Overdose

38. The Executioner

Pretending to be on Xander's side and trying to tolerate him had taken its toll on me, so when Lazarus woke me up that morning I was nothing short of grateful. I knew it was early in the morning, but I seemed to have gotten loads of energy during my sleep. I quickly got out of bed, and practically ran out of my room. I had nothing in there that I wanted to take. The collection of Poe horror stories seemed to be staring right at me from the dresser. I looked back at it, and then shut the door.

"We must hurry down to Containment. I don't know if there are guards down there right now but I know that Xander has eyes everywhere." Lazarus and I hurried down the halls. Everyone was asleep, or at least in their rooms, at the time. No guards were stationed, probably all getting their sleep too. I suppose they didn't really need guards though, considering both doors at either end were locked.

We continued making our way down to Containment. There were no signs of guards, but I still felt uneasy every time I saw a camera.

Everyone in Containment was awake. And if they weren't, they definitely woke up when Lazarus turned the bright lights on.

"Lazarus, thank god you're down here." Heath sounded like Lazarus was Jesus. "We're all ready to go."

Lazarus hit a button on the wall, and I watched as all the doors to the units opened. Heath ran to him and hugged him, as if Lazarus was returning home from the war. "Thank you." He whispered.

I felt awkward standing there, like I was watching a moment between father and son. Marina hugged him next, and thanked him as well.

But they were the only ones who seemed to be ecstatic. Nathaniel, Isaac, and Felice sat in their units, looking uninterested.

"Guys, come on. We're getting out of here." Heath urged.

"I'm not leaving." Isaac said. It was the first time he had talked.

"What?" Heath asked, looking crestfallen. Marina looked the same.

"I'm not leaving. It's dangerous. I'm staying here, where I can't hurt anybody." Isaac seemed set on this, and I think Heath knew that as well. But he continued to try and convince him.

"You'll be with Lazarus. He can help you again. You and Felice." Heath looked at the girl, who seemed to be thinking the same as Isaac. She had not moved either.

"I'm staying with Isaac." Felice looked down. "You guys just go."

"Are you guys coming or what?" Rem came down the steps. This got everyone's attention.

"Rem? You're dead!" Heath exclaimed, running towards him. "How the hell are you here?"

"I'll explain later. Come on, Xander knows something is up. The guards are starting to come out."

Heath and Marina looked back at Felice and Isaac. Felice and Isaac were still dead set on not leaving.

"It's your choice." Lazarus finally said. "If you two don't want to come with us, then you don't have to. I wish you would change your mind, I'd be able to help both of you. But I can't force you."

"But-"

"Enough, Heath. We can't waste anymore time." Lazarus made his way to the steps. "If you ever find yourself out of this prison, you know where I'll be."

Isaac nodded. Felice did nothing. Heath and Marina followed Lazarus out and looked back at their friends for the last time. Nathaniel stood next to me, saying nothing.

"Come on." I said, and we left Felice and Isaac in their units.

Rem wasn't lying. The guards were coming into the hallway we were in. I grabbed my whip from the bag Lazarus was holding, just in case.

"Move out of my way." Xander pushed past the guards, Caesar at his side. "Evan, where are you going?"

If I didn't know any better, I'd say that Xander sounded hurt. Caesar crossed his arms, glaring at me. "I told you that you couldn't trust him."

"Evan, let's go." Nathaniel grabbed my arm and pulled me through the electronic gate. It slammed shut behind me.

Caesar moved forward, as if he was going to try and run after me, but Xander stopped him.

"You'll regret this." He threatened.

"I don't think I will." I opened the door and felt a cold breeze on my back. "By the way, Caesar, I think you're right. You'd run this place much better than Xander ever could." And with that, I shut the door.

It was, as Yvonne would say, "shady" of me to say that. But I couldn't think of anything cool to say as I left, so I decided to cause some drama. When I told Yvonne about this, she laughed and told me that I was "iconic".

As we got in the car, I noticed that Nathaniel was standing still. I followed his gaze to see him staring down his father. Before he got in the car, he stuck his middle finger up.

Marina, who was sitting in Heath's lap, lightly put her hand on Nathaniel's shoulder, with a small smile. Forced or not, I'm not sure. But it was a smile. Nathaniel didn't return the smile, but he didn't exactly scowl at her either.

"Nathaniel, have you changed your mind about coming to The Facility?" Lazarus asked.

"No."