Six (Countdown book 1)

Epilogue

I climbed out onto the roof and sat down next to Scarlett. She didn't say anything and we sat in silence for a long time. I couldn't think of what I should say to someone who had less than thirty minutes to live, so I didn't say anything.

"Don't blame yourself, Eli." Scarlett said eventually.

I didn't say anything for what seemed like forever. "If I'd noticed that Ben was a traitor sooner..."

"You would still have a sabotaged scientific experiment on your hands." Scarlett finished. "Don't be too hard on yourself. I knew him for nearly six years and I didn't know that he was a traitor."

I didn't say anything for a long time. "I'm going to miss you." I said quietly.

"I'm going to miss you too, Eli. You're like a fifth little brother."

"You're like the bossy older sister that I never had." she laughed. She put her head on my shoulder and I stared off into the dark, star filled night as the rain began to come down harder, until I was drenched.

"I love you, Eli." Scarlett said.

"I love you too, Scarlett." I said, fighting back tears. I had told myself I'd stay strong, for her.

"Here." she said, and then she did something that I didn't expect: she took off her jacket and put it over my shoulders.

"I can't..." I muttered.

"Take it." she said smiling slightly. "I won't be needing it anymore, will I?"

"Thanks." I said, pulling the jacket around me tighter.

"Promise me something, Eli." she said.

"What?" I asked.

"Look after they others, but look after yourself, too. You can't just zone out like you did when we first got here. Promise?"

I could something dripping down my face, and it wasn't rain. I stared over at the horizon, at the town half an hour's drive away and the people there, living their normal lives. Sleeping with a dog at the end of the bed or up late watching TV when they should really be in bed.

"I promise." I said. My hands were numb and I felt more tears on my face. Rain dripped through my hair and plastered it to my face. My clothes were wet and heavy, and I felt tired. I didn't dare look down at my watch through fear of what I might see.

We sat in silence again for a long time. "Maybe I'll see Steve." Scarlett said eventually. I nodded.

"Maybe." I said numbly. I took a deep breath. The rain was pouring down now, splattering down on the roof, almost completely obliterating our words. The moon was half-covered by a layer of clouds, giving it an eerie effect. I shuddered and turned to look at Scarlett, but there was no one there.

I was left on the roof in the rain, feeling completely alienated and alone.