At End's Gate

MIDNIGHT DECISIONS

Everyone went to sleep. Around midnight Paige couldn't sleep. She just stayed in her sleeping position. She lay with her side with her eyes closed. The moonlight made it's way through a small part of the window. The silence was unbearable. Each time she tried to sleep. She relived the experience of being chocked throughout by the person she loved. It hurt. She felt a movement near her. Someone had woken up. The person walked up and woke up a few other people. Paige was about to open her eyes when she heard James speak." No! Don't wake her up," he whispered," I need to talk to the four of you." They left the room.

Paige opened her eyes. She turned and saw Blake by the corner. She started thinking how she could hear their conversation. Paige took out her phone. She had learnt how to break a phone encryption but she knew breaking James' encryption would take her months. Conner wasn't going to work either. He took the same class. "Lexi," she whispered to herself. She started typing in many codes in her phone which made her get into Lexi's phone interface. She activated the voice recorder setting on her phone thus Paige could overhear their conversation. She had set a code that would automatically delete the recording when the conversation was done. Paige set up that she could hear them without Blake hearing it.

The conversation began.

"I wanted to talk to you guys," James said," I feel a bit scared for both of my siblings. Both of them are a danger to themselves especially my brother."

"What makes you think so?" Alexis asked.

"As for Paige I'm aware that she went through a lot. I can't even imagine what's going on in her mind. I can just guess that she's bitter and angry. She's devastated."

"So what do you think she'll do?" Lisa asked.

"I know the probability that she'll do something stupid is very high but at least I can keep her in check. Blake on the other hand..."

"Blake will do what?" Lexi asked, her tone shaky.

"That's the problem I don't know. All my years with my brother I knew how to handle him and I knew what he felt but now..."

"Now what?" a depressed Lexi yelled.

"Alexis calm down. You'll wake them up. They are in the next room remember. Let's just listen to what he has to say without making any unnecessary tension," Conner advised.

"I'm sorry Lexi if what I'm saying is hard for you. You can only imagine how I'm feeling. You love him, I know but you have to know he's my brother and I love him as well. All my life I could predict my brother's actions. Honestly now I don't. After Erin died he was scarred. He was a wreck before seeing Paige. After Paige had talked to him he was still bruised but after a few minutes his face was devoid of emotion like he was boxing out any feeling. In a war scenario don't get me wrong that's good, being emotionless. What scares me is that he's boxing himself out from us. That means we can't even guess what he's thinking. He might be the strongest asset in the group or he might be the the weakest link. If he is the strongest of us then it's good but if it's the other way round then, then we might lose him."

Alexis gasped." What?"

"I'm sorry Lexi but it's true," Lisa said holding her shoulder," we can still keep him safe."

"Yes we can," Conner confirmed.

"That's why I called you guys," James said with an emotional voice," I need you to help me keep my siblings alive. I can't lose them. I know I do whatever it takes to protect them but I can keep myself alive. Help me please. Monitor them. Lexi I know you love Blake. Conner I know you love my sister. That's what makes me certain that you'll do whatever it takes to keep them alive."

"We'll do all we can," Conner said.

"Yes we will," Alexis agreed," but who's going to you in check? James your behavior is risky sometimes."

"I'll keep him in check," Lisa said.

"That's all I had to say. We can leave now."

Paige then turned off her phone. She looked at Blake and sighed. A few minutes later the others entered into the room. Paige closed her eyes and finally fell asleep.