Escape

Ryker

*Hey guys! Just letting you know that back half of this chapter is extremely morbid and dark. If you are sensitive to it, and you'll know, please do not read it. I apologize, but know I did cry writing this! Thanks. ~Arilioness*

Three may keep a secret of two of them are dead. The Imperium taught all of us that. Some of us more than others. And this thought plagues all of our minds as Seth, Jason and I stand in the living room while the girls are out. "Alright. I'm not stupid. What happened after you went shopping?" I demand. Jason glares daggers at me, clearly pissed. "Listen. I know that you guys were lying. Lie to Scout and Cade all you want. But you can't lie to me. Now tell me the truth." I gnarl, looking directly into both their eyes. This entire week the girls have been going insane, leaving my... demons, unattended, and hungry for more. It's been hard to ignore them.

Jason growls and steps forward as I question how I can so easily make him angry. "How do I tell you if there's nothing more to tell?" His eyes darken to an even deeper shade of blue. Seth looks at the two of us worriedly as I begin to size Jason up as well. He sighs, obviously conceding. "Alright. We weren't looking for money. Though I wish we did." He starts. Yet his mouth instantly closes as Jason shoots him a dead cold glare.

"Keep going." I insist. Seth brings his bright green eyes to meet mine and I struggle to pull off my most reassuring face. He hesitates, but tells me anyway.

"We were knocked out and taken hostage by people from the Imperium looking for... me... obviously. Jason lied to protect me and said that we were on leave, and he was discharged and that he was in charge of me. Then..." He explains, but pauses to look at Jason then shuts up. "Then they believed us." I stand there shell shocked. Jason and Seth then both look at me with apologies written all over their faces. But the pause. I know they aren't telling me everything. But I decide against pushing them and figure I'll find out sooner or later.

"It's fine. I forgive you. But Scout was going insane. Cade even more. They searched all the time. Never rested. Even took time off work, both of them. Cade wasn't the usual songbird she usually was. She got sick, I mean literally sick. She didn't get out of bed for days. Scout was more tense than stressed. She paced all the time, stopped eating. She started to wear down the carpet. I searched all night, checking the bars. I had to force the girls into their room so they wouldn't get more sick from their worry."

"I know. I'm not surprised they were worried. But we're fine. Just keep on the low down. This could be dangerous. Just don't let the girls get suspicious." Jason answers. I nod, and look at Seth. His eyes were pensive. Fear filled a little. I know he knows what I've known since that day before the parade.

"Seth. Are you alright?" I ask, looking at him. He pauses, and looks at Jason before shaking his head.

"Hey kid. Just speak. If you're thinking what I think you are, you can talk to us." I say, touching his shoulder.

"The whole experience is going to give me nightmares." He mutters, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. I look down with sadness. It'll give me them too. It'll hand me to the knife for a week, letting more lines show up than usual.

Seth walks away from me, and to the couch. He sits down, his head in his hands. "So the girls actually believe the lie we told?" He asks. I frown a little more and nod.

"Look, Ryker. I know you hate lying to the girls, especially Scout," Jason pauses, his blue eyes filling with teasing.

I glare at him as he continues. "But we have to keep it a secret. Seth. You have to promise to not tell Cade. I know she seems easy to talk to, and she will use it against you. You guys won't have to worry about me. I've been keeping secrets for a long time. But Ryker. That goes for you too. Scout isn't like Cade. She's subtle, sneaky, and will use cunning rather than a good nature. She'll use that on you, and probably threaten Seth. That wouldn't surprise me. So just be careful for the next couple weeks."