Is This True Love? (DNF)

Chapter 66: The Doorway

George POV.

The wall became much more clear as we got closer and closer to it, the mere size of the structure made me shiver. I raised my head in an attempt to see the top of it, or as high up as I could go, only stopping when my neck cramped. “It’s terrifying…” I muttered to myself, squeezing at Clay’s hand as I did.

“It shocked me when I saw it for the first time too.” Clay sheepishly admitted. He refused to look up at the metal behemoth, instead looking down at the grass and our shoes. “But it’s uglier on the outside, it looks unnatural against the Hollywood hills.”
“We’re in Hollywood?” I asked, eyes momentarily glistening.

I mean I had always loved a Hollywood movie, who didn’t? The idea that I had been living my whole life in Hollywood was exciting. But then I remembered that I was being held hostage in Hollywood on a TV show that was made about my life without my consent, so this happiness quickly disappeared.

“This all feels so scary.” My voice lowered to a small whisper, squeezing once again at his hand as I finally looked down.
“The dome? Or the idea of leaving?” He questioned, glancing over at me.
“Both.” I sighed. Then I stopped, eyes shutting with tears threatening to appear again.

“Is that wrong?” I hesitated. “Is it wrong that I feel scared about leaving? Scared about seeing the world outside of this dome? I mean I’ve been held against my will here my entire life and I am worried about leaving here.”

“That’s not wrong.” Clay went to brush his hand along my face again, the hand that was holding mine slipped away to wrap around my waist and pull me close. “I understand that it is scary, but I will be here for you no matter what is happening.”

“Thank you.” I responded, allowing him to kiss me as he wished while I leaned further into him. My eyes fluttered shut, melting into the embrace and allowing all of my problems to leave my body through my lips as they continued to chase the blond’s. It was as though he was pulling my problems out of me.

For a few moments we continued, no longer feeling the pressure to get out of here before the people on this show hunted us down. We were close to the exit, close to my freedom, that was enough to eventually motivate me to pull us apart, much to Clay’s annoyance as he continued to hold me desperately, wanting to kiss me.

“We need to get moving.” I muttered, keeping him at arm's length while glancing around. “We want to get as much distance between us and the other people.” Reluctantly the blond nodded, biting the inside of his cheek. He took a step backwards, taking my hand back again and beginning to walk.

Neither of us spoke as we continued, and I could hear someone talking from somewhere nearby, causing me to pause. “What’s wrong?” Clay questioned with concern lacing his voice, not having heard the person who had now fallen silent.

“There was someone over there…” My eyes narrowed. “Maybe they’re looking for us… maybe they will take me back…” My chest began to rise and fall a lot faster at the idea and I clutched at the fabric of my shirt. Immediately Clay moved to hold me, comforting me from my anxieties and fears that were beginning to pick up.

“Don’t worry…” He reassured me. “Just stay here… you can hide in the bushes… and I’ll find whoever is there and scare them off.”
“Are you sure?” I looked over at him, feeling worried but being slightly reassured as I saw him nod. “Tha-thanks so much.”

He helped me to sit down on the grass and I leaned against a tree, being left with a kiss on the cheek before he turned and walked off. I watched as he disappeared around the trunk of a tree before slowly standing up. Despite my fears and anxieties I walked over, peeking through the foliage and seeing Clay approached a woman talking into a walkie-talkie.

She lifted her gaze up and looked over at him, thankfully not taking time to look further around the area as she may have found me. “Hey.” Clay casually smiled.
“Clay… Smith?” She was shocked, breath hitching as she saw the blond walking towards her. I noticed the way her fingers tightened around the walkie in her hand.

“Yes, that’s me.” It seemed so natural to him. The ability to smile and quickly fall into a routine of charming another person. “And I have to ask, how does a pretty girl like you end up here and not being an actress on this show.” She was caught off guard, shifting from one foot to the other.
“An actress?” She questioned, before shaking her head. “No, I couldn’t be an actress.”

“Why couldn’t you?” Slowly he walked, and as the redheaded girl turned to face him during the conversation I noticed that she was being shuffled away from the tie.
“I’m more of a backstage person.” Then she looked around. “But what are you doing here? I got a message earlier saying you and George both went missi-”

“That was a joke.” He quickly cut her off, as though not allowing her to finish her thoughts would stop her from suspecting that it was true. “Jimmy wanted to pull a joke on the crew. George is back and currently working.”
“Oh, well I guess that is good.” Her grip loosened on the walkie talkie and she smiled.

“And I was just taking a break, going on a walk through the forest and stuff.” He shrugged, continuing to move closer to her. Then his smile faded, seeming shocked, yet it was harder to see exactly what he was feeling. “Are you alright?” And I strained to see what exactly he was looking at.

“I’m fine.” She reassured him. “I don’t know what you are talking about Mr Smith.”
“You just look flushed, like you’re sick.” A hand tentatively moved to brush against her cheek before pulling it back. “And you have a temperature… perhaps a fever? I heard that’s going around the cast.”

“Oh no.” The woman was shocked, glancing away after hearing what Clay had said to her. “I… I don’t feel sick.” She added, yet the way her eyes darted made it seem as though she believed it.
“Most people start off that way.” Clay muttered. “Maybe you should go and check with a doctor or something? Just to be safe.”

“Maybe, I could radio the doctor and see if he’s free.” She lifted the walkie talkie and was about to press it but Clay grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t bother, he and the other doctors in the crew are all busy. I’d say just go and visit your doctor in town. I can radio it in for you, you need to be fast.”

Reluctantly she nodded, and the blond said that he’d organise someone to cover her. Her smile grew as she thanked him and scanned a keycard before running through the door. As it was about to swing closed the blond stood in the way, keeping it open and motioning for me to walk over.
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1256 words

What is going to happen when they leave?

What do you think the outside world is really like?

What if it is a dystopian run-down city or something?