War of Peace

Chapter Twelve

Silas

Maddie is hiding behind trees with each step she takes as if there's people waiting to come out and kill us. I don't see anyone around and we're standing in broad daylight, I feel like we would know if we were being followed.

"Maddie, where are we even going and please stop walking so fast."

"I thought we were trying to find the rest of the group," she replies.

Yes, I thought we were too but we don't need to be this precautious about it, I have a gun or didn't she forget? I shake away my train of thought and look straight ahead. I stand with a lack of motion and my eyes freeze open in fear.

"Silas, what is it?" She asks as she turns to face what froze me in place.

The Defense Lab of Human Praxeology, just barely noticeable at the edge of the forest half covered by thick branches of large, healthy oak trees.

"Maddie let's get out of here," I whisper, still frozen in place.

"No, I want to go in."

"MADDIE ARE YOU SERIOUS?" I holler at her like a crazy person and clench my fists up. There's no way I'm going inside that creepy building. We'll be seen and as used as lab rats, I can't risk that for Maddie.

"I am serious, if you don't want to come with me, I'm not asking you to. That letter was telling me something. I don't know how or what I'll do in there but maybe I'll find some piece of information that can help us figure out how to stop this mess. I don't know if I'm able to do anything to help but I feel like I have to try. We're already here and we may not get another opportunity like this again."

"Maddie it's too dangerous. Who cares about the damn letter, protect yourself!" I unclench my fists, my fingers are clammy and I'm still nervous. I wasn't planning on dying when I had a choice on the line. "How would we even get inside in the first place?"

"We'll find a way, just follow me." Maddie starts walking fast towards the lab.

It takes a lot out of me knowing my instincts are telling me to avoid this building at all costs but I chase after her. "You're crazy. Absolutely lunatic, you know that? I can't believe I'm letting you drag me around like this. You're going to get us killed."

"If we get killed, at least we were trying so we won't die in vain. The letter said-" I cut her off. I'm so sick of hearing about the letter.

"Forget about that stupid letter already. In all honestly the letter was probably from someone who works at the lab as a trap to lure more people in."

"Maybe it is," she replies, but it doesn't stop her from trying.

She stops in front of the long, tall white building. There's a window within our reach and Maddie steps closer to look inside.

"There's no one inside," she states, turning back to me.

"Maddie, please don't do this."

"I think it's just so sweet," she places her hand gently on my left arm and leans closer to me, "that you want to keep me safe."

The next thing I know she's sticking her other hand into my back pocket and pulls out the knife. How did she do that? I was so distracted and she just put her hand in my pocket.

"Hey, would you look at that, I just got it open!" She hands me the knife back and starts crawling in. I don't know if I'll ever be able to keep up with her.

"I swear if we die, it's your fault," I say, crawling in after her.

When I get all the way through I accidentally stumble on top of her on the floor. I stare into her olive eyes but she's the most complicated girl I've ever tried to read. Her expression is flawless but I can't comprehend it.