UNPROTECTED

Part Fourteen

Alina's POV 

My mind was swimming with questions, feelings, thoughts and, most importantly, fears. Nobody spoke after what Pearilia had just declared. She was asking us to sign our our death sentences and I don't think she herself understood the risks that were going to be involved. 

"Do you want to breathe fresh air? Do you want to be able to run and never face any boundaries other than the large expanse of oceans and of seas? Oxygen costs money now, but, back before the Ministry, it was free all day, everyday. You could exercise and dance and do literally anything! Don't you want that, too?" She was trying to sell the idea, but it was doing the opposite affect for Maria. 

"At least we're safe in the arena! At least we have shelter, food, water and protection from storms - storms that used to take lives and ruin homes! At least nobody drowns now - or starves or dehydrates." Maria had well and truly cracked. It surprised me how much she actually thought about things like this; all she ever talked about was boys, boys and more boys. This was out of character and totally uncalled for. 

"So you won't think about this offer?" Pearilia was still poking. 

"Well, yeah, but-" 

"No. Just remember who is feeding you and offering you shelter now. The Ministry don't even care." 

Ryan tugged on Maria's arm and gave her a death stare that would make anyone feel as though a million daggers were being shoved into their bodies. 

"I'll do it." Delia made her choice, forcing me, her sister, to go with it.

"I will, too. We can live in the treehouses and then plant more trees -we have no need for supplemented air." Connor shot me a look that said that he wasn't too happy about this. 

"Fine. I'm in." 

"Thank you.." I whispered into his ear. Shaking his head, I could have sworn he smiled. 

"I shall help this cause, as well." Marcus was in; and Delia seemed elated. 

"My little sisters are in, so I guess I have to, too." Louisa. 

"Sure! Let's go kick some Ministry butt!" Ryan raised a fist in the air and then realised then nobody was following his childish suit. "I mean, I'm in." Louisa pulled him into a tight hug as all eyes turned to Maria. 

"I'm sorry guys. I just can't. Would it be any trouble to ask if I could head back to my room? I promise to help out int he kitchens or whatever - but not with this." Now she was being polite - Maria was never polite. 

"Very well - leave us. The rest of you have made your choices and, so, you must stick with them. Now, we need to plan our attack before we are attacked, oursleves." 

I guessed that now, it was serious and I had only one thing to say: game on.