The War for Survival (Survivors #2)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

-Erika

"Where the hell have you been?!" My parents question me like some suspect in a homicide.

"I was with an old group of survivors I had been with long ago before I came here. I was happy. Thanks for ruining it," I brush past them and head straight to my room. I lock the door behind me and look out the window at New York.

My heart hurts and all I can do is cry. The sadness within me is overwhelming and there's only one place that could change that.

I hate being out of control and all I want to do is escape this world. And if I don't get away from here, I know that one day soon Alec's fears will come true. I will end up destroying myself..

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After a month goes by of being trapped in New York, I've officially given up all hope.

If I leave the room, someone has to escort me to my destination. If I stay in my room, someone guards my door outside. I'm practically a prisoner locked away in a cell.

I can only imagine what Alec and Jared, and the rest of the group of rebels are doing. I'm sure going on missions and ridding the world of vampires.

When I left there, there was nearly 2,000 people. Each team has 20 people, therefore a 100 teams. There is roughly over 19,000 'incorporated places' as in towns, cities, and counties, in the United States. To rid the country of vampires with each group traveling everywhere, it could take roughly over 190 days. That is, if they do it daily but of course with the travel distance that's additional days. And sometimes it takes more than one team depending on the city. But if everyone around the world worked together, we could truly rid this planet of the rabid animals that have taken over.

And this is what my life has come to, math. And obsessing over killing off the vampire population. I've officially hit rock bottom.

And the other obsession is, what's Alec doing now?

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-Alec

Its been 2 months now, and I still can't believe she left me. Or this place, I should say.

That kiss.. Was the only real thing I've ever felt in my life. I grew up in an orphanage in Russia until I was 8 and the world went to shit. But I learned early how to fight. Trained to be an assassin. Even after the world changed, they still trained me. It was for survival at that point.

I never knew real parents, real happiness, real family in general. Nothing.

But that kiss..

That was real.

And now she's gone. And no matter how hard I try to forget her, she never escapes my mind. No matter how many women I flirt or kiss or anything with. It all feels wrong. And her kiss.. Its the only thing in my life that's ever felt right.

My nerves are shot, my emotions have gone haywire, and nothing seems to get better. Just yesturday, I almost punched someone for accidentally bumping into me.

I fear that she may end up destroying herself by being in that place. And I fear that I may have the same fate without her here.

Nothing seems right. Not on missions. Not in the training room. Its like her presence is a ghost now, like I look up and expect to see her but she's never there anymore. Like she's disappeared. For good.

And she has.

The hard mat floor hits me like a brick wall as I'm knocked down on it. Never has another soldier been able to do that before. Except for Erika..

I can't focus without her here. I can't think straight or even process any fighting skills.

"Alec, are you okay?" Jared kneels above me. I ignore him, lost in my mind as I lie on the mat and stare up at the ceiling. "Never have I ever been able to knock you down. Nor anyone for that matter."

"Except Erika.."

"That's what this is about. Had a feeling it was," he sighs and sits down beside me. "You miss her too, don't you?"

"So badly that you were actually able to knock me down. I can't think straight or function without her here. I look up and expect to see her walk in the room and she's not there. Like she's just a ghost or figment of my imagination now." My heart clenches in my chest and I close my eyes, fighting through the emptyness she's left me with.

"I hear ya. She's my best friend.. Its hard to imagine a world without her around. Nearly impossible actually.."

"I've never felt like this over anyone. I can't move on. I can't forget. She's permanent. And she's been the only real thing I've ever had. Or even met. She's so.. different in every perfect way. I've never even really had a friend before. And the closest thing to one, was her. No matter all the shit we went through. I can't just let her go. But even if she came back, it would end the same. Only worse this time around."

"I'm not so sure about that..," Jared smiles and its like a lightbulb turned on inside his head. "I have a lot of sources that support what we do here. And Erika has even more. If we all joined together, we would outnumber her parents' forces. They wouldn't stand a chance. I could make a few calls.. We could break Erika out and bring her back. She could get ahold of her sources too. If her parents even tried to take her away, they wouldn't stand a chance. I'm not saying to start a war. But prove to them that they can't control her life anymore. And everyone loves Erika, they'd back her up in a heartbeat. We could show them that she is in control of her life, and they can't do anything about it. They wont. And soon, they'd have no other choice but to love and respect her decision. And trust me, accepting shit is hard for them. But this isn't something they'd have an option with."

I jolt up and stand to my feet. "What the hell are we waiting for?? Let's do this."