Chapter 13

It was snowing outside again. I kept twisting and untwisting my hair trying to calm myself. I didn't know how long this storm might be though and Darren had been out in it for three days. I knew it must be slowing down the soldiers too, but I still didn't like it. I was on the top floor of the three-story station and Seth was the only one in the room with me right now. He was being silent for the moment so I had time to think. I knew Darren was frustrated about the situation with Kelley, but I didn't know what he expected me to do when she already knew. I guess I could knock her out and chain her up too, but that didn't seem humane.

 

I was chewing on my nails when Seth finally spoke. “What are you so nervous about, Maya?” he asked.

“You sound like Seth,” I turned around, “Are you playing tricks with me?”

“I don't play games anymore, I don't want you for myself I want you for the cause,” he told me, “Eva is the one I desire.”

“I thought emotions and desires went away with the controller serum,” I crossed my arms.

 

“I have memories of emotions for her,” he explained, “Like the time I was with her in the broom closet, where we conceived the child.”

“Whoa, I don't want to hear about it,” I warned him, “You know Seth always said Darren was the one who couldn't wait, but Eva is pregnant and Darren hasn't tried anything like that.”

“You would like to believe he doesn't think of you like that, but soldiers like feisty girls and they only ever want them for that one reason,” he informed me, “Seth had affections for Eva because he was weak and too emotional.”

“He loved Eva, he would have done anything for her,” I argued.

 

“You are overestimating him,” he commented, “He was afraid of him still deep down.”

“We all are, Seth knows that and I know he's still in there,” I sat on a chair in front of him, “I will get Seth back whoever you are it isn't really him.”

“I am another version of him,” he insisted.

“You're not him, I know Seth and he never would have told Eva he only was staying with her for babies,” I snapped, “I wouldn't believe a word you said about him.”

“He resents you for surviving and being able to go back to your people,” he informed me.

 

“I am going to bring him back to his people too,” I countered, “Seth remembers when I was afraid of what I was and how he helped me to accept it the night in the church.”

“I will not discuss it,” he replied sharply.

“Why not, Peck?” I leaned forward, “Are they bad memories? Does the memory of your friends hurt you?”

“They are irrelevant, my only mission is to bring you and Eva back to Morrison,” he retorted.

 

“Well I have a mission too, Peck,” I looked him in the eye; “I promised the mother of your child that I would bring back Seth.”

“Maybe I should inform her that you shared a kiss with me quite willingly when you were dating Darren,” he suggested, “Or maybe that she wasn't my first choice.”

“It doesn't matter if Seth ever had feelings for me, Eva knows he cared for her the most,” I said seriously, “Besides she knows about the kiss.”

“She doesn't know that Seth initiated the kiss,” he said, “Or that you liked it.”

“I thought you wanted Eva to want you,” I said eyes narrowed.

 

“It won't lessen her opinion of me, just cause mistrust between you two,” he replied, “I am the father of her child and you are just a friend who has been known to switch between men.”

“Keep it up, Adams,” I told him, “Resentment is an emotion.”

“Adams was my mother's last name, my last name is Peck,” he persisted.

“Your last name is Adams, always has been and always will be,” I said coldly, “Seth hated his father, he was a monster who used him as an experiment.”

“He was making me stronger,” Seth cleared his throat.

 

“He was the reason you were 'weak', he ruined your life or at least tried to,” I continued, “Your life was only good with your mother and your friends, you said that yourself.”

“I had a narrow minded vision of the world,” he snapped.

“He was in touch with reality,” I said calmly, “He knew who the real enemy was, you don't.”

“You people are the enemy; you defy a leader who only wants peace and order,” he tried to get up.

“He wants control and power,” I answered, “There is no peace in having everyone stuck in a hive mind controlled by one greedy man.”

“How dare you?” he growled.

 

“You think I am lying, searching Seth's memories, he is greedy, selfish and cruel,” I got to my feet.

“As cruel as a girl who lets her own friends suffer and does nothing to change it,” he remarked, “Kiara could have used your help or you could have helped me, Maya I went through a lot of pain because of how important you are.”

“I have never caused pain to someone intentionally though,” I insisted, “I know Seth can fight the controller serum like I did, he has that kind of strength.”

“You're wrong about him,” he said coldly.

 

“I am right and you know it, he probably still fights you for control, no wonder Morrison wants you back so fast, you're still unstable.”

“I am completely stable,” he cleared his throat.

“Are you because your hands are shaking and you looked pretty emotional right now,” I smiled, “I know you, Seth you won't give up without fighting him as hard as you can.”

