A/N So the connection to my laptop cord broke so I couldn't get on it. Sorry for the wait. I know this author's note makes little sense because I 'm in a rush. Sorry if all the lines to separate didn't load right. Please review when you finish. Thanks for your patience.
PREVIOUSLY:
(This "previously" is long and you can skip it if you need. It's still good to read in case you don't remember as these are from the previous story [Heart's Disadvantage].)
When he reached her room, he stood outside it a few moments, pondering if he should really go in or not. He took a deep breath. She was just a little girl. He had done much harder things than this in team rocket. He pushed open the door and looked towards the bed on the far wall. A little girl was sleeping in it, rolling around and crying at the same time. He went to her bedside and kneeled down. She was mumbling things in between tears. Her words weren't clear, but this is what he got out of them. "No… don't…"
Skye's eyes widened.
"I-I don't… I'm scared…"
"S-Stop." Skye felt the words leave his lips before he could stop himself.
"D-Don't leave!" she had herself almost woken up with that outburst, but fell back into her somewhat light sleep.
"Stop!" Skye grabbed her roughly by the arms and pulled her up. "Wake up!"
Her eyes snapped open but for her it didn't make much of a difference, she was still waking up. "Stop! Don't leave me!"
"I didn't! Stop! Wake up! Now!" He gave her a rougher shake then he should have.
Her eyes went wide and she froze, now fully awake.
Skye just sat frozen, the little girl held firmly at arms length. After a moment his grip weakened and he looked at his hands that were holding the top of her arms.
She started crying again.
He gulped and let his arms fall, leaving his hands holding on weakly. "I'm sorry. I didn't…"
Her lip trembled and she launched herself into his chest pulling her arms close to her and crying.
Skye wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He mumbled inaudibly. "I didn't mean to."
She just continued crying and he just sat holding onto her until she fell asleep again.
"Leave me alone!" she lashed out at him pushing him away, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"I didn't mean it like that."
"Yes you did! You didn't even care! You left me!"
"I did not leave you… her… Ugh! Why do you have to be so much like her?! Why couldn't you be someone else? You're not her! You know you're not her! You're a clone!"
"Stop it! I'm not! I'm normal! Like you and Sarah! I can do everything you can do!"
"Then why do you talk like you're her?!" He yelled angrily.
"I don't know! I'm scared! I don't know who I am!"
He stopped and stared at her. She was crying… shaking…. She said that Sarah was her sister, yet she recited Sarah's memories as if they were her own.
Skye turned back to her and seemed to be trying to make a hard decision. Finally he got close to her and whispered, "I need you to stay quiet… and stay here."
Her eyes widened. "No… You're going to leave me!" She jumped up and grabbed his shirt, holding on for dear life. Despite her previous ranting, she didn't want him to leave her alone with no idea where she was.
"I'm not gonna leave you. I'll be back."
"P-Please. No… Skye, no."
Skye pried her off of him and held her out. "Listen to me. I never left you. I would never leave you. I'll be back. I promise. But you have to stay here." He paused before whispering quietly, "I won't lose you again."
Her eyes widened as she felt something soft slide briefly over her forehead. She nodded shakily. "Y-You come back."
He nodded and whispered firmly, "I will."
When they got outside, Skye led her over to a table and waited till she had situated herself on the chair to hand her a Strawberry cone.
She took it and touched the top with her finger covering it in the cold pink cream.
"Just lick it."
"Is it good?"
"Taste it and see."
She frowned for a second, Skye's words seeming to put her into a memory of some sort, but then she shook it off and did as she was told. "Wow! Skye, this is so good! I bet this is one of the best foods ever!"
Michael smiled. "I found something."
Skye blinked. "Good for you." He turned away and pulled his notebook out again. He had to figure this out. He stopped and rolled his eyes towards his shoulder staring at Michael's finger, which was repetitively poking him. "What?" he did his best to hold his temper down.
Michael smiled mischievously and stood in front of him, digging into his pocket. He pulled a green strap put of his pocket. It was a strange material, like tight-woven ribbon. In the center was an aqua gem. He held onto one end and walked past Skye letting the end trail in front of his eyes.
Skye's eyes grew. "Hey! Give that back!" He tried to snatch it from him but only ended up grabbing air.
Michael pulled the necklace close to him and shook his head. "Why do you have a girl necklace in your backpack?"
"That's none of your business. You shouldn't have been going through my stuff, you little rat!" He stuffed the notebook into his pocket and rose to his feet, giving himself
ON TO THE STORY:
"Where do you suppose Keagan and Alexi are?" May asked.
"It was stupid to leave them." Drew whispered under his breath, aware that there were others agreeing with him.
"That doesn't matter right now." Ash cut in angrily. He had obviously heard the comment. "Skye, which way?"
Skye paused for a bit too long. The memories of how he had got to the room were very fuzzy. The only time he had gone their, he had been so distracted with other . . . thoughts that that he hadn't really paid attention to where he was headed.
"Skye?" Ash asked anxiously.
Skye ground his teeth and then pointed down the hall without a word. Ash all but ran forward with the others following.
"Are you sure you know where you're going?" Gary asked from beside him.
Skye's teeth ground so tightly Gary almost heard them. "Yes. If you think you know better, why don't you lead?"
"I was never in testing. I've never even seen these halls."
"Then you'll have to live with me, now won't you?"
Gary frowned and rolled his eyes before moving ahead of him to join Ash's scurried strides.
"Stop." Skye suddenly said but neither Gary nor Ash did, either not hearing him or not caring. "Stop!" Both of them suddenly stopped and turned. Skye looked left and right and cursed under his breath. "Someone's coming." It was an empty hall, there was nowhere to go, and so they waited for the grunts to come around the corner.
Both Taylor and Skye sighed in relief when the feet running towards them turned out to be Alexi and Keagan. Then Skye's eyes narrowed. "Wait. Keagan! I . . . how did you get here? I mean . . . you were behind. How did you both get here?"
Both Keagan and Alexi were stopping to catch their breath. Keagan righted first. "I asked Alexi to help me find someone. I wouldn't have told you but . . . since he knows we're here I guess I should."
"Why did you risk it?" Skye asked.
May interrupted. "It doesn't matter. They already know we're here."
Keagan continued as if he hadn't heard her. "He killed my family."
There was silence for barely a moment, then Ash turned and continued walking. "He's not a grunt so let's go. We can talk while we do."
Alexi was having great trouble catching her breath so Keagan grabbed her hand as they walked.
"Do you know why he killed them?" Skye asked suddenly.
"He said my father invented something used here."
"What?"
"Um . . . something to do with an instinct?"
