AN: I just thought it would be interesting to do the last chapter in more of Diana's pov... Kind of write about some of the things and thoughts that led her to her decision to leave with Sam and his people. Obviously, there will be spoilers for Plague since this takes place in one of the last chapters of this book. And all of the dialogue is taken straight from the last chapter.
Diana looked out at the kids gathered in the plaza and down at herself. She was clearly dressed better than all the Perdido Beach kids; Caine had seen to that. Couldn't have his group looking as ragged, worn out, and dirty as they were on the inside, could he? Just like he couldn't just leave everything alone and stay on the island where they had food and water and even perhaps actual happiness. At first, she felt ashamed to have been relaxing on the island while all these kids suffered, then adding insult to injury by showing up looking like she was better than them after her nice little vacation. Maybe she had been better than them, but obviously, by the little discussion she and Caine had before their departure, she no longer was.
She stole a sidelong glance at Sam, standing with his crew at the top of the stairs, apart from Caine and his group. Diana caught him looking at Caine and wondered what he was thinking. Where as Caine, she knew, was preparing a delicately doctored speech in his head, Sam just looked tired. He looked like he was tired and ready for the end of it all.
His crew matched his expression, more or less: Dekka, Brianna, Jack, and Edilio. Most of them looked resigned, like they had won the battle but just barely. The standout exception was of course Brianna—the Breeze, she preferred. She just looked high strung as ever and like she'd much rather be somewhere else entirely. The one that surprised Diana the most, however, was Astrid. She had expected to see the blonde here by Sam's side per usual. It wasn't like Astrid to skip out on something like this, or maybe she had figured out that being on top wasn't always all it was cracked up to be. Caine would never learn that lesson.
Nonetheless, his group surely looked like the kind of politics and people you would see in charge. Penny, her legs now fixed by Lana, Turk, that miserable excuse for a whining normal kid, and Taylor. Diana was surprised when she came, at first, knowing of her attraction to Sam just as well as the rest of the inhabitants of the FAYZ, but she didn't blame her. After all, Caine had promised the girl food and hot water and something to drink—treasure more valuable than diamonds in the god-forsaken world they were left to rule. Then, Diana herself stood behind Caine. She couldn't help but think for a moment about how had Astrid been there, she would've been by Sam's side and not tucked back with his group like Diana was.
"I think everyone is here," Caine announced to the audience, breaking her train of thought.
Toto, the kid standing awkwardly between the two groups said, "He doesn't believe that."
Diana watched Caine smile and thought of a shark, a tiger biding its time, rather than a person sheepish and admonished by the correction. He tactfully corrected, "I think everyone is here that is likely to come."
"True," Toto nodded slightly, more to himself than to anyone else.
"Yeah," Sam agreed. He looked nervous to Diana. It was as if even though he knew he didn't—shouldn't—care about what would happen, he was worried about the outcome all the same. Perhaps another difference between the two figureheads of the FAYZ.
Caine quickly assumed charge then and turned to address the crowd in his best regal voice, announcing, "You all know why we're here. Sam and I both want peace—"
"Not true," the human lie detector blurted.
Diana didn't miss the angry flash of heat in Caine's eyes, but she knew that he was carefully restraining himself, tapping down the impulse and outwardly keeping calm. Angry kings were not typically popular kings, and he knew that. Caine was no fool, if nothing else.
"Toto, for those of you who don't know," Caine said with false levity, "Is a freak with the power to tell the truth from a lie."
"True," Toto interjected, like it was necessary.
"So. Okay. Let me start over," Caine recomposed himself in less time than it would've taken those gathered before them to even blink. "Sam and I don't like each other. My people don't like his people, and his people feel the same way about us."
"He believes this," Toto told himself.
"Yes I do," Caine said dryly. Though his polished act remained staunch, his patience was thin. This close, Diana could see him resist rolling his eyes at the truth-teller. "We have different visions of the future. Sam here wants to move everyone to this lake of his. I want to stay here in Perdido Beach."
The crowd didn't respond, waiting to hear what more he was going to say. A bitter taste filled Diana's mouth when she thought about his vision of the future. If Caine had it his way, he'd have these kids as slaves, building monuments and palaces for him each more grand than the last. Even with his patience tested by Toto's blunt interjections, he lived for this: the attention, the spotlight... the control of the whole scene.
"Sam and I also have different ideas about leadership. Sam thinks it's a burden. Me? I think it's an opportunity."
