Unstoppable: Revitalized

-49-

"I was always on The Boss' side."

Callum had retreated to the desk, using the barely standing chair to sit on. I leaned against a wall nearby, knowing if he rushed towards a gun, or me for that matter, I'd have enough time to react accordingly. I thought about letting my friend out to feast while he spoke, but that just gave him ample time to target me. And if those rounds hit me? There was a high chance I wasn't getting back up.

"So what about Charlotte?" I asked, about halfway through my smoke. Callum laughed, slapping the desk as he bent over.

"Oh, god. Don't get me started. Such a simple girl... But, she was essential. You let your guard down, and it let me get close."

"So close you could stab me, huh." I retorted, blunt. He stopped, mid-animation, before looking back at me, hardened gaze and folded arms included.

"If you suspected anything, you would've cut me down in seconds. I had to betray you. There wasn't really a choice here, Adam. For gods sake, even you can see that. As soon as you found out you were practically invincible, you were unstoppable. Fucking unstoppable. The Boss did everything he could to keep a lid on how wild this place has gotten, but even he isn't God. You went too far, killing the Headmaster and an organisation member. Poppy's doing well, by the way, but I feel like you already know that."

I did: I'd been sneaking glances at her, noticing her breath stabilise and her limbs slowly bend back to normal. It's the only reason I'd entertained him.

The longer we talk, the better her chances are of getting up.

"So, the whole time, you weren't with us?" I couldn't help showing surprise. I'd thought we'd all gotten through to him, but I'd let trust blind me into thinking he was anything more than a dog with a bone.

"Charlotte took some convincing, once I'd had The Boss take them both here. Poppy said she'd join at first. She betrayed us soon after: Killed a man and took his gun, injuring another two. You can see how that turned out." He spat in her direction, and it lit a fire in me.

"I'm going to kill you, you know that, right?"

"I have a good chance. Ain't no way in hell nor heaven your freak of a friend has the energy to fight now, does he?"

I kept silent as he chuckled, standing up and taking another drag.

"So, that was your plan? Really? To string me along, keep me busy until The Boss found a better way to put me down?" I said, a tinge of sadness betraying my calm stance.

"I'll admit: It wasn't full proof. Hell, it wasn't even close, but it worked, and that's all that mattered. Keeping you wrapped up in this imaginary world you built." Callum's blunt voice dug under my skin easier than it should've, his new, calmer voice digging deeper than the bullets.

"I saved you."

"Bullshit, Adam. That's bullshit, and you fucking know it. You, single handedly, put me in more danger than anyone else ever had." He sighed, stopping to take a deep breath and a long puff, my brain scanning the scene relentlessly for any sort of angle I could use. "You still think your some sort of hero, don't you? Heroes don't kill people. How many lives have you taken at this point? Do you even remember Liam? Poppy? She'd be dead if we didn't inject her. Personally, I think it's the worst mistake we've ever made. Face it, kiddo: You're in too deep, and someone's got to stop you."

"You don't stand a chance."

"I know it won't be me. What, you thought I'd lit a smoke to talk about old times as Poppy bleeds to death in the corner? No. I know I'm a dead man walking." His eyes met mine, with the same mutual understanding they did before, except I didn't accept it.