It All Burned Down

Alyson

He was hesitating.

Maybe it was ironic that this was the fact my brain decided to hold onto in the situation. Somehow, it didn't feel ironic. I couldn't bring myself to feel much of anything at that moment. It wasn't shock. It was a reflex. I'd had too many guns pointed at my chest throughout my life to feel any panic. The fact that gave me much more unease was Zach's lack of urgency.

With Cameron unconscious, I'd assumed there wouldn't be a choice. The entire scene was a twisted repeat of that night at Blackthorne. My brother was going to make a choice, and there was a fire at my back. If I closed my eyes, I could see him run to help Cameron, away from me. I survived last time. I would survive this choice too.

Evelyn shifted her feet, her eyes flickering from me back to my brother. Her arms weren't shaking, but there was an unsteadiness in her grip, fingers too tight around the guns in her hands. This wasn't a job for her. This was something much more important. This was her right. Justice. Revenge.

I'd seen her like this only once. Right before she'd put a knife in her mother's throat.

"Evelyn…" My brother's voice was careful, cautious as he took one step closer to our childhood friend.

The gun shifted from my chest to my head. Evelyn's fingers slipped over the triggers.

Zach's feet froze.

"Don't try to talk me down," Eva sneered. "You know it won't work." She tilted her head, eyes glinting as she stared at him. "You trained with me, Zach. You know your little good guy methods aren't going to work on me."

Behind me, the heat was building. I could feel the fire growing, raging. My hands were trembling despite myself. I was back in the fire. Back in the smoke, unable to breathe and unsure what my brother was going to do. This time though, this time I had a guess. This time I was ready for the betrayal.

My eyes flickered to Cameron again, her limp form lying below Eva. It would have been so much easier if I'd killed her when I'd had the chance. After everything she'd caused, I should have. The opportunity had been there multiple times. She'd been just desperate enough to let me out of that cell. It was the same expression as in Rome. A complete surrender of caution in exchange for results. Killing her would have been easy. I could have done it.

I hadn't though, which was something I was still trying to figure out. Guess it didn't really matter at this point. Only one of us would survive the next hour anyway.

Movement caught my eye at Evelyn's feet. It wasn't much, nothing more than a flutter, but it had happened. My eyes snapped back to Zach. He was watching Evelyn with his hands raised. There wasn't a flicker of recognition in his eyes. He hadn't noticed anything.

Evelyn looked ready to snap. If Zach didn't do anything soon, we'd all end up dead. But to my surprise, he was staring at me with a look I couldn't quite name. I watched as fear shifted into resolve. He tilted his head in my direction just slightly.

The air left my lungs in shock, but there wasn't time to process what he was telling me. Call it twin intuition or call it the result of years of side by side training. Either way, I knew what to do the exact moment Zach lunged.

Evelyn shifted, but he hadn't been trying to tackle her.

Being slammed against the for the second time in the past fifteen minutes hurt more than I expected. But I couldn't process it fully. My mind was still trying to catch up with my brother's actions, with the fact, his girlfriend was still on the ground, the fact he hadn't gotten Evelyn away from her.

"I'm not leaving you for dead again." There wasn't any question in his tone. No hesitation. I shoved him away from me, trying to convince myself it was because his elbow was in my rib.

My eyes flickered to where Cameron was lying still, then to my brother who was readjusting his body, angling a gun at Evelyn's head. I didn't bother wondering where he got the gun from.

Evelyn shifted her feet. For a second, she was off balance, having to readjust her stance to keep the gun trained on Cameron. Her eyes blazed, and she let out a small, nearly hysterical laugh.

"Oh, now you want to be a big brother?" She asked, hands shaking slightly. Beside me, I felt Zach shift, steadying his grip. Evelyn ignored him, too lost in her own manic state. "It's too late for that, Zachy! Too late! Go ahead and shoot me," she trained the gun straight at Cameron's head, "we can die togeth—"

One thing I'd learned about Cameron Morgan. She was irritatingly difficult to kill.

Evelyn never got to finish her threat. Cameron's eyes opened without warning. Before anyone could take a breath, her legs kicked out, swiping at Evelyn's knees.

