𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 - 𝘋𝘌𝘈𝘛𝘏 𝘊𝘜𝘙𝘌

20 ~ road trip

Lottie

"So you mean to tell me that you had a dream about this cure, and now you expect me to believe in it's existence?"

Vince was sitting behind his desk again, but this time he was in his pajamas. The second I woke up from my memory, I had demanded to every spy I passed in the hallway to see Vince. Finally, the man agreed to see me, but only after he had made himself a cup of coffee. Said cup of coffee was currently sitting in between Vince's large hands, warming them from the chill of morning.

"It wasn't a dream," I insisted for what felt like the hundredth time. "It was a memory. They happen to me more often than you think."

Vince sighed, still rubbing sleepiness from his eyes. "I assume you want me to pardon your little Crank friend now? Take away our agreement?"

I nodded fiercely. "There's a sure chance for Newt now. The cure exists."

Vince shook his head at me in a way that made me feel very young. "I can't believe this kid's name is Newt," he grumbled. I rolled my eyes. "I'll tell you what; our agreement still stands. Your boyfriend lives no matter what, but if he's still Infected by the time we leave for the Safe Haven, he gets left behind. And if you refuse to leave him, you get left behind, too. But if you do end up getting your hands on the cure... I get some too."

My eyes flashed up to his face in shock of his selfish wish. Clearly, the only way he would want to help me was if he got something for himself in return. I set my mouth in a harsh line.

"Fine." I thrust out my hand for him to shake. "Newt remains safe. You get the cure." Vince took my hand and shook it once. Then he waved me out of his office with the instruction that I was to leave later today to get Newt.

Each of us were given a set of comfortable clothes and an opportunity for a hot shower, which we all jumped on immediately. My hair was still a bit wet from mine, dampening the back of my fresh shirt. I hardly noticed, however, since I was too focused on how rough my skin looked when it wasn't covered in my jacket and a layer of dirt.

I stared at my reflection in the chipped, foggy mirror, and I hardly recognized myself. A few months ago, the girl in the mirror had bright eyes and a full, round face. Now her cheeks were hollow, her under eyes were blue, and her arms and legs were pencil-thin and heavily scarred.

Her hair still looked and smelled nice, though, thanks to the shower. I left the bathroom in a wave of a scent called Sunny Meadow and headed to the living room to join my friends.

"Selfish slinthead," Minho snapped when I informed him of Vince's requirements. "You shouldn't have agreed. He just wants to use you."

I shook my head sadly, bringing my knees up to my chest and settled deeper into my armchair. The seven of us had made ourselves at home in the living room, since all of the Right Arm spies were either out in the city or in one of the training rooms.

"I had to agree; he wouldn't have helped us if I didn't, and he would've killed Newt the second he turns violent if I hadn't told him about the cure," I said.

"I think it's best to keep the cure under wraps from now on," Jorge butted in seriously. He had been pacing from one wall to another for the past few minutes, unable to keep still knowing that we were heading to the Crank Palace later. "You have no idea the things people will do to you if they find out... You'll last five minutes."

"Hacksaw and Spitfire," said Gally. His face was hardly visible in the dark lighting of the entrance hall. The seven of us, Gally, and two other spies had climbed the stairs and into the rundown house above and were waiting for further instructions.