Julie Molina
The guard had caught Alex and me, and also wouldn't believe the excuse we were giving him.
"Why are you two down here?" The guard asked us in an angry tone while shoving us back to where we had just left.
"We got lost," Alex lies.
The guard didn't buy our lies. "Then why were the two of you running?"
Alex presses his lips together, not knowing what to say next.
"Thought so," The guard hummed and pushed us both back to the prison room.
This is great. How are we supposed to help Flynn and Willie if we're locked up with them? What will we do about food? I know they aren't going to give the rations we have left to children and 'prisoners.'
The guard walks us to the cell. Flynn and Willie looked up at us with wide eyes and confusion. The guard unlocks the cell door and shoves Alex and me inside.
"That is no way to treat a lady," Alex remarks.
"Sass off at me again and I'll make Malachi extend your time in here," The guard threatened and Alex's lips sealed shut.
The guard locks the cell door before walking out of the room and locking that door as well. I notice Alex shaking next to me. I rub his back a little to ease him before sitting down.
"Wasn't expecting to see you guys here again so soon," says Willie as Alex leans against the wall.
"Well, we aren't the flash and that guard is much faster than us," Alex replies.
"Well, it's fine because there are a few things I've wanted to ask you two," I say and look at Flynn.
How do I start? Do I start with how many more of you guys are there? How did you two know about the bunker? How did the two of you meet? Are the scars on your faces from the sun?
I decided the scar question might be a little inappropriate, so I quickly made an order in my head of when to ask the questions,
"Ask away.. but only if you aren't going to tell your leader," Flynn warned.
I thought I've shown her enough times that I don't like Malachi and that I won't help him? But I also can't be mad at her for being cautious, I would be too in this situation.
Alex defends me. "She's the last person who would tell Malachi this, no one down here likes him."
"What has he been doing?" Willie asks Alex and they start engaging in their own conversation while my only focus is on Flynn.
Flynn rests her head in the palms of her hands. "Let me ask you a question first, how long have you known Alex?"
"Since second grade. The teacher sat us next to each other," I explained while thinking back on that day.
"It's a miracle how the two of you both ended up down here, then."
"Yeahhh, Alex's family bought their way in here."
Flynn nods. "My parents wanted me to come down here, but I wasn't on 'the list'" Flynn tells me and looks down at her feet, starting to pick at something on the ground.
I frown at her. I wonder what it had been like out there, having to survive alone.. and she's my age. I don't think I would've been able to do it, but Flynn did, and that's what makes her attractive-
Attractive? That's not the right word to use there.. Brave. Yeah, brave works better.
"I think you're really brave for being able to survive alone."
Flynn smiles a little at me. "Thank you- But I wasn't alone. There's more than just-" She glances at the corner of the room. "More than just what?" I continued and raised my eyebrow.
Flynn tapped Willie's shoulder. "Hm?" He hums at her and she puts her finger over her mouth to silence us. I look over at Alex, seeing him have a confused but curious look on his face as to why Flynn told us to stop talking.
She makes eye contact with me and looks back up in the corner and then back at me. What's so awesome about that corner? I turn and look at it myself and see a camera. The camera was up in the top corner. When did that get here? I mean it makes sense to have it, to make sure no one escapes, but when did it get there? I notice how red lights are shining around the edges of the lens.. which only means one thing.
We're being watched.
That's why Flynn stopped talking and shushed Willie. She didn't want whoever is watching us overhear anything that could be used as leverage against them.
"So, what is everyone's favorite flavor of pie?" Alex asks the group after turning back around from the camera.
He's asking a question in which the answer will be completely useless to use against them. Nice one, Alex.
"Pumpkin," Willie answers. "Basic, I'm aware, but it's delicious."
"If you get to call me hotdog then I'm calling you pumpkin."
I could see Willie blushing. Yessssss, Alex! I hope whatever is going on between them works out.. that way I don't have to fight Willie for breaking his heart as I did with Luke.
"Fine with me," Willie says and shrugs as if he wants to be nonchalant about the fact that he was blushing.
"We all could see you blushing, Willie," Flynn grins at him which makes both Alex and Willie blush.
I take it back, they're hopeless.
