Not Like The Others

Chapter Twenty Two- Shift

Dedicated to all of you, stay strong and never lose sight of what you believe in.

Xx

Mel POV

Today was a brand new day.

The sun was shining and the birds were singing, life couldn't be any better.

Well... not quite. There was a pale, watery sun that couldn't quite break through the layer of dust on the small windows, and it was deadly silent, no birds to be heard. But still, today was a day of progress. Ever since I had a breakthrough with Mark, my mood had skyrocketed.

I had excitedly, no hysterically, told the girls what was happening and they could barely contain their excitement. It was time to make it or break it, and we were fully ready to take on the challenge.

I warned them sharply to be on their best behaviour and not raise any suspicion, and they were doing a stellar job.

The escape was scheduled for tomorrow evening, and it couldn't come any sooner.

There were two plans, Mark's and mine and I was planning to mix the two together to come up with a far more brilliant plan.

Mark's was to escape, just the two of us, but mine was a completely different story. It was far more riskier and complicated, but I think I had it all under wraps.

The plan was; to have the girls, Brad, Alfie and I to make a break for it. I had thought long and hard about who was leaving and I felt like those I had chosen were well deserving.

My morning meditation was so peaceful, I didn't have any trouble with my thoughts. Everything seemed to be right in the perfect place.

Today Brad had a surprise for me, a good one, he grudgingly told me after I forced some out of him. I hated surprises, it meant I wasn't on top of my game.

I met Brad in the gym, and as promised, there was a surprise waiting for me. And it was hiding behind Brad's enormous grin.

"Morning sunshine, how's it going!" He sung, slinging his arm over my shoulders.

Great thanks!! I also have a surprise for you, I spoke to him in my mind, but I physically scowled and pushed him off me, typical brainwashed Mel response. He took no offence, taking off in front of me to an office situated to the side of the gym.

I followed him in curiously, finding a lone guy sitting in a chair, facing away from us. I knew who he was straight alway, wondering how he was part of the surprise, and what good he was going to do.

"Morning, you two." The leader from my practise mission said, spinning around to meet us.

Brad mumbled his hellos and I merely nodded vaguely in his direction. It was when pretending to be brainwashed had it's small perks. I was allowed to be rude to people I disliked.

"As requested, your access to the western fields and forest area has been granted. You have four hours scheduled time there, unsupervised." He said and I slid a glance over to Brad. He looked cool and calm, as if that was what he expected to hear.

"You are allowed within the area that has been fenced off, don't go out of it, or else we will assume you are enemies." He pointed to a mapped out area with our designated stop highlighted in green.

So this was the surprise!!

A free four hours unsupervised time in kilometres and kilometres of forest and field! I screamed excitedly and thanked Brad internally, making him visibly wince.

"When can we go?" I asked, as if this weren't a surprise to me and I knew this was happening all along.

"Now. I will escort you." The leader said, standing and leading us out. "Lucky for some."