Forever

~24~

"What?"

"You heard me, I'm freakin in love with you."

"You can't be."

"Well I am." He says

I rub my arms turning away from him and staring at the small barred window on the other wall.

"Will you say something? This silence is kinda killing me." He says from behind me and I turn around to face him.

"You can't love someone like me, you'll only be left hurt-

"Are you sure this is about me, or is it about you? Because I'm throwing out my feelings right now and you're turning me down saying it'll only hurt me. But it won't hurt me, I'll be with you, and I will die with you by my side even if you don't die along with me. I know how I feel and I have no problem admitting it. You won't let me love you, because you don't want to be left alone."

"You don't know anything."

"I know enough Skylar, lie to me and tell me that that's not why."

"And what if it is true? Nothing will change."

"I love you Skylar, whether you love me back or not, only you know that. But this kiss, is coming from me." He says and I gasp as he pushes me back against the wall and our eyes lock.

"Please don't." But he pushes some of my hair back and I look down.

He lifts my chin up and I go to stop him, but without a breath he presses his lips to mine with a gentle kiss. He slowly releases me and kisses my forehead then drops his hands from my face.

I hear a beep as I look at him then the door opens behind us.

"We gotta move now." Ryan's voice butts in and I turn around to face him.

"Skylar don't-

I pull my hand out of his and step out of the door.

"Goodbye Jason."

Then I leave walking down to the testing chambers.

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"You're making a huge mistake. This isn't a good thing, it's awful and torturous." I say stepping into the room with my arms crossed as the guy releases me.

"It's what's meant to be done, it's the next step to humanity."

"No! It's torture."

"Let's test to see." He says and I grasp as he shoves me back.

I go to get up but he steps in front of me and pushes me towards a platform area.

"Let's get this started." Gorban says and I spit standing up.

"No."

"Get on it, or Jason dies." He says and I freeze. He can't know Jason got out so I play my spot.

"Ok." I say stepping onto the platform.

"Hold your hands out." I do so and yank at my wrists as something locks on them.

"What's the necessity for this?" I ask looking down at the locks around my wrists.

"To be sure your don't escape, as you can't shoot me with your whatever that blue light stuff is." He says and I scoff.

"Scaredy cat are we?"

"Funny." He says and I roll my eyes.

"Now, how this is going to work is simple. As soon as I click this button, you're going to fall unconscious and be taken into this sim in a way. It's going to test all your skills, show all your fears, and give us the extra umpth we need to make this thing work. Understood?"

"And what if I purposefully fail it?"

"That's not gonna happen, and you wanna know why?"

"Yes." I say and he smirks

"Because these are real life situations, you might know right now that it's fake, but as soon as you fall unconscious and awaken in the new realm. You will only see it as real. And you won't let

yourself or those around you get hurt, now will you?"

I yank at the chains and curse when I can't break through.

"Good luck. Night night Skylar." Then he clicks the button, and I fall unconscious.

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