Hi all! So, this fanfic is just super fun and easy to write. I am having a blast! I hope you all are enjoying the story too! AS for posting... I'm thinking I'm going to stick posting 3 chapters at a time. It takes a little longer to write like that, but then ya'll get a bigger chunk to read. Let me know what you think! Or if you have some ideas for the upcoming chapters. I love being inspired by others :).

Evangeline

John had left with Joseph this morning to visit their sister. He left me a note with the radio frequency I would need to use to reach him in case of an emergency. I rarely carried the radio he had given me...mainly because I was always in the compound. Today I was going to get to work with some of the other women to decorate the daycare. There had been a small chapel not far from the Lodge and with Joseph's blessing we were able to convert it into a small space for the children.

Tables were lined up with little paper name tags and settled neatly on top were tiny composition books. John had secured some supplies for me, crayons, paper, chalk, and a chalkboard. We had Jacob to thank for the bookshelves, and the families donated picture books and other old things they had acquired over the years.

The women wanted to put pictures of Joseph and his siblings up, but I refused. This place was not for them...it was for the children. It would remain untouched by the outside influences. This would be a safe place. They looked uncomfortable about this, but they were all too afraid of John and Joseph to say otherwise. I hated how some of them looked at me. Like I was to be feared. I wanted them to like me...to know me...but they were so set in how they behaved around Joseph and John that it didn't make a difference.

I wiped some sweat from my forehead and sighed, it was a long day...but it was a rewarding kind of long day. I wished I could snap a photo, send John and Joseph a picture of the good work we had done...but I haven't seen my cell phone since the plane crash. I wonder why I had only thought about it now?

"Mother," a young brunette said gently. "You look tired...please, we can finish...you should go inside and rest."

I smiled warmly at her.

"Thank you, Emma," I said. "Let me go in and grab you all some water. I'd hate for any of you to get sick out here."

I walked the short distance back to the Lodge and searched the pantry for the small blue cooler John had. It had to be in here somewhere, I continued to look and smiled triumphantly when I saw it was sitting in the far corner. I turned around, ready to drag it out when I stopped dead in my tracks. In the doorway was what I could only imagine was a ghost.

"J-Joey?"

I dropped the cooler with a clatter and hugged her as close as I could manage. I pulled back, my hands inspecting her face...just to make sure she was real. And I laughed as the tears began to roll down my face.

"Y-Your really here" I cried.

"I'd never abandon you, Evangeline."

Suddenly there was a loud explosion coming from outside and I realized that the neighboring aircraft hangar was engulfed in flames. The sound caused my ears to ring and I was about to run forward to make sure everyone was safe when Joey quickly grabbed my arm.

"Evie...we only have a couple of minutes. We need to get out of here...before they send reinforcements."

I was in shock...but also unbelievably worried about the women that had been left in the new daycare...not to mention the children that lived nearby and would be forced to watch their parents have their lives stolen from them. I pulled away from her.

"I can't just...leave…" I said. "I have to make sure the children are safe-

"What? Evie...do you hear yourself right now?! This is a rescue mission, we have to leave!"

"I'm not going to just leave my kids!"

Her eyes grew wide and she took a step back from me as if I had some sort of disease that she was afraid to catch. I could see her lips quiver and she took a deep breath. I closed my eyes, pain emanating from my chest as I realized the sadness I had no doubt caused her. I opened my eyes again and the last thing I saw was the butt of her rifle as it slammed into my forehead.

My vision swam as I began to come to. There was an unbearable pain emanating from my face as I began sitting up. I recognized this pain...I had been knocked out. The next time I saw John, I was going to make him teach me how to defend myself. I wasn't sure how much more brain damage I could deal with.

I looked around and felt my pulse race. I wasn't at the Lodge...This wasn't Seed Ranch. This was a rotting office. And by the looks of the bars on the windows, it wasn't the type that I should be occupying. I shakily stood from the bedroll I had been left with and moved to try and open the door. Of course, it didn't budge...and the view I could get from the bars wasn't any help either. I sat back down and pressed my back into the wall. If I was with my own people...why had they locked me in here? Hours had passed...at least, it felt like hours...before the door handle of the office wiggled, and in walked Joey with a tray of food and water. I glared up at her as she brought it down beside me and sat next to me.

"Evie-

-you knocked me out," I growled. "Leave."

She didn't move, because she knew that I wouldn't do anything to force her out. Even in hand-to-hand training...I was always worried about hurting her. It was easier to talk my way out of trouble than fight.

"I had no choice, Evangeline," she said gently. "You were...I don't know...but you aren't you. You wanted to stay with them for Christ's sake."

"...and? I made a deal with them, didn't I?" I said, pushing the food away from me.

"A deal that was made against your fucking will Evie!" she shouted. "You are safe now...you are home and that's what matters."