I watched Eva buckle and stumble for a second, her aim being thrown off as an animalistic snarl ripped its way from her throat. She shifted, ready to lunge, to fire— Evelyn was ready to kill.

The first shot that rang out didn't echo.

No one flinched at the second gunshot's fire.

There was a strange sort of silence as Evelyn's hand lowered. Her gun hit the ground with a dull thud. Cameron didn't spare her a glance before snatching the weapon from the ground and scooting away.

Eva's knees hit the ground first. Her fingers touching the growing redness in her stomach. She examined her hand, painted red in her own blood before her eyes shifted to Zach.

My brother was staring, slightly wide-eyed and still holding his gun.

His gun which hadn't fired.

Zach stood, stepping over to Evelyn and lying her back. Eva spit curses at him attempting to claw at his face. I was half aware of Cameron standing up and signaling to her sister, who I assumed was the shooter, but I couldn't tear my eyes from my brother holding my best friend.

I also couldn't make myself take the step forward.

She was lying there, breaths coming in audible gasps. Whatever Zach was saying got lost in the roaring in my ears.

Someone was speaking next to me.

Behind me, the fire roared, but I didn't want to move. Instead, I let it lick and crawl up my arms. It burned behind my eyelids. Smoke made my head heavy.

Zach was supporting Eva, a hand over the wound in her stomach. Cameron was beside him.

And I still couldn't move.

On one hand, it was pathetic. Being frozen at a moment such as this. On the other, I didn't really care. There was too much clouding my head to care.

There was too much smoke. Too much everything. The edges of my vision bled inky black.

Someone caught me when I fell.

Cammie

"How is she?"

"Which one?"

Bex made an irritated sound in her throat. "Liz."

"Stabilizing." My eyes flickered from where Liz was sleeping to the bed on the other side of the more… secure med wing. It's occupant hadn't woken up yet either. There wasn't any medical explanation for why she hadn't woken up yet. "She actually helped us."

Bex followed my gaze but didn't say anything.

"I am not sure we are making the right decision, Rachel."

The world seems quieter at three am. Secrets are easily heard, despite whispered voices.

"What would you have me do, Edward? Leave the girl to die?"

Despite not being able to sleep, I'd been made to lie down. As a compromise, I lay in one of the med wing's empty beds. They wanted to watch me anyway.

"She's more than a threat to national security. Have we learned nothing?"

If years of sleeping in the same room as spies, not to mention teenage girls, since eighth grade teaches you anything, it's how to fake sleep.

"I'd think you'd have a bit more concern for her fate, considering the… connections you have to her."

"You overestimate me."

My mother's office felt smaller somehow. It was actually a few square feet larger after the rebuilding, but standing there in the middle of the room after everything felt… different.

"You're both aware of the decisions before us." Joe's voice was low, but for all his efforts, he couldn't keep the hint of concern from his expression. He was as distraught about this as any of us. "I trust it hasn't been hard to predict the direction the discussions are taking over the past few days." His eyes slid to Zach. Mine followed.

Zach's face was blank. "They want to kill them."

"Not exactly."

"It really is impressive," Liz said, picking at the seal of a jello snack container. "The rate at which the venom spread when concentrated and mixed with—"

"Liz," Bex groaned. "I'd rather not listen to you analyze how efficiently you were nearly killed at this hour of the morning if you don't mind."

I almost smiled. Almost.

Macey stood, glancing between us. "I have to go," she said. "We're finalizing the paperwork and legend for Bianca today."

Bex glanced at her. "Is there going to be a Code Red?"

"We'll be meeting them at the White House," Macey said with a shake of her head. "It seemed better with… everything that's going on here."

There was a silence before Bex smirked. "President's daughter a full-fledged Gallagher Girl. Can't wait for her to realize exactly how many of us are in the White House."

"For now, I just want to make sure she's alright. It's been a rough few weeks."

My eyes flickered to the now empty bed on the other side of the room.

"Oopsie, daisy!"

Green jello splattered across the sheets and floor.

"She's awake." Clara's voice was quiet but clear. It was a shocking difference in her demeanor over the past few weeks. She hadn't been allowed to leave her room. But it wasn't a question when Zach and I walked through the door.