"An . . . instinct?"
Keagan failed to notice the dangerous tone in Skye's voice and nodded.
Suddenly Keagan found himself slammed against the wall held by a surprisingly strong hand around his neck. He looked wide eyed back at Skye and saw a look in his face that he had never imagined and he was shocked to feel the fear it gave him.
"Skye, what are you doing?" Alexi asked alarm.
"Shut up." Skye whispered.
"Let go of me." Keagan said slowly, using all of his self restraint to keep his arms held at his sides instead of on the hand around his neck.
"You think you're scaring anyone?" Skye retaliated.
"Skye wh-what are you doing?" Ash asked, both startled and slightly annoyed at yet another distraction from Makaila's wellbeing.
"The Instinct?" Skye repeated, his body began shaking and Keagan suddenly grunted when the force on his neck increased.
"Skye!" Alexi yelled out, seeing the effect it was having on Keagan.
"You're father created it? Your . . . father?!"
Keagan's eyes widened and without any warning Skye let go of his hands and stepped back his entire body shaking like a leaf in the wind.
Keagan's hand reached up and rubbed along his neck, but his gaze didn't leave Skye's face.
"You did this to me?" he whispered.
Keagan's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?" Nobody said anything and Keagan turned to Alexi completely shocked to see her looking at him with almost the same look that Skye had given him, minus the loathing. "Why – I – What is it?"
Gary's eyes had widened though they held none of the emotions on both Alexi and Skye's faces. "The Instinct is an experiment supposedly created within the Team Rocket Base. It messes with people. Makes them emotionally connected and protective . . . or something like that." He glanced at Skye. "Though I don't really know that much about it. Skye . . . they used it on him once. Or so I've heard."
Keagan turned back to him. "What is it?"
Skye froze and looked up. "You don't know?" Keagan's look definitely said that he didn't and Skye relaxed considerably, his face showing something akin to regret. He turned. "Let's get Makaila."
"W-Wait." Keagan rushed forward as everyone started moving. "What is it?"
Skye let out a shaky breath as he forced his anger to stay in check. "I'll tell you while we go."
Keagan nodded. He looked to his right to Alexi and frowned. Her head was bowed and her face was contemplative and slightly disappointed. "Alexi?" He reached out carefully but she shook his hand off as if she had been shocked and moved away. The action hurt more than he could say, but he didn't try to say it and instead turned his attention to Skye as he started talking.
"It's a long story. You'll probably need to know the background to understand." He looked up and the ceiling. "Sarah. She was . . . a test subject here."
Alexi looked up and showed her curiosity in the subject. Skye knew that she along with a couple others would want to know the whole story, so he decided to start from the beginning. It would be good for him to talk about if it did nothing else.
"What does this have to do with the Instinct?" Keagan asked.
"Sarah's was my . . . the one I chose. She's one of the reasons I have the Instinct." Keagan fell silent so he went on. "Sarah, she had been put through so many tests that her body was too weak to be moved much any more. She was thin, and pale, but there was something about her that was beautiful. I couldn't understand it and she drew me in. I wanted to understand her. The first time I saw her was because of a test they had given me. Not like a test subject test or anything. A test, a really simple one, for grunts. I still don't why they gave it to me, something to do with wanting to know my obedience. Anyway, I would just stand outside her door like a guard or something until they came to take her out for a test. Check schedules; keep tabs on her, things like that. I learned a lot about her very quickly. Her testing number was one thousand. She was so weak and isolated and she still smiled. She was still happy sometimes. I didn't understand how it was possible. I had never been isolated like that and I hated my life in the base. But I knew it had to be so much worse for her. So one day when she came back from a test and started crying after they all but threw her in it was almost to painful to listen to and watch. I just kind of walked right in. I don't know what I was thinking."
Flashback:
Sarah looked up as soon as he entered a tinge of worry in her eyes. And Skye just stood there.
It didn't take Skye long to realize that he hadn't planned it out very well. He just wanted to see what it was about her that drew him in so much before he was moved onto a different assignment, which was bound to be soon with how long he had been there.
He had known that she was pretty, but there was something different about seeing her like this, alone and staring strait into her eyes. She was beautiful. She stared at him, and he saw her fist her hands and scoot back a little on the dusty cement.
"Uh…" he absentmindedly touched his pockets, as if he may find a topic for conversation hidden in his jeans. He said the only thing that came to mind. "…Hi…."
She blinked and her hands relaxed. "H-Hi." There was a moment of silence. "Are you the grunt that's been outside my door?"
"Yeah…"
"Why… They haven't had grunts outside the other rooms have they?"
"It's kind of practice for me." He admitted quietly, the shock that he was actually talking to her was evident all over his features.
She let out a small giggle. He couldn't help but smile, it was a beautiful sound and she looked so happy once again. His eyes narrowed in confusion at her next actions. She stifled her giggle quickly and shut her eyes, scooting away from him. He realized what was wrong. She was scared. Scared because if she had laughed at another grunt, there was nothing to keep him from hitting her or doing something else out of annoyance or anger.
He stayed still and then kneeled beside her and grabbed one of her clenched hands. "Hey, I'm not going to hurt you. OK?"
She opened her eyes carefully and looked at him then down to her hand which he held, then back up again with the strangest look on her face. "Why… Who-Who are you?"
"My name's Skye."
"That's…nice. Um… I-I'm Sarah."
He smiled and she blushed and looked down. "That's beautiful," he whispered.
She struggled to hold down her smile, and just realizing it was because of him made him feel something he had never felt before. Something that he wanted to feel more of. "Better than one thousand."
A small beeping sound came from his watch. He lifted it and his eyes widened. "I've gotta go." He stood and ran to the door.
"Wait!" Skye stopped and turned to her. "Will you… Will you come back?"
He nodded. "My job's to watch you. I think it might be easier from in here." She smiled and he shut the door, quickly taking his place beside it and straitening his posture just as a grunt came around the bend.
End Flashback
"There was a grunt that showed up and took her even though she didn't have any scheduled tests. I let him take her. I fell asleep on watch that day. It was the only time it had ever happened to me.
Flashback:
The door slamming beside him was what awoke him. He jumped only to see the man from before walk in front of him and away, obviously the one who had shut the door.
Skye jumped to his feet and straitened his posture even though it was obvious that the man wasn't interested in him. Skye waited until he was out of sight before looking over his shoulder into the room. Sarah was back, the reason the door had slammed after she had been thrown in, and she was crying. She wasn't shaking or bellowing. Sarah had a quiet and gentle way of voicing most of her feelings. The tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she stifled any sobs that tried to surface. He had heard her cry after some tests, but now he felt as if he should be doing something about it.