We all talk about random things for the rest of the time, after an hour, I could tell you what Flynn's favorite color, school subject, fruit, candy, and time of day is. I enjoy talking with Flynn, and I think she enjoys talking to me, too, but there's something about her that seems off that I can't quite place. Like she has a huge secret that she's keeping, and there's probably a lot of those, I'm still a stranger to her after all, but she's a stranger to me too. I just need to make sure I don't fully put my trust in her, not until I'm sure that I can.
Just then, the annoying guard who locked me and Alex up earlier walks back into the room. "I've come for the two survivors," He states.
Well technically, we're all survivors.
Flynn and Willie look at each other, as If they're communicating through looks. Alex and I do that too.
"What do you need us for?" Willie steps up and asks.
"Malachi wants to see you both... immediately."
Luke Patterson
I'm currently strutting my way down a hallway in the bunker (I didn't realize I'm strutting, but I am). I finished up my dinner half an hour ago. It's been a long long day. Julie finding a girl at the entrance of this bunker, the girl's friend showing up, and now they're both locked up. I'm ready to just go to the sleeping chambers and pass out.
That plan gets put on pause when someone pulls me into a closet, and I know exactly who it is.
"Hey, what are you-" I get cut off by my boyfriend kissing me. I kiss him back, of course.
Reggie pulls back first and looks at me. "Sorry, I haven't had alone time with you all day," He pouted.
"It's fine. You won't see me complaining," I state. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about something.."
I need to know when he's ready to tell Alex and Julie about us. I feel like Alex already knows, I could tell from the look he had been making at me and Reggie back in the cafeteria. I'm not sure about Julie, though.
"What is it?" Reggie asks, starting to look worried like I was about to tell him something bad.
"Just.. when do you think we should tell Alex and Julie?"
Reggie looked relieved that I didn't say something else, but also looked nervous as if he was afraid his answer was going to upset me.
"Soon just.. I don't want my parents to find out. They already fight so much.. I don't want to add any more stress."
"Alex and Julie won't tell your parents, Reg," I say and put my hand on his cheek. "But we can tell them whenever you're ready, yeah?" Reggie nods in response.
"Good, now Christmas is coming up.. what do you want?"
"A puppy," Reggie says simply.
Where on earth am I supposed to find a puppy in this place?
"You asked for that last year."
"And I'm asking for it again."
I laugh a little and ruffle his hair. "I'm exhausted. I think I'm gonna go crash."
"I'll walk with you."
Reggie and I both exit the closet. There was no one coming.
Except for one person, who looked as if they were in too much of a hurry to even notice us.
Then I notice that that person is Angelica, and she's speed walking up to us. She has a worried look on her face, and it looks as if she might start crying at any second.
"Angelica, what's wrong?" I ask her when she stops in front of us.
"Alex and Julie both got arrested!" She expresses and Reggie gasps. "For what?" I ask, confused but also worried for my friends.
"For helping the sun people! We have to help them, they're locked up for nothing!"
"I thought you were mad at Alex?" Reggie asks.
"No, no. I was being stupid. He's still my brother, and I can put that aside to make sure he doesn't get a terrible fate that he doesn't deserve."
I cut in. "Do you have any clue where they are?"
"I have a hunch. Will you two help me?" I could see Angelica's thoughts in her eyes, they're practically screaming 'Please say yes'
I was going to help regardless.
"I will."
Angelica smiles a little and looks at Reggie. "I will too. Those are our friends."
"Great, this way," Angelica says and walks in between us.
We're going to rescue our friends, even if it means we'll get in trouble with Malachi.
Carrie Wilson
I still can't believe Rose wouldn't let me go on the mission with Willie and Flynn.
Mia kept telling me it was because they would recognize who I am, but I didn't care. I've been cooped up in this house with too many people for far too long.
We've been finding more and more survivors frequently. At this point, I'll probably have to start sleeping outside. Ew.
It's my day to go out and search for any more food and survivors. We've started to run out, it happens too often at this point. My plan is to go a state over and hope there is a store that's half empty.
"I'm leaving!" I announce. Some of the other survivors waved bye at me, and I waved back with a forced smile. I wonder where Mia is.
I walk outside and to my newly found car. I've probably had about twenty over the course of this year. I use it until it runs out of gas, and then I find a new one unless a gas station happens to have gas, but they usually don't.
I started driving, not sure where I was going, but I'll find my way. I've traveled this route before with my dad.
