  “I know you do.” She smiles weakly, her anger dissipating

  “I’m just not sure she’ll ever trust me again.” I drop my gaze to the floor.

  “Of course she will, she loves you.”

  “No Laura, she loves Shark. She loves that man who I pretended to be those months at the house. She hates Finn, who I really am. A coward, a follower. I followed Nathan’s plan blindly and it cost me her trust, it cost me myself. How can she love me Laura? How could anybody? I helped murder so many people, and until I got to know her, I didn’t even realize it was wrong.”

  “I think you have it backwards.” she replies.

  “What do you mean?”

  “The ‘Finn’ you described is not who you are. You love fiercely. You would do anything for those you love. I’ll admit that before you left to track down Evan, I’d thought that part of you was slipping away. That Nathan’s influence has begun to corrupt your golden heart. But seeing you with this group, seeing you with Scarlet has proven me wrong.” She steps closer to me, placing her hand on my cheek. “I hate that you don’t love who you are and that all you see is a coward, because that isn’t who you are. I love you so much Finn and Scarlet still loves you.” Her voice shakes as tears form in her eyes.

  “I love you too.” I finally say. “But I’m afraid Scarlet may never feel that way again and who could blame her? I lied to her about everything.”

  Laura opens her mouth but then shakes her head, as if to change her mind, “Richard wants word with you once you’re settled into your new room.”

  “Okay, I’ll come by in half an hour.” I tell her. She blinks the tears from her eyes, studying me. She pulls me into a gentle hug, holding me for a long moment before pulling away. I busy myself with packing up my limited amount of belongings, not acknowledging her as she leaves the room. I push my thoughts out of my head and focus everything on packing.

  * * *

  The days leading to Cyrus’ arrival go by slowly. Each day I meet with Nathan, It seems to be his way of watching me. So he can be sure I’m not sneaking off to inform Scarlet of his plans. I haven’t seen her or the others in a a few days. It’s strange to spend everyday with certain people and then suddenly not see them anymore. After I meet with Nathan in the mornings, I sneak off to Richards room. He still hasn’t been able to speak with Scarlet about our plans and time is running out. Although lately, Nathan has kept Richard and I in the dark on when Cyrus is coming, we assume it will be in the next couple of days.

  “Well my dear Finn.” Nathan begins our meeting, today Richard sits beside me across from Nathan. “Tomorrow is the day.”

  “The day?” I ask, although I already know what he means. Today is the day he collects the bomb. His toying with Scarlet and watching her fall apart has come to an end.

  “You know what day.” he laughs. “Cyrus comes in two days, which means that I’m goin
g to need that bomb today.”

  “I’ll go get it for you.” I offer. I feel Richard glancing at me from the corner of my eye.

  “No, I’d like to do this myself.” He smirks. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen Scarlet, it would be nice to catch up with her.”

  “What do you plan to do with the girl Nathan?” Richard asks. I sigh in relief, grateful that I wan’t the one to ask. I think I already know the answer but Nathan can be unpredictable.

  “I haven’t fully decided.” Nathan’s eyes meet with mine. “I won’t hurt her today though, not if I don’t have to. But there must be some form of punishment for bringing such a threat within our borders. With the intent to kill. I can’t simply forgive that kind of thing, you know that.”

  “I’m sure you’ll think of something.” I respond, narrowing my eyes.

  “Oh I most certainly will.” he growls. The gleam in his eye gives me goose bumps. Who finds this much joy in ruining peoples lives?

  “Is that all you wanted us for Nathan?” Richard asks impatiently.

  “It is. I thought you would be excited. We’ve almost completely phase two and by the end of this week not only will our plans be approved, but I’ll be down one major annoyance in my life. What a wonderful week it will be.”

  Richard and I exchange a look and rise from our seats.

  “Finn, I’ll see you in the lab after lunch.” Nathan says. I nod, signaling that I heard him. I’m fearful of what he could possibly have to show me then. But I assume it has something to do with Scarlet and the bomb.

  Outside of the room, five of the bunkers guards are waiting to be let into Nathan’s office. I hold the door, eyeing each one as they file into the room.

  I close the door and stand staring down the hallway, wondering what my next move should be.

  “Finn.” Richard touches my shoulder. “You have go.”

  “Go?” I reply, hardly listening.

  “To Scarlet.” he says calmly. “Get the bomb and get her out of here, this is our last chance. If Nathan gets the bomb, it’s over. We can’t save her and we can’t stop the attacks.”

  I continue to stare down the hallway. Attempting to process our conversation. I knew that this day was coming and I knew that it would be soon. But I was frozen. For the last time I have to decide what I want to do. Do I go against Nathan and save Scarlet? Do I give the bomb to Richard or take it and run?

  “Now Finn!” Richard shakes me urgently. I take off sprinting through the halls towards Scarlet’s room. My mind void of everything but her name and the feeling that I have to get to her.

  18

  Scarlet

  I’ve lost track of the days once again. I leave my room every now and then to get food, but that’s about all I’ve been doing. I haven’t run into Alec or Finn at all. It’s crossed my mind that maybe Alec and the other’s have packed up and gone back to the house. I wouldn’t blame them if they did.

  Christopher has stopped by every now and then, updating me on Shark’s status, telling me all about how close he’s gotten with Doctor Fowler and how he asks of me often.

  I spend most of my spare time thinking. Sometimes I remember the days back at Alec’s. Strange to think that things seemed simpler then.

  I remember when Shark took me on that date. Back before I knew. I keep thinking back through every conversation we’ve had together, looking through my memory for signs. Searching for missed signals. I should have seen it, I should have known.

