Before the Ever Green (BTEG #1) ✔️

Chapter 22

I am dying.

I am now 100% sure of this, because I physically can't pull my gaze away from Everett's muscular body... no matter how hard I try. I will die today. My illness has finally made a mark, and I am going to die on what I think is capital soil by a creek Everett thinks will keep us alive, but it won't because I have been dying since I was 13 years old. That's when my illness started.

Everett looks so confused, but he doesn't speak, and neither do I. But, I am able to move my gaze from his toned abdomen to his gorgeous blue eyes. I could drown in those eyes. I think I might, and I have convinced myself that's how I plan on dying.

It won't work.

Why would it? Better question-how could it?

I hear footsteps, and am finally able to move my gaze away from the man sitting in front of me, obviously not paying any attention. I look behind me, and see the 3 people; the black hair twins and the gorgeous red headed woman. They see me. I am sure of this, but I can't make my body move. They are all 3 just staring at me. I don't move. They don't move. Everett is lost in his thoughts. One twin whispers something to the other. They both laugh, and the woman shoots them a look.

I carefully stand up, hoping they won't see me as danger and shoot me. The woman walks over to where I am standing. She is a few feet away from me, looking me down. Then, she speaks, "Addilyn Ember?" she asks

I nod, "Y-yes"

She smiles, "Come with us,"

"But, I don't know who you are. What about my friend?" I gesture towards Everett.

She rolls her eyes, "You're one of those people,"

"Excuse me?"

"Listen, I can't explain anything right now. I need to get you back to Mr. O'Riley of the bulletin, he'll explain everything, alright?"

I sigh, "If he can come,"

"I could shoot you," She says and I sit down on the ground.

"No," I say, "You just admitted Mr. O'Riley needed to speak with me,"

She gives a frustrated growl, "Fine, he can come, but you have to do as we say, alright?"

I give her a good long stare before answering, "Fine."

"You two, come pick this guy up, I'm not sure he's in the best of state to walk on his own." The twins come over, helping Everett up.

We walk for a long while in silence, before I finally asks, "What's your name?"

"None of your business,"

I stop in place. I let out a huff, and cross my arms. She turns around, "We don't have time for this,"

"Tell me your name, then."

She sighs before speaking, "Tobi,"
I smile, and take a few steps to catch up with her, "Well, Tobi, what can you tell me about Mr. O' Riley?"
"Nothing," she says course, like it hurts to talk about him, "I can tell you nothing about Mr. O'Riley. He'll do a fine job on his own, when we reach the base. And...don't ask any more questions,"
I turn to face the path ahead of us, looking back for just a second to look at the two kind of dorky, but cute twins who can't be any older than 17. I'd be surprise if they'd graduated High school, yet. Not a lot of people graduated early, and I was pretty good at telling people's ages by there looks.
I wonder what Mr. O' Riley looks like. I like to believe you can learn a lot by how a person looks and presents themselves. Like, I can tell Tobi has a lot hidden away. She has a lot of locket chests under her flawless skin. She walks tall, but will glance at the ground frequently, showing me that she's thinking, but about what, I don't know. The twins seem to show no unusual sighs of being hidden, and I can tell they have a lot out in the open by how they have a slouch that doesn't show shyness, but that they don't like fitting in and standing tall.
I like them already.