Chapter Eight

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I stare at him, horrified.

"You aborted the mission?" I repeat. He nods. "Why would you do that? I have two suspects!"

"You were getting too attached," Franklin says.

"I am not," I say. My tone is indignant, but I have a feeling he knows everything that happened with Drew. He might even know about the way I've been reacting to people's behavior towards Taylor and Drew.

"See this pool," Franklin snaps, pointing a wobbly finger at the basin of water I just climbed out of. "Everything you see after you go through is reflected on the surface. I've seen you getting carried away. I should've known not to send in someone. This was a foolish mission. I should've known that whoever I sent in would let their emotions get in the way. It's human nature to let their emotions rule them instead of the other way around." He pauses for breathe. I don't say anything.

He continues his rant. "I thought you would be different, Miss Ardal. Clearly you are better left on the battlefield."

"Let me back in," I request. "I'm close, I can tell. I need them to trust me. Isn't it better if they like me?"

"You might not be willing to betray them, even if you find out one of your friends is the Originator," Franklin points out angrily. I set my jaw.

"What are you trying to keep from me?" I ask. He blinks and looks startled by my change in tactic.

"What?" he asks.

I repeat, "What are you trying to hide from me? You aren't worried about me completing my mission. You know that I won't let my personal connections get in the way. I'm a soldier. I can't afford to let my emotions get in the way. You're worried that I care about Taylor and Drew. Something's going to happen, something you don't want me to know."

Franklin doesn't say anything. I continue. "Just tell me. I can handle it."

"You've never seen death, Olivia," Mission Leader says quietly. My eyes widen.

"Someone dies?" I ask, trying to hide the concern surging through me. The look on Mission Leader's face tells me that I'm not succeeding.

"Please leave, Olivia," she says. "Go back to your team. Move on. It's best not to get wrapped up in the past." I roll my eyes.

"You know I won't," I plead. "I need to see this through to the end."

"This is the end," she says firmly. "Now leave."

Slowly, I turn on my heel and walk to the door. They don't try to stop me.

I shut the door behind me. Stomping all the way down the hall, I wipe tears from my eyes.

How can they do this to me? How can they let me get involved in this and just tell me to forget it?

Does this have something to do with my parents? Do they know something about them? Does one of them die or get hurt?

I head to Barracks Purple. I've got to talk to Sabrina. I admit, I didn't think about her when I was in the past. Now that I'm able to talk to her, I have to tell her what's going on. As it's a canceled mission now, it's no longer classified.

When I open the door to the barracks, I run right into the last person I wanted to see.

"Well, well, well, the prodigal daughter returns," A-M sneers. I cross my arms.

"Get out of my way," I order. He smirks.

"You are just like your mother. She used to think she ruled the world."

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