Carefully Skye opened the door, and after shutting it calmly for the cameras, he rushed forward.
Sarah leaned against the wall and looked up shyly at him. She smiled faintly even though the tears were still on her face and whispered the same word he had before. "Hi…."
"Are you alright?"
She nodded. "I'll be ok."
He sat down beside her and she stiffened before he warily put his arm around her and pulled her to him. "You know… you don't have to pretend. You can-You can cry… if you want to. There's nothing wrong with it. You're not doing something bad…."
She shut her eyes and the tears started falling again. "Who are you? Why are you acting this way to me? …What did I do to deserve this?"
Skye wasn't sure if that meant she was happy or sad, though he was fairly positive it meant she was happy. When she didn't say anything else, he assumed she wanted an answer. "You're a good person…you shouldn't have to go through stuff like this alone. You deserve more than what they'll give you."
She turned her head just barely, so it was resting on his chest and whispered, "Thank you."
He didn't think he had said anything remarkable, or even really good, but she seemed pleased so he decided to leave it at that.
Over the next couple weeks, he spent more time in her room than out in the hall. She came to accept that he didn't like to answer questions about himself and he was simply Skye. After a test he would come in, check on her, and either leave again or stay and talk to her. After being alone for so long, he was salvation from everything to her. He was a grunt, one of them, but it didn't bother her. Because he was also Skye, and that part of him outweighed the fact that he was a grunt as well.
They grew closer and Skye knew he was falling, and falling hard. Falling for a test subject whom he was supposed to be guarding and could any day, be pulled out and die in testing.
Skye was soon relieved from his practice-test, but he found it hard to leave. He entered the room once more, prepared to tell her that he was being relieved.
"Sarah."
She looked up and smiled. "Skye!"
He smiled back and sat beside her. "Look, I've gotta tell you something."
She could instantly tell that it was important and nodded, waiting for him to continue. "I'm leaving." Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth to speak but he cut her off. "Not for good. I'll still be around, but not as much. I'll be given a new assignment soon."
She looked down at the floor silently and he grew uncomfortable. "I've gotta go." He stood and started to leave.
"Wait!" He turned at her voice. "Will somebody else be over me now?"
Skye considered it for a moment before answering. "Probably. They consider you good practice for some." He knew it didn't sound very encouraging, but it was the truth. And she would know if he was lying.
She bit her lip. "Do you know who?"
He shook his head.
She took a deep breath and jumped up, walking to the corner of the room before kneeling beside the wall.
Skye moved around her, wondering what she was doing. Finally she turned around. Skye noticed that a block had been removed from the wall and she held out the item that had been behind it. A necklace. It looked like a long thick dark green ribbon, with an aqua colored gem stuck somehow to the center.
He sat down beside her. "Is it real?"
"I'm not sure. For some reason I was able to keep it. I've been hiding it for a long time. I don't want them to take it from me."
He nodded. "I heard sometimes they let people do that. Someone told me it's because it helps them stay strong psychologically."
"It's a cruel trick, but it's true. I want you to have it."
Skye stared at her blankly. "What… why?"
She shut her eyes. "I don't know how long it will be. I don't want you to forget me."
His eyes widened and he suddenly felt guilt start to flood his system. "I… Sarah…"
The door slammed open suddenly and she quickly stuffed the necklace behind her back. Before them stood the grunt that had pulled her out before when Skye had chosen to finally comfort her for the first time. Skye glared at him, and he stared calmly back. "We're switching. You should go."
Sky hesitated then started moving forward only to be stopped by a hand on his coat. He looked down to see Sarah's hand holding on firmly, her eyes wide and staring at the boy. "Skye… don't…."
"Sarah I-"
"Please." Her eyes turned to his, still fearful, looking like she wanted to say something more but didn't dare. He didn't know what to say to her. There was no way he could stay.
"Don't leave me." He gulped, and tried to move but found he couldn't. "I'm scared." She finally admitted, too quietly for the other grunt to hear.
"Skye."
"I've gotta go Sarah." He said, glancing at the grunt behind him.
"No-"
Skye couldn't stay, but he couldn't just leave her with nothing. He quickly ducked and wrapped his arms tightly around her, whispering so only she could hear. "I can't stay. If I disobey I'll be punished and I won't be able to help you at all. I'll never be allowed to see you again. Do you understand? I have to go. I will help you as much as I can. I'll be there whenever I can." Sarah held tightly to him and didn't say anything. "Sarah?"
"I-I understand."
Skye nodded and let her go, whispering right before, "I'll get him out for a minute. Hide the necklace while we're out. Ok?"
"Take it."
"Sarah-"
"Skye. Please. Take it with you."
Skye slipped his hand into hers and as discretely as possible, pulled the necklace into his hand, giving her hand a last squeeze of reassurance. "I love you." he whispered as lowly as he possibly could.
He stood and neared the door, then left. "Come with me. I wanna talk to you." The grunt shrugged and followed him out.
When the door shut Skye felt a sort of hollowness fill his heart. He ignored it and turned to the grunt who stared patiently back at him and waited.
"Did you just hug a test subject?" He looked at Skye questioningly.
"I suppose that's what the rest of the world calls it. Now listen, she's weak. Very frail. If you move her too much she'll get tired and won't be able to move herself. She's been through way too many tests. I know that she's a test subject, but if this is a test they're putting you though, you should try and treat her respectfully. It'll say a lot." When the grunt shook his head and turned away, he narrowed his eyes. "Got it?"
The grunt rolled his eyes and stayed that way before he finally turned back to Skye. "They don't care about that. All they care about is getting her to whatever test they want to put her in. You can stop pretending. I know what you're doing."
Skye was silent momentarily. "I'm not doing a thing. Just asking you to treat her respectfully. Think you can do it?"
The grunt shrugged and made quite a show of it. "Sure. Why not?"
Skye nodded and left, mumbling as he walked, "Better."
It was almost a week later when Skye heard it. He hadn't been able to check on her at all, and it hadn't worried him at first, but her scared face in the back of his mind would remind him that he needed to check on her. So the first chance he got, he began heading down to room.
As he neared it, he became worried. The grunt wasn't outside. Did that mean he had taken her to a test? No, because he would have still been required to remain outside. That could only mean that he was in the room with her.
Skye picked up his pace until he was running, and slammed the door open when he reached it.
The grunt looked up in surprise, but Sarah only flinched and shut her eyes tightly. The grunt was standing over her. It didn't look as though he were attempting anything he shouldn't, but Sarah was completely terrified and that spoke for itself. She pushed herself against the wall shaking, clenching her eyes shut and her hands into fists as tightly as possible. Tears just barely pricked the corners of her eyes, tears he knew she was stubbornly holding down to drown whatever emotions she was feeling.
