The grey, shiny metal that had the hybrid features of a gun and taser was pressed into Dorian's side. I couldn't tell whether the weapon had a sharpened tip but the sporadic flinches from Dorian when it dug deeper into him drove my imagination wild.

   Looking the wielder of the weapon and Dorian's captor in the eye, I made sure to maintain nothing but stoicism in my features. Knowing this person who I thought was my friend now, they would probably mock me for any display of hurt from this shocking betrayal.

   That, however, didn't numb the piercing pain which could only be triggered by the same person who previously caused the opposite emotion with the same intensity.

   And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, the traitor had the audacity to yell,

"The antidote is on Dorian! He has the cure we have to get rid of!"

"Thank you, Landon," Mr. Speck released a relieved sigh. "My patience can only get me so far. I was seriously this close to snapping. I did not see this coming, I'll admit."

"Landon," I noticed how Rav's eyes stayed trained on the weapon digging into Dorian's back as he said a small, pleading voice unlike him. "L-Landon, please don't hurt him. P-please don't hurt my broth–"

"SHUT UP!" His forehead was made less attractive by the vein that protruded on it. "Nobody move! I mean it!"

   For some reason, Dorian's pain-stricken face took my memories back to the time when Landon showed up the day after Talise's capture. Dorian had mentioned that we couldn't trust him, but did I listen? No.

   But then again, how the hell was I supposed to know that Landon was a traitor. Honestly, the more I thought of it, the more confusing this unexpected alliance was.

"I know what you're thinking, Beth," Landon said, "How? Why?"

"Thanks for saving me the trouble of asking." I nodded, giving myself a mental pat for how composed I sounded. "Now answer the damn questions."

   Preferably with answers long enough for me to figure out how to get Dorian out of your grasp.

   The moment Landon opened his mouth to speak though was when the emotional floodgates I'd been confident were shut burst open. The words I blurted out were loaded with unleashed rage, "You know what, hold that thought. What the hell is wrong with you?! We trusted you. I trusted you when no one else wanted to! Why will you choose to work for him? You know his plans for Zavlon. For the world. You know what happened to Talise!"

"Let me take the reins on this one," Mr. Speck chipped in. "You see after your idiot friend–"

"Talise," I gritted my teeth. "Her name is Talise. And she's the smartest person I know so I'd think twice before calling her an idiot, idiot."

"Your friend wasn't as subtle as she thought when she sent Landon the message," Our principal droned on. "After a little digging, I was able to track him down and meet him on that very day. Unlike the rest of you, Landon understood my vision right away. He didn't hesitate to go to you guys the next day and be my eyes I needed until now."

   My gaze flickered back to Landon. His grip on Dorian was firmer than ever. My brain was still flooded with questions of how this unlikely alliance occurred. Was he invited to Zavlon? Did Mr. Speck take him to the tunnels and show him the numerous students under his control? Was that what attracted Landon? Did seeing Zavolonians trigger some sick rush for power?

"So what did he tell you?" I found myself asking Landon, my voice getting louder with each word. "What could he possibly have told you for you to join him?! Tell me, Landon! What? Tell me right now!"

"You of all people should know," He bit back, eyes flashing. "And I'm sure you would've if you hadn't gotten that scholarship. It seems you've quickly forgotten the countless people in our community with enormous talent, just like you. Those who never get the chance you got. People like me."

"Lan–"

"Do you think I wanted to leave Germany and return to Ridgeton?It was supposed to be my family's fresh start to a better life. But then my dad got laid off and my mum's business was no longer thriving like initially had and just like that we were back to square one; from living in the actual suburbs to barely surviving in the Classic Suburbs once again, from attending an incredible school with one of the best coding and programming programs to the halls of government-screwed Ridgeton High.

"But finally I get to be recognised for what I'm great at and it's going to play a huge role in making the world the way it should be. Don't you get it, Beth? This is my scholarship! This is what will make my parents proud! And who knows what that's like more than you? Majority of the children in Ridgeton are either college dropouts or never went at all, and remain in their parents' homes till these parents die and they inherit, not only their houses, but their debts and their damned, hopeless destinies. This is my shot to beat the inevitable odds. You can't tell me you wouldn't do what I'm doing right now if you were in my shoes."

   I was the only one in this room who could understand where Landon was coming from. If I'd never gotten the scholarship and was approached by someone like Mr. Speck with what was a deceptive golden opportunity, I may have agreed like he did. Landon was not wrong about the already screwed futures that awaited most in Ridgeton.

   But that was the thing; most. Not all.

   And I wasn't just referring to myself.

   I saw my mother steer her future, bit by bit, to a brighter one, anytime her head was buried in overpriced medical school reading materials. Now, she was in her final year, still going strong while working and single-handedly raising me.

   Also, even though Tali almost never talked about Linktech University and always found a way to change the subject when I brought it up, hidden within the papers of the books in her room were countless sketches of the Ivy League school's crest. Talise got a lot of complaints from Ridgeton High teachers and the principal, but I can't remember any which had to do with her grades.

   The point I'm simply trying to make is this: Ridgeton is no Disneyland, but when you make the right choices sometimes, dreams do come true.

"I knew it," Landon mistook my prolonged silence for a concession to everything he'd said. "That's why I recommended you."

   Uh... "What do you mean by that?" I frowned.

"Landon made salient points as to why and how you'd make a great ally, Beth," Mr. Speck said, "Although, let me say, you've been on my mind already. It was your Neuroskel that made my invention better. Imagine the amazing things you could create–on purpose this time– to further our cause."

"Think about it, Beth," Landon added. "You'll be able to reach your potential without being limited by pathetic aliens." A groan escaped Dorian as Landom dug the weapon into him for emphasis. "Or the over-privileged rich kids." He cast a contemptuous glance towards Rav.

"What do you think I've been doing all this while?'' I let out an amused scoff. "This whole experience has pushed me far beyond what I always thought I was capable of doing. And that even includes my time in Zavlon before this. I used to believe my barely getting ahead made me a failure who didn't deserve the opportunity to be in Zavlon, but I realise now that those were just lies I let others tell me, lies I told myself. I was simply learning like everyone else. I'm still learning now! And I'm sorry Landon. I'm so sorry you didn't get the life you deserved but there are so many ways of becoming the amazing person you definitely are but this is not it. Please, Landon. There's still time to back out. You don't have to do this "

   During the next minute Landon held my pleading gaze, I could have sworn that there was a moment where the hardness in his blue eyes faltered in intensity. That was all I needed for hope to surge in me with an energetic freshness. Somehow, I'd gotten to him. If I chose my next words carefully, Dorian could be fre–

   Those hard eyes, however, returned before he said, "So that's a no."

   And just like that, all hope deflated.

"Such a shame, Beth." Mr. Speck sighed.

   Suddenly, the wall behind Landon and Dorian opened like an automated sliding door would.

   Rav was the first to react when Landon dragged him and Dorian to the other side of the door.

   But not even him could catch up to them fast enough. Before any of us made contact with the door, it sealed shut, turning once more into an entrapping wall.

A/N: Who saw Landon coming🫣? 

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