Burn Me (A Shatter Me Series Sequel)

Four

I cannot believe it's that easy. After everything she did, she's just going to take me to the others. Doubt has filled me but I follow her because I don't really have a choice. 

She leads me out of the room and back to the door through which I broke in. The giant lock is still on the floor where I left it. When she sees it, she looks at me and raises her eyebrows, the corners of her mouth curving up into an almost-smile. I simply stare at her.

She finally drops her gaze and shakes her head once. Then turns around and starts climbing the staircase. As soon as we reach the upper floor, I am shocked anew by the blinding whiteness of the space. And I know what that means - more prison cells. More people locked up just for wanting freedom.

Anger rushes through me. Towards her. Towards my dead father.

Towards myself for being so helpless.

"I need to make something clear" she says and startles me "You will not be to speak with them today. I will let you do that once I am sure that you are on my side."

She slows down as we move past the dozens of white doors on this floor.

"I'm not even sure which side you are on." I say and she eyes me with pure annoyance.

"Are you dead?" when I keep my silence she continuous "Then you know which side I'm on."

A few more steps. A few more doors. No words. Then.

"You must have been wondering why I approached you of all. I believe you can influence the other subjects."

"They are not subjects. They are humans." I say angry again at her condescend. I might as well have not said a word for she ignores me completely.

"Of course one would think that the brunette, it was Juliette I recall, would be of more influence. And one would be right. She even has you on a leash. But she can't be tamed. She's too wild." A little smile plays around my lips as I know that's true. "She's too stupid."

I freeze at that sentence. She stops dead in her tracks as well and she turns to face me.

"What? You will not agree?"

"Of course I will not agree!" I scream at her "You cannot eve-"

"You will not agree that I can offer you a way to defeat the Reestablishment? You will not agree that she would have refused?" she cuts me off "You will not agree that she would have got you all killed?" she screams as well and looks at me expectantly.

"She didn't get us killed." I start calmly this time "She helped us win."

"Oh, I'm not saying she's not valuable as a warrior." a smile that could not look more insincere spreads across her face. "I am saying she is not a good leader and you know it."

I want to protest, I want to shout at her but she turns around and keeps walking. I am left standing there speechless.

 She stops three doors away and looks at me. I realise that that is where the others are. I feel suspicious again - no matter how hard I try, I can't sense the others. The only thing I feel is hot-red pulsing energy. But I already know who that belongs too.  She opens a panel on the left side of the door and punches a code in it. There is a click and she pushes the door open.

I finally take those last steps and peek inside. What I see startles me out of my skin.

As promised, they are there. But they are all unconscious.

I pray for the first time in my life that they are asleep.

"What have you done to them?" I can barely speak.

"Sedated them." she says as if it's nothing "No harm came or will come to them. That's the deal."

"But why would you that if, as you said, they are no threat to you?" I have now gain the strength to shout.

"Your power is very spectacular, Aaron. And rare, too. One I have never seen before." her calm tone annoys me to no end. "I needed time to evaluate it. I needed time to persuade you. I needed time and you finding them would have been my worst option." 

I finally realise her point and want to slap myself for my stupidity. However, she continues.

"But how can I conceal them from you. You would have sensed their energy. You would have found them. The Reestablishment has been working on a pill. It can knock you out for up to 48 hours without any physical damage."

I let her voice fade away. I let my feet carry me to Juliette's bed. She's unmoving yet beautiful. I have come to realise that her beauty comes from motion. It the precise why she looks up when I call her name. Or how her small frame shakes by fits of soundless laughter. 

She is beautiful now, though. Peaceful. Serene.

Her dark hair spread on the wide pillow. Her thick lashes rimming her closed eyelids. I wish she would open her eyes and would look at me. I wish she would say-

"Aaron?" But it's not the voice I'm dreaming about.

I whip around.

"Stop calling me that!"

"It's your name." She is standing in the door frame eyeing me with sheer shock.

"But you're not allowed to use it. I never gave you permission." I hate the way she gets possession of everything.

"Why don't you call me Jasmine?" I am taken aback by her question.

"It sounds wrong." Now I'm taken aback by my answer. So is she.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she says but not angry or hurt. Curious. Amused.

"It's like it doesn't belong to you. It feels like I'm calling someone else." I feel like someone else is speaking through my lips. Only when I say it do I realise how true it is.

She nods.

"Tomorrow you will be able to talk with them, Warner. Until then, I'm afraid you will have to go back to your cell." she turns to leave. Then she adds. "And you know what to tell them, don't you."

When she leaves the room, I know that she's still outside. I know she's waiting. I glance at Juliette one more time and hope tomorrow comes quick.

A/N

And yet another short chapter, which I apologize for. I have been busy but I really hope I will be able to post more and more often. On another note entirely, some time ago I read the first ever comment on this story and I almost passed out. Currently it's only one view away from 350 views which is crazy. Thank you to all of you who have been following the story. Thank you for commenting, voting, reading - you are awesome!