Guilt instantly flooded every inch of his heart. He ran forward and kneeled next to her. "Sarah." She was still and then suddenly screamed and pushed him away. "Sarah, it's me. It's alright." Sarah pulled her arms to herself and tucked her head into her neck as she shook, tears starting to fall. He very briefly and rather awkwardly held her, and then looked up at the grunt. "What were you doing?"
He stood and the grunt backed up just slightly, gaining the blank vacant look many grunts seemed to use because of their training. "Nothing."
Skye advanced, balling his hands into fists so tight that his nails dug into his palms. He shook his head "You're lying." The grunts gazed remained impassive but he backed up as Skye advanced. Despite the grunt's façade, he let out a breath of relief as the door was opened.
Another grunt entered and looked between the two, before turning to Skye. "Boss wants you." Skye looked at the grunt he was desperately trying not to hit and then down to Sarah. Without waiting for permission, he pulled his coat off and pulled it over Sarah's shoulders, then pulled her up and wrapped an arm around her waist as he led her out. The grunt who had just entered the room didn't even try to stop him as he moved to the side and let them through. Once Skye had left he turned to the grunt Skye had been glaring at, and gave him a meaningful glare of his own. The grunts eyes flicked down, then he hurried out the door.
Skye didn't acknowledge the presence of his superior until he spoke. "Any reason you're pulling her along?"
Skye gritted his teeth. "You know why. I'm not leaving her with him."
"Protective much?"
"It's just common sense. You know what he was doing. You should have punished him."
The grunt suddenly grabbed onto Skye and flipped him around. "Look, I'm doing the best I can for you. But she…" he motioned to the girl Skye held "…is a test subject. Don't forget that. I can only do as much as I can do."
Skye pulled his arm from the grunt's grip. "But you don't do that much, do you?"
"She'll get hurt if you keep this up."
"Is that a threat or a warning?"
The grunt didn't seem shocked that Skye's question only proved his love for her. "…Both."
Skye's grip tightened on Sarah, but was the only thing that gave away that he was even
slightly bothered by the threat.
When they reached the door Skye hesitated. "What are you waiting for?"
"Skye…" Sarah whispered and held onto him. She wasn't stupid. She had heard the words as clearly as he had.
"I'll watch her. Better get in there."
"Skye…"
"I'll be right back." He pushed through the door, pushing her hands off more gently than he had when he had left her last. "I promise," he whispered, and she finally let go.
Skye pushed through the door and kept his head bowed. "You wanted to see me?"
"Yes, I did."
Skye's head shot up at the words. He knew the voice and it had been a long time since he had seen the owner. Instead of seeing "the boss", he saw a man with long blond hair tied behind his head, and blue eyes. Eyes that, not so much as matched, but resembled his own.
"Father…."
"Skye."
"What…? Why…."
"There's a mission. They want you to be the one to take it."
It took him longer than it should have to answer, as the shock meeting his father in the room temporarily stunned him into silence. "Me? But…I haven't finished my training. Not even close."
"You're not confident. You're better than you think you are."
At first, he was thrilled. He didn't think much on what he might have to do,
that he might break laws and hurt people. Then he remembered the girl standing outside the room. It seemed like every time he left her, something happened. What if something happened again? Would he ever forgive himself?
When Skye didn't reply, his father became curious. "Skye?"
"There are tons of grunts much better than I am. Why did they choose me?"
"All grunts start out with a somewhat small mission… or field training, or a group mission. They think you've got what it takes. Your mission would be to find a test subject."
Skye raised his head and looked at him in confusion. "A test subject?"
"A test subject ran away from the base about…two days ago."
Skye's eyes widened. "How did he do that?"
"It's quite simple really. She pretty much spent her whole life memorizing the code on her door. That combined with a grunt making a stupid mistake outside her room… revealing something he shouldn't have to another grunt, is what led to her escape."
"But it's been two days? Have grunts been set out yet?"
"They have but somehow she's eluding them. So, I suggested sending you."
Skye was shocked. His father had actually recommended him for something. As much as he didn't want to admit it, there was still a part of him that yearned for his father's approval, the part of him he had tried to leave behind but never been able to completely.
"Here's the girl."
"It's a girl?"
His father simply slid the photo across the desk and Skye held down a gasp. ". . . Alexi."
"What?"
"I… nothing."
"Can you handle it?"
Once again Skye was silent for longer than he should have been. "You made a mistake." The words pained him to say, but this was so much more important.
"What?"
He flinched. "I…would rather be put back in charge of one thousand."
"…Would rather?"
Skye shut his eyes. "The grunts over her section are abusing they're status. They're hurting her. They shouldn't be able to get away with it. They should be getting punishment."
His father spoke after a brief silence. "The only problem I see here is a grunt falling for a test subject. Grunts control test subjects, not the other way around. At least that's the way I've always run things."
Skye's eyes widened and he felt blood pumping in his ears. He knew how wrong it was to them: a grunt falling for a test subject. They would do something about it. Still he bit his tongue, finding that for the first time he couldn't deny it. He knew it now and it just felt so wrong to say he didn't feel something for her. His whole life revolved around lies, and he was sick of being a part of them.
"Alright." Skye's eyes narrowed in confusion. "You can be with her as much as you want." Skye's mouth opened to ask what was going on, but his father spoke before he could. "You obviously consider this girl more important to you than your assignments, so I'll assign you into her section. You can go."
Skye's head shot up at not only the words, but the casual way the words were said. "What?"
"You're a test subject. Congratulations."
Skye just stared at him. "You're placing me in testing?" Silence was his only answer. "But w-why?" He simply stared, dumbfounded that his own father, regardless of how sadistic his nature was, would subject him to something so dangerous.
"You consider a girl more important than you assignments, you talk without permission, and you give no respect to your superiors. Do I need to say more?"
Skye clenched his teeth. "If I'm as bad as you say than why did you recommend me?"
"Test subject or Assignment. Take your pick."
Skye ground his teeth and backed up. "I'm not leaving her. I don't care what you say."
It was silent and then his father pressed a button. The grunt that had walked him to the room entered. "Place him in testing."
The grunt just stood in place. "Sir?"
"You're not here to think. Just do it."
"Y-Yes sir."
Skye bit down his pride as he allowed the grunt to lock his hands and lead him out. When they reached the hall, Sarah looked at them in confusion and fear. "Skye?"
