Chapter 4

I fell asleep at some point and I woke up to a flashlight in my eyes. “Garnet,” the guy said as I opened my eyes.

“Yeah, what?” I squinted at him.

“Welcome home,” he said then climbed off the Jeep and I looked forward to see an external bunker with hundreds of fireplaces around it. It was freezing cold and the thin white dress I was wearing was ripped, stained and still felt damp for some reason. I wrapped my arms around myself and Eva stopped snoring.

 

“I'm up what did I miss?” she yawned.

“The entrance,” Sara climbed out, “the tents are behind the building, Maya Darren and the leaders will want to see you right away.”

“Okay,” I got out with Eva right behind me. Caroline and Eliot walked off hand in hand and Max came to Eva's side.

 

“Should I run ahead and tell them?” he offered.

“Go ahead,” Eva agreed then it was just me, her and Sara. “Max is being nice, but every time he flirts with me I think about Seth,” she said sadly.

 

“Someone has spotted you,” Sara grinned and I saw a dark haired girl run right through a tent. As she threw herself into my arms, I laughed.

“Maya,” Nora held onto me for dear life, “I never thought I'd see you again, I thought I'd lost a sister.”

“I'm alive, Nora I am here,” I hugged her and kissed her head, “You're not alone in this.”

“Never do anything like that again,” she warned me, “My brother and I are not equipped to look out for ourselves anymore, you spoiled us too much.”

“I missed you,” I chuckled.

“I know Darren said something nasty on the phone, but he's just in a permanent bad mood,” she apologized.

“Nothing has changed then,” I sighed then she took my hand and dragged me through the tents. Eva stayed with us, but Sara ran into some friends and separated from us. When we got to the biggest tent, I let Eva and Nora climb in first then I followed quickly.

 

“Maya,” Rogers nodded to me.

“My dear girl,” Dr. Hunter came rushing over throwing his cane aside and squeezed my shoulders, “It's good to have you back.”

“Good to be back,” I smiled then looked around. I saw Jamieson and Jeremiah talking over in the corner, but their last member wasn't here. “Jeremiah,” I called and he turned to grin at me.

 

“If it isn't the toughest of you all,” he picked me up and spun me around, “How are you doing kid?”

“Kid, you are only three years older,” I snorted then Jamieson joined us, “Dr. Jamieson, it's good seeing you again.”

“Your strength lights up the whole campsite, Maya,” he took my hands, “Everyone was thrilled to hear you were coming home.”

“Not everyone,” I muttered then I heard the tent door open and I turned to see Darren Price walk in. His dark hair wild and untamed and his blue eyes looked into mine with an intensity unparalleled by any. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and I held back my tears.

 

“Price, you made it,” Rogers slapped him on the back, “We were just welcoming back a friend of yours.”

“I know,” Darren's eyes never left mine.

 

“So Miss. Garnet I don't want to throw questions at you right away, but have you had any more visions?” Jamieson asked, but I couldn't speak.

“Maya,” Nora elbowed me and Darren's eyes left mine to look at her.

“I did see a few things while I was out,” I turned around. “There is some way of making people like Seth and Jemma return to their original selves, I saw Seth for sure become who he was again.”

“He did,” Eva sounded so relieved.

 

“Yes and we need to slowly surround the city and started sneaking in to gather followers,” I looked at Rogers, “How many guardians do you think there are right now?”

“About a hundred and twenty,” Darren answered for him.

“Right,” I turned to Hunter, “You and Jamieson are the best at explaining things, but you'll have to teach some of the afflicted kids the story because you two would be in too much danger in the city.”

“You would be the expert on putting yourself in dangerous situations,” Darren commented and I cleared my throat.

“One thing I know for sure is that I am back and I am not going anywhere if we can prove that to the people then they might regain some hope,” I suggested.

 

“You have brought good news,” Hunter said, “You should go rest now though, you must be exhausted.”

“I've done a lot of sleeping lately,” I said even though my eyelids were already drooping.

“I'll take her to a tent,” Darren announced.

“No, I'll go with Eva,” I took her arm and we hurried outside.

 

“He hasn't seen you in over a month, Maya,” Eva stopped me once we were a few tents away.

“I need to talk to you about something in private,” I whipped around, “I need you to be honest with me.”

“What is it?” she asked confused, “Is it about Darren? He hasn't slept with any other girls.”

“That night Darren tricked me into drinking night time cough syrup, did you and Seth leave at any point to do something?” I questioned then she looked down at the ground, “Eve.”

“I never thought this would happen, Maya,” she covered her mouth, “He's one of those monsters and I don't know if I can have a baby with his big brown eyes, I can't...”

