The locomotive ran silently across the tracks, thrumming and hissing with every chug. Before leaving the headquarters, I had swiftly changed out of a mint green flowy dress that I had no recollection of wearing to a completely black outfit.
Sweat collected on my palms as my legs quivered with excitement. I hadn't seen the Revolution for more than 2 months, and I just hoped they would still remember me. Not as the girl who had become one of the Merged's puppets, but as the girl who stopped a genocide.
"Next stop, the Affluents." The lady spoke in a monotonously pleasant and soothing tone.
The Affluents were huge. With dozens of mansions that spanned up to half the size of a Merging Institute, it was going to take me forever to find the meeting spot. The grass crunched under my sneakers, well-groomed and trimmed. A variety of flowers and trees were planted vertically, sprouting succulent fruits. My black pants, grey sneakers and hoodie made me feel like even more of an outsider compared to the extravagance of the Affluents. It was simply fortunate that the meeting was at night, otherwise, I would stand out like a Deformed and get caught within minutes. As I walked forward, shoes grating against cobblestone, I surveyed the Affluents once more. Then, I pulled up my hoodie, ducking into the shadows of the trees.
The Revolution had to give me more hints than just 'the Affluents'. The Revolution had taught us to be wary of intruders, but breadcrumbs would always be left behind for true Revolutionaries to find. For my first meeting, it was glow paint. For this meeting, I wasn't sure.
Lighting up my Tabloid, I scrolled through even more messages. A few seconds later, my eyes darted to the unread messages coming from Oliver. I had been so preoccupied with the Revolution's messages that I hadn't bothered to scroll down.
Oliver: Arista, you still here?
Oliver: Okay, this kind of feels weird. I'm still at the Wastelands if you want to talk.
...
Oliver: Your mum's worried about you, meet you there?
...
Oliver: Okay, I probably sound like a weirdo that's talking to a ghost right now, but Evie wants to have lunch with you.
...
Oliver: I'm not surprised that you're not responding, I mean, the garage in the Wastelands is busted as well. Well, it's not exactly busted, but you get what I mean.
...
Oliver: How's Anthony doing?
Unlike all the other messages, the last one didn't point to a specific place. Each text message was probably sent a day prior to each meeting. Oliver had sent them in hopes of me seeing them. However, the last one didn't point to anywhere. Which didn't make any sense at all.
Strange. Lyla mused. Why would he do that?
Yes, why would he? Then, I knew. It was a breadcrumb.
You're one of the few people that know Anthony in person. Others know him as the Doctor, remember? Lyla said.
I paused, closing my eyes shut. "What does Oliver want, then?"
Your honesty. Tell him the truth and make it simple.
My fingers hesitated for a few seconds, hovering on the screen. Then, they began to fly, rapidly typing two simple words. It only took two seconds, but by the time I hit send, I was sure that he would reply.
He's gone.
Oliver replied instantly. Where are you now?
Nearby locomotive station. You?
YOU ARE READING
C0NV3RG3 (Sequel to M3RG3)
AçãoLyla doesn't remember anything. All she knows is that the Republic took her under their wing after the Merging Process. Now, she is training to become the greatest Republican there is. However, the voices in her head don't seem to die down as time p...
