In the Willows

Chapter Fourty-Five: Blinding Lights

You both walk onto the elevator and hit the button to the lobby. You think about all that has been said, what has been done. Your head feels like its going to explode.

"If it means anything Kai, I'm sorry." Says Alec leaning on the elevator wall.

"Fuck you Alec."

You want a cigarette, you don't remember ever smoking, but you are craving it. The elevator stops and Emory is holding a pistol at the doors.

"Jesus, I thought you guys died after hearing that explosion. What was that anyway?" Asks Emory not lowering  her weapon at Alec.

"A helicopter." Says Alec raising his hands.

"Yeah, that you threw me at." You add.

You go through searching one of the hazmat men and find a smushed pack of cigarettes. The lucky cigarette is the only one that isn't crushed in the pack.

"Lucky me."

"You gonna lower your gun Emory?" Asks Alec.

"You trust him Kai?" She asks.

You look at Alec, then at Emory, "He didn't kill us and helped us out so far."

She lowers her gun, "How long have you been one of them, these people."

"A few months after the Fireflies dissolved, so a while."

"Makes you want a cigarette doesn't it?" You say finding a lighter.

You light the cigarette and breathe in the smoke, coughing some.

"Didn't know you smoked Kai." Says Emory.

"Me either, I'm gonna take a leak."

"Why don't you find some clothes Alec, I've seen enough naked men today."

You walk to the bathroom and do your business. You walk up to the sink and find running water. You let the water run on your hands. You get glimpses of the beach with Ellie, standing over a dead boy in a boat. Another body floats face down in the water. You look at yourself in the mirror. Blood is caked on your face, you try your best to wash it off. You see the silhouette standing in the corner of the bathroom.

You spin around quickly, "Who are you?"

It disappears as soon as you turn around. You go back to the mirror and stare at yourself.

"Nothing mattered, you didn't matter."

You stare at your eye, your scar, new wounds from the war. You see the Seraphina next to you smiling.

"Get away from me!" You say smashing the mirror with your fist.

You look at your knuckles, bleeding from the glass. You tear off some of your scrubs and wrap it around your hand. You walk out to see Emory and Alec looking at you.

"You good?" Asks Emory.

"Let's get out of here." You say tossing the cigarette.

"There's a parking garage, G.R.A.D.E usually has vehicles down there." Says Alec dressed with some military fatigues.

"Where'd you get those?" You ask.

"A body."

You nod while the three of you get to the elevator and head down. You reach the parking garage and see a SUV parked.

"We get a vehicle with some supplies when we go out, this must've been Echo's." Says Alec walking to the SUV and opening the driver door.

"No, you're getting in the back. Emory's driving." You say.

"Ok." He says stepping away.

Emory gets in the driver seat and finds the keys in the glove box, turning on the vehicle. You get in the middle and Alec gets in the back.

"You don't want shotgun?" Asks Emory.

"No." You say.

"Can I?" Asks Alec.

"No." You and Emory say at the same time.

"Jeez, tough crowd." He say laying down on the seats, "So Emory, where to now?"

Emory looks at you in the rear view mirror, you nod at her, "Promise."

"Marshall's settlement? Interesting. Good place, not part of Seraphina's group."

"Can you shut up?" You say.

Alec zips his mouth.

"You ok Kai?" Asks Emory.

"Yeah, let's just get to Promise."

A chill runs down your spine thinking about Seraphina, what she did to you. A child born from a demon? Why did it have to be you? There has to be more to this, unfortunately.

————-

A few hours pass when Emory stops in the middle of the dirt road.

"Where are we Emory?" You ask.

"Knowing where we got the vehicle from, it  probably has a GPS tracker." She says getting out.

"Get up Alec." You say also getting out of the vehicle.

You open the trunk and find a duffle bag with a pistol and magazines and clothes for a female.

"Need some clothes Emory?"

"No."

You grab the pistol and magazines and follow Emory into the woods. You have Alec walk in front of you just in case.

"You don't fully trust me do you?" Asks Alec.

"Trust someone who can transform into a demon and is a part of some super secret organization running experiments?"

He chuckles, "I see."

"Can you control it?" Asks Emory.

"Yes."

"How does it work?" You ask.

"A little girl is there, it's weird. Gluttony and Lust shared the same testimony."

"A little girl?" Asks Emory.

You stop in your tracks, "Cern."

Alec turns around, "You remember."

You head begins to pound again.

"G.R.A.D.E wanted you back for that reason. I didn't get the full file, but I told you that you were the first subject."

"Hold the phone." Emory turns and looks at you, "You're a fucking demon too?"

"No, well not anymore. His results after capture show he can't use it anymore."

"Use what?"

"Cern."

You punch Alec, "I"ll fucking kill you."

Emory points her pistol at you, "Don't move."

"You think I knew anything about this? I've been told so much shit today I don't know what to believe."

Alec rubs his jaw, "Understandable reaction Kai, but its true. You were a demon."

You sigh, "I just-"

Before you can finish, you're blinded by bright lights.