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Chapter Five

Four pairs of eyes lock on Veda and Raya as the door shut behind them and Veda's heart skipped a beat when she saw her parents. The offered small smiles beside Raya's parents and she could only blink.

"Hey baby." Veda's mom held out her arms and took her daughter by her shoulders. Veda stared at her, shaking slightly before avoiding eye contact and staring down at the ground. "W-what're you doing here mom, you too dad?" Veda didn't intend to sound so cold, but that's how she often came across so her parents didn't even bat an eye as they smiled at her warmly in a way only a parent could.

"Honey, how could you ever think we wouldn't love you? I get that we prefer to live by the rules but you're out daughter. We love you no matter what." Veda let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding and even offered a smile that didn't last as she looked at the faces of Raya's parents.

"You two will have to go now. You can't stay here without risking capture." Raya's dad's voice was soft but resonated across the room and had everyone's attention immediately. Raya's mom sighed as she looked at her and they both ran together to hug. Veda didn't miss her parents shoot a wistful look at the interaction before they turned their attention back to her.

"Do they have to go so soon? Can't we just see our baby for a little longer?" Veda's father reached over to put his arm around her but she was quick to dodge and go over to stand by Raya.

"Didn't you hear Mrs. Dempsey? We have to leave. Why would you argue?" Veda's tone is curt and would have come off as rude if it weren't for the apparent fear causing her eyes to water and her hands to shake.

Raya caught that look and was quick to pull away from her parents and go to Veda's side. Raya glanced between Veda and her parents while Veda's dread only rose. "Raya, get what you need we have to get out of here. They're up to something. They would never deviate from the rules; we were fools to think that they would." Veda spat as her parent's eyes grew with horror. Raya's parent's mouths dropped in shock.

The only one who wasn't in shock was Raya who gazed at Veda's parents quizzically. No one spoke as Raya stepped closer to Veda's parents, never breaking eye contact until she suddenly dashed to the window and threw back the stained, floor-lengthened curtains to stare at the street below.

Raya's gaze hardened and she whipped around to stare at Veda. Veda knew the look and was quick in going to her side. She looked down at the street to see the five soldiers from before talking out in the street and glancing up at the window they were looking out every now and then.

Veda just shook her head and cast a glare over her shoulder at her mom. "I should've known you two would do this to me as soon as you found out! I know who my real family is!" Veda's form of a shout turned into high pitched squeal that sounded childish even to her.

"Veda, you need help! Go to the Institute and get the help you need!" Veda's mom screamed. Raya ignored her and turned to her parents calmly. Her parents were equally as calm as her mom came around behind her and unzipped her bag to put another plastic bag inside.

"You two be safe, we'll take care of all of this." Her dad murmurs to us with a reassuring smile that set Veda at ease. Veda offered a smile that was cut short when Raya grabbed her arm once more and pulled her back into the hallway. They paused once the door closed and looked at one another.

"I'm going to need you to be really calm, Veda. You're going to have to act like it's a normal day and that you aren't worried a bit. Do you understand?" Veda stared at her and let out a breath before shrugging hopelessly. "You know I can't act." That one sentence made Raya smile which set Veda at ease as her friend gave her a quick hug.

"We'll be fine; hopefully we won't see many people anyhow." Raya assured her as she led her towards and emergency exit close by that opened up to a stairwell. Raya didn't give Veda a moment to collect herself as she practically dragged her down the steps and out the back door.

Raya glanced around before she looped her arm with Veda's for what seemed to be the hundredth time that day before stepping out on the street to walk in a leisurely pace. Veda glanced at Raya who had her eyes straight forward with a bright smile on her face.

"C'mon, at least pretend like you're happy to be alive. Someone might stop us if you don't act like a ditzy school girl for at least a few minutes." Raya spoke like this was the most exciting news in the world and Veda offered a small smile in response.

"You remember how I was in school, Ray. I was never one for gossip or giggles." Veda spat the last word and shook her head at the thought. Raya let out an over-the-top sigh without losing her smile as she playfully gave Veda's shoulder a shove.

"Dear I'm afraid you're going to have to or you'll be at that dreadful Institute before tomorrow, just like my sister." Raya's voice contrasted with her cheerful smile and Veda's stomach churned in dread at the situation they were in because of her.

Despite her body's objection to that whole situation Veda forced what she hoped to be a dazed and cheerful smile onto her normally serious face. She could feel the fakeness of it but Raya seemed to relax when she saw it so Veda kept it up as they walked down the street.

Veda almost relaxed when she felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder, halting her in her tracks and sending a whirlwind of panic through her chest, constricting her breathing and causing her to break out in a sweat.

"What're you ladies doing outside?"

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Uh-oh. Well this getting suspenseful!!! I'm sorry but I really love this story and I've been really working hard on it so I hope all of you are enjoying it and I know the current cover really stinks (If I don't update this after I get a new one just know that anyone who makes one other than myself will be amazing).

Anyways I'm just waiting to find the right one and until I do I'm sorry that it stinks and it will get improved I PROMISE!!

I also hope everyone's having an amazing summer. I'm currently sun burnt thanks to some bad advice from some family but it's been good!!! So please share what's been happening, I would love to talk to all of you, it's one of the great things about Wattpad is that I get to interact with you guys! So please, comment or IM me I will definitely do my best to get back to y'all.

Okay! Until next time, love y'all!!