29 Heading off to the opposite side (2/2)
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*CLAIN'S POV*
”Wait, wait, wait,” I said, putting up one hand to silence Roderick or whoever he is. ”You are Roderick? The Roderick? As in Sarah's right-hand man?” I ask. Earlier when he knocked on my door and told me that he knew Stewart is staying inside, I was so nervous that I might have pissed on the spot. Thank gods I didn't, because that would be so embarrassing and unmanly. I let him in when he said he can offer us the help that we need. At that moment I didn't have much of a choice. So that's how we end up sitting around my dining table, all three of us cramming around it.
”Yes.” He answers curtly.
”Ohmyghad.” I breathe out. ”You certainly don't look like him. I remember him.”
”That was years ago. I'm getting older.” He said that as a matter-of-fact.
”Okay,” I drawl out, still warily watching over him because we can't trust him especially since he was once Sarah's right hand. ”How can we trust you?”
He sighs heavily as if he's been hearing this question all the time. Maybe he does. ”I don't need you to trust me. I just need you to believe in me.”
”Believe in you?” Stew said. His eyes turning into slits as he studies the man.
”Yes. I know you have your memories back now and that you two are planning to go to the south.” We turn rigid instantly. ”But you don't have to. The other 6 will be here three days starting from tomorrow.”
”How do you know?” Stew said. I kept my mouth shut and let Stew do all the talking because honestly, we both know that I am not a good talker.
”It doesn't matter how I know. The only thing that matters is what I will tell you after your friends arrive. I'll give you this,” he reaches inside his pocket to pull out a small device that is close to a cellphone. But it's so tiny that it can be mistaken as normal remote control.
”What is that?” I ask as Stew get it from Roderick's grasp. I mean, snatch it. He snatches it from Roderick's grasp.
”That is a device that sends signals directly to my phone. You click the red button and it will automatically send a signal to me.”
”Signal for what?” Stew said just as I mutter cool. He looks at me and I avoid it then I cough in an attempt to cover my nonsense sputter.
”Signal that you and your friends have arrived here safely inside this house. It doesn't matter if you raise suspicions or what. What matters is that all of the 8 Gammas are complete, no one should be missing.” He rests his chin on his clasp knuckles. ”3 days starting from tomorrow, I want the two of you to go to the border. Tell the patrols that you'll be patrolling that day. And that you are under my supervision. I want you to watch the south side of the border, that particularly. Stay alert for any sign of movements and any sign of human appearing.”
”You're missing something here. I can't go with him.” Stew said, giving the remote back to Roderick but Roderick push it to him again. He's right, he is an exile. A wanted exile for that matter.
”Don't worry about it. Here,” He pulls out an ID inside his back pocket and holds it out for us to see. ”This is your identification card. You are now registered as a warrior and not an exile. I've also deleted all the files that make you a wanted criminal. And don't worry about hiding your identity to them. You need not walk around wearing that hoodie. I assure you that they will not recognize you.” His voice is calm enough that I almost believe him. Almost.
”Why do you want us to patrol that certain side?” I ask in a curious tone.
”Because that where your friend is coming from. You need to be alert to any kind of movements or the rustle of leaves because they will be under the influence of invisibility.” He said these things as if he's lecturing us and we're his students.
”How do you know all of this?” Stew asks. His tone turning to accuse.
”I told you it doesn't matter how. And I don't need you to trust me, I just need you to believe in what I will say.”
”And that is because?” I ask.
”Because I have done enough wrong things in my life and it is now time to redeem myself.”
We were silent after that. Just having a little staring contest and all. And then Roderick broke it out by spouting nonsense again. ”Show me around the house. It is time to tighten your security system.”
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*REBECCA'S POV*
Someone is knocking on the door and I hear Nate groan beside me, steering a little, his arm tightening around me. My lips have a ghost smile on it as I remember the night before. He made me feel the things that I have longed to feel these past few years of my life. And I did the same thing to him. We made up for the lost time and--if--for the future time that will be lost.
”Wake up, love birds,” A very familiar and unwelcome voice said, sounding so close and clear. My eyes part in shock and I let out a loud yelp when I found the door in my room wide open and Riley was standing there, leaning with her back in the frame of my doorway. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she's smirking at us. Nate jostles awake and as if acting on instinct he immediately covered my body with his as I buried my head in his chest in mortification.
”What the hell Riley? Really?” There's no sleepiness in his voice but he's not angry only irritated. I peek through his shoulder and find Riley rolling her eyes at us. I can't believe I'm friends with her.
”Yes. Really. It's time. We've gotta move.” Nate and I turn rigid with tension. Our arms are secured around each other, our breathing turned ragged. Our dreaded day had come and we can do nothing about it. Nathaniel was the first to recover.
”Alright. We'll come around. You can go now.” The irritation in his voice is gone, replaced by trepidation and Riley felt that too because her face fell and she wordlessly leaves us, closing the door gently behind her.
I let out a heavy breath, furrowing deeper into Nathaniel's warmth. His body relaxes with mine and we let ourselves enjoy the last few minutes of tranquility before eventually moving to take a bath. Together we bathe, letting our fret and anxiety be washed away by water even though the moment is fleeting.
Once we're done, we walked out of my room--hand in hand--and joined everyone in the space area where Haida with the team leaders and the rest of my friends are already waiting for us, their duffle bags slung on their shoulders. We all share weak smiles at each other. There are two military jeeps park in front of us and there are boxes inside too. ”Mica here told me the best way and the fastest way for you to cross the border,” Haida speaks.
I know exactly what she's talking about so I nod. We all head inside the jeeps and we set our duffel bags inside the boxes, ensuring that our weapons are with us and not inside those bags. We were divided into two groups because we can't cram up inside one jeep with all the boxes. I've recognized the two people in front of the jeeps as the hunter's assassin/warriors-in-disguise. They are the people who bring news from inside the walls. They've got fake IDs. All I am praying is that we passed the gates without complications and that we made it safely across the border.