Diana looked at the ground, a frown faintly tugging away at the corner of her mouth. Caine made it sound like Sam didn't want to take care of anyone while Caine wanted to help them all and make them smile. No, that wasn't how it was. Sam didn't want to, but he never turned anyone down, never let anyone die without a fight, like the girl—Dekka—standing near him. It wasn't leadership he hated, though he obviously didn't go looking for it. No, it was the FAYZ. He hated the FAYZ and he hated knowing that people were hurting and suffering while he was in charge, responsible for it, and that even his best effort wasn't enough—even though it was, and the kids just wanted more because they, too, hated the suffering. But Caine... Caine would use the whole situation to get power and control. He didn't love the FAYZ, but Diana had the distinct feeling that he didn't have a problem with it either.
"He… he believes that," Toto said slowly, like he had picked up a half truth, like he had picked up on the same thing that Diana knew in her mind and in her heart about the two brothers and Caine's idea of leadership.
"Today, each of you will make a decision," Caine continued without hardly any pause. "To go with Sam, or to stay here. I won't try and stop anyone, and I won't hold it against anyone." He placed his hand over his heart for a moment here, playing up the drama of it all. What a ham, Diana thought dryly. "For those who choose to stay, let me be very clear: I will be in charge. Not as a mayor, but as a king. My word will be law. MY decisions will be final."
Unhappy murmurs rippled through the audience, and Diana was glad that someone out there was picking up on the fact that whoever stayed would not have a king but a dictator. Most likely, it wouldn't be one they would have to fear—unless of course they made the slightest mistake, because then, then there would be no forgiveness whatsoever. Likely, they would pay terribly.
"But I'll also do everything I can to leave each of you alone. Quinn, if he chooses to stay, can still fish. Albert, if he chooses to stay, will still run his business. Freaks and normal will be treated equally."
Diana dryly laughed in her mind, knowing Caine might mean his words now but would never be able to follow them for more than a week. She even noticed that he was about to add something right then already but caught himself, a quick glance in Toto's direction.
After a long silence, Diana watched Sam step forward, looking ready to be out of the spotlight before he was even there for five minutes. If Astrid had been there, she'd have probably helped him with the talking because she was good at that. She could call up quotes in the blink of an eye. Yet, it was just Sam this time.
Therefore, Sam told the crowd, "Anyone who goes with me has a vote in how we do stuff. I guess I'll be more or less in charge, but we'll probably choose some other people, create a council like… Well, hopefully better than we had before. And, um… Look, people, if you want someone, so… king, good grief, to tell you what to do, stay here. If you want to make more of your own decisions, well, come with me."
Toto didn't have anything to say, probably because Sam had said so little and was so blunt and to the point that there wasn't much to judge. It was simple. It was… Sam. Just plain Sam. There was no masks or smooth talking like Caine. He was just Sam, as he had always been and would continue to be.
Brianna, still looking like she was ready for the gathering to be over with but loyal nonetheless called out from her place behind Sam, "You know which side I'm on people. Sam's been carrying the load since day one."
Some kid in the audience immediately yelled back at her, "It was Caine who saved us! Where was Sam?"
Diana wanted to tell him that Sam was off finding water for his sorry ass, but obviously, he didn't deserve it. She had always felt bad that Sam carried the load, saved everyone countless times, did all the dirty work, and got no thanks. That was exceptionally low, to turn around and accuse him. But she took pause and took pity. This kid was saying Caine had saved them, but he was probably going to condemn him shortly thereafter as well. They all knew what happened back when Coates was his headquarters, back in the early stages of the FAYZ. That exploration in leadership hadn't gone so smoothly, to say the least.
Caine seemed confident as usual anyways while Same seemed a bit tense, and the crowd looked mostly undecided at that point. It was sad, these kids having to make a decision like this when they should have been... well, being kids or something along those lines.
"What's Albert Going to do?" some boy eventually shouted. "Where's Albert?"
… Of course. How had Diana forgotten Albert. He was almost more of a king right now than anyone. He controlled everything. If these kids went against Albert, they had no money, they had no food, they had no water, they had nothing.
Albert suddenly stepped out from where he had been lurking off to the side, apparently biding his time. He slowly picked a spot exactly in between Caine and Sam.
"What should we do, Albert?" some other confused kid asked him.
Albert didn't address them. Instead, he talked directly to the two brothers on the steps, still keeping his voice loud enough for everyone. He simply stated, "I'm a businessman."
"True," Toto confirmed.
"My job is organizing kids to work, taking the things they harvest or catch, and redistributing them through a market," Albert expanded.
"And getting the best for yourself," someone yelled. Begrudging and somewhat bitter laughter rippled through the kids.
