SAVE ME

Ch#33 Back on my Track

Ch#33 Back on my Track

I was sitting at Louis' spot. It has been a week since Dave gruesomely killed him. Ever since then, the atmosphere in the Base has been dark and dull. Everyone is standing on their tippy toes, scared and uncertain about their life, while I have given up on saving them. I couldn't save Louis, how would I ever be able to get them all out from this Base. I was mourning in grievance for Louis and for the other lives that will soon be taken by Dave. But he has been silent, throughout the week. It's like the silence before the storm.

The entire week my head was spinning around Louis. The way Dave stabbed him, the way he cut through his neck, Louis' smile, his limp body being the only thoughts running on a repeat cycle in my head. If only I had not opened up my sassy self, if only I had kept my mouth shut! Dave would have just killed me instead. It would have been better. Louis had to tell his Dad about his decision. He wanted to mend his bond with his father. Tears began to roll down my cheeks as my head kept revolving around these thoughts.

"Alana, you need to eat something." It was Beth.

"At this rate, you will die due to starvation before Dave kills you", Ellis chided. I shook my head in response. They have been coming to me everyday, forcing food into my belly. But nothing has been able to enter my system. I end up gagging everything that I eat as my thoughts keep wandering around Louis' final moments. The three of them let out a sigh as they sat around me.

"Look at me, Alana", Yohan insisted. But I avoided his gaze and let my head rest on the wall. He then grabbed my cheeks and made me look into his eyes. He had huge bags of dark circles beneath his eyes. I glanced at Beth and Ellis and they too had bags under their eyes. They are also having a difficult time and I am behaving like a bitch towards them.

"Alana, I understand this is difficult for you. But so it is for us too. Nevertheless, we are coping up with it and you need to as well. Stop taking the toll all alone. We are here for you. You can lean on us, Alana", Yohan consoled.

"With what rights am I supposed to lean on you guys? What great deed have I done to deserve your comfort? Louis had to face such a horrendous death because of me, because of my words." My eyes glistened with tears as I spoke about Louis.

"Hey, nothing happened because of you, alright. Alana, didn't you promise us that you won't leave us stranded? Didn't you promise yourself that you will save us all? You asked us to trust ourselves that we will be able to save the others and entrust our lives in their hands. Now, how can you back out from your words like a coward? You need to be confident. You need to bring back the lost hope within yourself. You need to face your fear head on, Alana," he recounted the words I had told them.

"How? How can I save all of you when I couldn't protect a single life?", I lamented to which he smiled.

"You can, Alana. Do not forget that your idiots have got your back. We have entrusted our lives with you, now let us into your walls and hand over your life to us. We promise, we won't let that bastard hurt you ever again."

"Don't. Don't do it, guys. Do not entrust your lives with me. Louis did the same and he died. He wanted to fix his broken relationship with his dad, Yohan. He wanted to brag about his decision with his Dad. He wanted to become a doctor. He wanted to know how it felt to save lives. He had a dream. And I-I just let him die in the hands of that psychopathic monster", I sobbed and let myself lean onto Yohan's chest. He hugged me and gently patted my back.

"Let it all out, Alana. Throw out everything that you have bottled up within yourself", he soothed.

"He always pretended to not understand my wits. He always smiled through his pain. He even smiled at me when Dave stabbed him. Blood was oozing from his head when Dave hit him with that iron rod. He mercilessly stabbed Louis with that blunt knife while laughing hysterically. That idiot Louis told me to let his Dad know about his new dream. He was smiling even at his final moments. Why, just why did it have to be him? He had never once gone against Dave. He only helped him by treating the students that Dave injured. He was such a good person, Yohan. He was a good person. Not once did he fight Dave back while he kept torturing him. He gave up even before entering Dave's cabin. He gave up on his life." I let out everything from within myself. This was the first time I opened up about what had happened in Dave's cabin that day. I sobbed continuously while Yohan caressed my back gently. He let me cry till I was done. He reminded me of my Dad. Dad always hugged and caressed me whenever I had a nightmare while I cried onto his t-shirt.

I separated myself away from Yohan while wiping off the tears from my face. Letting out my feelings made me feel better.

"Alana, you have a misunderstanding. He did not give up on his life. He sacrificed it for us." I looked at Yohan in confusion.

"He knew what was going to come the moment Terrence and Matt came in. He knew that Dave called him to torture you. He knew if he walked up to Dave, he wouldn't be able to come back alive. Nonetheless, he still went up to him only because he wanted you to live. If he had not gone that day, Dave would have killed you."

*Yohan's POV*

"You are not going, Louis! We can't let you! Alana has promised us that she will return. Let's believe in her", I shouted. He must be nuts for agreeing to follow Matt and Terrence! He can't even kill a fly, how is he even supposed to fight Dave!

"Yohan, let me go. If I won't go there tonight, then Alana will die. If she dies, everyone here will die as well. She needs to live to keep the fire within yourselves alive. She needs to live, to get you all out of this place. She cannot die", he said with a smile.

He is ready to give his life for Alana.

"I'm not stupid. I know I will die tonight by the hands of Dave. But I will be proud to let him kill me because I have taken this brave step to let him take away my life. I'm going to sacrifice my life for Alana to live so that she can save you all." His smile was still plastered on his face. I wish I could smack his smile off, but it only made me smile at him proudly through my incoming tears. I did not have words to stop him. Who can stop a brave soldier walking into the battlefield? I wish I had this courage in me.

"Also, can you do me a favor?", he asked.

"Anything."

"Tell Alana to not cry too much and to not blame herself for too long. It is not her fault. She must get up on her own. Also, let her know that she will definitely be able to save everyone."

He smiled and left with Matt and Terrence.

*Alana's POV*

"He did this for me?", I mumbled while letting the tears roll down.

Yohan nodded. "Yes, Alana. Therefore stop crying. Louis did not give you his life to shed tears. Today, if you are alive, then it is because of him. You aren't living your life, Alana. It's his. Do not let his sacrifice get washed down the drain." He stood up and looked right into my eyes coldly.

"Now get up."

I knew what he was doing. He wanted me to stop crying and get on my feet on my own, just like what Louis wanted. He wanted me to reignite the fire within myself in order to keep the fire in them alive.

He's right. I cannot let Louis' sacrifice get wasted. He gave his life to me. I stood up taking support from the wall. Although my weak body staggered a little, I strengthened my determination once again. For a short period, I forgot my objective, the very reason I enrolled in this Academy. But now, I'm back on my track.

I was here to save her, to save them.

And I will save everyone.