Chapter 10

“Maya,” Seth said reaching out for me.

“Seth,” I said then he started to spasm, “Dr. Peck, what did you do to him?”

“What needed to be done,” he came over to me as I watched Seth writhe in pain, “Your turn.”

“Seth,” I tried to get free of the restraints holding me down.

“Maya,” he cried out, “It hurts so much.”

“You're a monster,” I yelled at his father, “How could you do that to your own son?”

 

“I'm sorry, Maya,” Dr. Peck said then shot the death serum into my arm. I felt the pain of it again then I saw Seth get another shot through blurry eyes.

“Maya,” he yelled again.

“Don't let them beat you, Seth,” I said then looked at Morrison, “You're going to lose no matter what, Morrison.”

“We'll see,” he said then I saw him standing in front of Seth.

 

“What is my mission, sir?” Seth asked him.

“I want you to bring back two of those afflicted children to me,” Morrison ordered.

“Which ones do you require?” Seth replied.

“I want Maya Garnet,” he put his hand on Seth's shoulder, “I also want your girl, Eva Keller I have a source who told me that she is with child.”

“I will do as you ask, Dr. Morrison,” Seth agreed, “I do wish to see Eva again, she would be a valuable ally.”

 

“Very good,” Morrison said.

“Let's go,” Seth headed out of the room with men following behind them, “We need two of the females, anyone who gets in the way will be knocked out or if need be killed.”

“Yes, Adams,” they answered in unison. My eyes shot open and I sat up trying to keep the tears from falling down my face. Seth should have been the one to survive the death serum, I didn't know how to change him back now and I would break Eva's heart if I didn't do it.

 

“Maya,” Eva said and I peered over to see her watching me.

“Sorry bad dream,” I ran a hand through my hair.

“I had a nightmare about Seth too, I love him, but right now he scares me too,” she climbed off the bed trying not to wake Nora, “You know Nora and I could have taken the floor.”

“No, you need as much rest as you can get,” I climbed out of the sleeping bag and Darren groaned in his sleep reaching out for me.

 

“I'll sleep better once he's here,” she sat with me, “I saw him while we were looking for you, Maya he was like a machine he knew who I was, but he didn't seem attached at all.”

“He still wants you,” I assured her, “But until he's back to himself, you have to stay strong and resist temptation.”

“Morrison called him his greatest weapon,” she leaned against me, “Between me loving him and you being his friend, I guess he's right.”

 

“Eva,” I muttered, “I saw how it happened, we were in the same room.”

“What?” she looked over at me.

“They told us they could only save one of us and Dr. Morrison told Peck to give his son the death serum,” I bit my lip.

“He had the death serum,” she frowned.

“No, Peck switched them, he gave Seth the controller serum and I thought he was dying,” I brought my knees up to my chin, “He kept calling out to me then Peck injected the death serum and I couldn't fight the restraints, I couldn't save my best friend from the pain he had to endure, I am so sorry Eva.”

“It's not your fault,” she told me, “You had no control over it.”

 

“If Peck gave me the controller serum, I could have fought it and Seth would have survived the death serum,” I shook my head, “I should have been the one being punished, not him.”

 

“Garnet,” Darren sat up, “Don't you dare say that.”

“Dare, no more speeches,” I muttered, “I don't want to hear how important I am to the cause or how special I am because it feels like a lie.”

“May, he's right you cannot say you aren't important to us, me, Nora, Darren and Seth especially,” Eva told me as Darren got up.

“I hate being the centre of this, I am not that powerful,” I rubbed my head, “I try to help, but they expect me to see everything and sometimes I wish I didn't have these abilities.”

 

“You're helping those boys though,” she argued, “You know how proud Seth will of you for doing this, I cannot believe you can think losing your abilities is a good idea.”

“I don't know what I am doing, I just feel lost since I came back and I cannot figure things out and I do not know if I can stay stable,” I said frustrated.

“That makes two of us,” Darren replied and I looked over to see he was drinking out a flask.

“Where did you get that?” I got up.

“Kelley left it here,” he answered, “She promotes bad habits.”

 

“Why are you drinking? You said you would stop,” I walked over and slapped the flask out of his hand.

“Who are you?” he turned on me, “You're a ghost of Maya, she would never act this way.”

“I am not allowed to be weak now,” I snapped.

“You can be weak or strong, but right now you're not feeling anything, are you for me or anyone else?” he retorted, “You help out people and teach them this stuff because you aren't sure how much longer you'll be around, you want to go to paradise like my damn parents.”

“Darren, calm down,” Nora hopped off the bed, “Maya is not like mom and dad.”

