Ali's POV
I walk into the security room with Cole following me, "Pull up the footage of Juliana and Ali" Cole demands, taking charge.
Chance looks up from the several monitors placed in front of him, "You look good Ali" Chance says, ignoring Cole.
"Thanks," I mutter "Do you know where Juliana is?"
"Ask Love." Chance replies, referring to Mackenzie by her last name.
I nod and move for the exit when Cole grabs my wrist, holding me back "Be careful," He whispers, I nod about to pull my wrist away from his when he pulls into a hug. "I mean it Ali," He whispers sternly
"I will. Don't worry," I say reassuringly, but I don't think he's convinced, with one last squeeze he lets me go.
I walk into the dungeon and see Mackenzie and Bronx watching Juliana.
"We can't interrogate her yet," Bronx tells me.
"Why not?" I ask narrowing my eyes at him.
"Because she's injured, you literally just beat her up Ali, she's pissed we have to wait at least a week."
"Fine." I huff "At least let me talk to her."
Mackenzie and Bronx look at each other quickly before nodding at me then moving to the side so I could walk up to the cage.
Juliana has her hands cuffed to the cage and is only in her underclothes, her leg is wrapped in gauze and there's thin bleeding cuts all along her arms. I stand in front of the cage casting a shadow over it, slowly Juliana looks up at me, there's fire burning in her eyes as she snaps her teeth at me. I crouch down so we're at eye level. She spits blood at me and it lands by my feet.
I reach into the cage through the mental bars and press my thumb into her leg where my dagger used to rest. Juliana lets out a strangled scream as I press into the wound harder, "That must've stung," I say pulling my thumb away and examine the blood on it. Juliana hangs her head low, panting. I grip her face and make her look at me. "You're not smart enough to pull this off yourself," I state "I don't care whose game you're playing, we're putting an end it."
I stand up and brush off my jeans, about to turn and leave when Juliana lets out a hysterical laugh, her bloodshot eyes meet mine "Just kill me. You'll be doing them a favor, they can find someone else to do their dirty work. Kill me. Do it. I dare you. I dare you!" She shrieks.
I look down at her "No. Not yet. Not till I find out what you're up to."
I turn and start to walk out but freeze when her voice comes out strong and steady behind me "There coming. You can't stop them. Not this time. You broke them, now they'll break you."
1 WEEK LATER
You broke them, now they'll break you
Juliana's words kept replaying in my mind like a curse. The minute I told Cole he stormed out of the room, probably to see Juliana.
It's been a week since then and I've been paranoid, waiting for something bad to happen. Cole has been stuck to me like glue all week, he hardly gets any sleep because he's watching out for me.
Everyone was currently at the barn getting ready for patrol tonight, Connor and Chloe are up to date on cleansing the zombies, (Same as book 4) Chloe is going to be staying at the barn this time to watch over the bodies.
Cole and I are partners for the night, we don't say anything to each other as we race through the forests, there was a rabbit cloud in the sky today so Cole was being extra protective.
We stopped in a clearing and I look up and see the rabbit cloud in the sky then look over at Cole, he's running his fingers through his hair and looking around, his eyes alert and ready.
"Cole," I say, a little worried "Everything's fine, nothing's going to happen okay?"
His eyes dart to mine before he sighs and nods "Okay," he nods again "Okay," He repeats, "It's just... what if it's Anima again? What if I can't save you this time, it would have been the fourth time Ali, they would've known all of our tricks by now. What if I can't get you back again? What if they kill you?" He rants.
"Cole listen to me." I interrupt him "If it isAnima we also know all of their tricks by now, and if they do come for me, we'll be ready, and if I do get caught and you don't think you can save me, then remember how badass I am, I could fight out of there on my own." I smirk at the end, only half joking.
He smiles "Yeah you could." He agrees. He walks over to me and gives me a hug, "I love you Ali."
"I love you too." I mumble into his chest, hugging him back.
He pulls away and looks down at me before placing a soft kiss to my lips, I kiss him back slowly, savoring the taste of strawberries on his lips. I pull away and smile at him.
