𝓐𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝔁 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓻 (but you're Ashlyn) 𝕊𝔹𝔾

Episode 75

>>>><Time Goes Tick-Tock><<<<

"Ok guys seriously-" I try to break from their grasp, but they aren't letting up. Taylor and Aiden had wrapped around me, stopping me from getting up. "Let me up!!"

So, this Maverick guy wants to help us? Tyler asked
"Don't ignore me!" I shout, "And no- the way Ben described him, he seems to be the one standing next to the black hair woman who put us here." 

It seems as if he is her boss... "He doesn't want to help us. He just wants to use us." My eyebrows furrow at the thought.

Suddenly Ben's phone spoke up "It doesn't matter. If we join him and destroy this place, we can have a our freedom and deal with them later."
"He never mentioned our freedom though did he? Just that his group wanted to take the facility down."
Taylor spoke up, her voice slightly muffled and shaky "Ben, we're just as upset as you are, but we can't rush into trusting this guy"

She's right. All we know is that he wants to take down the facility. But that doesn't really tell us what he's planning to do with us afterward, does it? Not having any answers puts us in a pretty tough spot, and we need to think about what we'll do next.

"We can't rush into it.. But do we have a choice?" Logan's soft voice filled the room "Alex offering to help us escape, but taking this place down and escaping... are two different things"

He paused before continuing" This is the government. We would have to leave the country and even then they could still track us."
"I agree with Ben and Logan... We join this group, take down the facility, and if Maverick turns on us we deal with them." Aiden warm breathe blew on my neck as he spoke. It made a shiver run up and down my spine... "I'd rather deal with this group than the government"

I let out an exhale.. Aiden was squeezing me a bit too tight.

After discussing it a bit more we all agreed to take a break from everything and have some fun. Something we haven't had in a while..

"Aiden, I know I saw you this time! Stop stealing from the bank!" Tyler grumbled."I'm not! I'm only taking what I landed on," Aiden smiled, clearly enjoying himself."You just took 200 more than you should've!" "Aiden, how about I be the banker from now on?" Logan suggested with a grin.

I smiled slightly. We were actually having fun. "You landed on my property. You owe me 1200.""Why is everybody attacking me!?!" he exclaimed in a mock dramatic voice, throwing his hand on his head.

Taylor spoke up from her corner where she was making bracelets with Ben. "It's karma for cheating!"

I glanced over at Taylor and the bracelet she was crafting. In big letters, the little cubes spelled out 'SBG.' "SBG?" I tilted my head slightly in curiosity."It's the school bus graveyard," she said with a subtle smile. "I figured since that's where we mainly hang out, it felt right to add it, like a group name or something."

It was a small home. Our small home.

"I miss it..." Taylor said, looking at the bracelet with a mix of sad but happy emotions.

Ben used his phone to reassure Taylor that everything would be okay. They always cheer each other up; it was like they were an old couple caring for one another. I chuckled at the thought— the gentle giant plus the caretaker.

My thoughts were interrupted when Aiden mentioned something about making this place entertaining until we could get back home.

I turned back to Taylor. "How about we add colors to those? Then remake them when we wake up too?"

She smiled warmly, her expression glowing with a light that could brighten anyone's day, even in this situation. It was the type of smile that offered comfort and hope, cutting through the tension surrounding us.

In moments like these, her smile became a beacon, encouraging all of us to hold on and stay resilient. We will get out and find a way back home.

But until then, we'll make the best of what we have. We all lay down, huddled together. Aiden's arms wrapped around my waist, my legs draped over his. Taylor rested her head on Ben's shoulder, while Logan curled up with Ben's hand on his back. Taylor's head ended up on Taylor's leg, with Aiden pulling him in momentarily, squishing me in the process.

This was my family now... I won't let anything happen to them.

749 word count