The Insiders

Chapter 40

Chapter 40- Sharlene

I force myself to leave Coren's room. Every step I take away from him feels heavier. I'm terrified. More scared than I've ever been in my life. What if something happens? What if he wakes up? Thomas said he wouldn't leave, but Coren never wakes up. Though it's selfish of me to think this, I wish he would wake up just so I could see his green eyes again. Hear his smooth as silk deep voice. Feel his strong yet gentle touch against my skin. This is all my fault. Coren was saving me because I wasn't paying attention. I was too busy grieving over my real boyfriend's father who was trying to kill me. Holy, my life is complicated.

I continue to walk down the hallway. My upper left arm is covered in gauzy bandages. The bruise along the bottom of my cheek has become worse in these past few days. Before, if I walked around the hallways like this, people would question it, but after the attack, I don't think anything would surprise anyone. As I pass the training room hall I stop because of a loud sound. The sound of shouting. I approach the door quietly, desperately wanting to discover the sound.

"-I know what I said before, but it's not a good idea to leave anymore!" I hear Liane scream at him.

" What do you think is going to happen? That they'll stay away?" Steve shouts back.

"With a little more training, these kids can fight them off." Liane explains, lowering her voice slightly.

"That's great. So when they've had that little extra training,we can send them off to the safe houses."

"Safe houses?" Liane's voice displays the same confusion I'm feeling.

"It's a project I've been working on for the past few weeks-"

"And why didn't I know of this project?" Liane demands from him.

"Because you wouldn't have approved it," Steve answers honestly. "After Sharlene came back from the Outsiders' camp, she told me that the Outsiders would come. She insisted on us leaving before they did come. I tried running the idea by you time and time again, but you were always so busy. So, at night me and a few other instructors would leave headquarters using the helicopters in the warehouse, and go build a safe house." He comes to a pause. So, that's why Steve was always so tired these past few weeks. Not only because of the loss of Kim, but because he's been trying to help us.

"Each safe house is a twelve hour walk from the other. Therefore the Outsiders would have to spread out a lot to attack them. There's enough beds for everyone, some food, a bathroom, so basically everything. All we have to do is drop them off." Steve finishes. I can't help but smile. We're leaving. We're going to get out of here. Far away from here.

"Steve, does this have anything to do with Kim-"

"No," He interrupts her. "Well- No it doesn't." He fights with himself out loud.

"She died here. I loved her and she died here. I just can't help but think that if we weren't here, she wouldn't have died." He says. He loved her. I think everyone knew that, but he's never said it.

"We're not leaving," Liane states, cold as ice. "I am the head of this program, not you." The disappointment takes over my body and my stomach drops.

"We're safer here. As a group. There's more of us. You should have never started your little 'safe house' project without running it by me." Liane continues.

"But-but," Steve tries to stand up for himself, but can't. I hear Liane gather some papers and begin to cross the room toward the door. Before I can think, I open the door and slam it shut behind me.

"Sharlene," Liane gasps. "What are you doing here?" Liane's standing just in front of the table. She's wearing a black pencil skirt, black blouse, and black dress jacket. She has what seems to be hundreds of papers in her hands. Behind her is Steve sitting at the table in his normal spot. He's wearing black pants and a navy blue long sleeve shirt.