The Project

Stop Her

-Arista's POV-

As I quickly made my way to my room, my thoughts run rampant in my head, some of them soft spoken while the others scream at me for my stupidity. I come to a sudden halt, knowing I need to do something now while everything in me feels so very alive.

I run through the maze of hallways, keeping my heart rate up and my mind whirling so I can't talk myself out of this.

"I need to see the other fire wielder again. As soon as possible."

Isaac sits up a little more, his always ridid posture tensing further at my noisy entrance to his office. He waves his hand at the guards that tried to follow me in, since it is late and a dangerous teenager just ran into the masters office. They leave, keeping their gaze on me till the door slides shut behind them.

"And why, dear child, would you want to do that?" Something is off about him tonight, there is an unusal gleam in his eyes that makes my stomach churn at the sight.

I know my reasons for seeing the man again, that being figuring out where he came from and if he has any connection to the Project. But I can't tell Leona that, I'm not a moron.

"I want to destroy any Wielder who thinks they're better than me. I prefer being the only one of my kind." I lie smoothly, not breaking eye contact.

Isaac smirks, standing and coming around to stand in front of his desk, as if to try to intimidate me with his nearness. While I feel my insides shrink from him, I give no outward signs of fear. "So you wish to fight fire with fire, no?" He laughs at his own shoddy joke, and I remain emotionless as he clears his throat. "I will not send any other wielders with you, but I will send three bodyguards for your own protection."

Bullshit, he just wants them to babysit me. He doesn't care if I live or die, but my escape would be another matter entirely.

"Thank you. When can I leave?" I ask.

"Do you not wish to say goodbye to your friends before you leave?"

"No." I hurridly state, knowing they would try to stop me or at least attempt to come along.

Leona raises an eyebrow at me, his wide lipped smirk spreading as he nods, "Put on some suitable clothing, then meet at Docking Station 9 in an hour. Your crew will be there waiting, and you be in the air as soon as possible."

I turn on my heel and exit, an excitement coming over me.

I have to ditch those guards as soon as I can, but how?

No matter, I will figure it out when the time comes.

Back in my room, I select a braided hairstyle in the machine and this time actually attempt some makeup, but just a simple bit of mascara. I put on some kind of high-tech black jumpsuit, the only kind that can withstand me bursting into flames, and knee high black lace up boots. Easy to run in, somehow not flammable through the efforts of some tech team here. I know they engineer the wielders clothing differently than anyone else's, so no matter what I wear it is flame proof, as Nick's is water proof and Cade's can withstand high voltages.

I decide against any weapons, because if I do end up fighting I want it to be with fire.

Once dressed, I leave my room and go to the Dock Station, going to the only plane that is running currently, seeing my crew is already here as promised. They are three men, all looking to be about 28 or so.

I wonder what the exact age for them will be when Leona euthanizes them?

I shudder as I remember the Project's protocol for aging or ill members.

They are all seemingly emotionless, each of them holding a gun I'm sure could take out a small village if needs be. We silently climb aboard the plane, take our seats, and await takeoff.

-Cade's POV-

Damn her.

I paced my room for a while after she left, quite worked up.

Now I am laying on my bed, remembering the feeling of her skin against mine, her need for me as apparent as mine for her. It wasn't love by any stretch, purely lust and a need to feel something beyond pain, fear, or anger in this God-forsaken place. I suddenly get a very bad feeling in my gut, thinking back to the state she was in when she left. She had energy practically radiating off of her, her eyes were sparking green.

Oh my God, what if she did something stupid and got herself in trouble on the way back?

I pull on a pair of black joggers and black shirt and run barefoot through the halls to her room, where I see she hasn't set her security code to lock it.

What the hell?

I easily jam the system and open the door to find her room dark.

Empty? Where is she? Oh fuck.

I know she must have gone to Isaac.

But surely he didn't send her out on her own, without me or Nick?

I hear the overwhelming loud noise of a plane taking off from one of the nearby docks, and I just know she's on it.

That fool, that little fool.

I angrily kick the table beside her bed.

What do I do now? I can't stop her if she's already gone, and she could easily die out there.