Hacker (Book 1)

Veronica Chapter 42

The door closes leaving me and Sebastian alone. We spend a long second, just staring at each other, neither of us knowing what to say.

I decide to talk first, knowing we don't have much time. "Sebastian what are doing? You can't, no one has survived the Millennium project. You'll die, and I won't leave you!"

"Veronica," he whispers, his voice gentle, as he steps towards me. His hands move to my face holding it gently in is hands, as he looks into my eyes. "I love you! I can't imagine living in a world without you living in it."

"And you think I can?" My voice breaking, as tears fill my eyes.

"Yes, because you are the strongest woman I have ever met." He says with a soft smile.

"But- but I'm not the strong one, you are," I say my breaths becoming ragged as the tears stream freely down my face.

"Don't you get it," he says with a little laugh, "You give me a reason to be strong."

"Sebastian..." I say trying to find the words, but I have no idea what say.

"Veronica, before you came into my life, I was some soldier following instructions mindlessly, but when you came it was like I had a reason to fight. You brought a light into my life, and you have to spread it to everyone else. The world needs your light, it needs your courage, it needs you brilliance, it needs your strength because you are one of the good selfless people that make it great. And if I die, that's okay! You know why?" He asks, wiping my tears way. I shake my head, how could he be okay with dying, how could he be okay with leaving me. "You gave me the best and only gift, I could ever have. Love. I could die today, and be happy because I was blessed with something that most don't find, and that's love. I may not have had it long, but I'm lucky to have had it even if it was just for a little while."

"I can't do this without you," I plead the sobs shaking my body.

"You won't," he says touching his forehead to mine. "I'm right here." He says placing his had over my heart, "Every time you feel alone, know I'm right here."

"And I here," I say mirroring his position, with my hand over his heart. "But I don't think I can leave you."

"You have too!" He says pulling away to look in my eyes, "If you don't then I die for nothing okay. Promise me!" I hesitate, not knowing if I can leave. "Promise me Veronica!"

"I promise," I manage to get out between sobs.

The door swings open revealing a bright light, "Your times up!"

"I love you too!" I say, shoving my necklace into his hand, and pull his face to mine and kiss him. I doesn't last long, but in those short moments it says everything left unsaid.

We're pulled apart and dragged out into the hallway. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to bright hall lights. I stumble through the hallway, partly due to my aching muscles and partly to the blurry tears that are streaming down my face. I feel Sebastian's eyes on me as we are forced down the hall. Every part of me wants to turn and look at him, but I know I can't. So I keep my eyes trained forward, and try to focus putting one foot in front of another.

It's not long before we reach the exit, and I know this is the last time I'll see Sebastian again. I'm shoved out the door into the crisp night. Even the stars don't want to witness this, for they are hidden by the clouds.

I turn to look at him one last time. I memorize everything I can from his beautiful green eyes that still sparkle like the day we met, to his hair, to his sad, gorgeous smile, and even the tears that shine in his eyes. I hope my eyes show the love that I have only ever felt for him, and the love he has given me.

He nods to me, and mouths three little words. I repeat them back, with a nod of my own. The last thing I see of him is him mouthing one last word, run.

And that's what I do. I turn and run, pushing my aching legs to move. I run even though my lungs are starting to fail, and my legs feel like they'll fall off. I run because that's the last thing he asked me to do, and I know that if I were to stop I'd be a disgrace to his memory. I run until I can't see the compound. I just run, tears fall but I keep running. I keep running until I see  the buildings, I keep running until I get to his room, and I find his jacket. I wrap it around my shaking body, and collapse in sobs. Bruce and Em come in, but I just sob on the floor taking in the last thing of his. I sob until I can't cry anymore, and then I just lay there. I don't know when sleep comes, but I am grateful for the momentary peace it brings. Only even sleep doesn't keep out the pain that has taken over my heart. I dread when I wake, because I know I'll have to face the pain of a life without him in it, so I just accept the sleep that welcomes me.