4,035

Mars

I stroked her hair as she slept peacefully beside me. I pulled her closer and took a deep breath. 

"Evie," I said softly, shaking her shoulder. I smiled as she revealed her twinkling eyes. After a second of waking herself up, she threw her arms around my shoulders and buried her head between her arm and my neck. 

"I thought you'd be gone by morning." I didn't think it was possible to talk so loud just seconds after waking up. 

"Come with me." 

"Where?" She let go. 

"Get dressed. I'll explain everything on the way." I climbed out of bed as she nodded and head for her closet. I sped through the apartment, Lana still passed out on the couch. I snatched her keys from the coffee table and ran to the car. As soon as I was secured in the drivers seat, I pulled out my phone and began to dial. 

"Mars," I said as soon as he answered. 

"Who is this?" She distorted voice hissed.

"My name is Connor Flanagan. I was chosen. I know what the deal is, I know who you are, I know what's happening," I spoke frantically, hoping Evie would take a while to come out. 

"Impossible!" He growled. 

"You took my adoptive mother when I was ten! But that's besides the point. I need your help."  

"How'd you get this number?" 

"I'm not here to fight. I know what you're capable of. You need to take me today. In two hours I'll be in the visiting someone at Athair Asylum. Meet me there and I'll come with you, no bloodshed." I began to sweat as I saw the door open. 

"If this is a trick," he began. 

"Mars, if this is a trick you can shoot me, and everyone I love on the spot. I've got to go now." I hung up and shoved my phone in my pocket before he could respond.

"Explain now," Evie insisted as she sat in the seat beside me. I nodded and started the car.

"Years ago, there where a group of people-" 

"Oh, you're giving me a history lesson now?" She snickered. I glared at her. 

"Sorry." 

"These people, they where building. I don't know what, but it was powerful and dangerous, but very important to them. They had 4,035 people working on it when someone discovered them. War broke out. 'It' was destroyed except for a few parts, and they were left with only about three hundred people. So, they took what they had, and they fled. We just assumed they gave up and moved far away, but that's not what happened. They kept working on it. And now, they take one person from every state, keep them for three years and then get new people," I explained. 

"What do they do with them?" She asked. 

"I'm not sure. Maybe they force them to help build, or maybe they just torture them for fun. But whatever they have, is too dangerous for anyone to do anything about it. If the chosen person refuses to go, they declare war on that state.  I was chosen." I shuttered just thinking of what they might do with me.

"But- Connor, I- I can't be without you for three years!" I looked at her with pity as I realized I'd left out the most important part. 

"I know." I decided it would be better to spare her the information about my mom. It would only break her heart more. 

"What are we doing here?" She wailed as the car came to a stop. 

"There's one more person I have to see."