274 (Complex Series, #4)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The second she says this, the Officials burst from their formation. I watch the Official nearest to me pull out a shiny, smooth blade. I stumble backwards, falling against the hard metal desk, the Taser slipping from between my fingertips.

The Official presses the blade to my neck, the desk behind me making it impossible to move out of the way. Another Official easily pins Benson to the wall and pushes the knife to his throat as well.

Christopher scrambles away from the Official after him, weaving between people. The Official kicks the back of Christopher’s legs. Christopher tumbles down, but the Official grabs his arm at the last second. The Official yanks Christopher upward and sticks the knife to his throat as well.

Piper refuses to go down. She sprints away, vaulting smoothly over the desk. As she swings her legs over, her fingers press down a button. As the Official rounds the desk to grab her, she sails back over, running past us. The side door, the one that she always appears through, slides open. She darts inside, disappearing down into the curving hall.

Escaping the Officials.

Abandoning us.

The last Official sprints after her, disappearing down the hall.

Will Piper outrun the Official? She had a good head start, but there are all the doors blocking the way, the tight corners.

Even though she’s helped me escape everything else, can she help me escape Ellen herself?

At least someone will know what happened to us. Someone will know more of the cruelty of Ellen. Maybe we’ll become somewhat of the legend, just like Piper did. Maybe the story of how Ellen herself came all the way to the Unknown for us will spread.

I suppose the rebellion is over.

What is Ellen even doing here? I thought she wasn’t going to be here for another three hours. Derek gave us the information and then Josh backed it up. I can’t get over the fact that Ellen Windsor, a Head, is standing in the same room as me. It’s amazing that I haven’t been murdered yet.

Why didn’t the Tasers work? They obviously worked on the Officials earlier. What happened?

Josh hasn’t been captured yet. He stands in a corner, not exactly cowering but he certainly isn’t standing boldly either. He’s just there, uncomfortable. They must have decided he wasn’t a threat, due to his age.

Then why would they have Benson guarded?

I swallow, pushing my trembling hands against my sides. The knife slides along my throat, sending little tendrils of pain over my skin.

Will Ellen kill us right now or will she take us back to questioning? Does she know that I’m immune?

These people, Christopher, Josh, Benson, they are all going to die because of me. Just because I couldn’t sacrifice my own life. Just because I let these people lead a futile rebellion.

If I had stopped them, only Piper and I would have lost our lives today. I can add Josh, Benson, and Christopher to the list of people’s lives I’ve failed.

I hear an angry scream rip from the hallway. A minute later the Official reappears, dragging Piper behind her. She’s red in the face, kicking and hitting anything she can.

Ellen bends over and puts her face next to Piper’s livid one. “Oh dear. You are going to be a problem, aren’t you? It’s not too big of a deal, I suppose.”

Piper spits, hitting Ellen square in the nose.

Ellen squeals in outrage, daintily wiping the saliva off her nose and brushing it on her pristine skirt.