Project Archangel Book One: The Conspiracy Project

Chapter 21

When we returned to the cabin, everyone took time to get dressed and freshen up before we all convened on the floor of the cabin for another bible study. After that, Mrs. Rachel said a prayer, and we all climbed into our beds around ten.
By midnight, I was still awake. I had been trying to sleep, but I was having a hard time. I always had a hard time sleeping anyway, but it was always much worse when I was somewhere other than home. When I was with Michael, his presence was enough to help me sleep, but here I didn't have him. There were several other girls in this room, but I didn't really know or like any of them, and several snored, so it was more like it was just me.
I looked at my phone to see that the charge was at 100 percent, and unplugged it. As I thought, it was midnight. 12:03 to be exact. I wondered if Michael was still up. Under normal circumstances, I could just call him, and that would relax me enough to sleep, but if I called him now, his phone would ring, and it might wake up everyone else in his group. Then he would probably get in trouble for still being up. So I texted him.
Hey, Michael. Are you up?
His response was immediate. Of course I am. You know I never sleep.
Except when you crash?
Exactly. Why are you still up?
I don't know. I just can't sleep. There's too many people in here, it's hot, my brain won't shut up. I always have a hard time sleeping away from home anyway.
You sleep fine at my house.
That's because you're there. A bunch of girls I barely know and don't usually get along with are a terrible replacement for you.
I wish I could be there right now. Or you could be here.
Me too.
Wanna meet up?
What?
Do you want to sneak out and meet me?
I can't, you know that.
Why not?
I'll get in trouble. We both will.
Not if no one catches us. Everyone else is asleep right now. Everyone who matters anyway. Besides, I want to see you.
I don't know.
I promise you won't regret it.
I will if I get in trouble.
You won't.
How can you be so sure?
I told you. Everyone is asleep.
Maybe one or two of the leaders stays up and walks the grounds.
So we just avoid them.
You're going to get me in some serious trouble one day.
You know you like it. You like taking risks with me and just narrowly escaping trouble.
Shut up, Michael.
Am I wrong?
I'm not doing this.
Come on, Kelsey. It'll be fun. Besides, I really wanna see you.
I wanna see you too, but I don't want to get caught.
I'll take the blame for everything. Promise. You know I won't break a promise to you.
I sighed. Fine, but if I get in trouble, I'm going to kill you.
Just trust me, Babygirl.
I have to get dressed.
Okay. Meet me by the trail entrance. We can go to the lake or something.
I quickly changed under my blankets and got up, tiptoeing to the bathroom as silently as possible. I had put my phone in my pocket so no one would see the light. Hopefully if anyone did see me, they just thought I was one of those midnight bathroom trip people. I entered the bathroom and made a beeline for the window straight in front of me, but as I neared it, the door from the other cabin opened.
Shit!
Jessica entered the bathroom, looking as nervous as I felt, and our eyes met.
“Oh! I'm sorry!” she exclaimed. “I didn't know anyone else was up right now.”
“Uh y-yeah! Me either. Sorry. I'm just gonna go to the bathroom and then--"
“You're going to see Michael, aren't you?”
I swallowed hard. “Um...”
“It's okay. I won't tell anyone. I was honestly planning to sneak out too... I really miss Levi.”
“Really?”
She nodded. “When you spend all your time with someone, hugging and kissing and all that, being in a place like this can be really hard. I mean, I love him, so why shouldn't I be able to touch him? It's not like we're having sex. It's so stupid...”
“I know how that is...” I muttered.
“Yeah, so, I'm not going to tell anyone, okay? Just be careful of any night guards. You usually won't see them, but if you do, don't get caught.”
“What happens if you get caught?”
She shrugged. “They'll probably send you to some Christian concentration camp or something. I just wouldn't risk it.”
I nodded. “Okay, no problem.”
She gave me a smile and an encouraging nod before pushing the frosted glass to the side and climbing out the window. I followed.