Chapter 58 – UNAPOLOGETIC (Fatima Ashlynn POV) PT.3

"Why don't they wike me?"

That was something I asked Wyatt more than once while in Zedwood, their hateful stares or the ones where it made my stomach turn and felt like I would be sick. The question was answered each time but that did not stop me from asking Wyatt again when my heart ached.

Now, leaving behind the hate I was directly in front of the concerned gaze of Samson, his hand coming up to cup my left cheek, warm.

We shouldn't be here! A small voice inside me yells; fear building.

Closing my eyes, I start – faking – a giggle, putting up a front ignoring all around us – mostly the evil glares.

Glares and the golden crest go together.

"Ignore them Fatima, just pretend they aren't here," Wyatt would say throwing a grand smile and goofy eyes my way. That's how Wyatt would distract me I think remembering a piece of information I did not realize I could recall, to begin with.

All eyes slide over to me in confusion, concern and uncertainty.

I note that on the bridge even leading up to it has tire track marks not from our car in the snow. The property was not vacant.

Quickly I try my best to avert my gaze, not looking at the bridge or the gate with the golden crest, but my laugh only causes those around me to be concerned.

"Is she okay?" Rafael tries to whisper but fails.

The glares and image in the conference room, I think as I try not to move robotically.

"Go to the coordinates!" memories hit me. I owned the property according to Dmitri but Wyatt wanted me to go to the coordinates, I could remember the image on the gates but that memory came with adults that sneered and detested me and were very clear about that. Luca, Imogen and I could see the bridge and gate but what if the people behind the gate

Nodding, I gasp out, "Get the camera Imogen," I smile again turning my back towards the gate and bridge. "Stop looking behind us, watch the front," I whisper knowing Samson and Luca would hear me.

My heart races and I know they can probably hear that too.

Imogen frowns but turns to the car and grabs the camera Samson purchased for me. When she returns, and tries to hand it to me I shake m my head. Cuddling up to Samson I pose, "Come on, take our pictures like we wanted," I say softly, but still it's an order that Imogen follows even though she looks confused.

"Luca?" I demand, opening my arm for him to come closer. Eyeing Samson, he too frowns before walking over, pulling Rafael with him. A few snaps and I bounce over to Imogen, telling her to switch places with me.

What the hell is going on?

Tell me what's wrong?

What the heck is she thinking?

Has she cracked?

This is the girl Luca is following?

Their thoughts were clearly written on their faces.

"Smile," I call, the wind blowing. Grimaces, lifted brows, squinted and narrowed gazes, all expressions flitting over their faces still. With a flick of the wrist I tell them to change positions as though we were using the area like any other tourist. When Samson finally drops the concerned look, I hand him the camera, taking a few shots with Imogen alone.

When we've taken maybe fifteen shots, more than we really needed considering the backdrop was plains and snow, I announce heading back.

"Now," I grit out when they don't immediately follow me. Getting into the car, Luca hops into the drivers seat while Imogen, Samson, and I head in the back. Heading out, it takes two seconds at the most before everyone pounces.

"What the hell?" Imogen.

"How come I couldn't see the gate and bridge?" Rafael.

"Where are we going? Are we going to go back?" Luca.

"Fatima?" Samson says softer, "Are you alright?" he searches my eyes, holding my gaze, looking deep inside.

"I love you Fatima," I read in his eyes. I see it but wonder how? He's only known me for a short time and I had done nothing but cause his family trouble in a way.

Blinking I hold his gaze, I doubt I could look away.

"Stop making eyes and tell us what's wrong," Imogen teases, or maybe it just sounds that way. Nevertheless it is enough to make me break the connection with Samson.

"I've seen that image – in Zedwood – the gold one," Imogen nods and up front Luca is glancing up to the rearview mirror every few seconds while he gets us back on the freeway heading East.

"Are you sure?" Imogen asks. "It looks familiar," she offers but her hesitance is there.

I find it strange. I've seen it in Zedwood, shouldn't she have as well?

"Yeah but I think I've seen it too," Samson chimes tilting his head to the side and closing his eyes.

"Why couldn't I see it!?" Rafael presses.

"Maybe we should concentrate one why Luca, Imogen, Fatima and I could see it," Samson snaps back.

Thoughts I shelved come back.

"The amount of power needed to make the change Wyatt," one woman said.

"She is a GMO – the event will change her makeup-"

The shrillness of the woman's rebuff sends shivers down my spine now, as it had before. A GMO? I could recall the acronym from lessons in science class and when I was alone at the safe house.

Genetically modified organism? Had they been talking about me? Frustrated I try to force myself to recall more but only end up with a sharp pain in my neck clawing upwards. What was I? 

"It's Pangea!" Imogen bounces, startling Luca and myself. The car only barely going off course before he gains control.

"What's Pangea?"

"The gold on the gate, it's of the continents-" she stops abruptly flinging the laptop open and pressing a few keys before turning it towards us.

"See?" she points to the green shape, "It's the Supercontinent Pangea!" 

I nod slowly at first, pulling up the image in my mind from the gates, from the conference room in Zedwood.

"There were stars," I add trying to place them on the green image that had the continents isolated. Overlapping the map Imogen pulled up to the one on the gate.

"Six of them," Imogen tacks on quickly.

Without a conscious thought or directive my gaze slips up front to Luca, should we be telling him this?

"Wait does this have to do with the ones like you?" Rafael questions Luca. And I pay close attention to his response.

Shaking his head he frowns, "No, not that I can remember." I could not afford to be paranoid now but that tendency and the world I thought existed had made it quite difficult to now take things at face value. How does anyone know if someone is being honest or deceitful?

I surely could not tell. 

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© 2016 roxann_season All Rights Reserved

Short I know but.... you all have the clues... like I said in the last chapter many of you are like 75% close to figuring it all out. I LOVE that you get to comment because those of you that have shared your theories let me know that I'm not making this too difficult to follow. I'm not exactly handing it to you, but I also do not want readers to be like 'ugh, I cannot follow this - let me go read something cliched.' [sidenote: nothing wrong with the cliches i like them every once in a while.] 

As for Faith's personality... Wyatt raised her in her formative years, she has a personality that's going to break free (cue Ariana Grande song ...LOL). I know she started out all weak but I think she's growing...

anyways, thanks for reading, voting and COMMENTING :)