I just wanted to thank you all for the following, favouring, and reviewing! The reception I have got so quickly is truly heart-warming! Please, if any of you have ideas, drop me a message, I will gladly take them into consideration! Thank you my darlings!
Betrayal.
His shoulders were arched contemplatively, as he scrutinized the dirt bike, banging here and there, hammering the bike into shape. It had been days since they had last spoke. Hal and Lourdes. She pined for the sound of his voice. She treaded across the threshold of the door and coughed delicately.
Hal swirled around at whirlwind velocity, his figure aligned. The cough had sounded thunderous.
Exhaling with a colossal outburst of tension release, he recommenced studying the bike.
"Hal, where are you going?" Lourdes paused adjacent to him, not touching distance. She, herself, was still frosty from their conflict. She never managed to hoard the photographs, just like she never managed to protect her parents.
"Out." Short and brusque.
She inquired more. "And out would be where?"
Another exhalation flowed from Hal's lips as he leisurely sauntered over to her side, reducing to a undertone that penetrated Lourdes' skin.
"I'm going outside. We're running low on stocks and with the lack of staff we got at the moment; I'm going to get the stock from the nearest pick-up store."
She reeled back, feeling the movement of her facial muscles; she supposed that her only expression staring at him now was utter shock. He bent to hiss softly, his breath tickling her right ear, she struggled to resist leaning into his frame.
"Don't tell anyone Lourdes. I trust you."
And with that, he revved off into the unknown.
An hour had surpassed since Lourdes had conversed with Hal. She struggled to sleep, but the never-ending dread of him being slaughtered reared her eyelids open. She tried to walk outside, but it was murky dark, the wintry temperature was not embracing. She attempted to study, but her motivation perished with her desolate college education. She endeavoured to be productive and not let nerve render her useless.
One thought had rendered her useless.
HAL, HAL, HAL, HAL, HAL.
Lourdes observed Tom pace back and forth, Ben pressuring his head into his hands, Matt gnaw on his nails tautly. Hal had not returned for three hours. They were scheduled to send out squads of three of search parties. Despite, Captain Weaver's protest, Tom Mason was determined to find his son.
The door squeaked open, all four looked expectantly.
It was only Anna.
"Is there any news?" Tom scratched his hair agitatedly, Matt commenced shifting uncomfortably. Anna shook her head in disappointment; the knot that had been tightening in Lourdes's chest was beginning to snap.
The door pounded open, all five straightened precipitously, as Captain Weaver marched in, distressed.
"We got mechs on north and south regions, if Hal is anywhere nears those hot-spots, he could be injured right now." Lines had formed across the Captain's forehead, giving a look Lourdes could not decipher.
Don't tell anyone Lourdes. I trust you.
"Do you think someone lured him into a trap?" Ben advocated. The proposition was negated with Captain Weaver's hard stone glare. Lourdes surveyed Anna caress Tom's arm in reassurance, but her facial expressions betrayed her, her eyes were bloodshot from anxiety.
"Lourdes."
She flinched at the softness in Tom's voice, his eyes sweeping towards her. Did she stay faithful to her best friend, or his doting father? Her face remained tranquil.
Blood was drumming in her ears.
"Yes?" It was simply stated. Sweat formed at the back of her neck.
"Did Hal, give any inclination of where he had gone? He trusts you, you're his closest friend." Directly inform of her now, in a towering stance, Tom's supple chocolate eyes looked down upon her.
His eyes were desperate. Fraught.
Don't tell anyone Lourdes. I trust you.
Lourdes cleared her throat.
Captain Weaver repositioned his rifle.
Anna Glass sat silently.
Ben Mason rubbed his hands.
Matthew Mason chewed his nails.
Tom Mason's deep coffee brown eyes buried into hers.
Don't tell anyone Lourdes. I trust you.
"Yes. I know where he is."
"We discovered him, taking shelter among the grass, ammo down to five. He wouldn't have lasted, had we not found him."
"And where is he now?"
"Sleeping."
Busying herself by assorting through medicine stock, Lourdes pondered over how wrathful Hal would be once he discerned that she had betrayed him. Exposed him. She made insignificant amends by clarifying to his father, of the valiant mission that Hal had executed by his sole self; Tom had dismissed it as "a reckless and boyish act". Lourdes still disagreed. She would apologize for her perfidy tomorrow morning.
She did not get the opportunity to apologize. Hal had come to see her first thing. Tom Mason had informed all civilians, not to stir Hal from his sleep, given the horror he had experienced the previous night.
Lourdes deducted sleep was not what Hal Mason had got last night.
Judging from his inflamed puffy eyes.
Lourdes indicated to a seat across, so they could discuss, rationally. Hal scowled at her, pitiless.
"I told you not to tell them." His voice was poisoned with hostility. Lourdes cowered away from his chilling glower.
"You were in a skitter hotspot, I had to get you out." Lourdes edged closer to him, in attempt to dissipate the icy atmosphere around them. It was not effective.
Hal's fist hammered down on the table.
The ground shook beneath them.
"I am not a child."
"I never said you were, Hal you're just confused, I understa-"
Glass shattered all around them.
"I am not confused! You don't understand! Don't you dare lie to me!" Picking up another empty test tube, Hal smashed it against the wall, screaming obscenities as every little piece was destroyed.
Lourdes's throat was on fire, water entered her eyes, her hands grasping out to him.
Hal shook her off.
He was trembling.
Silence.
Feet stomping away was all Lourdes heard, as she gaped upon the chaos in front of her.
He was fracturing.
Lourdes was determined to find out what from.