  I think about Evan often, I feel guilty for his death now. Now that I know he was right. Would Finn have killed him anyway? Did he really kill him to protect me or was it part of his mission? I guess I’ll never know.

  Knowing Evan was right caused me to reconsider the bomb, as Alec already knew I would. I know it’s not the right answer. Not everyone in this bunker deserves to die, only the ones directly responsible.

  It’s crazy to think that I may be the one who’s able to do it. But not until I know what they’re hiding, not until I can be sure they have nothing else up their sleeves. I sit on my bed like this for hours. Staring angrily at the door. Plotting.

  A knock breaks me out of my thoughts. It startles me slightly, it’s not time for Christopher to be knocking and I haven’t heard from the other’s since Alec and I last talked.

  I wonder if Shark finally caved and told Doctor Fowler about Evan’s bomb. A second knock. No if they were here for the bomb, I’d be dead already.

  Slowly I walk to the door, opening it just enough for me to see Finn standing outside. He’s wearing a suit now, white and clean, like what I often see Richard wearing.

  Why is he here? Maybe he’s gonna turn me in himself.

  “No.” I say, closing the door.

  “Scarlet, we need to talk.” he says through the door. I open it again.

  “I don’t want to talk.” I reply. I begin to close the door a second time, but he pushes it the rest of the way open. “I didn’t say come in.” I try to push him back out. My efforts are useless seeing as I’m less than half his size.

  “This is important.” he says. He comes the rest of the way into the room, closing the door gently behind him. “We have to be fast. He could be here any minute.”

  “Finn…”His name feels weird on my tongue. “I really don’t want to hear it.”

  “You have to.” He grabs my shoulders aggressively. I flinch a bit, but I don’t feel threatened. As much as I don’t trust him, I know he wouldn’t hurt me. “Listen, you have to get out of here. I know you don’t trust me, and you don’t have to. But Scarlet, you have to run.”

  “Why?” I don’t understand what he’s trying to warn me of. “You tell him about the bomb?”

  “No.” He suddenly begins whispering. “I wouldn’t put you in that much danger. Scarlet, Nathan has his own way of finding things out and not only does he know you have the bomb, but he needs the bomb.”

  “Why”

  “I don’t have the time to explain Scarlet, please just trust me.”

  “What is it that this man is hiding?” I ask. “Do you know?”

  He nods, his eyes drifting to the floor.

  “Finn.” I step closer to him, I have to know what he knows. His hands release their grip on my shoulders. “Shark.” He looks back up at me. His expression softer than before, like the man I knew before I met Finn. “How can you expect me to trust you, if you won’t tell me what’s going on?”

  “It doesn’t matter. You can’t do anything to stop him. All you can do is run, right now. Before he kills you.” I search his eyes. Why would he lie to me about this? What would he gain from doing that?

  “This doesn’t make sense. He promised we’d be safe. You promised we’d be safe. What changed?” I think for a moment.

  “He lied. Nathan lives to hurt people.” he tells me. “Where are the others? You all need to be long gone by tomorrow.”

  “I don’t know.” I reply. “I figured they were already gone.”

  “I have to get back.” he mumbles, looking at the watch on his wrist. “Find them and run.” He turns to leave.

  “What about the bomb?” I ask. “Do I just leave it behind?”

  “Will you let me take it?” he asks doubtfully. I shake my head, I still refuse to trust him with that.

  “Then take it with you. You can’t just leave it here. That would give him too much power.”

  “So…is this goodbye then?” I can’t help but feel sad. He gives me a sad smile and walks out the door. I glance at the bomb one more time. If I was gonna blow something up, now would be the time. I shake the idea out of my head and focus myself on finding Alec and the others. They must still be here. Finn would’ve known if they left.

  Not long after Finn leaves, Christopher comes to get me for dinner. I cut off his greeting.

  “Have you seen my friends Chris?” I ask him. He thinks hard for a long moment.

  “They were all headed to Alec’s room a moment ago.” he tells me. I push him out of the way in
a more aggressive manner than I had intended.

  “Sorry.” I mutter as I walk swiftly in the direction of Alec’s room. Quietly I knock on the door, paranoid that somebody may be watching.

  “Not now Christopher.” Alec calls through the door. I knock again, no answers. I bite my lower lip as I consider letting myself in. Remembering that we don’t have the time for me to be scared, I turn the knob and slide into the room as quietly as I can.

  “Scarlet.” Ally greets me. She’s not quite nice, but not hostile either. I turn to see the group spread out around the room. Alec is leaning against the wall, looking away from me.

  “Look, I know I’m the last person you want to see right now. But we have to get out of here.” I try to keep my voice as quiet as I can.

  “What? Why?” Ally asks. Her voice trembles slightly. I assume she’s thinking of Sam now.

  “It’s not safe. Doctor Fowler is planning something for tomorrow and if we want to live, we need to not be here.”

  “I told you we weren’t safe.” Reese speaks up. Ty elbows her side. “What?” she grumbles.

  “Scarlet, now really isn’t a good time for your drama.” Alec says, walking towards me. “We’re in the middle of a team meeting.” He opens the door.

  “No. I promise I’m not making this up.” I back away from him, further into the room. “I’m being serious. Finn he…he came to my room. He told me that the Doctor knows about the bomb and we need to go, now..”

  “Finn?” Kevin asks. “Who’s Finn?”

  “It doesn’t matter.” I sigh. I don’t have time to tell them everything. “What matters now is that you guys make it out of here alive.”

  “Oh, now you’re worried about that.” Alec rolls his eyes.

  “Alec, she’s not lying.” Kevin stands up and moves in between us. “Can’t you see she’s genuinely scared?”

  “How do I know this isn’t just your way of getting us out of here so you can blow this thing up?” Alec asks.