ELECTRIFY ME• aaron warner

15|PROPOSITION

I thought I had him right where I wanted him. I thought my plan was perfect. There seemed to be no possibility that Warner was on guard while he was sending me into heaven unintentionally.

His kisses were so passionate and electric. I was so lost in my own mind that I thought I would be able to shoot him.

Even if I did get the gun in my hands, would I be able to pull the trigger?

I was stupid.

And now I'm lying on the concrete with Warner before me. He's holding the gun. "I thought we had something. But you've always been bad, Emilia."

He leans down. "And did you feel that? I know you loved my lips against yours. You might have been able to pretend that you weren't going to grab my gun, but you can't pretend that you didn't like it."

I shiver.

"And now I have a proposition for you."

Another soldier comes into view, and he's holding a petite girl that seems to be around my age. She has very long dark hair and she's stunning. She seems scared.

"You always asked so many questions about the other prisoner. This is Juliette."

I feel bad for her. She must have endured the same things that I did, but maybe worse. She seems broken.

I notice that the soldier holding her has gloves and a gun. "You can't just trade me off!" She shouts.

"If you don't come with me, I'll shoot her."

Warner smiles. "But if you do, I'll let her go."

I know what I have to do. I want anything but to go with Warner, but if I don't, he will kill that girl. My eyes flicker from him to her trying to make the right decision.

I see Juliette's lips move. "Don't do it," she mouths.

She may think she can defend herself, but I know better than anyone that Warner kills whoever he wants to kill. Even if he doesn't hurt me, he hurts everyone around me.

Warner knows that I have no choice but to go with him, and he is radiating with joy. "I'll do it. Now let her go."

"No. Come to me first and then I'll let her go."

"Come to you?"

He smirks. "Come here, love."

I can't believe I'm handing myself over to him. I can't even hurt him. If I could electrocute him right now, I would.

I pick myself up off the ground and take slow steps towards Warner. When I get close enough, he pulls me into his arms. They're around my neck. I'm held against his chest so I can't go anywhere.

I feel like I'm being squeezed to death, but at the same time he is being careful. When I look up, I see him. And I try to hide the pink on my face.

"You don't have any weapons?" Warner confirms.

"No. I dropped my gun back there."

"Good girl."

"Let Juliette go."

The soldier hesitates. "Are you sure? She's an important asset-"

"I said let her go."

The soldier lets Juliette go and she is unsure where to go. "Go. Go to Kenji," I mouth.

She runs.

Warner looks down. "What am I going to do with you?"

I struggle to break free from his arms, but he just purposely tilts my head back against his chest. I rock back and forth slightly.

"This is a great moment, don't you think?" He leans down and whispers into my ear. "It's just you and me."

"Show me where Adam is," I demand.

"Always so feisty. I suppose I can show you what remains of Kent."

He leads me through alleyways, me still unluckily in his arms. It confuses me that I feel so safe trapped in the arms of a murderer and I'm unable to escape.

When I see Adam, I want to cry. He's hanging it what seems to be a slaughter house. There is blood caked everywhere on his skin. His face and his hair are dripped in red and he looks like he is in excruciating pain.

But I don't think he's dead like Warner said.

"Adam!"

Warner sighs. "He's not dead. I guess I'll have to shoot him again."

I break free from his arms, taking a few steps back to be in front of Adam defensively. "I won't let you."

"Do you want me to shoot you too?"

"You won't shoot your little 'love', now will you?" I remark.

Warner chuckles and then smirks. "You always know how to captivate me, Lia. But even you can't stop me from ripping Kent to shreds."

My hands trace Adam's bloody chest. The tears are swelling in my eyes. He just wanted to protect me.

Suddenly, his eyes blink open. A spark of hope is inside his weak body. "Emilia. Oh my god."

"Adam, it's going to be ok."

"Get me out of here. We'll be safe," Adam whispers.

I feel Warner's hand creep onto my shoulder. "Neither of you will be going anywhere."

Adam looks at me with widened eyes, shocked that Warner was standing behind me. I don't know what he's thinking, but I don't want to be with Warner. I'm not trying to betray him.

"What is he talking about?" Adam says weakly.

"Emilia here made a deal with me. In exchange for Juliette's freedom, she looses hers. Go on and tell her all about the other girl you feel for."

I didn't know that Adam knows Juliette well. I don't even know Juliette myself. All I know is the glimpse of her that I saw.

"Don't listen to a word he's saying."

Warner chuckles. "Goodbye, Kent."

He looks down at me, and that gentleness comes back into his eyes as he slips his arm around me. His grip is firm, but in no way is he trying to hurt me.

"Let's get going, love."

I'm hurting just looking back at Adam. I truly can't help him and I don't know what to do. Warner won't let me. If I even try to escape, he'll shoot Adam again.

I don't know if I should have volunteered to help Juliette.

"I don't know what you think, Warner, but I don't love Adam or return any of his feelings. He's not who I love."

"Then who do you love?"

"I don't know," I stutter.

Warner's green eyes flicker. "Denying your attraction to me is completely useless. I can see right through you, dear."

I gulp before looking down. I simply can't look into his eyes anymore without melting.