 

“I might want paradise,” I said seriously, “But I want it here in our city and I do not need you to tell me what I am or what I want.”

“Why can't you cry? Why is it impossible for you to understand that you could mean something to any of us other than being a weapon?” he demanded, “That's what this is about isn't it? You traded one side for the other and now you want to be out of the game.”

“I don't cry because if I started I wouldn't stop and I am a weapon, Darren,” I explained, “People are going to die because you guys won't hand me over, I won't pull the trigger, but it will be my fault just like when my parents died.”

 

“You did not kill them,” he snapped, “I could never love the kind of creature that could kill her family.” “I know you didn't and I am not saying this as your boyfriend,” he told me, “I am saying it as a fact, you did not kill your parents.”

“Well I didn't save them either, I had the visions already if I focused I could have done something,” I rambled.

“May, you were six,” Nora reminded me.

“I could have told them I saw men in the house at night, but I thought it was just a bad dream,” I sat down on the bed, “You can hate that I am a ghost, Darren, but I am not one.” “I can cry, I can laugh, but it just hurts too much with all that has happened,” I felt my eyes tear up anyways, “I'll just fall to pieces if I do.”

 

“You always say that emotions are part of being human,” Darren sat down next to me, “And Garnet, not everything that happens is your fault, your powers are not limitless.”

“He's right,” Eva put her hand on her belly, “We all have to accept what we are and fight to stay that way because otherwise we'll lose a part of who we are.”

“Are you saying you'd be okay with the baby being afflicted?” I questioned.

“If he's as strong as you then I think he'll be able to do amazing things and I won't be ashamed of him,” she told me, “Because he's my baby and Seth's.”

“So you're hoping for a boy,” I asked.

“Yes,” she smiled.

 

“Don't wish for that, guys are not that bright,” I joked and Darren elbowed me, “Hey I am still helping, Price so watch it or I'll hit you back.”

“That's better, Garnet I knew you were in there somewhere I just needed to get you out again,” he wrapped his arms around me.

“Egotistical as ever,” I rolled my eyes, “I think I'll be even better once Seth arrives, finally a good looking guy in this camp.”

 

“Hey, he's taken,” Eva insisted.

“My brother has his moments,” Nora messed up his hair, “I hope Seth isn't too out of control when we try change him back.”

“We may need to restrain him if his fighting skills have improved dramatically in the last month,” Darren snorted, “Just make sure not to fall for any tricks, Keller.”

“I'll try,” Eva bit her lip, “What time is he supposed to get here?”

“Around noon,” Darren shrugged.

 

“I should be with the people welcoming them into the camp,” she said excitedly.

“No,” I said automatically, “Eva, I think you should get some rest and something to eat.”

“But Seth...” she began.

“Would agree with me,” I finished.

“I need to see him, May,” she persisted.

“You will soon,” I promised her then Darren grabbed my arm and guided me out of the tent, “Before you start asking questions, can I speak first.”

 

“What is it now?” he demanded.

“Are you going to listen or just start an argument?” I challenged.

“I'll listen,” he mumbled.

“Seth is with the 'peace makers' to grab me and Eva to bring us back to the city,” I informed him, “Eva and I can't be there when you bring him in so you will have to capture him with some help from other guardians.”

 

“You're going to let me take point,” he raised an eyebrow.

“Eva won't stay away unless I distract her,” I said quietly, “You'll need to sedate Seth then come get us once he's in restraints.”

“Will it be hard for you seeing him again?” he asked. I nodded with a stray tear falling down my cheek. “You'll have me,” he embraced me.

“Nora and Eva will be there too,” I reminded him.

 

“I might need to physically hit Seth; are you alright with that?” he asked seriously.

“I guess so, but don't do it out of spite, I am not interested in him the Eva is and he isn't interested in me either,” I got on my toes to kiss him, “I also want you to know the lying has to stop.”

“Oh really,” he pecked my lips, “What brought on this change of heart?”

 

“I am going to need everyone's help with these visions and I want to be someone you can trust again,” I commented, “My reasons for not telling you seem silly now and I need to handle things better now I am seventeen, I need to face my issues.”

“I won't lie to you either,” he answered, “We should be honest with each other.”

“And maybe we can go out on that second date after Seth is under control,” I suggested.

“Sounds good,” he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

 

“Price,” Rogers came over, “Adams and his team haven't arrived yet and Morrison says they may run later than they expected.”

“They really need to keep their promises,” I remarked, “Thanks Rogers.”

“Price, you should come take guard with the rest of the guardians,” Rogers said.

“I'll be back later tonight,” Darren kissed me once more, “With Seth Adams.”