Page 52 of The General's Captive
“Because he let me live?” I asked.
“Because he hasalwayslet you live.” He corrected.
“He also let me escape so what proof do we have that he wants me?” I asked despite knowing the lie I told and feeling like shit about it. But I also couldn’t just let him make decisions that would affect everyone else based on how he felt about me andhow he wanted to protect me. He ignored this question with a shake of his head.
“What does everyone else think?” I asked instead.
“Some agree with me, some don’t. Either way I think we should get the train working that we use for the dorms as a precaution in case there’s another attack.” He replied.
“I don’t think it’s a bad idea and you do love a backup.” I said but he didn’t smile, instead coming over to me and dropping to one knee in front of me. Then he took my hands in his and told me,
“I also have another back up plan.”
“Which is?” I asked cautiously.
“We try and make it on our own.” He said surprising me and I even found myself jerking back a little,
“You think we should leave?” he swallowed hard and gave my hands a squeeze.
“I think it’s time we face facts.” I frowned at that.
“Which are?” I asked making him tense before his shoulders dropped and with it came the hard truth,
“If the General does want you we are putting people at risk by being here.” I gasped at that not thinking of it that way before. My hands slipping from his as the pain of it lashed at my soul, what if he was right, what if I was the cause?
“Alex.”He said my name softly but I started shaking my head.
“You really think that all of this…that it could be…my fault?”I asked, my voice breaking and quickly he had me in his arms holding me tight.
“No, I would never blame this on you…never.”He said his voice so sincere, but as I looked around I also couldn’t help but question now,
“Is that why you chose this building for us, the one that’s the furthest from the rest?” At this I felt his arms tense around me before he said my name again,
“Alex.”
“Oh my god, you knew…you have been thinking this all this time and you’re only just telling me now!” I accused.
“Look, I suspected it yes, but it was only after the fight that I started to question it more.” I couldn’t help but feel hurt by this.
“Come on Alex look at it from my point of view, you’re literally the only person who has faced the General and is still breathing. He had hold of you, he had you in his grasp and he just…what, let you go?” I jerked back this time putting more distance between us.
“You think I am lying?” I accused when he did the same,
“No, but I think there is more you’re not saying about it.” he admitted now getting to his feet. And well, just how angry could I be when he was right, there was more I wasn’t telling him.
“And I can see on your face that I am right.” He said making me swallow hard. I lowered my head in shame questioning if I was doing the right thing. But then knowing what was on the line I couldn’t chance him making decisions when they might affect others.
“That day I told you about, the day the Rift first appeared.”
“When you lost your uncle?” Riley asked after taking his seat next to me, I nodded at this and said,
“There is something I never told you.” I paused taking a deep breath as Riley didn’t push but just gave me the time I needed, my mind taking me back there, back to where this nightmare had all begun.
“The General, he was there.” I admitted after a deep breath.
“What?”Riley hissed.
“It was the first time he let me go and I think…I think it has something to do with these.” I said holding out my armsshowing him my scars that everyone believed were tattoos that never quite healed properly. The same story I had told to Riley when he first asked about them because what else could I say. I didn’t want to admit what happened to me that day when they had appeared right before the Rift had split open a piece of the world, one that spanned across three states.