He didn't answer and the grunt pushed him forward lightly before grabbing her and pulling her along. Skye gritted his teeth to keep himself from ordering the grunts hands off of her. When they reached her "room", the grunt pulled the jacket from her back and pushed them both in.
Skye tripped and fell, as he had just barely been unlocked. Sarah kneeled down and placed her hand on his arm pulling him lightly. "Skye, what's going on? Are you ok?"
Skye pulled himself up and rubbed his arm when he had fallen, then took a breath and turned to face her, struggling with his facial expression as he knew how well she could see through him. "G-Good news. We're going to be seeing each other a lot more." Her brow came together, looking both concerned and confused. "I…they placed me as a test subject. They gave me a choice between testing and an assignment so…" he looked down. He felt he was talking too much, while he was usually almost completely quiet.
He looked back up at her and was surprised to see tears filling her eyes, a bittersweet type of smile on her face. He was taken by surprise when she suddenly collapsed onto him, tears running freely down her face. "Skye, you idiot." He smiled lightly and wrapped his arms back around her.
He didn't like touching people, and she never used words like "idiot".
She looked up at him. "Did … Did they hurt you when you said no?"
"They sent me into testing. That's enough."
"But what if you're hurt?"
"What was I supposed to do? Just leave and let you get hurt?"
"You don't know what it's like… being a test subject. What if…"
"I think I know what being a test subject is like more than you do. I've seen tons of test subjects."
"But… why?"
"Because I don't want to leave you anymore. Because I…" he suddenly faltered and his head fell.
"Skye? Because you what?"
He tried not to hear the anxiousness in her voice and continued, feeling more nervous than he had in his entire life.
"Skye…" she tilted his head up "…please."
Skye let out a short breath and grabbed her hand subconsciously. "Sarah… I… I love you." His breathing stopped as he waited for her response.
A brilliant smile lit her face and Skye couldn't help but smile too. She started moving forward tentatively then backed away, a blush staining her pale cheeks and standing out. Skye smiled lightly started the same way as her and then gave up and filled the space.
It was a shy and pure kiss, but was filled with more than either of them could say. Sarah pulled away first, the weakness in her body requiring her to gather air. He didn't seem disappointed, only let out a breath of pure surprise and bliss. She smiled and allowed herself to fall to his chest once more.
Skye couldn't keep the smile off his face. She was the most incredible person. Her body was so weak but she was still so strong. She was the kindest, most patient, and beautiful person he had ever met. And to him, she was his.
And for just a few moments…
…they were happy.
END FLASHBACK:
Skye looked at the floor. He had conveniently left out the fact that he had confesses his love to her, instead cutting off his story when his father had thrown him out.
"Your own father sent you into testing?"
Skye nodded. "He never was all that much of a father." There was silence and Skye glanced at Keagan before he turned away and continued. "It wasn't long before I realized my mistake. I was no longer a grunt. I had no control over anything. The next time they came, they took her away and left me."
FLASHBACK (once more):
He slammed his hand against the door and then let it fall. He felt completely useless and now completely stupid. Had it been a stupid decision? How was he supposed to protect her when they were pulled out separately?
When she came back she had seemed fine, only a pinprick on her wrist. She told him that they said it had been a success, but he hadn't really felt relieved.
His first test had been terrible. He had never undergone anything quite as humiliating or fear provoking. He had been strapped down, and just the fact that he was completely open scared him, though he made sure he didn't show it. His arms were tied so they were turned up, and they stuck a long needle through one, and then the other. He only winced and it didn't hurt it first, and then they begun burning. The pain was so intense that he shut his eyes as tightly as he could and bit his lip to keep from screaming. It felt like his arms were on fire, and then moments later as though spiders were crawling all over them or electricity was running through them, the pain very nearly reaching down too his heart. Tears blurred his vision but he kept them down. He didn't cry. He wouldn't cry. But it did hurt, so much more than he wanted to admit.
When he had been thrown back in he had fallen once again. His eyes were shut and he didn't even remember that Sarah was there until she put her hands on his shoulders. "Skye… Skye what is it…? Skye?!" She wrapped her arms around his shoulders but he still didn't respond. She gently pushed him onto his back and gasped. "What did they do?" His arms were a deep red. She reached out and gently held one. Her hands were cold and he realized it quickly, pushing them onto the small source of relief. Sarah pulled him up gently and leaned against the wall, taking his head into her lap and pulling his arms up. He didn't seem to register what he was allowing her to do; he just let her do it.
His arms burned under her touch and tears filled her eyes. It seemed that his arms were the only part of him hurting, but he obviously was in a lot of pain regardless. She was confused and she was scared. She didn't know what to do. He gasped and the red began rapidly leaving, lightening until his arms were almost entirely white and cold under her touch.
His breathing started leveling out and finally he lay completely still in her lap, his only movement being his deep breathing. "Sarah…it…ah-" he stopped and started shaking again.
She cut him off quickly and held him tighter. "Sh. It's ok."
It was several minutes before he stopped shaking, but when he did he was completely still, breathing included.
Sarah felt fear overwhelm her. "S-Skye...?" She leaned her head down to his chest and was relieved to find him breathing quietly. He was simply asleep. Whatever was in his system had taken a lot out of him. She touched his arms, and found them stone cold. It didn't make any sense to her, and she didn't know what to do. So she did the only thing she could think of and held him closer, hoping that it would somehow offer him relief if he still needed it.
Skye had three more tests. His hearing was tampered with, and when he came back and she asked him if he was ok, he had flinched and moved away from her.
Sarah had five small tests. She had always had a lot of tests, but her body was weak because of this, so they made sure to do low risk tests with her to keep her around as long as possible. There was only once when she came back that she fell to him and he had to comfort her instead of the other way around.
They were sitting alone silently once. No one had entered to take one of them out, and it was incredibly silent. Skye suddenly winced and pulled his right arm to his chest. Sarah quickly pulled his arm from him and picked up a few scraps of fabric from beside them, starting to wrap his arm. They were leftovers, as she had done this several times since his test. Something as small as a slight temperature drop would cause his arms to ache. The cloth acted as some form of a guard against what might be hurting it.
Skye watched her carefully and let her move his arm slightly as she wound the fabric around. "Sarah?"
The break of silence startled her, and she jumped before looking up at him. "Yes, Skye?"
"Did you… have to go through all of this by yourself… before?"
Her gaze lowered and then she nodded softly.
"I'm sorry."
"It's alright." She whispered. "It… I was used to it…."
She pulled her hands back to herself, even though she hadn't finished, because suddenly his hands balled into shaking fists. "How can they do this? How can they-How can they hurt people like this?"
