The Insiders

Chapter 20

Chapter 20- Sharlene

"As soon as the bombing seemed to be over, your father ordered the whole town to evacuate to a certain region. Within days they had a wall built. I was completely against the wall. If you were ever going to come back, you wouldn't make it. The guards would shoot you on sight. So, that's how I ended up here. I decided the only way you were going to come back safe would be if I protected you myself. So, I signed up for the next line of duty. Our mothers tried to talk me out of it. Your mom even told me you were dead. But I knew you were out here somewhere. I just knew. The next day I left. My group slowly moved our way here. Setting up and changing camp every six or so days. We haven't seen anything though. No signs of anyone else but us in this area. Until you came. That's why they surrounded you so quickly."

I don't know what to say. I know I need to say something but I don't know what.

"Sorry about all that. I guess you don't really want to hear all that before you sleep." He laughs.

" It's okay. Night." I try to end this conversation.

"Good night." He replies with disappointment clear in his voice. I roll onto my side to face away from him.

I'm in shock, but I don't know what is the most shocking. My dad has taken insane steps to try to keep the insiders away. I can't help but let a smile play at my lips. He tried to keep all the insiders away but he couldn't keep me away. The smile disappears from my face as I remember everything else Peter said. My mom thinks I'm dead. She gave up on me and tried to get Peter to too. How many others have given up on me? I'm so happy that Peter didn't give up on me but at the same time I'm disappointed that he didn't. He likes me but after all that has happened this month I'm not sure where I stand with my feelings. Peter has been there for me my whole life but that life is a lie. Coren has been there since the truth. Which is the real me right? I don't know who I am anymore. There's so many lies and secrets. Things I don't know. I need to go find out.

' State to whom your loyalties lay' I hear the man over and over in my head. I know this is a memory and not a thought. The feelings are different but the question from it is clear. Where do my loyalties lay? With my family and friends? The people who have raised me. Those are the people who have made me who I am. Or with my people? My kind. They are who I really am. Joy and Kim's faces flash in my head. They're my people. They were my people. They were my kind along with my friends and family but they were killed by my actual family. My friends I've grown up with have become murderers. They've become assassins hired to kill me. I need to get out of here. I can't be here another day lying to Peter.

Peter's light snores are telling me he's asleep. Now's my chance to leave. My only chance to leave. Before I know it I'm changed back to into my other clothes. I can't help but stare down at my pants. The cuffs of them are covered with a dark stain. A stain that could only be from one thing. Blood. Not my blood of course but the blood of a young girl. It's Joy's blood. I begin to rub the pants violently but the blood doesn't go away. I feel a tear roll down my face but I quickly rub it away. No more crying Sharlene. No more crying. I hear Peter begin to stir. I quickly exit the tent before he can say anything. The things he's said have confused me so much. Too much.

This camp looks so different at night. I'm not sure I'll be able to find my way out but I need to. I have to go back to headquarters. I'm just about at the edge of the camp when I hear a voice coming from one of the few lighted tents.

" I can't believe this." I hear the man say. I stop and stare at his silhouette. The black shadow is staring at the ground. I slowly approach the tent but make sure I'm not seen.

"How did you find this out?" He asks but there's no one else in the tent. I stare closely at the shadow. I see he has one hand up by his ear. He's on the phone, but with who? There's one way to find out. It's going to be tricky but this is what I've been training for. I let myself go.

' We found their hiding place. I'm actually surprised you didn't. It's not to far from you.' The man on the phone laughs.

' Anyway. We attacked them.'

"And how was it?" The silhouette eagerly inquires.

' Easy, they were no where near prepared.'

"Did you get anything good?"

'Ya. We got a list of their names rated in order of quality of their power. We also got a paper. It has some sort of formula on it. We're not sure what it will do but it was locked up with the list so it's gotta be great.'

"Sounds like you hit the jackpot Damien! Are you gonna go back?" Damien, that name sounds familiar.

'Ya we're just waiting on the formula. My sister is going to make it. Then we'll just go there and see what it does I guess.'

"Wait who's your sister again?"

'I've told you this so many times. It's Evelan Fraser.' My mother.

"Speaking of her. I found her daughter today."

'You found my niece.' He says with disbelief and concern at the same time.

"Yes. She just stumbled out of the wood. Good thing we didn't shoot her." He laughs. There's nothing but silence on the other end of the phone.

"You still there?"

'Yes.' His voice comes through almost like a whisper.

"Are you ok-"

'She was near the top of the list.'