Defect

[chapter 7]

Jeez, this one's long. 2941 words of actual chapter, and counting this author's note, 2959. Anyways, happy reading!

I was still staring down at  the files, wondering what to do with them, when I realized I couldn't hear footsteps anymore, that the coast was clear. I shoved them back into their hiding place in the filing cabinet, mentally swearing to come back with a flashlight, and slid the door shut carefully behind me. I walked back casually, stopping in the heart of the manor. I turned, facing the stairs to go up, but I knew that the best place for me right now was outside, where I could think this through without being watched.

To the dorms or outside, that was the question. The obvious choice was the dorms—I'd be safe there, none of the Evos would find it at all suspicious to find me where I belonged, I could wait this all out, the reasons went on and on.

The cool, fresh air was like a breath of relief as I stepped outside, having slipped around behind Max as he was getting coffee with the other guards. I waited till I was around the corner, but before I knew it, I was running. The cold air was welcome pain because of the distraction and clear mind it brought, and my eyes were focused on the group of trees straight ahead. I finally slowed just before I hit the trees, sucking in breaths and relishing in the cold air sliding in and out of my heaving chest.

That is, until I heard the voices.

I slid close on the icey leaves, standing behind a tree and letting the voices float over me.

"—can't do that, it would blow the secret wide open," someone was saying.

"Do we have another option?" asked another.

"Forget other choices. We've talked big for a long time, but it's time to act," a third voice chimed in.

"But if we move too fast, they'll all know, and then—"

"No," said the third voice. There was something authoritative that made me think they were in charge, something in the steel of their voice... "We've waited too long. Nothing is happening. The Evos aren't expecting anything—the Wrobel hasn't acted in years. We strike now."

"Alright. What's the pl—" the second voice asked, sounding resigned.

But I'd never know what the plan was, because at that moment, I shifted my weight to the other foot and snapped a branch.

An instant later, I was standing, a knife at my throat, face to face with a person I so did not expect to see. Her hair looked the same as always—short, black spikes that tended to raise eyebrows—but somehow, different against this new background. Brown eyes glittered, reflecting the snow and icy trees around us, and a flush was in her cheeks from the cold. But there was one thing I couldn't quite get over...

"Maddie?" I asked, shock momentarily forcing any other thoughts out of my mind. How could our small, shy roommate be the leader of a secret meeting against the Evos?

"Violet?" she said, sounding just as startled.