Φ Cognizance Φ
"Unfortunately, still no trace of Riley and The Brink." Matty's voice echoed through the room. "Our data shows the girls went off grid the same day Riley left the Phoenix." She paused, looking over her team. "If Agent Carson- or anyone else for that matter- sees this, they would conclude that it was premeditated and Riley really did all those things they're accusing her of."
Mac shook his head angrily. "We're not giving it to them." He said in a matter of fact-ly tone. "We're not even working for them." He sent Russ and Matty a pointed look. "Right?"
The two leaders exchanged a knowing glance.
Matty took a step toward her agent. "The circumstances right now-"
His heart sank. "No-"
"Riley and The Brink just climbed the top 3 ranks of the most wanted list."
"She's being framed!"
"They disappeared without a trace and are being called a national threat-"
"She isn't that kind of person-"
"Soon, they're going to be labled a global threat, Mac-"
"-You know what kind of person Riley is!"
The room tensed with silence, as the rest of the team watched their exchange.
Mac ran a hand through his blonde locks, frustratedly. "I stayed here," He began, looking neither at Russ or Matty. "Because you said we wouldn't work for the government again." He paused. "Because you know what they did."
"Mac," Desi began, trying to calm her boyfriend down.
He ignored her. "Now you want to help them track down Riley?" He gave them a pleading look. "If any of these 'evidences' are real, she's doing it for a reason. She wouldn't turn on us."
Everyone watched as he left the room once more.
"Is it worth it?"
Riley rolled her eyes, as she slung her backpack behind her. "I made a proimise."
Brooklyn put a hand on her shoulder. "Yeah," She began, looking at her with worried eyes. "But we're not exactly America's favorite hacker group right now."
The older woman tilted her head and gave her a slight mocking smile. "Are you, worried about me?"
The two girls grunted and took a step back.
"Look," Sarah began. "We can't exactly do everything you can yet, so we just don't want you to get caught."
Riley smiled teasingly. "I won't." She said simply, walking towards the door.
The two exchanged exasperated glances.
"This is so not the time to be keeping promises!"
"This is the one promise I can't break." She yelled, never turning back to her team. "I'll bring back dinner."
The two girls watched her back with worry. "Well have fun driving for 2 hours all alone!"
Riley simply waved them off and continued on her way.
"Mac, what the hell?!" Desi slammed the door behind her, marching off after him. "You can't keep leaving us like that!"
He ignored her and kept marching off towards his room.
"Mac!" She yelled, still following him. "Mac!"
Mac took out a duffel bag from under his bed and started for his drawers.
Desi watched him angrily as he stuffed the duffel with items from his drawers, before physically stopping him.
"Hey-" He began, before being cut off with a sharp slap to his face. "Ow!" He grimaced, rubbing his cheek. "What was that for!?"
"You need to snap out of it!" She yelled. "You're acting like a crazy person!"
Mac turned out of her grasp and proceeded to ransack his closet.
"Dude!" She yelled in frustration, stomping her feet. "What are you even doing!?"
Mac didin't stop in his tracks, but instead mumbled, "I need to find her."
"We will-" She said. "Everyone's working double time to track her and her hacker group down."
He stopped in front of her and frowned. "I need to find her first." He said. "I can't let them find her!"
Desi watched the worry and frustration in his eyes and recognized the feeling she was getting from him. "You can't be serious."
Mac went back to filling up his bag.
"You're going to commit treason!?"
He didn't answer her.
"Do you even understand what you're planning to do?!"
Still, no answer.
"You need to let her go, Mac!" She pleaded. "You can't commit treason for her!"
"I can!" He snapped, staring into her dark eyes. "And I have to."
She paused, searching his eyes for answers. "Why do you have to?" She frowned.
The two stared each other down as the answer they both knew weighed heavily in the air.
"Because she stood by me when everyone thought I joined Codex!" He said frustratedly, trying to resume packing.
Desi bit back a bitter laugh. "Is that the best excuse you could come up with?" She said lowly. "Because we both know why she followed you then and why you're doing the same now."
Mac stopped but kept his back at her.
"She was in love with you, Mac. That's why she followed you to Codex."
He turned to her with a skeptic look. "Then why didn't you?"
She could only look helplessly at him. "Mac, look-"
"No, no-" He cut her off. "Why didn't you?"
Another silence enveloped them.
"Why didn't you trust me and followed me to Codex?"
Desi shook her head, wanting to change the subject. "Mac-"
"Because you're not in love with me." He said.
Her head snapped back up, expecting to see him angry and upset, but instead he smiled. A smiled that was of realization and relief.
"You're not in love with me." He repeated, a wide grin creeping up his face. "Riley is, that's why she stood by me 'til the end." He said.
Before Desi could say anything else, Mac embraced her and smiled. "You're not in love with me, Des." He said. "I'm not in love with you." He pulled away from her. "Because if I was, I wouldn't be going after Riley, right now."
He went back to his bag and zipped it up. "I'm in love with Riley." He said as he stood up straight, turning back to her. "And it might not make sense to you yet, but Riley didn't turn. And I have to find her before anyone else does."
As Mac walked past her, a small smile made it's way to her lips. A sense of realization and relief hitting her as well. He just broke up with her and admitted he was in love with another girl. She should be sad but she couldn't help but feel some sort of freedom.
She quickly followed him out. "How are you going to find her?"
Mac gave her a small smile before opening the door. "I alreadt know exactly where she's going to be."
AN: So how was it? xD
It didn't feel like a good chapter to me, but I did get everything I wanted to say there.
Any creative commentary would be greatly appreciated! :)
Thank you!