king at us as if we were criminals. Then agai

y need to ta

n my head how many of us are here. N

ng? I covered my mouth when I realized that it was Michelle. I could taste the

owed by their guards finally arrived, congratulati

nd they executed a random member from each group

shower, and I find it uncomfortable since

ready there. There’s a total of five bunk beds in the room, ma

he building where there was a man-made park, built so w

alone. It wasn’t new to me, he was always alone. That a

essing my back against the tree. He didn’t

ur name?” He looked straight into my eyes dee

answer, so I grinned when he did.

was impressive. You saved my life, twice. I’m confused why you did

reason.” My shoulders droppe

to save strangers for no reason.

Asteria, but you won’t get it.” He said coldly as he

d me by

e knew my name even though I never told him.

g to follow Xavier, but he was nowhere

standing in my position. No one was there, but I c

r, it’s just me, I need to talk.” I called him again, before I was pulled in the c

as Xavier who pulled me. I stopped hitting his

hall. Xavier loosened his grip on me so I was able to peek from behind the w

g is under control.” T

to getting our prize.” She even lifted her fist up dramatically,

give them to the lab. See if they can find anything that might h

hey went inside the

ow. I could feel Xavier’s strong, muscular arm wrapped over my shoulders, holding me against him so I wouldn’t move, the other

ason why I followed him. It was to

to the elevator before I could ask. “Whe

it so the elevator could bring us to the 9th floor. “Where did you

sually with his playful voice. “Chill, Aste

e like I’m crazy. “How do you know my name when

.” He just shrugge

ting. For a second there, I could see shock drawn on his face, which I thought was rare since he was always ice

an actual laugh, it sounded more of a sarcastic laugh. “That’s

, something that he also didn’t see coming. He looked at me like I’m being cut

ng me against the wall, I could feel it hit my back hard. “

me and walked past him, which was a huge mistake. There we

k is wrong with you? You saw me use a keycard I stole, you know we’re entering a

y? I never asked you to take me

g information about this place for a boring day at a made-up park.” He knew he would get me to stay

they’re all in their offices, we silently crept

sing this is not just an office, this is the lab they were talking about. There w

is called?” I asked the obvious,

doing,” he pointed at one of the women

looks like they’re labelled with names. They are fille

od samples from everyone in this building, and t

rop of blood on the microscope’s stage and observed it closely. I’m not sure what it is she’s

y grabbed my arm forcing me to sta

my arm away fr

ed at it too. “We have our dinner at 6:30. These workers w

him pull me into the elevator and I wat

r doesn’t suspect th

top asking

just answ

ad him keep his mouth shut, and let’s just sa

ound floor. Nothing much happened for the res

ould and made my escape as I entered the door. Behind it, it was just dark, and when the room brightened up, I could see Rafael, his hands tied up to the ceiling. I screamed his name but he couldn’t hear me. And then I noticed that all our friends were

ed, eyes wide open.

bed to check on my friends, and I let out a breath when I saw that they wer

t there weren’t any guards around at this hour so I could go wherever I liked, but really the only places I could go were the dining

ndered if it meant anything. It could be a premonition, but I hope not. I d

ing on one of the benches. I quietly tiptoed away, de

to face me, and I almost jumped in shock. “Come here, don’t let me stop you from chilling here. It’s a really good par

r if I just go back

what he’s talking about, then I remembered Rafael told me to be caref

eyebrow at me because he knows I already knew the answer to that. He can’t be. His table was so far away from us

“It’s fine if I know all about you, Asteria, we are friends after all.” He stood up

still trembling, and I can tell he finds it amusing that

e thinks he can just string me along in his crazy spy adventures, drive me curious with him playing the mysterious

e answered shortly while stil

le in my life, Xavier, and all their faces stick in my mi

I woke up with my memories wiped away. I didn’t know who I

entences I wrote in my diary. My hand automatically raised to slap him in the face, but despite the hard pressure, his he

talked me and took creepy pictures of me…” There were plenty more things I wanted to say, but my mi

as possible. I quickly turned around and ran as fast as I could, trying to get back inside the building, but as soo

houlders and th

e asked me my name, told me I had pretty eyes, and made me forget. Most

ined my memories, but he touched

waking all of us up. I woke up feeling t

nge conversation we had. Is it all

already out in the hallway. We formed two lines and the guards as

lly. The first one was Xavier killing all my friends, the second was

and the second one felt so real. Both of them indica

good care of us only to have us kill each other. I realized I still haven’t fig

e he usually sits alone, an

d’ve been dead if it weren’t for that mysterious

guys? What’s in it for him?” Axel expressed his

ill grateful for h

with narrow eyes. “Where were you earlier?” He suddenly spoke,

ked, wondering what he m

e were you?” He repeated the question and I probably looked as pale as

etween me and Xavier wasn’

lly is a

—