"I am not home…" I said, turning my head away from her. "I was home...and you brought me to a prison…"

"You aren't a prisoner here, Eva...you were their prisoner!" Joey said, gripping my forearms hard and shaking me. "Now snap the fuck out of it!"

I pushed her hands off of me and angry tears welled in my eyes.

"I wasn't locked in a room at John's...I could come and go as I pleased...if I'm not a prisoner, let me out."

Her hands dropped to her sides and she looked down at me with a mixture of sadness and disgust. It hurt for me to have my best friend see me like that, but I knew it couldn't be helped. She didn't understand...I didn't either...but I had been happier with John. Happier than I ever remembered being.

"No…" she sniffed. "They gave you some of that bliss shit...and you are just...under their control. Until you are the Evie I have always known...you aren't leaving this room. There's a bathroom attached...I will be bringing you your meals…"

"Joey, don't do this!" I pleaded. "Just let me leave...let me go back…"

"I will not let you die for those crazy assholes, Evangeline! I promised your mother...that when she died I would protect you…"

"I'm not a teenager anymore...I can make my own decisions, and I want to do this! You sound like my fucking father!"

"Well...maybe he had the right idea, Evangeline! You are too naive!"

My heart was breaking and I grabbed the plate of food she had left me and threw it at her. She got out of the way just as it slammed against the heavy door, sending mashed potatoes and chicken everywhere. I sunk back down onto my bedroll and pulled my knees up to my chest with a soft sob.

I wouldn't look at Joey as she came in day-in and day-out. She kept coaxing me to eat, but every time I refused. I felt like I was dying...and my nights were plagued with dreams of John rescuing me. Every night he would appear in the office with me, his hands gently holding my face as he reassured me that everything would be okay. I would wake up in a cold sweat, only to realize that that was no longer my reality. It was the 5th day...and no matter what I did or tried, none of them would release me. They said it was for my "own good", that they "knew what was best". No one was listening to me...no would believe that the Seeds hadn't given me a drop of bliss to convince me to stay.

I was beginning to lose hope. Hudson stopped coming to visit me...and now she was sending someone else from the resistance to bring me my food. I tried talking to him...tried to convince him to let me out...but he wouldn't. I looked down at the dirty hem of my dress...and then back up to the young resistance fighter.

"Can I at least...shower?" I sniffed. "I haven't gotten to for the last five days...please?"

He frowned, clearly feeling some pity for me. He motioned with his hand for me to stand and as I did so, he cuffed me and began leading me past a makeshift infirmary to a deeper part of the prison. The showers were a testament to how old the building was. No partitions and shower heads that looked rusted to Hell. I held out my wrists to him, so he could remove my bonds.

"You aren't going to...make me shower in front of you...are you?" I whimpered.

"O-Of course not...but...I have to stay in here with you...I'll just...turn around, I promise I won't look."

I nodded and rubbed my wrists as the cuffs were removed. Just as promised, he turned to face the doorway. There were two exits, but I knew better than to assume they were unlocked. I watched the young man and felt my heart sink. I...I wouldn't be able to get out of here without his keys...and...I couldn't risk him calling for help. I bit my lower lip and took off my dress I spun it a couple of times so it became a makeshift rope. I gripped it tight and closing my eyes, strung it around his neck and pulled with all of my weight until he collapsed back into me. We hit the ground hard, but quickly I wrapped my legs around him, tightening the noose more and more. I closed my eyes tight to the sounds of his hands slapping the pavement of the prison floor...and then finally...he fell silent.

I dropped my dress to the floor and turning to the side I retched and threw up what little I had left into my stomach. My throat burned...but I knew I had very little time to mourn...I needed to get out of here. I grabbed the ring of keys he had with him and tugged my dress back on.

"I...I'm so sorry…" I whispered, before going down to the opposite door to escape.

I pushed it open...and peered around the corner. I had no idea the layout of this building and I had no weapon or anything to defend myself with. I moved to one of the barred windows and craned my neck. There was another door several floors down. If I could get to that door, I might be able to get out without being noticed. There was no turning back now...not after what I had done...and I didn't want to. I was making my choice...I was going back to Joseph and John. Even if I wasn't the mother...even if Joseph was wrong...I wanted to be with them anyway. I crept down a hallway, hiding in archways and behind crates until finally, I reached a staircase that looked promising.

I held my breath for so long I thought I would pass out...afraid that any breath I took would be too loud and they would run me down. But no one came...no one was yelling...I hadn't been discovered yet. The door was one more hallway away...I was so close. So close. I pushed myself farther and farther, and as my hand went for the doorknob an arm appeared around my waist and pulled me back.

"NO! Let me go!" I cried. "Let. Me. Go!"

"Stop it!"

It was Hudson...and without hesitation, I rammed my elbow hard into her side and yanked free. She looked at me and I found myself staring down the barrel of her gun. I kept my back to the door, and my hand was poised to yank it open.