She laid her hands softly on his shaking ones. "They're just bad people. Skye…" she waited for him to look at her and he felt her hands wrap as firmly as they could around his aching ones. "If you give into them…you'll be just like them."
He stared at her. "But we already have. They pull us into testing every day and we don't stop them."
She shook her head. "But we can't. Not without dying, and it's not worth that. I mean allowing them to influence you. To get in your head and change you into one of them."
Her hands tightened around his. "You have to promise me you won't let them do that to you. You have to promise me they won't turn you into one of them. Promise me you won't change."
"I…"
"Skye, please."
It scared him that he felt he couldn't answer without lying. But her pleading face managed to break through, and he suddenly found a new determination, a reason to fulfill the promise. He turned his palms over and held her hands the way she so earnestly held his. "Alright, I'll promise. On one condition." Her brow came together in confusion. "You can't let them brake you either. You have to stay strong."
Sarah nodded and whispered, "I promise."
"Then I promise that I won't change."
Later:
Skye was asleep when the door suddenly opened but he was quickly awakened. His sleepy eyes focused on his father, and his first instinct was to get away, an action he had always forced himself not to do.
His father waited for him to wake, and then began speaking, "Are you awake?"
Skye was surprised with the question, but nodded. "Yes sir."
His father actually smiled. "Would you like to come back?"
Skye's eyes widened. "Wh-What?"
"They've asked me to pull you back into grunt work."
Skye just stared at him, then turned and looked at Sarah. "I…"
A small groan came from his father but he pretended not to hear it. "There is something else." Skye looked back to him. "I'm not of course… unaware of your… fascination with her." He said the word "fascination" as if it were a question. Skye didn't say anything, but stared and waited for him to go on. "If you come back, I'll help you."
"Why are you so eager to have me back?" Skye whispered.
His father didn't answer. "Will you come back?"
He looked quietly to his right, to the girl sleeping beside him, and finally whispered, "I want to be a grunt."
"Thought it would get through to you."
Skye's head shot up. He looked his father in the eyes. "Not for you." Then he glanced at Sarah. "For her."
His father was actually silent, and then he left.
The next morning they came. He hadn't been expecting them so soon. Four grunts showed up and one motioned to the door. "Skye, let's go."
Sarah looked at him in confusion and he stiffened. "Skye?"
"I have to go."
Sarah watched him walk forward and then jumped up as the shock subsided. "No…. Skye!" Sarah stood and reached out, wrapping her arms around one of his. "Don't leave me..." Skye stayed very still for several moments, so when neither moved a grunt stepped forward and pulled Sarah from him. "S-Skye!" He clenched his eyes tightly and moved on but she pulled from the grunt and wrapped her arms fully around his waist. "Skye stop! Why-Why aren't you doing anything? Why are letting them take you away? Skye, why? Don't leave me." When he didn't answer she burst into tears. "Please! Skye I need you! Don't leave me!"
"…I-"
"Ah!" Skye spun around as he felt her pulled from him and found her on the ground holding a hand to her cheek. His hands clenched into fists and his breathing elevated. He glared at the grunt. How dare he hit her! She looked up and almost looked directly into his eyes. His heart froze, almost painfully when it had been thudding so severely not a moment before. "Skye…"
He stared steadily back, almost forgetting what was happening as he stared at her eyes…. No. He clenched his eyes tightly and turned. "Sorry." It came out so cold but he didn't try to correct himself as he stepped out the door, and he ignored the hand that reached for him as it shut with a "hiss" behind him.
"That was completely ridiculous." One of the grunts stated. They all started moving but Skye stayed firm. He quickly grabbed the grunt in front of him, the one that had hit Sarah. The grunt turned and found Skye staring at him with a face that told him he better listen closely. Skye dropped his hand but not his expression. He spoke clearly and firmly. "If you ever touch her again… I'll kill you."
The grunt blinked and watched Skye pass him. "She's a test subject you know."
Skye stopped and clenched his hands. "Your point?"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were falling for her."
"Simple way of putting it."
"Weak response. Answer."
"I don't answer to you."
He started walking again and kept walking, even as the grunt yelled out, "It's impossible! Face it before you do something stupid. She's going to die eventually."
Skye shunned the words and kept moving, not bothering to answer.
"Four thirty-five. I want…"
The man prattled on but Skye ignored him. He couldn't focus; his mind was on other things. It had been almost two months since he had seen Sarah, since he had been pulled out of testing. And despite his fathers promise, he found himself wishing that he had stayed. It didn't seem like anything was happening.
"One thousand will go into room… sixty-eight-"
Skye sat bolt upright and stared at the man. "What?"
The man paused. "One thousand to room sixty-eight."
"What? But that…" Skye stared at the floor, breathing deeply and unable to continue. "Where's my father? I need to talk to him now!" He rose, anger clearly displayed on his features.
The man wasn't dazed. He didn't say anything but he didn't have to. His father showed up behind the group. "Skye…" Skye spun, glaring at him. "I would like to talk to you privately."
Skye pushed his chair away and followed him out until they reached the room his father had chosen. They shut the door and he turned to Skye. "First off, do not refer to me as your father. They don't understand."
Skye ignored him. "Why is she going into that test?!"
"What test?"
"Room sixty-eight. I know what they do in there. You said you would help me, you promised. Why is she going into that test?" Skye's knuckles were completely white in the fists he held them in, though that wasn't a hard thing to do considering what he had been done to them in his test.
"It's a simple test. She'll be fine."
"What? B-But she can't live through that!"
"Of course she can! And if she can't, nothings been lost."
"I've been through tests like that. I would be fine. Let me switch with her."
"You're a grunt. We can't loose you."
"I'll be fine! She won't! You know she won't!"
"What do you want me to do about it?"
"Take her out!" Skye slammed his hands down on the table. "I know you can do it! Why aren't you helping me?! You promised me! You-"
His father copied his action and slammed his hand down, cutting him off. "Calm yourself!!! She'll make it out fine. I'm not going to complicate things if it isn't needed. Now, you will come, and you will not interfere. Do you understand?"
"Liar."
"Leave." Skye didn't move and he lowered his voice. "Now."
Skye ground his teeth and left, slamming the door behind himself.
A few days later he followed a couple grunts to room sixty-eight. He was supposed to be protecting her. He had promised her. They kept saying she would be fine, but Skye knew better. Her body was frail and weak. Despite the "reassurance" something told him that he should stop them. It wasn't right. His father didn't answer any questions on the subject. Why not?
When they got there Sarah was already in the room. There was a large glass tube she rested inside, and she looked slightly panicked, as if she had just been thrown in. The tube was empty but there grunts that stood by nearby computers as if they were waiting for something.
