Betrayal Codes

Chapter 24: Cole

After running about a mile, I find Libby sitting on a rock, back turned to me. I don't want to disturb her, but this moment is as good as any if I'm going to earn back her trust. "Hey, Lib."

She whirls around so fast I'm afraid her neck will snap off. "What the hell, Cole? I ran into the middle of this forest to get away from you, yet you still followed me?"

"I know it's a lot, but I still need to explain," I plead.

"I can't do any more explanations, Cole." She turns away from me, but I walk to the other side so she's forced to look at me.

"Please, Lib. I'm sorry." I could feel my face turn sad. I knew it would come to this. I knew the truth would be revealed and she would hate me. I knew we would leave each other on a sour note. I hated that we had to do this — that I had to leave her.

"Don't call me Lib!" she yells, scrambling to her feet. "Get away from me! I'm overwhelmed, tired, and on the verge of throwing up. And I'm done with you! You've lost every ounce of my trust, which I have no intention of giving back. So just go away!" She starts running deeper into the forest, but she is no match for my long, trained legs. I've spent years training to chase after people, letting no one get away.

"I understand. I just want you to give me–"

She lurches to a stop and turns on me, finger pointed to my chest. "You don't understand at all, Cole. You betrayed me. You betrayed all of us. We thought you were some random locals who were unnaturally good at cracking codes. We figured, what the heck, let's see if they can help us. That was a terrible mistake," she pauses, shaking her head. "I had a little voice telling me you weren't who you said you were, and goddammit, I should have listened."

I grab her wrist to stop her from running away. "I do understand though! I know what it's like to be betrayed. That's why I'm here. That's why I'm part of this shitshow. I swear, I wouldn't be here if I didn't have to."

"What do you mean?" she asks, impatient. Any feelings she had a day ago are gone, hatred taking their place.

The memory comes back to me. The memory of the day my future changed forever. "When I was fifteen — four years ago — I was forced to join the Band. My childhood best friend 'kidnapped' me on the way home from football practice one day," I explain, making air quotes. He didn't technically kidnap me — he just led me into their trap.

"He took me into the woods behind my house where these bodyguard-looking guys were waiting. Turns out, he had been part of the Band since sixth grade and had chosen me to join next. If someone needed to be replaced, I was the first one they would recruit.

"One of their guys had got caught by the police the day before. The Band needed to kill him so he couldn't let slip any secrets. They needed his replacement: me. I had no say in the decision, it was join or die."

"What a heart-touching story, Cole. I feel such sympathy towards you now," Libby deadpans.

"Please don't. It's true, Lib. I had to do this. I would have left a long time ago if Aiden wasn't breathing down my back at every turn!"

"What does this have to do with Aiden?"

"Aiden was my childhood friend who dragged me into this thing," I mumble from under my hand, which I'm rubbing along my face anxiously. I haven't told anyone this story, let alone told them who caused it all. And as much as I thought saying his name would fill me with regret, it doesn't. Aiden was the cause of all this. It's time I finally get mad at him for fucking up my life. I thought I'd hated him so much that day he brought me into the Band, but now I hate him more. So, so much more.

"Look, Libby. That story is true," I insist. "I don't care if you still don't trust me, but please, believe me. I wouldn't lie to you, Libby. I can't."

She begins yelling again. "Yet you did! Why do you think I don't want to be around you anymore? Why do you think I don't trust you? You lied the whole time! What am I supposed to trust? Was that story about the Band actually true? Is this story true? I mean, is your name even Cole?"

"It was all true and yes, my name is Cole. Is your name really Libby?" I shot back.

"Yes!" She lets out a little scream in frustration. "You know what, Cole? I've heard enough of your lies. You've served up too many that now I..." she stutters, looking slightly sorrowful. "I don't know what to believe."

I step up close to her, gathering her sweet face in my hands, maybe for the last time. "Don't leave me, Lib. Please."

She ducks out from my hold, taking slow, unsteady steps backward. "I don't trust you. I can't," I hear her little sob even though she's walking farther and farther away from me.

"After all, Cole, you're not our friend," she whispers into the night sky, almost out of view. "You're our enemy."

The End