Zach nodded slightly, opening the door separating her from us.

Clara didn't move as the glass slid away. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Zach frowned. "No."

"I thought we had a deal."

The words were expected, but they lacked their normal flourish.

Zach stood at the glass. "We did." He scanned his hand, and the door slid open.

Alyson turned, eyes flickering from the open door to her relatives on the other side. She frowned. There was something missing, a gleam in her eye that seemed to have gone out. Standing up slowly, she regarded each of us in turn. Zach, watching her from the open doorway. Clara standing a bit behind him, a tracking bracelet around her wrist.

Clara motioned to her, holding out a hand. But Alyson didn't move. Her eyes met Zach's again. "You're not letting me out," she said. "They're not that stupid."

"Neither are you." Zach raised an eyebrow. "You know they couldn't promise you freedom. But you came anyway."

"Don't try to psychoanalyze me, Zachy," Alyson sneered. "You won't like what you find."

Clara stepped inside the hollow room. "Don't fight."

This at least got Alyson to pause. Her gaze flickered between her cousin and her brother before she frowned again. "Why are you here, Zach?"

"We thought you'd like to see, Eva."

Alyson

They didn't blindfold me.

It was idiotic really. I knew the layout, it wasn't hard to figure out where in the school I was. Showing me where Evelyn was being held was an absolutely moronic thing to do. Yet, no one seemed bothered by the fact I had full awareness of my surroundings.

I kept my eyes away from Zach. I refused to think of anything related to my brother.

He chose me.

Clara reached forward, slipping a hand into mine. She didn't let go when I tensed. The gentle, skin on skin contact was something I hadn't felt in a long time. It was unnerving, but I couldn't seem to pull away.

Instead, I focused my gaze on Cameron as we walked. Her steps never faltered. There was a confidence in her walk that hadn't always been there. She wasn't the same girl we'd trapped and tortured and taught to kill in Rome. None of us were the same people we were in Rome.

Ahead, a piece of the wall slid away with ease as we approached, revealing a hidden hall. It led to a separate wing.

Evelyn was strapped to the bed. She was still unconscious, the machine's she was connected to steadily beeping.

The air left my lungs. My throat closed, and I knew why no one cared if I found this place.

We weren't the only ones in the room. My father was sitting in a chair against the wall, his eyes flickering to us when we entered. Cameron's mother was here also.

Clara squeezed my hand.

"Hello, ladies—" the headmistress began.

I couldn't tear my eyes from Eva lying still on the bed, the tubes connecting her to the machines. "Don't," I ground out.

The room went silent for a moment. No one dared to break it.

No one but my father.

He stood. "Alyson—"

"You did this," I hissed, turning to him. I could latch onto anger. I could control anger. "You're the one who shot her!" My hands burned, and the flames rose in my chest.

No one moved to restrain me. They really were stupid.

Townsend didn't initially react. After a moment, he inclined his head a bit. "I do not deny that."

"Miss Goode—"

I flinched. The headmistress didn't notice or— more likely— didn't care.

"—it has been determined by our medical professionals that Evelyn will not wake—"

"Shut up."

Zach touched my arm. "Ally…"

I whipped around. "Shut. Up!"

"Alyson-"

"Just do it! Why did you bring me down here?" I snapped. "They're not going to keep her breathing. I'd already thought she was dead. Why make me see this? Why make Clara see this?"

"I already knew." Clara's voice was a whisper. "I said goodbye."

Zach met my eyes. He chose me. He left me— he picked me— I shook my head, looking to the floor, fists clenched at my sides.

His voice was low as if there weren't multiple people listening to his words. "You deserved to know, Alyson."

My eyes involuntarily moved to the bed again. "When?"

"Tonight."

Once, when we were eleven, Clara found a cat near the house we had been using. It was orange and thin, and its fur was matted. Evelyn suggested we kill it, after all, it was a giveaway that there was the possibility of living in the abandoned area. It could lead someone to us if we weren't careful.

It was the first big fight they had. Clara screaming while Evelyn chased the creature around the house.

Strangely enough, I don't remember what exactly happened to the cat. I'd stopped caring after the first ten minutes.

That night, Zach and I were lookouts. Within four hours, we were waking up the others.

