Aloha!

So I've been working quickly to get this chapter done before I leave 🌊

I'll try to write a bit while I'm away, but no promises - sorry! 🌊 🌊 🌊

Six POV

Ella leaves my room and I sit, contemplating my next move. No, I already know what I need to do, but at what time? Now is too risky. So I wait for another half an hour, just to be sure. I slip the files out from under my bed, leafing through them. One I missing. I grin, John has it. They have fallen for the bait.

The 'confession' to Ella is the perfect set up, now for the next step. I snap open my laptop and hack in to the security system, finding the camera monitor. Flicking around the rooms, I find Sarah with John in the kitchen. Perfect.

I head down the hall to Sarah's room, files tucked under my shirt. Luckily, I see nobody in the hallway, so stealthily enter her room. It's well lit, and very airy, this is definitely Sarah's room. I can even see John's jumper draped haphazardly over the chair. I get to work. Moving items around and leafing through her own documents and powering on her computer. I check the files again, skimming through them for a clue to my next step. I lift up the wooden flaps covering the bottom of her bed and stick my head in, reaching for-

I can hear footsteps down the hall, tap, tap, tap. Shit. I heave myself under her bed, pulling the wooden slat closed behind me, and casting myself in to darkness. The air changes as the door opens, and though I can't see her, I know Sarah is here. Another set of footsteps follows. Not just Sarah. The bed creaks with the weight of two people and I hold my breath.

"I… why…..she…help….school" I can barely make out Sarah's voice, my ears squished to floor and bed.

John mutters something unintelligible, and I tune out. They're probably just flirting, nothing important, for me at least. Dust is collecting in my nose and I close my eyes, praying that I won't get caught.

I can't hold it anymore, and let out a light sneeze, hoping that the thick bed will cover my noise. The two bodies stiffen above me. Or not.

"We're not alone" John states, loud enough for me to hear him.

"Sh-show yourself!" Sarah tries to sound confident, but the waver in her voice gives her away.

The air shifts again, another door being opened. "Okay, you got me." Ella chirps.

What a lucky coincidence that Ella was standing outside, listening in. But why was she there? Did she somehow know? Or did my earlier confession have more of an impact on her than I thought? John and Sarah laugh at what I can imagine as Ella's sheepish expression. The bed creaks again and the weight is released from my back, I hear three pairs of feet padding down the hall towards the gym.

Holding my breath, I wait for twenty minutes, and then some, before continuing my work late in to the night.

Marina POV

I wake up with arms around me, Eight shifts in his sleep and lets out a snore. He looks so peaceful. I sigh, content, and then get to the task of untangling myself. Like an octopus, Eight's limbs are inescapable. I shake him softly, wanting to get up. He stirs, and one eye opens, squinting in the light.

"mmmphrno" he mumbles, and I have no idea what he was attempting to say

"Eight" I shake his arm, "get up, there's work to do"

"No" he says indignantly, pulling me closer to him

I lightly slap his arm, "Eight, I can smell breakfast" his ears perk up, if that is even possible.

He moves with conviction, releasing me and trying to follow me out the door. I stop him with my arm, barring the exit.

"Wait here for five minutes and then come out after me" I say sternly

"Nobody will notice, who cares anyway?"

"It's inappropriate"

He lets out a heavy sigh and gestures for me to leave. I can understand where he is coming from, but in times like these there is no room for outward affection. I tread down the hall quietly, in case the others are still asleep, following my nose to the kitchen. It reeks of meat.

Six is standing at the stove, spatula in hand, cooking large chunks of red meat. And I mean large.

"What's for breakfast, Six?" I venture, hoping not to spook her

Six whirls around, an odd smile on her face. "Oh, you're just in time, they're done".

She slaps a large hunk of meat on my plate, it is barely cooked, and by that I mean raw. I offer a crooked smile, trying to mask my repulsion at the meal.

"Looks, delicious. Where did you learn this?"

"It's what everyone ate at the Mog base. Well, I never did, but all of the guards had it daily." She replies, looking wistful.

"Oh" I say, "So what did you get to eat"

She laughs as if I've said the silliest thing "What do you mean, eat?" she bursts in to giggles

"Six! What did they do to you? My gosh, no food?"

Her face hardens "They did me a favour, what they put me through made me stronger".

She keeps this façade before cracking a smile "So, how does it taste?"

I brace my stomach.

John POV

The translating program has been working away all night, I could hear my computer whirring as I slept, the noise so constant it ingrained itself in my dreams. I stretch and pull back the covers, treading over to my desk. It's only been 9 hours, the translating program isn't finished yet. Random words across the page are translated. Words like serum, agent, traitor, and… Six.

I need to ask her what is going on. Can we trust her?

I grab the original page from my desk and move towards her room, it is late, the others are probably already up. I burst in to her room to find her reading one of the books from Nine's huge library and humming. Guess it's a habit now.

"Six, what is the meaning of this?" I demand

Her face pales, "John, I'm sorry, I didn't want to tell you"

"Tell me what, how can you possibly explain this?" I see red, has she been working with the Mogs behind our backs this whole time?

"Well, I.." she replies timidly

"Spit. It. Out" I demand

"I found it in Sarah's room".

Again, please please remember to drop me a review.

And... I'll see y'all in two weeks 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊 🌊