“Miss. Garnet, I am Seth so you best start accepting that,” he informed me.

“I'll never accept that and neither will Eva,” I placed my hands on his arms, “You have to come back to reality, Seth stop letting this thing become who you are and starting fighting back you're one of the strongest people I know.”

“Stop talking to me like I am two people,” he ordered.

 

“You are two people the same way I was when it came to the military and my affliction,” I said honestly, “Until I realized I could be a fighter for the afflicted and then I could give up on the part of me that restricted me rules and those little red pills.”

“I will not break,” he looked me in the eye.

“Not today,” I let go of him and stepped back, “I am sorry, I was the reason that Kiara got shot, I take responsibility.”

 

“May...” he began, “Miss. Garnet, I suggest you stop playing games and take off these restraints.”

“No,” I headed for the door, “You can keep trying Adams, but eventually someone will get through the bullshit.”

“Not today,” he answered then I headed for the door, “He watched you die, Maya he saw how much pain there was and it killed him too.”

 

“If anyone knew I'd survive, it was Seth,” I went out the door and slammed it behind me.

“Hey, Maya,” Sara came running over, “Something strange happened today.”

“Really, is everyone okay?” I asked panicked all of the sudden.

“No, nothing bad Jeremiah asked me out,” she explained, “He's like three years older, but at eighteen he still has a lot in common with me oddly enough.”

“I am happy for you,” I hugged her, “That is much better news than soldiers in the area.”

 

“Were you just visiting Seth?” she inquired.

“Yeah,” I nodded.

“How is he doing? Is he completely brainwashed?” she asked concerned, “How are Eva and the baby?”

“Seth is a work in progress, I think we can get him back and Eva is doing much better with Seth closer by,” I assured her.

“You look tired, I think Nora is in the cafeteria, we should go eat with her,” she suggested.

“Sounds great,” I followed her and we went into the make shift cafeteria where Nora was sitting with two plates of food. “Hey you,” I sat down next to her, “Who is the other plate for?”

 

“I was hoping Darren would come back inside for food at least,” she sighed, “Do you want it?”

“No I'll save it for him,” I shook my head, “I'll go get my own.” I filled my tray with a salad, some sandwiches, an apple and a cup of coffee. I took it back to the table and Nora looked at me sceptically.

“Hungry,” she inquired.

“I need to keep my energy levels up otherwise the visions are too much for me,” I started to eat the first sandwich.

“So you actually are listening when Darren speaks sometimes,” she watched me power down the first sandwich.

 

“Don't tell him that,” I joked.

“Not that it's my business, but have you and Darren...?” Sara questioned.

“No, definitely not,” I shook my head.

“My brother is trying to be a gentleman,” Nora told her, “I am very supportive of this change.”

“Nora, how many girls do you think he's been with roughly?” I bit my lip, “I don't think I could ask him.”

 

“Quite a few girls, but they did not want serious relationships any more than he did,” she replied, “He was in a really bad place, Maya; don't judge him for it.”

“I judge him by how good you turned out,” I smiled, “He may have made mistakes, but he doesn't define himself by them anymore, I think.”

“I am just he isn't with Kelley anymore,” she made a face.

 

“That girl drives me crazy and Seth's sisters are such teases,” Sara remarked, “I hope Jeremiah knows I am not like them.”

“He does,” I told her.

“Thanks,” she smiled, “So Nora, have you got your eye on anyone?”

“No,” she laughed, “I don't have time for mushy stuff like that.”

“You are such a soldier, just like your big brother,” I messed up her hair and she laughed.

“Don't mock me,” she stuck her tongue out at me.

“Very mature,” I rolled my eyes then I saw Eva walk into the cafeteria. “I'll be right back,” I got up and went over to my friend, “Hey you, do you want a sandwich?”

“I am so nervous I haven't been around this many people outside meetings since I got pregnant,” she looked around, “People are looking at me.”

“Only because you're glowing, besides who cares what people think,” I shrugged, “You made the right decision in keeping the baby.”

“If Morrison doesn't get his hands on him,” she said quietly.

“He won't,” I commanded, “Don't let Seth scare you, Morrison probably told him to say those things, he just isn't himself.”

“You're right, Seth would love the baby too much,” she agreed, “He'd spoil our kid rotten.”

“Just keep thinking about the real Seth,” I squeezed her hands then Darren came storming in, “Dare, what is it?”

“There was a massacre outside town,” he said breathlessly, “I got out of there my team didn't.” I wrapped my arms around him and he held onto me shaking.

Author's Note

ignore grammar problems here