My eyes dart to the cluster of trees behind Cole as I hear a noise. I step away from him, silently drawing out my axes, I hear the crunching of leaves as footsteps draw closer, I quickly swing my ax as the culprit steps out of the trees.
"Frosty?!" I yell as he raises his head, I narrow my eyes "You should be glad you ducked."
"Nice to see you too Ali," He says with a cocky grin.
I roll my eyes just as Connor steps out of the trees with a smile, "Hey guys," he waves.
"Hey," I reply smiling right back and going up to him to give him a hug. I apologized to Connor the first chance I got, and he apologized to, he also told me he knew about Helen, but he found out long after he left. We both decided on starting new, unfortunately he's still calling me princess. We've also decided that he, Cole, and I are the only ones that will know about me and Connor's relationship.
I pull away from the hug as Connor says "Why is Frosty glad he ducked?"
"Because now I can decapitate him while knowing he isn't a zombie,"
I shrug nonchalantly.
Connor chuckles then looks at Cole, "And you'd let Ali kill your best friend?"
Cole smirks and opens his mouth to reply when I-being the mature and kind person I am-cuts him off. "Of course he would! Because if he didn't he'd find himself decapitated as well,"
Cole fake gasps "And how would you live without me!?"
I grin, "Easy, I'd marry Kat."
Cole then clutches his chest, "Oh Ali I'm wounded,"
"Not as much as you would be without a head," Frosty mutters, examining his
.44 revolver.
Cole's bright violet eyes glisten with amusement, and I smile, for once in the whole week Cole actually seems calm, happy, he looks like he's not paranoid because of Juliana and Anima, which is a relief.
But just because Cole has seem to forgotten about it for now, as he continues to joke around with Frosty and Connor, doesn't mean I've forgotten about it. Juliana, who I am now 94% sure is working for Anima, seems immensely calm everyday when someone goes to check on her, she always smiles a mischievous smile, a smile that hides secrets behind it, but I bet that as many tricks and secrets she has up he sleeve I can tell you we have double.
But here's the things that's really bugging me, Anima knows most of our tricks, they know how to get under our skin. Anima knows that the best way to hurt me is through those I love.
3rd person POV
Ali knew what Anima was up to when she heard the thud of a body on the grass in the middle of a Z fight.
She knew everything was about to come down shattering around her when she turned around to see said body.
When she turned around and it was Cole.
Ali lunged towards Cole's spirit, right before she could reach him he disappeared. Ali did't bother telling anyone as she raced back to the gym where she connected with her body.
Cole was on the floor, a tranquilizer dart in his shoulder, a small trickle of blood coming out of his mouth, his eyes closed. She gasp as she runs over to him and kneel by his body. She pressed her ear to his chest, listening, and listening and... there! small, short, quiet beats of his heart.
She moves her spirit arms from her body, willing them to light up. When nothing happens for a while she starts to panick, "Light up," Ali says.
Nothing.
"Light up!" She shouts again.
Nothing.
"Light up!" Tears are starting to blur her vision, and she deperatly shouts for her hands to light up, "Please..." She adds as tears start to run down her face.
Still frickin nothing.
Fine, the fire wasn't going to work. Got it.
She looks at Cole, his eyes open slowly, his violet eyes meeting her freaky blue ones.
"Hey gator..." He whispers hoarsely.
"Cole.." She starts, tears running down her face, "I'm sorry, it's my fault, I couldn't... the fire" She chokes on a sob, "Please don't leave," She whispers.
More blood drips from his mouth and nose, "Who says I'm going anywhere," he coughs up some blood, but forces a shaky smile, "I fully intend to live my full life with you,"
Ali nods as tears run down her face, as Cole takes a shallow, shaky breath he says, "I love you,"
She nods as his eyes close, she chokes on another sob "I love you too Cole, more then anything, and thank you... thank you for everything" She breathes.
She see's him smile and his eyes crack open again, "You're talking like I'm about to die, I'm going to be okay love," She nods and lays on the floor next to him and he pulls her into his weak embrace.
She rests her head on his chest, a few minutes passed by with just there breathing filling the room, until one breath stops, a heart stopped and another heart is broken.