After driving endlessly for hours, my gas tank started running low. Thankfully, there was a town nearby. It looked as if it was packed with people, but really only the cars make it seem that way. I'm most likely the only person here. I park the car and get out, walking down the sidewalk to see if there are any places that could possibly have food.
It was then when I felt as if I was being followed. I turned around slowly, but no one was there. I repeat what I just did but forward. No one there either. Even if there was no one there, I still couldn't shake off that feeling.
I soon came across a food market. It was small, but it didn't seem empty. I walk inside and grab a basket and begin to grab things from the shelves. There wasn't much, but there was enough. I made sure to check to see what has and hasn't expired, which narrowed down my choices.
Once I found everything I needed, I left the store. I wasn't paying attention and when I looked up, I saw a man dressed in all black. I froze.
"Hello, Ms. Wilson. I've been waiting for you."
I dropped the basket, all the food tumbling out of it. "Who are you?"
"I worked with your dad, I work for Caleb."
"Okay.. What do you want with me?" I ask as I start to back up back to the door of the food market.
"You know things that Caleb Covington wants to know."
"I'll never tell him!" I shout and run into the market, starting to run up and down the isles. I didn't even know if the man was following me, but I didn't dare look back. What does Caleb Covington want with me? Why did he send that man and not come himself if it's so important?
I ended up finding a back door and I ran out of it. I lost him, thank God.
I ran to my car. It won't get me very fall, but it'll get him off my trail. I felt bad that I would be returning with no food when I had found plenty, but I couldn't risk going back near the market. I'm sure they would all understand if I told them what happened.
I was about to get into my car.. but everything went dark.
Flynn
The guard escorted me and Willie out of the room, but not before I could glance back at the cell. There, I only saw a sad-looking Alex and a worried-looking Julie. I gave both of them a sad smile before looking ahead of me, a sad look on my face. I had a feeling that whatever counter we were about to have with Malachi Covington was not going to end well.
And I'm exhausted. I just want to sleep, not face that scary-looking man again.
When the guard guided us into Malachi's office, I got the same vibes that I had gotten the first time.
"Sit," Malachi ordered and gestured at two seats that were sitting there.
Willie and I both hesitantly sat in the seat, an odd-looking device sitting in front of me. I noticed that Willie has one in front of him as well.
I glance at the door and see the guard guarding it, and there's no other place to escape.
"I want you two to place your hands on top of the lie detectors."
So that's what it is.. lord. I place my hand on the handprint that is on the machine.
"I'm assuming the two of you aren't completely oblivious to the real world, so I'm not going to explain how lie detectors work."
I give him a funny look. "We had normal lives before this, sir. We aren't robots," Willie says, making a light on the machine turn green.
Malachi hummed and leaned back in his chair. "I want you two to answer honestly. Why are you two here?"
I took a deep breath. "To find food," I say (which once again, is not completely a lie). Then, I felt a shock of pain shoot through my hand, causing me to yelp.
"What did it do to her?" Willie hissed. "It only shocked her, that's how lie detectors work," Malachi answers. "Answer honestly, and it won't shock you. Why are you two here?"
Neither Willie nor I answered. I'm not telling him anything, no matter how many times this test shocks me.
Malachi looked annoyed. "How many of your people are there?" He asks a different question.
"Just us," Willie answers before wincing, the light on his machine turning red. I knew if I wasn't going to tell the truth, Willie definitely wouldn't, either. He's been with the group longer than I have.
"I suggest you two answer correctly, or else you'll be getting the worst punishment here. As far as I know, you two are a threat to my people." We all know he doesn't give two craps about his people, Caleb doesn't, and Malachi came from the same womb as that monster.
"They're only kids, sir," The guard says. Finally, he's doing something right.
"Kids are more capable than we know," Malachi says simply.
The cycle just continued, Willie and I both lying and getting shocked. Eventually, we were in so much pain that we didn't even speak, but we refused to tell Malachi the truth about anything.
Malachi groaned loudly and slammed his hands down on his desk. "Fine. If the detectors aren't giving you any motivation, how about this? At noon tomorrow, the two of you will be executed, as I only see you as a threat to my people.. Unless you two decide to fess up before then."
WHAT?
A/N: Sorry that the romances are a bit rushed! This story isn't exactly about them, but I wanted to include them anyway. Also, the pacing of this chapter isn't great but everything that happened will be important later!