Defiance.

8

"Takoda! Takoda wake up!"

I looked up and saw the building I was in began to collapse around me. I had to get out but there were people who couldn't escape. I ran to them as fast as I could, dodging debris and large pieces of concrete as I did. I was so close.

"Takoda!"

I shot up from the bed in haste, covered in sweat. I felt hot but my skin felt cold as my sweat cooled from the breeze of the fan nearby. I flinched at the touch of something next to me.

I looked over to see Micah was in my bed on his knees with a look of worry on his face.

"What? What happened?" I sat up further as I criss crossed my legs like a kindergartner.

"Takoda, you were having a bad dream. You must have because you started mumbling in your sleep while I was reading then all of a sudden the lights started flickering and everything went on the fritz. The lightbulbs popped and the bathroom door exploded like the first time I met you. I realized you must have been doing it unconsciously," Micah rushed out.

Without thinking I brought myself into a kneeling position. "Did you get hurt? Did I hurt you," I asked frantically while I grabbed his head in my hands searching for any wounds.

"Takoda, calm down. You didn't hurt me. I was more concerned about you, not me." I paused with my hands still on him.

There was a silence as we stared at each other unsure of what to say next.

The longer I stared at him the more I started to notice. The faint freckles across the bridge of his nose that splayed out onto his cheeks. The way his usual stubble had grown out into a slight beard. Everything about him seemed perfect. Even the way his lips c—— I cut myself off at that thought.

I cleared my throat and awkwardly removed my hands from his face before getting up.

"We need to talk with the others about the Haz Unit of the military. Hell, maybe even the whole government. They've been using us against our own kind. This whole time I thought I was at least doing some good with this curse I've been dealt but it turns out I was just brainwashed. I don't even know how many places like these I've blown up, or people like those guards who were just trying to protect MY kind. I really fucked up and everyone deserves to know. We all fucked up and we have to try to fix it."

Micah stayed silent while looking at his hands. "I can't believe they lied to us. Well I can believe that, but do you know how many Normies like me would immediately dropped their weapons if they knew? They're just using us to commit mass genocide. They've been doing it this whole time since the start. Meanwhile they are the corrupt, evil ones using Hazs' like you to carry out their dirty work." He sighed dragging his hands down his face. He looked tired and his face wasn't as bright as usual. I was tired too.  We'd been through a lot only in the past 48 hours much less the past few months.

It's hard when you get so wrapped up in your own experience and your own flaws to realize that you're not the only one. Micah has killed innocent people in the name of peace as well. He was also lied to and manipulated.

"We have to tell the others. There's no way they'd support them after the lies they told." They can't. How could they?

•

I sat in the conference room with Daze, Acid, and their partners across from me.

"Let's hash out what we've learned so far. There are no rebels, there are just other gifted trying to live freely, unchipped. This whole time we've been on the wrong side. We must have killed thousands of innocent gifted in the past few years alone. They were using us as against our own because that was the only way they could stand to fight us and they know it." Everyone looked remorseful and upset about hearing the truth out loud. Even Daze, which I thought was impossible. Everyone except Adam.