Lovers' Maehem

Chapter 9

Maeve

June 9th, 2180

6:34pm

I walk back towards where we hid the car, making sure I'm hidden the entire time. After what happened yesterday, I'm not risking anything. I check my watch. I'm 10 minutes earlier than our agreed meet time, but that's not unusual for us. Nate isn't back yet, though I'm sure, he just needed a bit longer. I'm pretty sure his mission was in a rich neighborhood. We spent the whole car ride jamming out to songs, and I have to admit it was pretty fun, and I can't wait to do it on our way back. Plus, Nate promised we can grab dinner on the way back. Come on Nate, hurry up. I say in my head over and over again. Small towns like this give me the creeps. I try to look for Nate's light brown hair, but that's kind of hard, since he would blend in with the trees. I check my watch again. Come on Nate. We are supposed to be meeting right now, which means he's late. I check my watch 6 times a minute. We have a rule in the organization. If they are more than 15 minutes late without contact, you leave them behind. Nate has his phone on him, but it's usually off during missions. I go to sit in the car to stay warm, since it's dark now, and a cool breeze is flowing through the air. Come on Nate! I check my watch to see it's been 13 minutes and 12 seconds since we were supposed to meet. I can't leave him behind. What if he just took longer than needed and I'm leaving him. I pull my phone out, and text Nate asking is he's coming soon. Then I call Dakota.

"Dak," I say, and I can hear the panic in my own voice.

"Mae," she says hesitantly, she can hear the panic too, "what's wrong." I take heavy breaths now, and I'm starting to freak out.

"Nate's not back yet," I say. In, out, in, out, in out, inout, inout, inout. "We were supposed to meet," I check my watch, "14 minutes and 15 seconds ago. He hasn't texted, I haven't heard anything from him. Dak what do I do?"

"Okay," I can hear that she is starting to freak out, but is trying to keep her voice calm for me. "Mae first you need to take a breath." she starts and do as she says. "Now I want you to think back to lessons. If you were in a simulation, what would Grandpa say the next step is?"

"To leave without him, but I can't do that!" I exclaim.

"Maeve Blake, calm down and think. What did you miss, what are you supposed to do before that?"

"Dak, just tell me, I can't think!" I pause and then realize what I missed, so I cut off Dakota who's about to start, "search." I answer, "search."

"Yes, good job, " Dak starts, "now leave the car and lock it." I do that as Dakota continues, "look around to make sure you don't see anyone. Is there anyone there?"

"No," I answer, "no one is near." I can hear Dakota breathing heavily over the phone,

"Now move towards where Nate's mission is," she instructs. "On a street called Rosehan." I see the street right away, and am about to turn down it when I see the car swish pass me, and I immediately recognize the uniform of the man inside of it. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck! I run back to the car closing the door to the driver's seat, driving as fast as I can towards the direction of home.

"Dak," I say, my voice filling with the tearful tone, tears streaming down my face already as I speed down the highway.

"Still here," she says her voice concerned.

"I just saw them, in a car, going to get him," I cry, "they took him Dak, they're going to kill him!" I'm speeding way too fast, but I'm in the middle of nowhere so it's not like cops are around.