The Year 3000

Chapter 23: Evading the Devil

Scarlett's POV:

Previously:

I blended right in with everyone else as they all rushed down the stairs. The metal clanked loudly with all of the feet pounding on it, echoing eerily off the walls. Red emergency lights were flashing and deafening sirens blared throughout the stairwell. Yet, even with all of the noise, I could still hear my heart pounding in my head as a giant headache began to form.

I needed to find Michael, and quickly.

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I followed the crowd as we wound around the twisting hallways, doors on each side. I was led to the far end of the hallway, the last door I could see on this level. Frightened faces were left huddling inside, none of them Michael's. Most of these people were human, which didn't help my concentration. I quickly began trying to weave around all the people, searching for Michael's pale face.

"Michael?" I called out, hoping that he would somehow hear me and come running. The crowd around me was closing in, and I could feel myself hyperventilating. Panic fueled my feet to go faster as I wildly searched for an empty corner. Space. I needed space. It took an eternity, but I managed to find a small, dark corner to hide myself in. Crouching down to the floor, I wrapped my arms around myself and waited out the attack, or really, the distraction as Ashton put it. My thoughts raced.

Why wasn't this the attack? What was the distraction for?

Time seemed to pass differently down in those dark, crowded rooms. Seconds became my pounding heartbeat thudding painfully against my chest, while the periodic boom of explosions became minutes ticking away. I closed my eyes and tried my best to drown out the infernal clock. Thoughts either didn't pass through my head or they passed so fast I couldn't catch them. Either way, I was left with a crushing emptiness that only added to the dismal atmosphere. Hours passed before the explosions stopped. To me, the silence that followed was even more deafening than the carnage above. I jumped outright when a voice called my name, shattering the silence into a million pieces on the floor. My eyes flew open. I knew that voice. Suddenly, hands grabbed my wrists and pulled me to my feet, forcing me to look up into emerald green eyes. Fear turned my veins to ice.

"Harry," I whispered, practically falling away from his chest, which was pressed up against mine. His vice grip on my wrists tightened until I gave in, tears flowing freely from my eyes, blurring everything I saw. Harry was the reason for causing Ashton, Luke and me so much pain. Seeing him after seeing Ashton and Luke was almost too much for me to handle, but I held it together, forcing myself to calm down.

He can't hurt me, he can't hurt me, he can't hurt me, I tried in vain to convince myself. Of course he can! He's one of the Vampire Kings for Christ's sake! Still, my internal argument steadied my breathing and stopped my tears enough so that I could see. Before I could register what was happening, I was being pulled into the chest of the very person I hated most.

"I was so worried about you," Harry whispered in my ear, kissing my head. He firmly wrapped his arms around my torso, releasing his vice grip on my wrists. I didn't respond. I didn't even move. I was too outraged, too terrified; I knew anything I might have done would not have ended well for me.

I had to abide to our agreement, now more than ever. I needed to pretend to love him.

"Everyone," Harry called out, now addressing the entire room, "The attack is over. The Rebellion has yet again failed to gain control of the Palace. You may all go back to your rooms now. There is a slight mess in certain areas, and we are currently working to clear it up as quickly as possible."