Diana had heard about what had happened with Albert and the miserable "Human Crew" kids through Taylor—nothing bypassed that girl's gossip-tuned ears. She wondered if he had learned his lesson about being greedy and taking the best, but something told her, like Caine, he probably hadn't. Albert had become something far more akin to Caine than anyone should dare to strive for.
"Yes," Albert nodded in acknowledgement. "I reward myself for the work I do."
He paused, and the crowd had nothing to say though their thoughts likely rolled rampant with more disapproval.
Given the silence, he continued, "Caine has promised me that if I stay here he won't interfere. But I don't trust Caine."
"No, he doesn't," Toto nodded in agreement.
And he's probably wise not to. Not to trust him like I did, Diana thought to herself.
"I do trust Sam. But…" Albert trailed off lamely.
The silence then had become so thick that it was nearly tangible, and everyone knew that this was the moment where Albert completely turned on Sam, believing it was his turn to be on top. Though everyone had probably known it, no one had said it, and certainly Albert hadn't either.
"But… Sam is a weak leader," he stated finally, his eyes down as he looked for the right words, not nearly as dexterous with words as the silver-tongued boy she had henceforth backed even if out for similar status. "Sam is the best fighter ever. He's defended us many times. And he's the best at figuring out how to survive. But Sam… You're too humble. Too willing to step aside. When Astrid and the council sidelined you, you put up with it. I was part of that myself. But you let us push you aside and the council turned out to be useless."
Sam stood expressionless as he listened. Maybe he figured this would happen, but it was still horrible to live it out. Maybe, he was relieved that it finally had happened at all.
"Let's face it, you're not really the reason things are better here, I am," Albert said. "You're braver than me, Sam. And if it's a battle, you rule. But you can't organize or plan ahead and you won't just put your foot down and make things happen."
Sam himself nodded in agreement. Diana admired how he would readily and willingly admit his faults, and she had to say, maybe stepping aside was better in this case. Caine would put his foot down without hesitation, just like Albert had mentioned, but undoubtedly he would crush a lot of kids under that same foot in the process. He might not even care.
"So," Albert wrapped things up, "I'm keeping my things here, in Perdido Beach. But there will be free trading of stuff between Perdido Beach and the lake. And Lana has to be allowed to move freely."
Diana watched Caine's eyes flash dangerously again. She knew he wanted Albert, Lana even more so, because that would mean complete power and that Sam would eventually be forced to come to him. Having those two would be hoarding the two strongest pieces on the board... But if he said no, Albert and Lana would simply leave with Sam, and then he would have to go to Sam too, which, in his mind, could not happen. It would mean losing the battle. Caine had never been willing to accept a loss with grace... Not the war and not even the smallest battle in it.
Albert, knowing that he could choose to go with Sam if Caine didn't agree, added assuredly, "I feed these kids. I do it my way."
When Caine contemplatively nodded, Diana could see the tightness in his neck that maybe the others couldn't, perhaps for lack of not knowing him as well as she did… But Albert did at least know enough to know he twisted words and promises.
"I want you to say it," Albert said, glancing at Toto pointedly.
Diana looked on as Caine battled it out in his mind and eventually, knowing there was no avoiding the loss of that battle for the time being, said, "Yeah. Albert decides anything about money or work or trade back and forth between Perdido Beach and the lake. And the Healer goes where the Healer wants to go."
"Okay," Sam said after a pause, "I'm going to Ralph's. Anyone coming with me, head over there. I'll wait two hours. Bring bottled water and whatever food you have. It's a long walk to the lake."
They all watched Sam walk down the stairs and off in the direction of Ralph's in complete silence then. After a minute or two, Brianna disappeared, probably already at the grocery store by the time anyone noticed her absence, and the rest of those standing on the stairs where he had been standing to speak began to follow as well. About a third of the kids in the plaza left too. Sam may not have been alone, but he certainly looked like he felt so as he headed off.
Some of the group standing up by Caine merged with the crowd or went off on their own for a bit. Diana herself felt almost as lonely as Sam looked. Caine didn't even glance back to her and the others before kicking off his next big speech to the kids still standing in the plaza, telling them how smart they are and how good of a choice they made and what was going to happen next.
The light reading began to swim around in Diana's mind again as she stood there, not even realizing that her hand had drifted back to her stomach, and suddenly, she knew. The decision was nearly instantaneous. She didn't even think about what she was doing, and before anyone, before Caine, could notice, she slipped away from the crowd.
