The rest of the night, I don't let go of Marcus. I find myself looking around, to see if I'm being watched. Marcus and I go to our chairs, and I keep a close eye out. I have barely said a word since my meeting with the president. Marcus takes notice.
"Annelise, what's wrong?" He asks.
I look over to him, and try to put a smile on my face.
"Nothing. Why?" I ask.
"You haven't said anything since you came back from your chat with the president."
"Oh. I just haven't had much to say." I say.
He gives me a questioning look, but I brush it off.
"Come on, let's go get some food." I say. I grab his hand and drag him along.
We reach the table and I grab a plate and hand it to him. I pile food onto my plate and wait for Marcus. We go back to our chairs and eat.
I try talking more and looking around less. It must be past midnight now. Daniel comes up, holding a sleeping Becca and Jane. Marcus steps down and grabs Jane.
Mother and father walk up to us.
"Are you ready to go home?" Mother asks. A smile breaks across my face and I nod.
"Let's go." I say. I grab Becca form Daniel. Mother, father, and Daniel all ride together. Marcus, Jane, Becca and I get into the limo that brought us here, which will be taking us home. I sit down, Becca still cradled in my arms. I kick my feet up across the seat and lay my head on top of Becca's. I look across and see Marcus holding onto Jane. He kisses the top of her head.
I smile. I know he has missed her. I quickly fall asleep.
I am shaken away by Marcus.
"We're home." He says. I smile and get out, still clutching Becca. He kisses me.
"I need to get home. I'll see you tomorrow." He says.
"Okay." I say. I kiss him again and head into the house. I walk through the door and smile. Finally home. Father takes Becca up to her room.
"Welcome back." Mother says, wrapping me in a hug.
"It's good to be home." I say. I hug Daniel and head to my room.
I flip on the light switch. Just the way I left it. The rose Marcus gave me is still in the vase, barely withered. Mother must have been keeping it watered. I pick up the picture frame and look at it. I clutch it to my chest then set it back down.
I slip off the dress and into my pajamas. I pull up the covers and slip under them. I hope for a peaceful sleep, but my mind quickly fills with horrors. I watch as everyone I love is tortured while I'm forced to watch. I scream their names, which is useless. The last thing I see before I'm woken is President Stone's evil, cruel green eyes staring at me, laughing.
My eyes shoot open, and Becca stands over me. No light shines through the window. It must still be night time.
"Annelise, calm down." She says. I'm breathing heavily, and my face is wet from tears. I lose it and start bawling into my pillow. Becca rubs my hair. She starts to sing a soothing lullaby I used to sing to her when she was a baby. Her voice calms me down, and I stop crying. I lie still while she continues singing, until I drift back off to sleep.
No dreams come into my head. Just Becca's sweet melody replaying. I wake up again with the sun shining through the window. I open the window up and listen to the birds chirp. I fill my lungs with the cool air.
Images of last night's dream flood into my head, and they promise to stick around. Finally I can't take it anymore. I need to tell Marcus. I slip on sweatpants, a t-shirt and jacket, pull my hair into my usual ponytail, and run out my door.
"Where are you headed to?" Father asks.
I don't stop.
"I'll be right back." I shout, before I close the door. I run down the long driveway, and follow the road to Marcus's house. I step up onto the porch and knock on the door. Jane opens it and smiles.
"Hi Annelise. Come on in." She says. I smile and step into their house.
"Marcus is still asleep, but you can go wake him." She says. I nod and walk to his room.
His room is simple. White walls, tan carpet. His bed set is brown. His favorite color.
I walk over and gently shake him.
"Marcus, wake up." I whisper.
He turns over and looks up, sleepily. He sits up and stretches.
"Good morning." He says.
"We need to talk. Somewhere private." I say.
A questioning look crosses his face.
"Okay." He says. He stands up and slips a t-shirt on. I grab his hand and take him out the back door.
"We'll be back in a minute Jane." I yell.
We walk in the woods until I'm certain we are safe. I find a log and sit on it.
I carefully look around, making sure no one is around, or trying to spot a camera. Everything looks clear.
"What's up?" He asks. He sounds worried.
"I need to tell you about last night. Why the president came." I say, barely audible.
He stares at me, waiting for me to continue.
"When we were in Michigan, I was looking for a phone. I walked into the Mayor's office. He let me in, and when I was using the phone I saw something on his computer." I say. I look at him, to see if he is following.
"And?"
"It was something classified, I wasn't supposed to see. But he showed me it and explained it to me. President Stone somehow found out." I say. I'm starting to cry now.
"He said that if I told anyone what was on that screen, he would kill me and everyone I love." This barely gets out through my sobbing. Marcus wraps his arms around me, while I cry into his shirt.
"He said he is always watching." I whisper.
"Annelise, everything is going to be ok. We'll be safe as long as you don't tell anyone" He assures me.
I know I can keep it a secret, but it's the threat against them that scares me. Stone knows my weakness, and he can control me, make me do anything he wants.
I'm just another piece in his games once again.
A/N: Thanks guys for all you do!
had a suggestion.
I dont know what I think of that idea. I could do it, but im not sure if I should.
What do you guys think?
The suggestion is in the reviews btw.
Other than that, has anyone told you guys how amazing you are? Well, you are! Thank you for all the reviews, they keep me writing(:
XOXO ~Alexis2259