The Thinning AU

5

I had a plan that would decide Ellie's fate. I had second thoughts about my plan because me of all people to have that kind of power, well that's just dumb. But it might be dumb enough to work.

I looked at my alarm clock and I saw that it was already 1:30 am. I wiped my head a felt the rush of tiredness hit my like a sledgehammer. I put away my notes and I fell into bed not bothering to change out of my uniform or wash it.

I woke up to my alarm and rushed out the door without breakfast or the need for personal hygiene. I walked to our garage and grabbed my old bike that I hadn't ridden in years and I pedaled to school as fast as I could. I swerve at times when my eyes filled with hazy tiredness but I knew that riding my bike would give me a few extra minutes with Ellie.

I got to school and jumped off my bike throwing it next to the bike rack. I went back to room 213 and opened the door. Ellie was no longer crying, instead she had her head on her hand and she stared at the clock on the wall. "Ellie!" I said. She looked at me confused and said, "What are you smiling about?" I hadn't even realized that I was smiling but apparently I was smiling enough for her to notice. I walked over to her and in was about to speak but then I looked around the room. I was looking for cameras. I didn't see any thankfully. "Max, why are you acting so weird right now?" Ellie said and looked a little irritated. I looked down at her and I said, "I have a plan El" she looked at me really mad now. "El, what is it?"
Without hesitation she said, "What wrong!! I am stuck in this little room waiting to die! And now you come in with a silly plan? You were probably expecting that I would fail the test weren't you!" Without letting me answer she continued, "Everyone knows that I am a failure!"
I stopped her and said, "Ellie!! What on Earth are you on about!? You are not an idiot! You are not a failure! Trust me, I know what failure is." She looked up at me with the most defeated look I had ever seen from her. She burst into tears and was mumbling things I couldn't understand because she was sobbing so much. I couldn't think of what to do so I just said, "Ellie, no. I'm sorry" My voice broke, had I done something wrong? What could I have said that made her cry? She breathed in deeply and calmed herself down. After a couple minutes of her calming down she said, "Max, my family hasn't come to see me. They know I'm in here and that I failed the test. They refuse to come in and that told the principal that they wouldn't come see a daughter that is a failure." She held in her sobs barely and then she said, "You're the only one that has come to see me." There was a long silence and I was speechless.

"Ellie. Listen to me, you are not a failure. And I will get you out of here. I will not break my promise to you, I swear. I have a plan." The guard came in and pulled me out of the room. On my way out the door I yelled, "I promise Ellie!!" I couldn't see her for long but right before the door closed I saw her smile and I knew that I had to keep that promise, and I had 5 more days to do it.