Page 22 of The Last of Love

“Let her go!” Fleur shouted, her voice raw with fury. “She hasn’t done anything to you!”

Walt chuckled, shaking his head. “You really don’t get it, do you? You’re the one who has put us all at risk. Thanks to your little escapade, I know exactly what you’ve been working on. Gene was more than happy to share where you were heading to.”

Fleur's heart sank. “He betrayed us?”

“Betrayed? Or just made the smart choice? There’s a lot to lose when your community’s life is at stake,” Walt replied, leaning closer to Fleur, his eyes glinting with a twisted glee. “He thought he’d be rewarded, promised a position of power for revealing your movements. But in the end, they silenced him. Just another expendable piece in a game far larger than he could comprehend.” He straightened, his tone shifting to one of cruel satisfaction. “That’s how this world works. You either play your part or you’re out of the picture.”

Fleur felt the weight of despair settle in her chest. “You’re insane,” she hissed. “You think you can control everything?” She couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen it before. She felt so stupid.

“Control? That’s what this is all about, my dear,” he said, straightening up, his demeanor shifting to one of triumph. “This world is full of chaos, and chaos breeds death. With the cure in our hands, we’ll finally have the power to reshape it. The scientists I worked with? They wanted to build a new world, a world ruled by those who know how to use power correctly. We will be the rulers of this new era.”

“Using people like pawns,” Fleur spat, her voice thick with disgust.

Walt shrugged, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. “You misunderstand. It’s not about cruelty; it’s about survival. And the unfortunate reality is that people like you, with your naive ideals, are simply not meant to thrive in this new world.”

Fleur felt her heart race with a mix of anger and desperation. “Lena didn’t deserve this! You think you can just take her life like this?”

Walt’s expression hardened as he glanced down at Lena. “Oh, but it’s already too late. Thanks to your failed attempts to keep the cure a secret, she’s about to become collateral damage. How poetic, wouldn’t you agree? The great scientist whose secrets ultimately cost her the life of the person she’s closest to. At least, that’s what it looks like.”

Fleur’s blood ran cold at his words, rage boiling within her. “I won’t let you do this! I will find a way to stop you.”

Walt laughed softly, the sound chilling in the still air. “You’re welcome to try, but remember, you’re outnumbered and outmatched. This is a war, Fleur, and we’re the ones holding the trump card.”

Just then, a faint groan escaped Lena’s lips as she began to stir. Fleur's heart soared, but her joy quickly turned todread when she saw the haze in Lena’s eyes. “No... no!” Fleur screamed, fighting against her bindings as if they were made of paper.

Dr. Walt crouched beside Lena, his voice low and sinister. “Rest easy, my dear. Your time is up.”

As Lena blinked, confusion etched across her face, Walt leaned in closer, whispering, “Your friend has made a grave mistake, and soon she will pay the price for it.”

Fleur’s chest tightened.

The men tightened their grip on Lena, their rough hands forcing her into submission as they moved her farther away from Fleur’s reach. She felt a rising tide of rage and helplessness swell within her, threatening to overwhelm her completely.

“Get off her!” Fleur cried out again, the pain of losing Lena clawing at her heart. She lunged forward, but the men holding her back were too strong, and she stumbled, falling to her knees.

Dr. Walt then injected fluid into her neck, and Fleur felt a burning sensation spread through her veins. She gasped, the world around her beginning to spin. The ground felt cold and unforgiving beneath her, a stark reminder of her powerlessness in that moment. Fleur felt the world close in around her, her heart racing as she was left alone, bound and helpless, watching the last flicker of hope disappear into the darkness.

9

LENA

Lena's consciousness flickered like a faulty lightbulb, gradually dragging her from the depths of darkness into the stark reality of her surroundings. As she blinked against the harshness of the light filtering through cracked windows, panic surged within her. She was bound, her wrists chafed and raw from the tight zip ties, and a bitter taste of blood filled her mouth.

Her heart raced as she tried to move, only to find the rough floor biting into her skin. Memories flooded back: Dr. Walt's taunting voice, the feeling of betrayal sharp as glass. She remembered the fight, the way Fleur had looked at her, and then darkness. The realization hit her like a punch to the gut: she was alone. And she had no idea if Fleur was okay.

Lena strained as she moved her sore body, eyes scanning the room for any sign of Fleur or their belongings, but all she saw were shadows and debris. She forced herself to breathe steadily, keeping panic at bay. If she didn’t stay calm, she wouldn’t be able to think clearly. She twisted and turned, desperate to loosen the ties binding her wrists.

Suddenly, she caught sight of a stray nail protruding from a broken piece of wood nearby. With every ounce of willpower, Lena maneuvered her body to reach it. The pain shot through her side, but she pushed through, gritting her teeth. Inch by inch, she dragged herself toward the nail, desperation fueling her movements.

With a grunt, she managed to grasp the nail between her fingers and began to work it against the zip ties. Her heart thumped as she sawed through the plastic as fast as possible, the friction biting into her skin. But at last, the ties gave way, and she freed her wrists. Breathing heavily, she flexed her fingers, wincing at the sharp pain still radiating through her.

Her first instinct was to call out for Fleur, but she held back, instinctively knowing that it might attract attention. She pushed herself up to a sitting position, her body aching with every movement. The throbbing in her head intensified as she steadied herself, desperate for water, desperate to find Fleur.

Lena glanced around the room, her heart louder than the eerie silence. Dust motes floated in the air, and the faint sound of something scratching at the floor above caught her attention. She had to find a way out.

The building creaked ominously as she made her way to the doorway, the sound echoing through the hallways. She knew the risk; if there were others here, they could be anywhere. But she couldn't just sit back and wait for help that might never come. She stood cautiously, testing her legs, the pain sharp and stabbing.

She stumbled into the hallway, her eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through broken windows. As she moved, the unsettling thought that she could be walking into a trap gnawed at her. She reached for an old rusty pipe lying discarded on the floor, its weight reassuring in her hands.

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