Prove Me Wrong (A Ben Mason/Connor Jessup Novel)

Pope

Life had not always been this hard. Clinging to survival, facing daily alien attacks, food rationing, this way of living could never have been predicted. Yet, it was now how a humans existence was defined. Fight for freedom or be enslaved. This was the new motto for the everyday survivor. The human race was close to extinction but there were a few who refused to give up. Those few slowly found like-minded individuals and groups and this was how the revolution began to form.

The Second Mass were just that. Containing civilians and fighters, it's people fought Skitters on a daily basis, protecting their children form becoming slaves to the unearthly beings. Though they lived under risk everyday, the humans chose to make a stand against their oppressors, in hope that one day, life would return to normal.

In the usual blistering heat, River strolled down the corridor on the third floor. Wherever you averted your gaze, life seemed to bloom. Children- harnessed or not- chased each other, their angelic cries of joy reverberated throughout the main building of John F. Kennedy High School. Happiness seemed to be infectious in these dark times.

Looking around, the young female could feel the presence of eyes watching her. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled in alarm. "Hey Caller, I want to talk to you!" it was Pope. River hated Pope. The pyschopath began to skulk towards her. He was a fruit loop as well as a Pyromaniac.

River's hands curled into fists. "What do you want?" she hissed through clenched teeth.

The male leant against the wall in a relaxed manner but River did not let her guard down, this man was temperamental, he could turn violent at any moment. "I was just wonderin' if you've prepared yourself for Loverboy's inevitable departure, after he's helped his alien buddies capture the Second mass?" River could feel her insides churning in disgust. The man was truly irritating, not to mention foul. He was talking about Ben Mason, River's best friend, who had been temporarily enslaved by the Skitters. True, he was a loose canon, he had been possessed by the aliens more than once but as a person, Ben was kind, loyal and brave. Basically everything that Pope lacked.

Inwardly, River cursed; "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Whatever you say, sweetheart."

"Don't call me that."

"Fine, River. Except, you know exactly what I'm on about. That friend of yours isn't the most stable person here-."

River threw her head back and laughed. "And you are?"

Pope ignored her interruption. "and it's only a matter of time till the inevitable occurs."

"You don't know anything, Pope, Now go and annoy someone else. I'm done talking with you." she tried to walk passed the creep, the quicker she got away, the better. Suddenly Pope grabbed her arm. "Let. Go. Of. Me." she spat, trying to pull her arm from his grip.

"Not until I've finished with you." he smirked. "Let's imagine for a moment that Benji's possessed and chasin' you through this damned place because we both know that's what's going to happen, how are you goin' to defend yourself? Appeal to his conscience? Please! You know that's a load of bull. Come on, River, what are you going to to do when he finally corners you?" before River could react, Pope's hand wound through her hair, pulling on it tight as he slammed her into a wall. Dazed and scared, the teenager whimpered. Her brain froze, it felt like she had forgotten how to scream. "You'll be trapped. The inevitable will have finally arrived and no doubt he'll be armed with a gun," Pope raised a hand gun to River's heart. "much like this one." he sneered. "There you'll be, pleadin' and protestin', hopin' your Benji will suddenly save you. What's gonna stop him though?" Pope's finger's locked on the trigger. "How's your friendship gonna save you then?" he whispered.

"RIVER!" Hal's voice appeared from te end of the corridor.

The raised voice startled the madman, making him pull the trigger. River had been somewhat lucky by moving out of his hold, allowing the bullet to only graze her shoulder. The pain was excruciating. She slid to the floor. Around her, there were a rush of footsteps and someone trying to get her attention. "River, River can you understand me? You're going to be fine, it's just a graze. Doctor Glass will be able to stitch you up, good as new. Ri?" the rest of the words accumulated into a mass of noise. Lifting her eyes to the face of the speaker, River's heart gave a startled THUMP THUMP, Ben was beside her, his lips moving but none of it made sense, All River could imagine was visions of Ben's blank expression and his spikes glowing. Fear began to claw at River's stomach and with that, she threw up.