Skye thought it was weird that they were using something as old as a tube, but didn't say anything.
Skye joined the other few grunts near the wall and stood beside them. He felt funny he realized; tingly, as if he was waking up from some sleepy state he didn't know he had been in. It was almost the same as one of his tests had been.
He turned back to the tube and stared at Sarah; she caught his glance and stared back. Tears started to form in her eyes…
And all of a sudden his senses were swimming. He could barely think. His throat closed up, his hands started sweating, his heart started pounding, and his legs shook.
The grunt beside him looked at him strangely and then watched him run from beside him. "Skye, no!"
Skye ran to the cylinder case and paused just briefly. Arms wrapped around his but he shook them off, pushing both of them with enough force to send them to the floor.
In the balcony like area above them all, a man gasped. He stared at Skye in disbelief. "It worked…." Another grunt landed on the floor gasping in surprise and snapping him from his daze. "Send forty-six down. Shoot him, now."
Skye froze, reaching a hand up to his neck and touching it. His finger was layered lightly with blood. He grit his teeth. Whatever had hit him had seemed to absorb into his skin.
He shook his head, suddenly feeling very dizzy. Whatever he had been feeling was ebbing. "Sarah… Hold on. It's… It's gonna be alright."
Skye was pulled back harshly by two more grunts. He pulled but nothing happened. He felt almost completely exhausted. He felt a clamp on his wrist, which was then connected to the other one. They were like handcuffs but had no chain; they were simply fused on top of one another.
Skye could only watch as the cylinder glass was sealed. "No!" He tried to break away but the men around him, the metal bonds on his wrists, and the fact that he was still just barely a kid, kept him where he was. The feeling of control and whatever else it was had now gone.
Sarah sat quietly, completely aware that there was nothing she could do. The air in the cubicle seemed to be leaving as well.
Skye watched as her breaths became more lagged and then as she turned to face him with tears in her eyes.
"Let go." Skye growled. His voice was dangerous enough to make a couple of the grunts want to let go in spite of their advantages.
Then a face rose in front of Skye, effectively blocking his view Sarah. The face belonged to Domino, though a younger version of the one that exists through most of this story. She smiled pleasantly, the smile annoying Skye much more than a glare or even a smirk would have. But for a moment, though he didn't quite realize it, he had stopped struggling. And that was all the time she needed to lean forward and lay a graceful and kiss on his lips.
Sarah's soft hands, a reflection of her meek personality, clenched into tights fists beside her.
Finally Domino pulled back, leaving a wide-eyed, open-mouthed Skye. Domino kept the smile on her face and casually ordered Skye out with a wave of her hand.
Sarah forced herself to her knees and moved the part of the glass nearest them, before placing her hands flat on it, as though in an attempt to somehow reach him
Skye's thoughts seemed to have temporally halted, and as he was pulled from the room, he suddenly realized what he was allowing them to do. He looked over his shoulder just in time to see Sarah mouth one word and collapse. The door shut directly after. "No!" he yelled out. The word being the same one she had attempted to use.
Skye stopped. "She died." he whispered. She died because they wanted to see if their stupid experiment would work. They killed an innocent girl and poisoned me for a stupid experiment. I couldn't protect her . . . even with the Instinct."
"I don't understand." Keagan cut in suddenly.
Skye frowned. "The Instinct. During one of the tests they put it in my system, though I didn't know it. The Instinct is a drug if nothing else. It makes you strong and fast and well other things too. But only when you're protecting the one."
"The one?"
"Whichever one you choose. You choose a person to protect. Most of the time it's done subconsciously. I was in love with Sarah. It's only logical that I chose her. The person you choose you have almost an uncontrollable need to protect from everything. When the Instinct kicks in, it kind of takes over. You have everything you need to protect that person. Like some mothers can do amazing things to protect their children. It's something like that. But sometimes you're not entirely aware of what you're doing. You just have to protect that person. You'll do almost anything. It's almost like a dream." He paused. "Alexi had it used on her too if I remember correctly."
"Skye!" Alexi cried out as soon as he said the words.
"What you don't think they should know about it?"
Alexi looked away, biting her lip and Keagan followed the action, his eyes widening. "That's why you're always trying to protect me."
Alexi sighed. "It's a habit or something. I feel like I have to do it. It's too scary not to."
He smiled lightly. "Alexi? Thanks."
She turned to him in genuine surprise and then looked down a light smile spread over her cheeks which she tried t o hide with her hair by bowing her head. He kept his laugh in and grabbed her hand before he turned back to Skye.
"I can't believe my father made that."
"Yeah well, he did."
Ash stopped and turned seeing that Misty had stopped and had a slightly contemplative look on her face. "Misty?"
"Ash, do you remember the boy Makaila used to say would sit on the roof outside her window?"
Ash stared at her as it slowly clicked.
"She said that he was protecting her." Misty went on.
"You think-"
"Well, I admit it's farfetched, but isn't it possible? What if there really was a kid there?"
"I remember that." Drake whispered and Ash turned to him. "Makaila told me about him first when we little kids. Made me promise not to tell."
"And you didn't?" May asked.
Drake frowned. "We were just little kids. I thought that he was some sort of imaginary friend."
Ash began walking again. "Regardless, Makaila isn't safe. We need to focus on that right now."
Skye slowed and looked up pausing as he remembered what had happened with the rest of the story from the point he had been taken from Sarah. The part he hadn't told them and wasn't planning on telling them.
Skye was forced to his knees on a cold metal floor. He hardly struggled. Hardly thought about what they would do to him for the commotion he had caused. His only thought was that she was gone. Just like that. It shouldn't have come as a shock considering where they were, but somehow he had thought that she would be one of the lucky ones. That she and him would die together.
"Skye." It wasn't a question and there was no sympathy in the voice.
Skye's eyes were trained on the floor. He kept his head in the same position but rose his gaze to meet his father's.
Long blond hair was held behind his father's head and he stared at Skye with the most appalled expression.
Skye's eyes went back down to the floor. A blink in the middle. Still no movement of the head. This man didn't deserve the title "sir" that was expected, let alone the title "father".
"What do you want?" Skye asked barely above a whisper. No one would have realized that they were related.
"What were you thinking?" His father demanded harshly.
Skye clenched his teeth to keep himself from talking.
"What was it with this girl?" he asked. "Was it her looks or her section…?"
Skye shook his head in disbelief. Leave it to his father to think of something like that when the real reason was obvious.
