Mismatched(A collab with EmeraRider)

Chapter 8

  Sometimes, it is better if the truth remains unknown, and that was certainly the case for Nathan's tale. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes as he finished his terrible tale, and I refused to let them fall, even if he wouldn't see them, considering it was pitch black. I couldn't bear to even imagine it--a father, who was supposed to love and care for his children, nearly beating them to death? And then..losing half of his soul? If I felt alone as an Outsider, how would I feel without a part of myself?

              "Does it..still hurt?" I asked softly, "Not having...part of yourself?"

          Nathan pondered this for a moment.

              "No. Not really. I feel more..empty. As if I'm searching for something, but I can't find it, no matter how hard I try. But don't tell anyone, that may ruin my notorious persona as Halfsoul." His sarcasm and pride sounded forced, but I suppose that his bitterness was the only thing keeping him together.

                It was strange, our relationship. It was one that was quickly forged due to yet another dire situation. One day captive and captor, next we were telling each other the story of our lives. But still, my tale was not nearly as tragic as his.

      "Oh, Nathan..I.." My throat suddenly closed. For the first time, I felt hatred. Not for him, of course, but for his father, who ruined all that Nathan could've been. I hated it all, because Nathan wasn't some criminal out of choice, but out of chance. Out of just happening to have a father like that.

                    "That's alright. It doesn't matter. I was an outcast before it ever happened, right?"

                     Before I could answer, the stone suddenly rolled over. Nathan froze.I blinked, temporarily blinded by the light, because the figure that stood before me certainly could not be Alexandra.

                  She grinned at my shock, and sauntered towards us, with Michael in tow. I desperately wondered where Eric was. He was the only one I knew that had sympathy for us--or me, at least. Our only hope of mercy was gone.

                     Alexandra sat down in front of me, slightly wincing. Michael tried to assist her, but she ignored him. 

                         "Hello, Zoe, Nathan. I think it's time we had a heart-to-heart." She smirked, knowing that I had been dreading this moment.

           I glanced at Nathan, but he said nothing in reply, his jaw tight and his fists clenched, so I decided to follow his suit and remain silent. I nodded mutely.

               Alexandra continued, twirling a lock of her brown hair.

                            "Halfsoul, I'm going to let you go, under one condition: you must join us. Surely, after being on your own for so long, you must need some allies to surive. Besides, with your help, it will make us that much closer to ending the Order."

           There were a few moments of charged silence. I could see the greed and anticipation in Alexandra's golden eyes, as if Nathan was just some rare collector's item, and I grew to despise her a little more.

              He looked at her cooly.

                             "I'd like to make a few things clear. First of all,  I don't  'need' any other allies--I have Zoe. Secondly, I don't care about the blasted Order, I just want to leave this wretched cell, and because of that, only that, I will only join you Defiant under two conditions."

                She glanced at him amusedly.

                             "...and those are?"