Chapter 21

Beca's POV

My whole body hurts. It's no longer only when I get stressed and now a never ending ache traveling throughout my body. It's been a week now since we arrived at my parents house and I feel as though we're no closer to a plan than we were before. The only solution that I can think of is getting those files. Darren has several contacts in the news business so if I can get copies of the files, he could have them released. It might not stop the war but at least it would make people aware of what's coming. Maybe they would choose not to participate because we sure as hell won't.

The only thing that stops me from taking off in the middle of the night is Chloe. I let my eyes drift to where she stands, helping my mom cook. Wow. I never thought I'd be able to say that my girlfriend, my mate, is cooking with my mom. Not to mention my father who is sitting next to me, emailing all his allies about what's going on. Our current plan is to convince as many people as we can that there's a war brewing which is a lot harder than you'd expect.

"Babe, what do you think of this?" Chloe asks, coming up to me with a spoon. I try the sauce that's on it and smile. It's pure heaven and I tell her as much. She blushes and rushes back over to the pan. A hand on my shoulder makes me turn away from Chloe and to Darren.

"I know what you're thinking," he says in a low voice and I frown. "Everything we're doing is going so slow when it feels like we should be rushing. The idea of war is scary but the idea of losing the ones we love from making rash decisions is worse."

"Maybe it's a little insane to run in there and grab the files from the place that's run by the man who hates my guts, but what else can we do? This war is going to happen if we don't do more to stop it. No offense but emailing friends isn't going to help."

"It will help more than you think," Darren states, turning back to his computer. He whispers again, almost too low for me to hear. "It's okay to have help sometimes, especially from the ones who love you the most."

I look back at Chloe right as she bursts into a fit of laughter. My heart beats faster and for a minute, my pain is forgotten. How did I get so lucky? Maybe Darren is right. I can't do this by myself. Chloe got upset when I was going to grab those files by myself and maybe it was just that. I was going to do it by myself. If I asked her to go with me, would she be down for it? We have to get those files one way or another. Going by myself would hurt her enough that I might lose her. Going with her might be too dangerous and I still might lose her. It's better though to take a risk like that with her by my side.

Clearing my throat, I stand up. ""Hey guys. I have a plan."

"Are you flipping insane?" Chloe shouts, dinner long forgotten. "You want us to go to the NLSH and sneak in to get the files. Oh hang on, that's not quite right. You want me to wait outside while you sneak in and get the files. How is that any better than the first time you had this idea?"

"We have to do something!" My voice comes out surprisingly loud and startles Chloe, making me instantly regret it. "Chlo, I can't just sit here and hope we can convince people of this. What happens when it's one of us in those files? Hell, it already has happened. John worked with you every day. It kills me to think that if you had happened to be in that alleyway, if he dragged you along to do whatever he was doing there, I would've been investigating your death." My voice breaks and I can't help as a tear rolls down my face. Chloe's face is already covered in them and she nods.

"Okay." She says it so quietly I almost miss it. Her eyes meet mine, bright and eager. "If you think that this will work, that you can get in and get out without getting hurt, I'm all for it."

"I can't promise that nothing bad won't happen but I can promise that I will get to those files, one way or the other."

"Girls, are you sure this is the way to go?" My mom asks, gripping the edge of the table. Swallowing the bile that's quickly rising in my throat, I nod.

"This is the only way."

The next morning, Chloe and I get ready to leave. My parents went to pull a car that they're letting us use around to the front, allowing Chloe and I to have a moment. After our discussion last night, we all ate dinner and went to bed. Neither Chloe nor I spoke, we just held each other trying not to think too much about what we have to do.

"I shouldn't be this scared to go grab some files, especially since Reed probably thinks I'm oblivious to his plan, but I'm terrified."

"Me too," Chloe breathes out, coming to wrap her arms around me. "But I thought about it last night. We really can't just sit here, hoping that this will just blow over with a couple of phone calls and emails. If they don't think that we're making the connections to these murders, what's to say they won't kill someone closer to home."

"That's my fear. I would love to build this house by the pond right now and just live in blissful ignorance forever, but we're not the only mates in this world. There are others out there, in love like us, who have no idea of what might happen."

"I know. I love you." The constant pounding in my head ceases a little bit at her words and I smile.

"I love you too." Not knowing how many more times we'll get to do this, I kiss Chloe softly, savoring it.

Though the door is open, my mom knocks on it. "Sorry to interrupt, but the car's ready."

Sighing, Chloe and I grab our stuff and head downstairs. Once our things are loaded up, I turn toward Darren, my dad. Chloe is hugging my mom.

"Are you sure we can't come?" Darren pleads and I can't help but smile at the worry in his voice.

"If my dad saw you, he would recognize you and kill you on site and as of right now, he believes Mom is dead. I'd rather keep it that way."

"Look, I know we haven't known each other long and I really hope when this is over, we can get to know each other more. I'm proud to be able to call you my daughter. I love you." Great way to make me cry.

"I love you too," I say, hugging him. Both of us are sniffling, trying to hold our tears back. We can't say goodbye like this. Like it's the last time we'll see each other. Once we're done hugging, I move over to my mom, allowing Chloe to say goodbye to Darren.

"Beca, I lost you once. I couldn't stand to lose you again so please come back."

"Of course Mom." We hug each other, not letting go for a long time. Eventually though, it's time to leave so we say our last I love you's before getting into the car. Time to go steal some files.

"What do you think is going to happen, once these files are released to the public?" Chloe asks as we get closer to the NLSH. My stomach churns, threatening to empty all of its contents. The closer we get to our destination, the worse it gets. Chloe's hand holding mine is the only thing keeping me going.

"Hopefully, it will draw out The Old Ones. Get them to show their faces somehow so we can arrest them. If that doesn't work, at least the public will know what's going on. No one will participate in the war then. I hope not anyway."

"It's crazy to think that just a few files could potentially have such a big impact. Do you think Reed will let you leave the NLSH after all this?"

"I have a suspicion that something in these files will shed light on Red's part in all this. With him so bent on me covering up these murders and then locking me out of the system, there's no way he's not a part of this."

Chloe's hand squeezes mine in silent comfort. We both go silent as the NLSH building comes into view. This is it. All I have to do is go in, grab the files and then get out. Easy peasy. As if. I drive up to the gate and show my badge to the guard, who lets me through. The gate opens and as I drive through, I glance in the mirror at the guard. My heart thumps when I see him say something into his walkie. He's letting Reed know I'm here. Should I turn around or would that look too suspicious? No, we're already here so I'm doing what I need to do.

"Wow, I've never seen this place up close," Chloe says, in horrified amazement.

"It's as big as the egos of those who built it." I pull the car into the underground parking lot as always and go to my normal spot. For a second, Chloe and I sit in silence for a minute.

"Come back to me, okay?" As if she had to ask that. Shaking my head, I kiss her before getting out. She rolls the window down, stopping me before I can go in.

"I love you."

Again with the last goodbyes. "I love you too." Making my way to the elevator, I don't dare look back for fear that I'll abandon the mission. The pit in my stomach makes each step heavier and heavier. Stepping onto the elevator, I take one last glance at my beautiful mate before the doors close.