"You...fucking killed someone…" she hissed. "You...how could you?"

"I didn't have a choice…" I said. "You weren't listening to me...you-

-I should fucking put you down Evangeline!" she yelled. "It would be a goddamn mercy compared to what they are going to do to you when they are through with you."

"...What if Joseph is right…" I asked. "What if…-"

"There is no Collapse Evangeline! Every preacher on the planet claims the world is ending...and so far...we are all still here!"

"You have to understand-

-No! What I have to do is arrest my little sister because she believes some huge EXPLOSION-"

Her words were cut off as a loud rumbling sounded above us. She looked up and I took that moment as my chance to get away. I pulled the door open and ran to the opposite side of the prison. I could see a gaping hole in the brick wall that separated the prison from freedom. I couldn't tell if Hudson was chasing after me, but not too far away I could hear the whistling of bullets and explosions. I stepped beyond the prison and spun around, trying to figure out where I was and how to get back to Seed Ranch.

The prison was situated on a mountain's plateau and the only way down would be to physically climb...or risk getting captured again. I couldn't take the time to decide, I had to keep moving...had to get out of the area and find someone from Eden's Gate that could take me back to the Seed Ranch. I slid where I could, losing both my sandals in the process. My feet and ankles got the worst of it, scraping against stone, moss, and jagged branches that hadn't been strong enough to remain on the tree. But I kept going...I kept pushing myself further and further...my hands digging into the earth to prevent me from tumbling the rest of the way down the cavern. Finally, I reached solid ground...and looking up I could see bright flashes of orange and the black of smoke billowing into the sky.

I dropped to my knees...I was ready to quit. I was so tired...so starved...so defeated.

"Please...please God…" I begged. "I need...help…"

I had never begged God for anything...other than that he would let my mother pull through when she was dying...and I knew well how that had worked out. I looked up at the sky...and just when I thought all was lost...all for naught...I heard someone yell, "We've found the mother!"

I gasped and I saw one of the Eden's Gate members running towards me. He had a gun in hand, and another clutching a radio. I wanted to get up and race to him, but my legs were so tired...so done after all I had put them through, I could only remain on my knees.

"Father," he said, finally reaching me. "I have the Mother by the river."

"Good...good, Ethan...get her out of there."

"J-Joseph…" I sobbed.

"It's okay, mother…" he said. "I'm going to get you back to John."

He lifted me from the ground, allowing my legs to dangle over his arms. He handed me his handgun...and I knew what he meant to have me do. I didn't want to think about it right now. He held me close and began jogging away from the jail towards an abandoned dock. A small motorboat was waiting for us and gently he sat me in it.

"Father, we are getting ready to leave."

"Understood. Jacob has the jail covered, get her to the agreed checkpoint."

Ethan placed the radio on the seat beside me, and instinctively I took hold of it. I tried to remember the frequency that was John's...but nothing came back static and the dark that had overtaken me the day Hudson had knocked me out. The rope that anchored us to the dock was cut and within minutes we were sailing away. I sat close to the middle of the boat and closed my eyes...hoping that when I woke, I would be back home with John...but dreams like that were rare to ever turn into reality. Gunfire was shooting past us...and I scrambled back, trying to avoid getting hit.

"Shit, shit shit," he took the radio from me. "We're under fire...we need hel-"

His voice was cut short as a bullet went straight through his chest. I watched in shock as blood gushed out and instinctively, I moved to grab him and pull him back. But he was too heavy...and without him to grip my hand back, he sank like a lead weight into the water. I looked around, panic overtaking me as I tried to think of what to do. I moved towards the wheel of the boat, but a bullet whizzed by my head, forcing me to drop to my stomach. I brought my hands over my head and tried to stay as low to the boat as possible.

I could hear the crackling of the radio...and I quickly realized that Ethan hadn't taken it into the river with him. I reached for it...pulling it towards me...pressing down hoping I was already on the correct frequency.

"Joseph…" I whimpered. "Joseph...someone...please...please answer."

My voice broke as no one responded. I had to get off this boat...I had to at least try and swim to shore. I inched myself to the edge, ignoring the crushing feeling of fear that threatened to drown me. I pulled myself up...and just as I was about to jump into the river I saw him. I saw him running towards the water. The bright blue sleeves of his shirt, the even bluer eyes. I stood, unable to contain my relief and happiness at seeing him, and just as I was getting ready to go to him...something rammed into my shoulder hard enough that it spun me around. I looked at where I expected to find someone's curled fist...but all I saw was a large growing red patch under the sleeve of my dress.

"J-John?"

I tried to call out to him, but the pain had me floored and unable to move...I just allowed my body to slide off the side of the boat and hit the cold water below.

(I HOPE YA'LL ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER! PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YA THINK :D)