The Experiment P.39

"Are we there yet?" Natalie whined.

Tashie spun around, her face red.

"No! Stop asking!" she whipped back around.

"Well, where are we?" Natalie asked, exasperated. "We've been walking for days! I can't take this any longer! My feet are killing me!"

Tashie stopped short. The others stared at her, waiting for what was to come.

"Would you rather," Tashie began, her voice soft, "would you rather be walking to safety or get shot and die by the Capters?"

Natalie grew quiet.

"We're almost past this town." Tashie said, "and then we'll be out of reach from the Capters. Hopefully."

Lydia walked up to Tashie.
"Will Jonah still be able to reach us?"

"Hope not." Tashie murmured. "Wait." she said quickly, narrowing her eyes at Lydia. "How do you know Jonah?"

Lydia gulped, remembering the day when The man had walked into her dull room. He had told her she was a problem. She didn't understand what he meant then, but she understood now.

"Yeah," Lydia said, snapping back to attention. "He came into my room one day and introduced himself."

Tashie narrowed her eyes.
"He didn't introduce himself to me," she growled, flipping her hair.

"Me neither," Stefan, Natalie, and Jupiter chimed.

Marcus kept quiet, avoiding the conversation.

"What's so special about you two, then?" Tashie asked angrily. She stared at Marcus. "He met you, too?"

Marcus slowly nodded his head. "He told me..things." he trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"What did he tell you both?" Tashie yelled. "Tell us all. NOW."

Lydia and Marcus stared at each other.

Lydia started. "Umm..he told me not to ruin this, that he was watching me."

Tashie shook her head. "And you?" she asked Marcus.

"He said it was nice to meet me." Marcus stuttered.

Tashie snickered. "Liar."

Marcus's face grew red. "I'm not."

"Whatever," Tashie muttered, turning back around. "Pair up. We're walking again."

Lydia quickly took a spot beside Marcus as they all began to walk again, their break now over.

"What did he tell you?" Lydia whispered.

Marcus looked at her. "If I tell you, will you keep it a secret?"