Chapter 16

Leslie's POV

I woke the next morning in my father's arms. When I open my eyes, they are met with his. They are so kind, so loving, with a soothing comfort like no other. I don't want to leave here. It feels safe here. I later came to wish I had never left that room. If I hadn't… maybe… just maybe…

It's Saturday, so I don't have much to do. Dad and I spend part of the morning just watching a movie. I love days like this, just me and him. Sadly, I do remember that I promised Vincent and J.T. that I would help them move some things. I tell dad that I'd have to leave soon to help a friend. He looks kind of sad at this, and I know that my face has a sad expression. As I walk out the door, and say goodbye, I have a bad feeling. I can't explain it. Before the door shuts I hear dad say my name.

"Leslie," he says as I walk back through the door. "I love you."

"I love you too, dad," I say as he walks to me and hugs me. After this, I walk out the door. I still have an ominous feeling, but I still don't know why.

I spend about two hours with Vincent… or my dad or whatever I'm suppose to call him now, and JT. We've gathered stuff that they need, because they lost what they had in the explosion. They only saved a few things from it. In hindsight, we may have wanted to think of what we needed a little more before we did that.

We're walking to grab some more boxes when my phone rings. Catherine is calling me.

Why is Cat calling me?

I see Vince looking over my shoulder and smiling. I answer the phone and put her on speaker.

"Hey Cat," I answer.

"Leslie," She says in a tone that lets me know that this isn't a social call. Vincent seems to have picked up on that too.

"Catherine, are you ok?" He asks.

"Vincent?" She questions. "Oh wait, you are moving things today. That explains that. Anyway, Leslie, we have a small problem, but I'm dealing with it, so don't come running up here."

"Um ok," I say confused. "What's going on?"

"Your dad is currently being held in a jail cell due to a bar fight. Now, I'm going to go get him. When I get him I'll let you know. Until then, stay with Vincent."

"What woah, Cat! In jail?!"

"Yes. And no I don't know what happened. I'll find out. But for now, you stay with Vincent."

"Ok…"

Catherine hangs up. I look up at Vincent. I know there is worry in my eyes.

He was fine this morning. Nothing seemed wrong… and now this…

"It's gonna be ok," he tells me.

"I know, but why…" I respond.

"I don't know," he says. "He has to fight his own demons."

Evan's POV

I know this is a fine mess I've gotten myself into. I just snapped. I couldn't handle it anymore. Between Cat and this creature and worrying about my daughter, I lost it. At least Cat will be out of the line of fire. I alerted Agent Kyle to the whereabouts of the creature a short time ago. They are sending agents there now.

Cat walks in the door and she seems confused. She walks into my cell and looks at me. She's smirking slightly.

"You punched a guy at a bar?" She almost laughs.

"I had to," I tell her. "To see you. They were watching me."

"Who was watching you?" She asks.

"I think we both know who they are," I start. "People who wanna catch um… your new boyfriend."

"Uh boyfriend? I don't know what you're uh..." She continues to keep up the act.

"What I don't understand is how you could choose him, a monster, cause that's what he is. You know that, right?"

"I don't know what you're-"

"Stop! Just stop. We've been playing this game for almost a year. Now, it's done! I saw you last night with him… on your fire escape… kissing him. Kissing that… that thing."

Her facial expression has completely changed. She looks furious but also extremely worried.

"Evan…" she tries to start.

"What? Are you gonna tell me that I'm wrong?" I feel anger rising in me. "Tell me that it's PTSD from nearly getting mauled in the tunnels or that I misinterpreted his DNA on his scarf. Come on. I wanna hear you spin what I saw with my own two eyes."

"You have no idea who or what he is," she snaps back.

"What he is a danger to you and everyone around you."

"According to who? Your friends at Muirfield?

"The only reason I joined them was to help them erase their mistake. Before it succumbs to its animal nature entirely and kills you."

"He would never do that."

"Why? Because he loves you?"

Her face almost appears hurt. I can't believe this. She actually does believe that this thing loves her, that it's even capable of love. I can't help but laugh.

"Look at me," I say. "The fool for trying to protect you even as we speak. Do you really think that your feelings for this monster are real?"

"Evan," she says. Why could she not feel as I feel when she says my name? "I know that you care about me but…" Her facial expression changes. Her eyes go wide with fear and her breaths become shorter and faster. "What do you mean protecting me even as we speak?... Evan… Evan, what did you do? Why did you bring me here? Why now?"

"So I'd know you'd be safe when they came for him," I tell her.

"No. No. No," she says frantically.

"I'm trying to save you," I state calmly.

"You don't know what you've done," she replies.

Catherine reaches for her phone, and just as she does, it begins to ring. She pulls it out of her pocket immediately, and her eyes go wide. She answers the phone.

"Leslie?! Are you ok?" She asks frantically.

"Leslie?!" I exclaim. She puts the phone on speaker.

"Cat!" Leslie's voice is panicked.

"I'm here with your dad. What's going on?" Cat questions her frantically.

"They're here Cat! They're here!" She yells.

"Who's there baby?!" I frantically ask her.

"Muirfield!" She's almost crying. "They're… They're…"

She's cut off by the sound of gunshots, and we hear her scream. My breath catches, and I feel like my heart stop.

"Leslie!" I scream through the phone. The connection goes dead. Cat looks at my colorless face as if she could kill me.

"You did this!" She screams at me.

"Why is she with that monster?!" I yell back at her.

"That monster you refer to is her father!" She exclaims. I go silent.

Her… her…

"Yes, Evan, her father! You call him a monster but she was affected in the same way by those experiments! They're not monsters!"

With that she storms out at full speed. She dials a number on her phone.

"Leslie!" She says into the phone.

"Leslie, please answer me. Please!"

I press against the bars screaming.

"Cat!" I scream. "Where is she?! Where's my daughter?!"

Cat doesn't answer me. She just continues walking.

"LESLIE!" I yell at the top of my lungs as if my baby can hear me. I feel my legs give out from under me, and I sink to the floor in tears. I sob uncontrollably with all the strength I have in my body. I scream for my baby girl. A guard comes in and restrains me and tries to get me to relax.

"No!" I yell. "No! My daughter! Leslie! Please!"

Eventually, it feels as though my strength is gone, and I stop fighting. They leave me in my cell sobbing.

What have I done…