To Be Betrayed (Red Queen Fanfic)

6

MARE

If you know their weakness, you know them.

I gasp, clutching onto my chest as if my life depends on it. Those were the first words Elara said to me, but she's dead, gone, extinct. Why would her voice be in my head?

I shake away those thoughts, and shift in discomfort. Cal went on the mission with Farley, Ella, Shade and Cameron earlier,l leaving a note to say he went. I'm now alone and cold in the room, wondering if I should go to sleep or not. Cal's warmth really helped during the colder months, blankets were cozier and we were wrapped in each other's arms, not worrying about anything else but each other. He'd be the first person to comfort me during my nightmares, but seeing that he's not here, I close my eyes, hoping to get a couple more hours of sleep.

However, I burst my eyes open, due to the image of corpses and a smiling Maven entering my head.

I decide not to sleep, and stay up, fearing that more nightmares would come and no one would be there when I wake up.

Three hours of sleep isn't that bad.

•••

Cal is still gone by lunchtime.

Shade and Farley had returned this morning, but didn't say anything about him, Cameron, or Ella. I assume they're safe though.

I want to busy myself by training, but none of training rooms are open. I twist and turn the knobs, pushing and pulling, nothing opening in return.

I go back into the room, but a sharp sting in my head makes me flinch for a split second, and when I open my eyes, another basket is in front of me.

Mare,
Surrender now or these will keep happening.

Maven

With shaky hands, I lift the basket open, another baby with and M mark on his neck.

I only stare at the corpse, breaking heavily.

I don't sleep again that night, and silently mourn over the baby. Elara's face enters my mind again, for the second night in a row.

•••

The next five days are unbearable.

My eyes are droopy and ready to close any minute. A week of no sleep, a week of staying awake, a whole seven days of fearing another child would die because of me. The memory of the dead baby still etches into my mind, the only thing keeping me awake at a time like this.

Cal has been busy the past few days, running back and forth from one base to another. I couldn't find it in myself to tell him about the dead baby, since he was already stressed out to begin with. He hasn't noticed the dark circles under my eyes, partially because we don't see each other long enough to see what's been going on.

I'm currently sitting down on a chair, eating breakfast in the cafeteria. It's quiet, mainly because none of the loud people– Shade, Kilorn and Farley– are doing their own thing. The other Newbloods choose to stay away from me, afraid I might shock them like I did to Avery last week. They're nice though, I can give them that. But with every flinch or hint of fear in their eye I see, it makes me wonder why.

"Mare?" Someone asks, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yes?" I reply, looking up at Cameron, who gives me a quizzical look and offering a smile.

"Cal's looking for you in the central command room. A circuit busted or something."

"Oh. Uh, thanks Cameron," I give her a small smile, but she stops me short, stepping in front of me. Her smile is replaced with worry, a frown on her face.