Chapter 53

Tobias's POV

"Can you ensure peace if I gather a meeting in town square tomorrow morning?" Johanna asks Evelyn. I don't know if such a thing can be assured.

"I can try." Evelyn says, making a fist and thrusting it forward to show her enthusiasm. I don't know why she's so happy. She's leaving her only home for the rest of her life tomorrow. But, I guess she can take comfort in knowing that her home will be safe.

I glance casually at my watch before I realize how much time has passed. Almost 45 minutes have passed, and the serum has not yet been released. Thank God, I internally smile. I realize that there is still time for the serum to wipe everyone out, and I have to go and find Zeke before the serum hits.

"I have something to take care of, I've got to go. Evelyn, I'll pick you up at the city limits tomorrow around say, noon?" I ask Evelyn quickly before I exit.

"Sounds good to me. I'll see you then." She says with a smile, as if she's ready for a new life. Well, she did choose me. She chose me over everything else in her life. She chose to do something right.

"You wont be back, will you?" Johanna inquires politely. I don't mind the question.

"I don't plan on it, no." I answer, looking at the ground slightly.

"You've made a home on the outside?" She inquires further, and I reluctantly answer.

"I have. But good luck, with everything." I motion to the army standing behind Johanna. I stop for a minute when I notice Marcus, and the defeated look on his face. For maybe one time, I feel stronger than him. I feel like I've finally successfully stood up to him.

"Goodbye, Marcus." I say, looking triumphantly into his eyes.

I remember him in my fear landscape, he was the one scaring me. But here I am, scaring him. I feel little to no regret, because I've somewhat won the fight. I don't feel the need to succumb to him anymore, and he doesn't strike fear into my heart. I've won.

I've won.

BREAK

"Hey, Four." Zeke says to me as I walk into his family's apartment. He stands up from the couch he was sitting on, and I guess that he and his mother already had the vaccination.

"I'm sorry I was late, I was busy ending a revolution. Sorry it took so long." I say, being seriously sorry for being late. Evelyn had to hook us up with a new van because Christina slashed the tires on the old one, and then I had to go back to the old one for the note that Amar and Christina left on it, saying where Zeke and his mom, Hana, were.

I look around the apartment and at Hana and Zeke. Hana is short, dressed in all black, and her hands are folded so neatly and intimidatingly that I almost feel like I'm in front of the most important person in the city. Zeke is rubbing his eyes and yawning, and it's obvious that he just woke up from a nap. The apartment looks family friendly, with its many pictures of Zeke and Uriah as kids around it. A picture of Hana with Zeke and Uriah's dad getting married hangs in a corner. The walls are a light, inviting green. The wood floor looks tarnished, but clean, like everything else. Hana gestures for me to sit at the couch, and I obediently take a seat.

"I… I don't know where to-" I start but Hana, Zeke and Uriah's mother who's short but demanding, stops me.

"Start where he got hurt. That's the part of the story I want to know the details of." Hana says, wanting to know the truth.

"Uriah was severely injured in an explosion. It was during an attack, and he was very close to the explosion." I explain quickly, letting the words angrily rush from my mouth. It hurts to talk about him.

"Oh my God," Zeke breathes, and he runs a hand through his hair worriedly. He's very unsettled and upset, its written across his face very clearly.

"He's been in a coma since then, and…" I trail off, unable to finish the thought, unable to put the parts together. I can't believe that I didn't take care of Uriah the way I should have.

I made a mistake, a childish mistake. Like when you let someone borrow a school book and they never return it. I'm the person who never returned the school book. Except it's worse. Like maybe when a kid asks their best friend to look after their hamster for the weekend, and the best friend loses the hamster. I'm the best friend, except I lost Zeke's little brother, not his hamster. He might never trust me again.

"He's not going to wake up, is he? That is why you came here to tell us something, right?" Hana demands. I have to answer. I have to tell them this.

"No, it doesn't look like he's going to wake up. And that is why I came, yes." I say truthfully. Zeke looks like he's about to break down, and I see a single tear fall down Hana's face while her expressions go hard.

"I came to give you a decision on his behalf." I finish.

"What? A decision to unplug him or not?" Zeke screams, looking the most uncomposed I've ever seen him. He looks on the verge of tears, but his face already looks like it should be crying. His features turn in a frown and his breathing is ragged.

"Zeke. Calm yourself. Sit down." Hana says sternly. He quickly obeys and retreats to the recliner in the corner. Hana tries to compose her, but she finally gives up, closing her eyes. She sighs.

"Of course we want to keep him alive for a little while longer. If he doesn't wake up within a month, we'll unplug him. He would've wanted time to wake up, but would've wanted us to move on after enough time. We'll go see him with you." Hana announces.

"Okay, but there's one thing I should tell you. He got hurt in an attack, and... I participated in it. The attack was more of an uprising because the people there weren't being treated equally." I explain.

"Is that all?" Hana asks, sounding irritated.

"No. Zeke, I'm sorry. I didn't do what you asked, and I didn't protect Uriah like I should've. And I'm sorry." I bow my head because I'm so ashamed. I glance up for a second.

"I know." Zeke says, but its not understanding. Its just cold.

"We need some time to think about that. Going there, and all." Hana says.

"Well, I'm leaving very soon. So you'll have to make the choice quick." I explain, motioning to the door to show that someone is waiting for me.

"We'll be there in 5 minutes." Hana says, and with that, she retreats to her room.