Diana realized that she could not stay in Perdido Beach. She could not stay with Caine. For all his faults and his flaws and his merciless ambition, he had always protected her. He had chosen her over his cruel intentions when she had walked off the cliff to save the children in the helicopter, and he had never let that foul creature, Drake, do any serious harm to her. He would've crushed him if he had... and done the same to anyone else, for that matter. Even if she had gone to him and told him how Bug was looking at her and how it made her uncomfortable within her own skin, he would've thrown the boy through a wall or three. Maybe he didn't even realize that he made those choices, maybe it was all a subconscious reaction caused by someone trying to hurt something that belonged to him. Either way, in the end, he couldn't protect Diana from himself, and that was the final thought that pushed her towards Ralph's.
She loved Caine. It would've been impossible for her to stay with him, try and fix him for so long if she hadn't. Part of her loved him still. Yet, he could hurt her—maybe even kill her—without even knowing that he was doing until it was all over if she got caught in one of his moods, which were worsening each day. Now, she had the tiny being inside her to think about too. Perhaps, she could've hung on. Perhaps she could've stayed and still been okay... But she couldn't risk it now. It wasn't just her anymore.
Caine didn't even know about her… little problem. It might have been that when she told him, he would get so upset that he would go on one of his rages, and Diana and the not-quite-yet-there baby would've gone through a wall or had the roof collapse on them or been crushed by sheer telekinetic energy. Caine was more unstable than he had ever been even if still clinging to his outwardly polished demeanor, and even Diana couldn't have said for sure how he would have taken the news.
And at the end of it all, even if it went over well, she wasn't sure that she could have her child grow up with the power-hungry "king of Perdido Beach." At least not yet. Not until he somehow found it in himself to change. Not until it was safe and he was safe.
Caine couldn't protect her against himself, and that was really the brunt of what led Diana to Sam. Sam could and would protect both her and the thing inside her. He could even protect her from Caine, and Sam would not be a danger, a risk to Diana and the child like Caine currently was. She had truly thought he was changing for a heartbeat there, but she had been wrong. Until that did happen, Diana would have to go with Sam and his crew.
She didn't even realize that she was at Ralph's until she saw the crowd of kids and became faintly aware that they were clearing a path for her as she made her way over to Sam and Brianna and Dekka and Lana, who apparently looked like she would prefer to be stationed up at the lake with the rest of them.
There were too many things she could've said, but none of them would ever suffice for the turn of events. Anyways, if anyone understood, Sam probably would come to his own conclusions without her guiding him there by hand. Meeting his eyes then, she simply said, "Hey Sam."
"Diana?" he questioned, obviously very confused and taken aback by the sudden presence of her arrival.
"Not expecting me, huh?" she flatly joked, only then noting the absence of his girlfriend, the genius. "Where's blondie? I didn't see her at the big pep rally."
"Are you coming with us?" Briana demandingly interjected before he could respond, probably brusque and—well—breezy out of shock. Of course, she didn't look particularly happy either.
"Is Caine okay with this?" Sam disregarded Briana's outburst, and she knew immediately that what he meant was Should I expect a war with Caine because of this? "It's your choice, but I need to know if he's going to come after us to take you back."
"Caine has what he wants," she answered crudely, trying to keep the acid out of her voice and casually leaving out the small part of that story where Caine didn't even know.
"Maybe I should call Toto over," Sam said hesitantly. "I could ask you whether you're coming along to spy for Caine, and see what Toto has to say."
Diana sighed, a bitter taste filling her mouth again as she felt a sharp but quick pain in her chest. She was tired, suddenly feeling even more worn than Sam looked. "Sam, I have bigger problems than Caine. And so do you, I guess. Because the FAYZ is about to do something it's never done before: grow by one."
"What's that mean?" he shook his head, obviously confused again. Bless his simple heart. Guys. She nearly rolled her eyes in response.
"You are going to be an uncle," she tried, her voice plain and lacking humor.
"You're having a baby?" Dekka asked, obviously picking it up a lot qicker than Sam had—give the girl a prize.
"Let's hope so," Diana said a little anxiously. "Let's hope that's all it is."
Because knowing the FAYZ and knowing the father it could be much much more, and it could mean plenty of trouble for everyone. At least she and the thing inside her would be safe. Caine still held part of her heart, but she wasn't safe there anymore. She wasn't safe around the one person who she'd counted on for so long for protection. However, she would be safe, at least for a little bit, with Sam and his crew. Her only regret was the fact that it was her fault for whoever and however many people got hurt because they were in the near vicinity of Caine when he found out that Diana had left and who she was with. Still... having fun playing king, he probably wouldn't even notice she was missing in action until they were a day's walk away at the lake.