They had Paul again! I had to do something. Come on, he was pretty much my brother growing up, as Amy was my sister. When you don't have your own siblings, then you tend to create bonds elsewhere or so I'm told. So why shouldn't I save him again? He's helped me on numerous occasions.
"And where the hell do you think you're going?"
My muscles tightened, knowing that I was totally busted. "To get some milk…" I lied not even trying to make it sound convincing.
He crossed his arms as I looked for another way into the building that I might be able to get into and get away from Alek at the same time. But so far, it looked like this was the only passable entrance that I could actually see.
"Chloe…" he said warningly.
"What am I supposed to do, huh? Wait around for my best friend my brother to just be killed by those freaks?" I challenged.
"You don't have a choice, and you know it," he avoided the question.
"Let me phrase it this way, Alek. You consider Jasmine to be very important to you right? Almost a sister?"
He nodded slowly, not liking where this was going for him. "She's a sister in all ways that count." He agreed.
"Would you stand by and watch her die because of you?"
He seemed stumped on that one. "Exactly," I pointed out.
I used the chance of his small moment of emotional vulnerability to get past him and to the door. Surprisingly I did it without an arm ceasing my shoulder or wrist. But this time I couldn't just jump in like I did with the drug dealers with Xavier's brother. I had to be a little more careful, and this was going to take some planning. Though, if I wanted to be successful in not getting caught again by Alek, it would have to be quick.
"Nice try," Alek whispered in my ear, before covering my mouth with his hand and wrapping the other arm around my waist to keep me from going any farther. Why did I think I could get away again?
My hearing adjusted after my heart rate went down from being scared out of my wits. They were talking about shooting him…slow, painful death. Just for having an association with me after finding out about my ancestry… gifts…being…whatever you want to call it. Alek must have heard it as well because his grip around me tightened to make sure that I didn't get away from his grasp.
Paul? Dead? Painful, slow? I always thought that he was going to die of old age, during one of our bingo games with Amy. Not at sixteen. Not by shooting. Not slowly, but peacefully. And definitely not for me. I wasn't going to allow that to happen to him.
The thought of life without Paul…what would I tell Amy about her dearly beloved? 'Oh, I just let your boyfriend die for me'? The group wouldn't function without him. He was our mediator, peace lover and the dork of the group.
"They know you're here, they're just saying those things to reel you in," he tried to reassure me.
"Alek…"my voice was muffled through his hand, "we both know that's not true."
He turned me around and put his hands on my shoulders. His facial expression wasn't smug or impassive or pissed off. It was…caring? He also looked like he didn't know what to say. Could I really blame him all that much?
"No, it might not be," he confessed.
"What are you and I going to do?" I asked him, doing a good job of keeping the tears out of my eyes and voice. Now was not the time to get emotional, but to save Paul.
"We are not going to do anything except get you out of here so you don't torture yourself," he planned. "I will call some other Mai to work all of this out. Clean this mess up."
I almost slapped him when he said that. But he caught my hand before I could. Hopefully he realized what he had just said to me and how completely rude it was. Clean this mess up? How could he say such a thing?
The first gunshot.
"Paul," I screamed, guiltily relieved that I couldn't see his face at the time. But unfortunately my other senses picked up. My hearing, telling me that his heart rate was slowing down. My smell, telling me that there was blood. My empathy telling me that he was terrified and in horrible pain.
My knees buckled.
Alek caught me with ease, too much ease for this situation. I tried to wrestle my way out of his arms, beating my fists against his chest but he was solid. I could tell that he was somewhat struggling to keep this tight of a grip, but it didn't matter because I was using all of my strength and he wasn't even using two thirds of his right now. What was the point of being Mai when you can't escape another Mai?
Another gunshot…heart beat almost vanished. By now I was fighting harder against Alek than I had ever fought for in my life…even for my own life against scar face. But again, no use whatsoever.
"Let's get you out of here," he suggested oh-so brightly. "Someone is already outside waiting in a car."
Which meant I didn't have the chance to get away while he went around to drivers seat. Damn it.
He dragged me out of the building somehow with my kicking feet, screaming and wailing upper limbs. It's a wonder the Order didn't catch us or at least attempt to.
A third shot. Gone;
My mom could tell that something was wrong with me, but not something this bad. Lately I've become a good liar, but I couldn't fully hide my emotions from my mother. I don't think anyone truly can. Not with a mother as good as mine anyways. So I muttered something about being in a fight with Amy about her spending way too much time with Paul. Afterwards, I stormed up the stairs and stomped into my room.
Only to be met by an uninvited guest.
I threw a heavy history book at Alek, knowing that he would catch it just fine. But I just needed to do it…just because.
"I don't think that you get it," he tried to explain. "They would have killed him anyways. Just for keeping in touch with you after he found out. So I wasn't going to let you die as well.
"What's going to happen next? They're going to get Amy, mom, Brian. Then they're going to start picking all of you off as well, Valentina, Jasmine, and even you."
"We're doing everything to make sure that your loved ones are safe, alright?" He assured.
"Weren't you doing that before tonight happened?"
He sighed, knowing that he had hit a dead end with me.
"I can't lose everyone I love, Alek," he took a step closer to me. We were maybe a foot away from each other now. I took a step back, but I ended up against a wall. You had to be kidding me.
"I know." He stated simply, and I knew that he was being sincere.
"And how am I going to live with myself, knowing this is my fault and-
He closed the space between us and cupped my chin with one hand and the back of my head with the other to make sure that I had to look at him. "Look at me. This is not your fault. These people are cruel and would do anything to destroy you. Which is why we need to be able to get you and your loved ones out of this place as soon as possible."
Tears were threatening to fall now. He noticed this and looked like he had no idea what to do with a crying girl. I tried to shove him away, but he did the complete opposite. He hugged me, which is something I didn't think Alek would do me any time soon.
I didn't return the hug, but I didn't push him away either. Honestly I don't think he would have allowed me to push him away if I tried. The tears were now falling at more of a faster rate and they wouldn't stop. Alek must have sensed the crying because I felt him press my head into his chest just like all the cheesy movies and T.V shows.
"What? No snarky comment?" I choked out between sobs.
He sighed. "I really don't think this is the time and place."
Who would have thought that there would be a time that Alek wouldn't make a snarky comment? But then again, who would have thought that he would be here when Paul died? And who the hell thought Paul was going to die tonight? No one that I knew, that's for sure.
What about Paul's parents? There was no way that the Order was going to tell them the truth, right? Or would they hide Paul's death altogether? Of course I would have to tell Amy sooner or later this month, and I knew that wouldn't go over well at all for me.
But I would worry about those things tomorrow. For now I just wanted to sleep.
I swear I don't remember falling asleep. And I definitely don't remember falling asleep in Alek's arms. So that was a big shocker for me when I finally woke up the next morning.
An even bigger shock?
Being woken up by my mother.
"I was going to tell you that Paul is in the hospital, but I can see that you're already busy with other things," she scolded, crossing her arms across her chest and glaring down at Alek and I.
"Paul's in the hospital?" I asked, stunned at the thought, wriggling out of Alek's arms and sitting up to face the day ahead of me.
Wasn't he dead? I had heard his heartbeat go down to almost nothing…and then we left. I had never actually seen him to confirm that he was dead.
Could it be?
Alek and I shared a glance.
"Is there something that you want to tell me about the two of you? Specifically after I've told you that there's no boys allowed in your room when I'm not here?" Mom challenged.
"Yes, actually, there's something that we do need to tell you." Alek spoke before I could manage a peep myself.
I just couldn't wait to see my mother's reaction.