 

“Eva,” I hugged her, “Don't worry I'll help you, I won't leave you alone, but I will find out how to get him back because I know he loves you back, he would never have done that if he didn't.”

“I miss him,” she said and then crumbled to the ground, “Oh my god what's wrong with me?”

“You're bound to be emotional,” I sat down in front of her, “I know there is some kind of legend about afflicted girls not polluting another generation, but we both know that's bullshit right.”

 

“I am going to start showing soon,” she said quietly, “I am going to need all the support I can get.”

“You'll have it,” I promised.

“Eva, what's wrong?” Nora joined us.

“She's just overtired, Nora can you take her back to her tent?” I asked her.

“Sure, you should go find Darren he's probably looking for you,” she said giving me a look.

 

“I know,” I started off back towards the tent then an arm wrapped around mine and started dragging me in the opposite direction. “Hey,” I started to say then saw who it was. I stayed quiet until he closed his tent door behind us. “Was that necessary? Do you need to act like I am a kid who ran away from home and had to be dragged back?” I snapped.

 

“You acted childishly so that's how I'll treat it,” Darren retorted, “Do you have any idea how lucky you are to still be alive?”

“Do you have any idea how hard it was to come back? I was sure I was dead and I saw one of my best friends get shot in the head and I saw Seth get turned into one of those things,” I said angrily, “I fought it because of you, Nora, Eva and all the people that needed my help.”

“Where were we in your mind when you decided to give yourself up, Garnet?” he asked, “Did you even think about us?”

“I told you before, it would be better if I didn't exist,” I told him, “I wanted to protect all of your futures by keeping them secret.” “I thought about you guys every second and when I saw the future before I woke up,” I was lost for words momentarily, “You were drinking, Nora was lost and Seth was shooting down our friends, I know that I shouldn't have done what I did.” “I did it for the greater good though,” I crossed my arms.

 

“Greater good, you sound like Morrison, Garnet,” he growled.

“I thought you would all move on,” I closed my eyes, “Maybe you would have if I'd stayed where I was.”

“You aren't leaving this tent again unless I am with you,” he informed me, “You're seventeen years old and obviously you cannot be trusted to make decisions for yourself.”

“You are not my brother or my father,” I shouted back at him, “You were my boyfriend and while we are talking about bad decision making, I see your pile of empty bottles stashed in the corner.”

“I told you Maya I am not good with pain,” he grabbed a half full bottle, “My parents went to paradise and you were gone, I tried to stay sane for Nora, but seeing how depressed she was, didn't help.”

 

“You are her guardian,” I slapped the bottle out of his hand, “You were supposed to look for everyone, keep your mind preoccupied with that.”

“I wasn't in your little plan,” he grabbed my arm, “How long was it going on Maya? How long did you know you were going to sacrifice yourself 'for the greater good'?”

“Since you got taken away the first time,” I answered, “I knew you would talk me out of it and I couldn't let that happen.”

“Well when you came back, why did you go back to Morrison then?” he questioned.

 

“Are you calling me a traitor? I got caught by my brother when I was trying to get some food for you guys,” I explained.

“We have plenty of food, Maya we needed you,” he argued.

“I don't mean to sound selfish, but I hadn't eaten or drunk anything in a month I never would have made it all the way here without food and water,” I replied.

“Well you should have found a phone after you feed yourself and called me,” he said annoyed, “You weren't ready to come back, were you?”

“I knew you won't understand this,” I turned around, “I loved you, it hurt so much when I was in that lab and I couldn't apologize or do anything except fight that serum.” “I am not asking for forgiveness now, I am sorry that we didn't plan ahead I never should have told you how I felt it only made the pain worse,” I brushed away a tear, “I know now that I cannot let you get that attached.”

“You cannot dictate my life, Maya,” he argued.

“You're trying to dictate mine,” I replied.

“I am asking you to stay put for awhile,” he said, “You're asking me to take back everything I said to you and move on.”

“You have to start dating,” I turned to look at him again, “I don't mean meaningless sex and flings, you have to look around for the right girl.”

 

“No,” he answered, “You may want that, but I know you're scared right now and I am not leaving you alone.”

“I am not scared,” I retorted, “You're just cowering from life because you think you love me.”

“I don't think I love you,” he grabbed my wrists.

“Let go,” I said slowly.

“Again, I cannot do that,” he countered, “You are not going to pull away either, I do know you.”

 

“Stop it now,” I ordered.

“Why are you so afraid of being with me?” he demanded.

“I won't let you take risks for me,” I told him, “We're both soldiers, this is a mission and I cannot be attached.”

“Still so stubborn,” he pulled me into him and before I could respond, his lips crashed into mine.