Expose Them, sequel to Release Me (Editing)

14

We walk side by side with linked hands through Central Park. Derek claimed that we had to walk off all the delicious food we just ate. I'm guessing it's more like he wanted to spend time outside on a romantic stroll through a beautiful park at night. Which I find adorable.

Looking up at the black sky dotted with little white stars, I begin to remember the nights Hunter and I spent stargazing.

"Is everything alright?"

I focus on Derek and smile. "Yeah, it's perfect."

He returns the smile as he leads me over to a large willow tree, its branches fawning over us, hiding us from view.

He then sits down in the grass and tugs on my arm, pulling me down after him.

"Derek?"

"Hmm."

"Do you think we'll win? Do you think we'll be able to destroy the cure?"

He looks at me, his eyes softening. "You have to believe that we will Alison, and then we will."

I release the breath that I was holding and rest my head on his shoulder. "I just want to make this  a better place for everyone."

"I know." He begins to stroke my hair.

I look through the branches of the tree glimpsing a figure standing across the path. My body goes rigid. I knew someone was watching us.

"What's wrong?" Derek's eyebrows are creased in concern.

"Wait here." Is all I tell him, standing up.

"What? Where are you going?"

"Just stay here." I step out of the shadows of the trees and march up to Brandon fuming. "What do you want now?"

"Nothing. Can a guy just hang out in the park?"

I place my hands on my hips. "Not when the guy is spying on other people."

He gives me a smug smile. "I told you he had strong feelings for you."

"Get lost," I spit, pivoting on my heels my back to him.

"Actually, I have something to tell you."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You'll want to hear this. I can promise you that."

I turn to face him. "Spit it out then."

"Okay." He smiles. "President White is having a masquerade ball and guess who's invited?" He says dramatically.  "All the autocrats of the world. It's a perfect time to show all the other countries what's really happening in America, don't you think?"

"When is this ball?"

"In two months."

I inhale deeply, my heart thudding widely. "I guess he'll be going down then."

Brandon grins. "You bet."

"Who was that guy?" Derek asks when I return to him.

Tell him the truth Alice, he deserves to know it, and you know you can trust him.

"Brandon, he wants the revolution to rise once again."

"How?"

I meet his eyes. "We're going to crash your father's masquerade ball and expose him to the rest of the world."

"That won't work."

I frown. "Why not?"

"The security is going to be extremely high. You won't be able to make it past the gate."