Error 42

Chapter 14:

Trigger Warning: Water Boarding & Branding.

Back in the hotel room the trio sat around in silence for a while before Cedar looked over at Ellie and hesitantly spoke up. "Are we gonna talk about what you said earlier?".

"What do you mean?". Ellie asked, raising her brow in confusion.

"When we were at the cabin, you kinda sibling zoned me". Cedar replied with a small laugh.

Ellie let out a small laugh of her own before frowning and crossing over to sit next to Cedar on the bed, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze as she spoke. "Ced, we can't be together".

"I know". Cedar replied quietly after a moment or two. "Just let me grieve over it for a while, okay?".

"You don't ever have to consider me a sibling if you don't want to, but can we at least be friends again?". Ellie asked tentatively.

"I wasn't aware we ever stopped being friends but yes, we can". Cedar replied with a small smile before pulling something out of his hoodie pocket and holding it out to Ellie.

"You actually held onto this?". Ellie asked in disbelief, looking at the moon phase ring Cedar had given to her back in Catalina.

"Of course I did". Cedar said casually, even as he grinned at Ellie's excitement. "I figured you'd want it back at some point".

Ellie frowned for a moment before putting on a small smile and sliding the ring onto her finger and hugging Cedar. "Thank you".

"Guys, I hate to break up... whatever it is you both have going on but we really need to think of a plan to get out of here". Lev suddenly cut in.

"Right". Cedar said, pulling away from the hug and roughly clearing his throat as he got off the bed and jiggled the bedroom doorknob. "The door's locked".

"What about the window?". Lev asked as he got up and prepared to walk over to the big picture window.

"Hotel windows don't open, It was some safety precaution back in the old world". Cedar explained. "My dad told me". He added, seeing Lev's perplexed look.

"So, that's it then? Were trapped?". Lev asked, sitting back down on the couch as tears sprang to his eyes.

"Hey". Cedar said gently as he got up and wrapped his arms around the teenage boy. "Listen to me, we're gonna be okay".

Lev wiped his teary eyes and nodded, laying his head on Cedar's shoulder as Ellie spoke up. "How far do you think our parents are from here?".

"Joel and Rocky are probably looking for you and Lev, I doubt my dad is looking for me though". Cedar remarked quietly.

"How can you say something like that? Your dad loves you, of course he's out there looking for you!". Ellie exclaimed in shock and confusion.

"He hates me, I know he does". Cedar whispered, twisting his hands in his lap as he sniffed. "This is the second time I've run off like this".

"I know about what happened at the hospital in Buffalo, You wanted to help find a cure, that's pretty admirable even if it wouldn't have worked". Ellie replied gently.

"It wasn't about wanting to help find a cure El". Cedar admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What was it then?". Ellie asked, even though she already had a sneaking suspicion as to what the answer would be.

"I was trying to commit suicide". Cedar admitted tearfully. "After everything that had happened with David Nigel I just couldn't deal with it anymore".

Ellie nodded sympathetically and rubbed Cedar's back in comfort. "Random question, but, do you think the people that tried to operate on you were Fireflies?".