"Oh." He said in sudden understanding. "You liked her." He put to much exaggeration in the word "liked" as if it weren't really true or was an abomination of some kind. Skye still said nothing so he went on. "You… loved her?" Still nothing. "Well…. Isn't that wonderful?" The man belted sarcastically. He turned around and walked to a small stand where he picked a glass of water and took a drink.
"Are you mad at me for what happened?" he turned around to look down at his still silent son. "Well?"
Skye bristled. Did he really expect an answer to that question? How was he supposed to answer it?
"You shouldn't be. You should have expected it. Allowing your self to fall in love with a test subject was a mistake."
The man started to walk away when he suddenly heard the first words from his son. "It wasn't."
"What?" he asked in confusion, turning back around.
"It wasn't a mistake." Skye said quietly, staring at the floor. "She died, but at least she had me there. At least she didn't die alone."
"And how does that help you?"
Skye finally looked up, staring strait into his father's eyes. "It wasn't about me."
He faltered for a moment, unsure how to answer, and Skye went on.
"And it's not always about you."
He laughed, sending Skye's nerves on end, and turned around. "Well isn't that sweet. The girl had five minutes of happiness as she died. Pure bliss." He turned around to meet his son's strong gaze. "Tell me something, do you think she was happy as she died? Do you really think that when she died she was thinking, 'Oh good. Skye's here. Now I'm happy to be dying.' Is that really what you think she was feeling?"
Skye clenched his teeth and stared at the floor again. The words stung because he was right. And the entire tone of the way his father talked was driving Skye crazy. He made it sound as though she was just another test subject. Skye faltered at his own thoughts. Where had that come from? Sarah would have scolded him had she known his thoughts. And she always seemed to be able to look right through him. She would have been able to figure it out. But if she hadn't died the thought wouldn't have come anyway.
"Keep him out of testing." His father ordered. "It was a mistake from the beginning. Besides…" he turned and met Skye's gaze. "…a protector will make a fine grunt."
Skye's eyes widened, shock running though all the corners of his mind only to be quickly replaced with anger.
They were using him.
He jumped to his feet with a growl only to fall back to his knees when someone pressed a button, sending innumerable amounts of electricity running from his wrists to the rest of his limbs.
It continued until the strength of Skye's legs left altogether and he fell onto his side. Even then it kept on going.
When the pain finally stopped Skye was in no position to argue with the arms that pulled him from the room. With the last vestiges of his strength, Skye yelled at his father in a way he had never dared to before.
The man turned, surprised with his son's words as he was pulled from the room.
"I hate you!" And then, when he knew that his father was looking, he yelled it again, making sure that the words were engrained in his father's features.
Skye made one last feeble attempt to get away as he was pulled down the hall. No more than slight pull of his arms and legs. He was too weak to do anymore. Another jolt and he stopped struggling completely.
They led him back to "his room". Previously he had been in a room that resembled not so much as a metal box with a door. This one was a little bit more presentable, but only because they were taking him out of tests. He wanted to back to his little metal box. Maybe she was still alive. And if she was alive, that was where she would be taken. Even then, just to be where she had been.
The cuffs were removed and the grunts left quickly.
Skye watched them leave and then looked around the new room. He scowled and walked to the shelves with the line of identical clothing, pulling all of the clothes onto the floor. Next the single circular table was toppled to the floor. He let out a scream of frustration and fell to his knees, tears leaking from his eyes. She couldn't be dead. Maybe she had only passed out; maybe there was still hope. But no, his father had confirmed it. He ground his teeth. His father.
Skye was a protector and he didn't even know it. They had never even told him. His father had let them experiment on him. It had worked, he had chosen Sarah and he hadn't realized it, but it explained the strange reactions in his body as he watched her die. It explained his strength as he fought the grunts, it explained why the feelings had began to ebb so quickly and why all of it had stopped when Domino kissed him.
They had used him. They had made sure he was in the room as she died just to see what he would do, with no regard to the effect it would have on him and Sarah. They didn't even care that they had killed her because the test was a success. And that was all that mattered to them.
He felt angry, angrier than he had ever felt in his life. He realized that part of it was because of the "Instinct" test and tried his best to calm. They didn't care about anyone or anything, and now she was dead. It would have hurt already, but the fact that he was her protector caused his heart to hurt so much more, to the point he felt it was being ripped from his chest.
It seemed as if, for a moment, he had had a reason. A reason to keep going and put up with his life. A reason to hold onto the life that caused him pain every moment of every day. And now she was gone.
He breathed deeply to calm himself. He had never believed in any sort of higher power, mostly because he had never had the chance to learn anything about anything of that sort. But now he found him self thinking that there had to be a way. She couldn't just not exist all of a sudden. His fists unclenched. Life here had been beyond hell for her. Maybe now she was happy, maybe she could finally take the time to rest. He didn't realize that he was still crying until he opened his eyes and saw the droplets hitting the floor. But these tears didn't push their way out, they fell and left almost a soothing feeling behind in his otherwise aching heart. He raised his head and looked around the room, as if she were there somewhere above him and could still see him. The thought calmed him more than anything else could. Maybe she was gone, but maybe she wasn't. Maybe she was happy. He didn't know either way so he made a quick decision: believe what was stuffed down his throat, or decide for himself. She was there. She had to be somewhere. People didn't just cease to exist. The smallest smile formed on his face despite the pain he felt. Maybe she could hear him. He wouldn't know what to say to her after he had let them kill her, so he whispered the only thing he could think to say. "Sarah… I'm sorry."
And he cried again.
END FLASHBACK
"Skye." Alexi whispered.
Skye jumped. Alexi had taken over when he had dazed out, and they had finally arrived.
"Is this it? Is she in there?" Ash asked her.
Alexi nodded. "She should be. If not, then I'm not sure where else we could go."
Ash nodded. "I'll go. The rest of you stay here."
"What?! Ash, why?" Misty asked.
Ash turned and smiled lightly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Makaila's already in there. I don't need you in there too."
"Ash-"
"I'll be fine. If I need you you'll know. But if I don't, I'd rather not involve you. Ok?"
"Ash! That's ridiculous. There's no way that you can do it by yourself. We're all going. We'll all be fine."
Ash sighed and moved closer to the edge of the doorway.
"We've got to make this quick." Casey said quietly.
"Wh-Why? What's going on?" came Eitan's confused question.
"Nothing,! Just don't let go of the girl." Annoyance was clear and so Eitan stopped asking questions.
"Uh, y-yes…sir."
Ash sighed and turned back to the others. "Alright. Together then?"
All he got was a whole bunch of nods, and so he stepped out of hiding and took the rest with him. He led them strait to one of the only things standing between him and his daughter.