So since I've decided to make this a 3-part series, this chapter is a little short. I'm just tying up a few loose ends. The next part I can say already by looking at the plans I've made, that it will be more then 15 chapters. I'm hoping that I keep your interest in this story long enough that you will be interested in part two and three. Thanks for reading this story and all the excellent feedback. It really means a lot to know that you like my writing, it's something I love to do.
--**--
Alec made quick work of packing only the things he knew he would need. He was well aware of Joshua's presence at the doorway to his room and of Jondy's eyes that were following his every movement. He tossed her a backpack and she immediately pushed her plastic bag full of the only clothing she owned into it and laid her many notebooks on top.
"Alec leaving?" Joshua finally said breaking the ten long minutes of silence.
Alec couldn't meet his eyes, so he only nodded. "Yeah Josh. I need to call Mole, let him know that I'm getting out of here."
Joshua whined slightly and turned to gab the phone. Alec took it and he saw Jondy looking at Joshua, most likely wondering what the hell he was. "Josh that's Jondy, Jondy this is Max's friend Joshua."
"Nice to meet you smaller fellow." Josh patted Jondy's head. She nodded and ducked away from his hand. Jondy hoisted the backpack onto her back and walked out of the room.
"Mole, it's Alec. I just wanted to let you know that I'm getting out of here. I know you wanted to leave…most likely to another base. I just can't take it here anymore." Alec frowned slightly and nodded at the Mole's words. "We can be there in about two minutes…we as in Jondy…yeah. I'll explain it all to you when we get there."
Alec hung up the phone and tossed it to Joshua. He picked up the few bags that he had and followed Josh into the main room. "Look Josh…"
Before anything else could be said Joshua had him in a tight bear hug. Alec coughed as the air was squeezed out of him and patted Joshua's back. "I'll miss you to big fella."
Jondy walked over and picked up one of the bags. It would only make traveling that much easier. "So…"
"Let's go. Josh take care of yourself." Alec hugged the much larger man one more time and followed Jondy out the door. He didn't look back.
--**--
Jondy's mouth fell open when she spotted Mole. She had thought Joshua had looked a little eccentric but now seeing Mole, it made Joshua almost normal in her eyes. He hadn't said much to her, just looked her over and shared a look with Alec. She threw his bags into the back of an old beat up and rusted truck that Alec had thrown his into only moments ago.
"You ready?"
Jondy who had been leaning up against the truck with her eyes closed nodded. She opened them and looked at Mole who was chewing on a cigar. He looked almost sad as he watched Alec walk around and climb into the driver's seat. Jondy pulled herself up into the truck and had just situated herself when Mole shut the door for her. She nodded her thanks and rolled down the window.
"Be careful Alec and you know if you ever need anything, all it takes is a call." Mole took a couple puffs on his cigar and Alec nodded. Mole looked at Jondy and studied her thoughtfully for a few moments. "I don't really know who you are, but I respect you for holding your own against Max and her little friends."
Jondy looked over at him. Mole backed away from the truck and waved them on. She stared at him until the truck pulled away and he drifted back into the shadows. "How are we getting out of here?"
"There's a side entrance that's not as heavily guarded or blocked off. The X7's are taking care of a few guards right now, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Keep your head low when I tell you too."
Jondy sighed and sunk down in her seat. She reached for her pack that she had set on the ground and pulled out her notebook and a pen. Alec sunk in his seat and nodded over at her as his foot pressed down on the accelerator. Jondy peeked out the window and saw flashes of camies and the flashing lights of cop cars as they whirled by. There was no gunfire and from the way Alec was looking back, they hadn't been followed.
"It's clear."
And with those words being said Jondy pulled herself up a little.
17 March cont.
So…he really freaked me out. All I saw was Ben's face, but he wasn't Ben. Everything about him is different. Ben had…he was just darker, more mysterious, and always had an aurora of danger around him. I've only been around this guy for a few hours but everything about him seems to be an open book.
I don't regret a thing I've said to Max. She had it coming and from the last look she gave me she had known it was coming. I can't say much for the rest of them. Krit seemed to understand, but the other two render me speechless. They will forever be trying to protect Max from all that's evil in the world. I only hope that someday they will understand why I had to leave and why they were wrong. Maybe someday they'll realize that I'm not a child that can be coddled and protected. I'm nothing of the sort.
And she doesn't need to be protected either. She needs to grow up and realize that she can't always save the day. That everything is not always her fault and not everyone is a puppet on a string held by her. Not everyone is so easily fooled and someday maybe the two of us can try being friends, sisters, again. But I need to get my shit together first and she needs to learn how to live without the support of everyone around. Not everything is an argument Max. Not everything is black and white.
And Alec, I'm not really sure why he's leaving. I guess in a way Max betrayed him too? I'm not really sure and I'm not about to ask him about it. It is none of my business after all. I know that he is going to help me get started, whether he knows me or not. I think he's crazy. Looking at him, knowing he's not Ben, and trying to forget. I've come to realize that this is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Letting someone help me…it's like this constant battle within me.
But then you flip the coin. The person I loved the most just turned his back and walked away. He looked at me and looked at her and he liked the blue lady better. I want this instead and I don't care how it makes you feel. I don't care if you feel betrayed, I don't care if your heart aches or if you are alone. I'm not. I get what I want and it's not you. How do I forget that? How do I say, it's okay, it's the past. Because it's not. It's not past. It's there in my heart and in my head and in my every breath. The pain and the lies and the days and nights of waiting for him to call. And when he was here, knowing he was just a few steps away and he didn't even say goodbye. He didn't say how are you today or how have you been. He just hid inside hoping I didn't see him so he didn't have to make excuses as to why he wasn't speaking to me. Maybe the flat out truth would have been better. I don't want you any more.
Then there are the nights when I lay and wonder if it's me. Did I do something to make him feel this way? Did I say something wrong? Did I hurt him or annoy him? It is just me? Did he only stay with me all this time because he didn't have anyone better? I was close and he was bored? All the words and promises and pacts. Were they lies? How could forever friends turn into nothing? And I sit here and I still don't really know the answers.
How can I forgive that? How can I forget it?
How can I forget with his twin staring back at me?
Jondy cast the journal aside. Too many questions unanswered and yet just the thought that he might come by made her get that excited fluttery feeling. She hated it. She cursed him in the same breath that she called his name. How can a person live so contradictory and stay sane? Some nights she lay in her bed and wondered if she was. The back and forth, the crying, the aching and then the smiles. The laughter at just a simple word or comical face. It was tearing her apart just as sure as it was healing her. Would it ever get any easier? Would it be this hard every day for the rest of her life? Would it hurt like it used to? Would it hurt worse? She suspected that it would.
Sighing she dropped her head against the cool window and stared out at the little flashes of light as they passed them. She didn't know where she was going to go or how she was going to live but at this point anything was better then being lied to on a daily bases. She would never take away from them the fact that they had helped her. But at what cost? Max should have told her about Alec and she shouldn't have told Alec to stay out of site. Especially when you could see that he cared about her. Had she really been so blind?
"Do you mind if I listen to music?"
Jondy shook her head. She watched his fingers play with the dials until he stopped on a station playing classic rock. Her head fell back against the headrest. She knew that someday they would come looking for her. She only hoped that she would be worth finding.