Three agents had found us. We heard them approaching, watched their progress up the small hill. They weren't bothering to hide. We were surrounded.

As we were preparing to leave, the cat made its reappearance.

Evelyn blamed it.

I blamed it. I had no motivation to stop Eva when she drew her knife.

"No! Don't!" Clara hissed, grabbing her arm.

Evelyn sneered in the dark. "It led them to us. I told you we should have killed it—"

Clara shook her head frantically.

Scowling, I traded glances with Zach. He frowned and motioned to the back door, the highest chance of us getting out. But even that was slim to none.

We were about to move when Clara burst, "Look!"

The reaction was instant. All of us tensing, knowing better than to shush her, as that would only make further noise. But Clara wasn't concerned with the noise. She was too distracted by the cat.

The cat that had just slipped into a hidden gap in the wall.

Zach and I paused for just a moment before rushing forward and looking for the opening. Eventually, we found it. The wall slid away just enough to reveal the tunnel it concealed. A tunnel that led underground and a few hundred yards away from the house we'd been hiding in.

That night, Clara held the cat, murmuring, "pretty kitty," over and over as she rocked back and forth.

"Guess the cat wasn't useless after all," Zach said as we made camp.

Evelyn scoffed. "If it hadn't led them to us, we wouldn't have had to run in the first place."

In the morning, the cat was missing.

Eva's was cleaning her knives when we woke up.

I stayed in the room. The cell. They could call it anything they wanted. I was still a prisoner. I was still in a cell, no matter what kind of bed they put in the room.

They weren't going to kill me. That's what they claimed. I wasn't in the Agency's database. They were under no obligation to hand me over. Were I to give them a reason, they wouldn't hesitate to stick me in someplace worse than Youngblood. But for now, this was where I would remain until they saw fit.

Zach claimed Clara was working with Jonas to piece together the whole story of our whereabouts and actions over the past few years. They would decide my fate later, taking into consideration all of my recent actions.

I hated the sound of that.

They didn't trust me. They would never trust me. I didn't want their trust. The entire concept made me sick.

And yet... what were my options? I hadn't killed Cameron. Multiple times I'd neglected the opportunity. I'd been compromised long ago. Evelyn had tried, and now she was gone. Clara made her choice in the theater.

Where exactly did that leave me?

What did I even want?

Zach had chosen me. It was probably the only reason I was still alive. Where did that leave me?

For the first time, I could understand why Clara didn't want to talk for days on end. The silence was a shield. Both keeping me in and keeping everything else out. I didn't have to speak. The world was timeless. There was nothing outside my bubble.

It was hard to tell when exactly I stopped being alone. On some level, I was aware of the person sitting in the middle of the room. But it was difficult to remember when she'd shown up. My eyes didn't leave the ceiling above me.

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you."

I frowned. But Cameron took the lack of response as permission to continue. "What happened in Rome?"

I blinked. It'd been a while since I'd thought about the days we'd spent together. My eyes closed, and the images flashed behind my eyes. Screams and my own laughter echoed in my ears.

A moment later, I was sitting up. My throat felt hollow from the lack of use, but my voice didn't crack. "I don't think you want me to answer that question."

She pressed her lips together. I wondered whether or not she was aware of her fingers tracing the scars on her arms. "Was it worth it?"

I raised my eyebrows, and she elaborated, speaking slowly, carefully. "All of this. The game. The torture. This entire quest for revenge. Do you think it was worth it?"

Part of me wanted to tell her to get out. The darker part of my mind hissed at me to kill her right then. I still don't know why I didn't. Why I hadn't killed her when I had the chance.

After a minute of silence, Cameron seemed to accept the fact that I wasn't going to answer. She stood up.

"Did the knights think it was worth it?"

She froze, looking back at me. "What?"

I eyed her, fingers prickling. "…but the knights rose up and killed the kings." She flinched at the song, but I couldn't bring myself to care. "They got what they wanted," I continued. After a moment, "Mother never told me what the ending meant as a child."

Cameron didn't say anything.

"I don't think she realized what it meant either." My eyes flickered to hers. I wondered if they were as hollow as I felt. "They destroyed themselves along with everything else."

And it all burned down.