CHAPTER 20
HUNTER
The soldier named Blythe brought me to Evelyn, who in turn, told him to guard me in a prison cell.
I sit in my holding cell, awaiting whatever terrible fate that Evelyn decides fit. I wrap my arms around my legs as I realize. "I'm sorry I failed you guys," I whisper to Sam and Billy, who are both probably comatose in the old house. "I'm sorry I failed you too, Jacob," I whisper to the boy who died for me to get into the manor. I wonder if he only said those things to try to get into the Manor or if he was a legitimate spy of Evelyn's. "And I'm sorry I failed the world," I whisper, my voice cracking from tears.
The guard turns around and looks at me, but I don't care. Within the next few hours, I, along with Sam and Billy, will join Jacob as dead. I close my eyes, hot tears running down my face and dripping onto my knees, as I hear the door slide open.
"Pretty girls shouldn't cry," a deep Southern voice says in front of me. I look up, and the guard is extending me a hand. I take it and he lifts me to my feet. He is tall, and has dark brown hair that flips over his ears a tiny bit. To say the least, he's cute.
"Name's Max, Max Blythe," the boy says as he escorts me out the door. He looks about eighteen.
"Hunter Cinnabar," I say, and he puts a finger to his lips. He looks me in the eyes, and I realize his are a dark blue. Max. Like, secret note passing Max.
"Pretend you're my prisoner and we can get out," Max whispers to me, and he leads me by the hand down the halls. We pass multiple black-clothed guards, but because of Max's plan, none stop us.
"Wait, we need to get Sam's research!" I whisper frantically to him. I need to save my friends, and I definitely can't let Evelyn become tyrant of a communistic empire. I tug Max's strong arm, and he follows me.
"Do you even know where it is?" Max asks me softly. We turn around a white walled corner, and through a set of doors.
"Not a clue," I say, "But I know you can help me. Sam's told me how much you can slip around Evelyn, so you must know all the ins and outs here."
"Well," he says, glancing around. "Okay, but make it quick. I don't want you to die, and I don't want to get caught by Evelyn."
He runs us forward, his grip tightening around my arm. He leads me around more corners. Right, left, left, right, left, right, and up a staircase. Soon, we are in Evelyn's laboratory. The notebook sits on the counter, with a corked bottle suspended over it. The antidote. I grab both of the items on the counter, and walk back to Max. He puts the antidote vial into his pocket and we walk out the door. As we make our way down the hallway, Evelyn's voice comes over the announcement system.
"Attention all soldiers. One of your coworkers has allied with one of our convicts and is stealing Project X2B along with its related files. If you see Max Blythe, seventeen, with Hunter Cinnabar, sixteen, bring them to my office at once."
Every guard turns to face us.
"Run" Max whispers. And so we do. His black combat boots make a loud thud with every step. Almost as loud as the gunshots I hear behind us. I hear Max cry out behind me. Where was he hit? I don't have time to think about this, but I can't just leave him there. I run back to him. I set down the notebook and help him to his feet.
"Your heart is as beautiful as you are," he says.
"You can flirt with me after we outrun the soldiers," I say, but I catch myself blushing. He flashes a white smile, but because it's the only thing I can see of him in the dark besides his eyes, he looks like the Cheshire Cat. When he swipes his hair to one side, I can see his pale face in the moonlight.
We keep running until eventually we shake the guards. Max and I talk as we walk back to the old house.
"So how did someone as nice as you get involved in Evelyn's plans?" Max asks me. I blush.
"It's a long story," I say.
"I'm sure I could make time for someone as amazing as you,"
And so I tell him the story of how Sam managed to accidentally start the apocalypse and everything else moved on from there.
+ + +
When we walk into the old house, it is dark. Billy is comatose, as I expected, but Sam appears to be nowhere in sight. Billy is a celery green, and soaking wet. Max pulls the vial out of his pocket and puts the contents into a syringe. He hands me it.
"I'm squeamish," Max says.
"Funny, so is Sam," I tell him. I walk over to Billy, who is now rapidly declining in health. I take a deep breath, and stick the syringe into a vein in his right arm. As I push the serum into his blood, his skin tone begins returning to normal. When I finish, I put a bandage over the puncture and wash the needle.
When I turn back to Billy, he is awake, rubbing his arm. I rush over and hug my best friend, but he looks solemn. When we finally let go, I look over to Max, and he gives me a weird look.
'Are you two dating?' he mouths. I shake my head.
"Hunter, you brought a guy? And where's Jacob?" Billy asks.
"Jacob died helping me get to Evelyn's mansion-" I say.
"Evelyn?" Billy interrupts.
"I needed the antidote," I say. "I didn't have a choice,"
"But the guy?" Billy asks.
"I was one of Evelyn's personal guards. I helped her escape," Max cuts in.
"Where's Sam?" I ask, and Billy's eyes avert from mine.
"She um, drowned. In the lake behind the house. She saved my life, but she couldn't save herself. I couldn't even thank her..." he says, tears drawing at his eyes, before covering his face with his hands. I can't believe it; my best friend is dead.
