Losing Eight Lives

20 | Becka

"I want to go with you," I stated.

I stood in front of a large helicopter that was being prepared for flight. The hanger it sat in was cold and saw the steam of my breath in front of me. But the only thing I cared about was going to see Becka.

Steve looked at me like I was insane. "Why?"

"Because I want to see one of the only friends I have left that isn't fake." I responded bitterly. "Is that so bad?"

"Yes, because we aren't allowed to take the subjects back into the city unless instructed to." Steve handed a large cardboard box to a guy on the helicopter to be taken to the back.

"First of all, the 'subjects' are people. We have names, believe it or not. And second, why not?"

"Because it would be traumatic for the sub- uh, for you guys. And you will see Becka as soon as she gets here."

"Yeah but you'll probably have to knock her out, because there is no way she would just hop on a helicopter with a bunch of movie-looking guys. She trusts me. If I went with you, she would probably come easier. You could avoid the whole scary dart thing." I followed Steve to a pile of boxes and watched him pass them to the guy on the helicopter.

"Phoebe, you can't come with us. Let's just leave it at that," he struggled to pick up the next box.

"But what if-"

"No," he said firmly.

I rolled my eyes and sighed in frustration. "Fine," I stopped following him and marched over to the other side of the helicopter, where Marty was talking to Linda.

"If she cooperates, we can bring her here-" Linda was saying, but when she saw my approach, she stopped talking and turned her attention to me.

"Can I please go with you guys to get Becka?" I stood where I was and crossed my arms, waiting for an answer.

Linda studied me for a second. "No."

I uncrossed my arms and slumped forward while letting out a sigh. "Come on, please? She would come with you guys easier if I was there."

Linda looked at me thoughtfully. She shuffled the papers she held and turned to Marty. "Marty you can handle this one. I have work to do." She walked away in the opposite direction, leaving Marty and I alone.

"Marty, please?" I tried.

Marty gave me a long look. "It probably would be easier to get her with you there."

I felt the ends up my mouth curve upward slightly. "Yes, thank you. Wouldn't it?"

He nodded.

"So . . . can I please go?" I looked at him hopefully.

He nodded again. "All right, you can come. But you are not to get off that helicopter at any time. We need to keep you safe because you are valuable, so we can't allow you to get hurt," he walked forward to the helicopter and started talking to Steve.

Steve glared at me before saying something to Marty, and walking away.

I cautiously walked up to Marty again. "So when do we leave?"

Marty didn't answer at first, only looked at Steve storming to the other end of the hanger. "One hour."

-=-=-=-

The wind slid over my skin and through my hair. This was amazing.

The helicopter sped through the sky and over the white landscape. Not a cloud was in the sky and the sun was shining, but I still had to wear a coat to keep warm.