Page 89 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

"You've never seen the outside, have you?" Xavier questions, watching me as I take in everything around me.

"Never, I whisper in disbelief. "It's beautiful," I smile.

"Yeah," he grins, looking at nothing but me. "It is."

Feeling my cheeks flood with warmth once again, I pull my focus back to the boy.

"So, Xavier," I smile, giddy by the fact I can finally say his name to his face.

"Tell me something about yourself," I joke, pretending as if we aren't both bound and in isolation.

"Let's see," he smiles. "What could I have possibly not told you in the last six years," he grins, taking a look around.

Grabbing one of the numerous flowers around us, he plucks one free from the earth, reaching out toward me, his fingers tucking the flower behind my ear.

"I spent most of my earlier years jumping compound to compound," he sighs, my eyebrows raising with confusion.

"Don't worry, you're not missing out. My mom and dad died during the pandemics. A mass sickness that swept through the lands. The compounds subdivisions away from Sanctum's grasp-"

"Sanctum," I whisper, one of Melanie's least favorite words. "The government I am supposed to take down," I mock, shaking my head.

"I thought you were supposed to-"

"Take down the one in silver. AKA, the one pulling the strings, government included," I sigh, trying to focus on something else.

"I've heard of them. The one in silver. A real asshole if you ask me," he snaps, trying to make light of the situation.

"Has Melanie told you of the hubs Sanctum created?" he questions.

"Enough to make me wish I never step foot in one."

Brainwashed societies, divided into two groups.

The Unfortunates and the Untouchables, all while executing the Marked behind closed doors.

I suppose mankind will always have a need to want violence.

"Enough about that," Xavier smiles. "Tell me about you. Tell me what you want if you ever make it out of here."

Laughing at the insinuation I will lead anything close to a normal life, I nudge him playfully.

"Really?" I laugh, his shoulders shrugging.

"Hit me with it, Forest Flower," he smiles, the nickname bringing joy to my heart.

"In an ideal world," I mutter, leaning a tad closer to the boy. "I find a plot of land far away from all of this, with one of thoselog cabins, like the one from the picture books Melanie made us read when we were younger. I'd spend all my day painting in its warm confinement, and spend the mornings on my deck, taking in the fresh air as I am now," I smile, Xavier's grin growing.

"How about I make you a deal, Forest Flower?" he questions, leaning a tad closer, our foreheads touching.

"We both find a way to live a life beyond this confinement, and when we do, we both find that cabin, and live a life away from all of this," he grins, pure excitement coming over me.

This is why Melanie chose to keep us isolated.

This is why she never wanted us to meet.

Xavier was not a distraction.

He is hope.

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