Maybe

Chapter 33

 I opened my eyes to see a blurry Ethan staring down at me.

"What happened?" I asked

"You're weak from the treatments, I need to get you back to your room." Ethan said frantically

Confused, I tried to stand up, but instead fell back down on the tile.

"Can't you stand?" He asked

"Does it look like I can stand?" I asked as I held my head in my hands

Ethan looked nervous as he surveyed the hallway and then knelt down beside me. He lifted me up bridal style with little effort and began fast walking toward my room.

"What's the rush?" I asked

"If they see that you are this weak, they will stop their experiments." He said

"Well, that would be a good thing right?" I asked

"No, that would be a very bad thing." He said matter of factly

"Why?" I asked confused

"Because they wouldn't have a use for you anymore." He said as he turned a corner and came to my door

"What would happen to me?" I asked as he set me down and opened the door to my room

He paused.

"I just... I need more time. Get some sleep." He said before he closed the door and locked it in place

Is it possible that the command Ethan just gave me was somehow kinder than the way he had been talking to me these past few weeks? I walked slowly towards the corner of my room and collapsed on the cold tile floor. I must've been incredibly exhausted because I fell asleep just as I closed my eyes and I had a dream for the first time that I could remember.

Ethan burst into my room wearing his everyday uniform of a black t-shirt and black jeans. His hair was disheveled and he looked as though he had just seen a ghost. He ran over to me and knelt down on the floor.

"They found out about me carrying you back to your room. They decided they don't have anymore use for you. I... I don't know exactly who you are, but don't worry, I have a plan. Just trust me and I'll get you out of here." He said

Before I could respond, he had left just as quickly as he had come.

"Wake up." I heard Ethan say in a cold voice

I squinted my eyes open and tried to sit up; I didn't succeed. Ethan helped me stand up and walk towards my treatment room.

"How long do you think I have?" I asked

"About a week." He said, "They were talking about getting it over with sooner, in the next day or two, in the meeting but I convinced them to push it to a week."

I looked up at Ethan in surprise.

"You're helping me?" I asked, "Why?"

"I told you, I have a plan. Just don't do anything stupid until then." He said

He has a plan? Was that dream last night, not a dream at all? It sounded to me like Ethan was actually trying to help us get out of here.

"What would be a stupid thing to do?" I asked

"Mouth off to the lieutenant and make him want to kill you sooner." He said, "I've heard people say you have a smart mouth."

"They're not wrong." I said, "But I'll try not to."

Ethan held the door to the treatment room open while I walked in and grabbed the thin medical robe that was placed lightly on the metal exam table. Ethan lingered by the door.

"I would appreciate some privacy please." I said

"Oh yeah, sorry." Ethan said as he went out and closed the door

I lay down on the cold metal table and waited for the doctor to come in.

"Hello patient 54, how are you feeling today?" The doctor asked as he entered the room

"Fantastic. You know, I'm planning to run a marathon after this so we might wanna hurry this up." I said

The doctor rolled his eyes as he prepared to inject the liquid into my vein. After my treatment, I met Ethan outside and walked extra slowly back to my room. I collapsed on the floor and rolled towards the wall. I closed my eyes and eventually fell into a deep sleep.

I felt heat surround my body. I jerk awake to see everything in my vision consumed in bright orange flames. Grayson emerges from the fire just in time to yank me up from my makeshift bed and drag me outside. I follow him without putting up a fight. It wasn't until we got outside that I notice; my partner was missing.

"What are you doing? Where's Ethan?" I ask Grayson as I brush ashes out of my hair

Grayson looked at me with puppy dog eyes that were quickly filling up with tears.

"I had no choice." Grayson said

I looked up at him with fury in my eyes.

"It was either you or him..." Grayson said

"What are you doing? We can still save him!" I yelled at him

Grayson shook his head as he said the words that tore my entire world apart.

"It's too late."

I took off in a dead sprint towards the store before I was yanked back hard into his chest.

"No! Stop! Let me go!" I yelled with tears streaming down my face

I fought, kicked, and punched Grayson as hard as I could, trying to free myself from his tight grasp.

"Olivia! Stop! It's too late!" He yelled at me

"No!" I yelled as I pushed Grayson to the ground hard, I kicked him using all of the strength I had left

"No!" I still felt his strong hands around my arms as I struggled to break free, "Let go of me!"

"Olivia..." I heard him say my name as I thrashed in his arms

"Let go of me!" I yelled

"Olivia, wake up."