The Chosen.

With or Without You

My heart pounds heavily in my chest as she stares into my eyes. We've been caught. I'm sure we could still run, but there's no way we could make it out of this forrest with out a head start at least.

Once she alerts the others, it's all over for us.

To my surprise, the house keeper gives me a soft smile and nods her head. I then realize, she's telling us to go. She's on our side.

I nod back, thanking her for her kindness. Thanking her for allowing us to be free. Who knows what could happen to her for letting us escape? She's risking her life for us.

"Go." Tom whispers as he holds the massive chain link fence open wide enough for us to crawl out.

One by one, each of us escape. The moment that Toms foot hits the ground on the outside, we all take off running.

We need to get as far away as possible before the lab realizes what we've done.

I couldn't tell you how long we've been running but the stitches burning into my sides tells me a while. Finally allowing ourselves to slow down, we all stand around in a gathering of trees.

Our breaths pant heavily into the frigid night. The warm vapor from our lungs swirls into the sky.

Mia giggles beside me, "We're free." she says relieved. I see tears glisten in the corners of her eyes.

Though i'm grateful to be free from my metaphorical chains, i still have the constant feeling of the weight of the world on my shoulders. Escaping the lab was just the very first thing on an extremely long list of tasks.

"It's not over yet." I lick my lips, trying to warm them. I can already feel my body shivering against the low temperatures.

"Would it be so bad if we just went home? We're not in there anymore, it's okay. Let's forget about shutting down the lab and focus on ourselves." Bill says looking around the group.

"No." i shake my head. I have to do this. Not only because of my deal with death but because i can't let anyone else go through what we did.

"June, i get it. I get you want to save everyone but-" Zeke starts to agree with Bill.

"Okay. then go. Go home. But i won't be going with you. i'm doing what i set out to do. i'm shutting down the lab with or with out you." I spit at the both of them.

"I'll help." Tom murmurs looking at the ground. He refuses to meet my eyes as he is still very angry with me.

Even in his moments of resentment, he would still do anything for me. I think that's one of the reasons i fell so hard for him. He'd follow me to the ends of the earth if that's what it took for us to be together.

"Me too." Mia nods at me. I never doubted her, i knew she wouldn't leave me. Mia and I are attached at the hip as my mother used to say. Even when i can't get a clear head between the stress of the lab and the twins i know i can always count on Mia.

"Fine." Zeke says while looking at Mia, though she still looks at me. I see a familiar twinkle in his eye. He loves her.

Bill breathes a deep sigh and hesitantly murmurs, "Okay."