LAST PART OF CHAPTER 11 I PROMISE.

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┅ Ⓓ ┅ 

◆ LIA ◆

Steve pulled the car to the side of the road and parked.

"Your brother was supposed to do this, but he kept delaying it," he rubs his hand over his face, "but he's left me no choice." He glances at his phone, his brows furrowing as he reads something on screen, "and looks like he doesn't have a say in it anymore now. I want you to tell me everything that has happened from the moment you left your home in the states to how you came here and everything after that."

Vee's head appears between us as she leans forward from the backseat, "I swear to god, if you even think about making Lia speak about something she's not comfortable with yet, I will break every single bone in your body. I am well-trained in three different types of martial arts, so don't think I'm joking."

He stares at her a moment too long, then comes to a grunting decision, "And I swear to god if someone else comes in my way while I'm trying to do my job I will not hold back, female or not."

"Vee, it's fine," I say, speaking for the first time since we parked. "I... I'll tell you whatever you want but I want to go back to my brother."

"That was my plan anyway," he remarks, making an illegal U-turn and driving back the direction we came from. He places his phone on the console between us and gives me a sideways glance, "anytime today."

My mind wanders back to the eventful night. I have thought about it a lot ever since I got my memories back, trying to put the pieces together, but that only made me realize how much there is that I don't remember.

I watched my dad place the last suitcase in the trunk of our car; my mum was standing by the side ticking items of her list as she made sure, for the seven billionth time, that she had everything packed. My dad had a meeting in San Francisco; they were expanding their company in various places over the states, and my father was required to remain for a few days there to ensure they had all the credentials needed. My mum thought it was a good opportunity to have a family trip and suggested we all join him on his trip. I had auditions at The World Art's Institute (TWAI) in two days and as much as I loved our occasional family holidays, I wouldn't miss these auditions for the world. This has been my dream since as long as I could remember and I had to ensure my place in next year's class.

Maxon, my little brother, was upset that I wasn't joining them but once he realized that he'll be getting the backseat entirely for himself the idea didn't upset him as much and he immediately replaced my place with comic books, his IPad and an unhealthy amount of candy. He promised to skype me every night though, to make up for his over excitement of being the sole inhabitant of the backseat.

The first two days passed uneventfully; I didn't leave the house much and spent most of my time practicing for my audition. My parents called to check in a couple of times a day and Max skyped every night as promised.

Vee was due back from visiting her grandparents in a week, they lived in Germany and she used them as an excuse to escape the drama in her house. She promised though that when she's back she's going to spend the second week with me until my parents are back and we agreed that in order to not jeopardize our chances at TWAI, we would both audition on the first day, which was tomorrow, her in Germany and I here in LA and then when she gets accepted she can transfer to the Los Angeles one. It was always a matter of 'when' not 'if'.

It was the day after the auditions and I was still buzzing with excitement. I didn't want to celebrate alone and Vee promised that we will have an unforgettable celebration once she's back since both of our auditions went well. I decided to binge watch a new series because that, to me, equaled a mini, solo celebration.

I ordered pizza and prepared the place I was to be planted in for the following god knows how many hours, making sure I had everything within arm distance. I took my binge watching seriously and I had to make sure everything was ready before I pressed play. I, too, had an unhealthy amount of snacks next to me on the bed ranging from chips and pretzels, lots and lots of pretzels, to chocolates and ice-cream and drinks. I was in the middle of popping pop-corn when I heard the loud banging on the door.

That is one fast and angry pizza delivery guy, I thought as I opened the door. But I wasn't greeted by a delivery guy; instead there was a man, a young one, with short brown hair and green eyes, in dark clothes and a troubled look on his face- aiming a gun towards me.

I screamed and tried to slam the door shut between us but he was quicker and stronger. So I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the knife rack, pulling out a knife in each hand. I heard the front door close and being locked and realized what a mistake I'd made to trap myself inside.

I reached into my pockets for my phone but realized with deep agony that I had left it in my room. I heard his footsteps approach and braced myself to throw the knives.

"I'm not trying to harm you, Amylianne," he spoke from outside the kitchen.

I froze in place. "Who are you? How do you know me? And what do you want?"

I know for a fact that if I had watched a movie where the character starts asking dumb questions to some intruder with a gun in her house, I would've snorted in a very un-lady like manner and called her stupid and then screamed at her through the screen to run to the nearest window.

And that was what I should have done, run to the nearest window, but I didn't. Instead I stood frozen behind the kitchen island, where my only protection was this rack of knives and my poor aim, and watched as the man entered the kitchen, unarmed.

"I'm here to protect you, you have to trust me," he spoke with a thick British accent. "We don't have much time; I'll explain everything on the way because they'll be here shortly."

"Yeah, right! As if I'm going to leave with a stranger who just walked into my house with a gun." 

He then told me my parents and my little brother have died in a car accident, but I didn't respond. I didn't believe him.

He approached me and he was standing so close that I could stab him if I wanted to, but he made no move and neither did I. He continued talking, telling me he would take me to Miles, my brother in London. I still did not respond because I did not believe him. Some things just did not make any sense and this was a lie, I knew it was a lie. Maybe it was some horrible, horrible prank but there was no way he was telling the truth. And why should I believe him anyway?  

He placed his hands on my shoulder and was shaking me out of my shock. He's lying. He has to be. I called my parents this morning and he is lying. Why are his words affecting me? Why am I believing him!! My parents are still alive. Maxon is still alive and I'm going to call them right now.

"Liar," I shouted at him and ducked under his arms and out of the kitchen where I ran to my room and dialed my parents. Maybe I should've called the police first to tell them there's a stranger with a gun in my house telling me my parents died.

No one was picking up and I tried again and again. The stranger was crouched in front of me, a look of pity on his face.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry but you have to trust me and come with me now or we'll soon have the same fate," he pleaded.

"You're a liar! A liar!" I kept on repeating and tried calling my mum again. Just because they didn't answer doesn't mean they're DEAD! He pulled me to my feet and grabbed a jacket from my closet on his way out, all the while keeping my hand firmly in his as he pulled me along and out of the house, begging me to trust him and that he meant no harm. I let him, all the while calling him a liar. 

Whoever he was, he wasn't lying. I dont remember how he confirmed their death and how did I believe him, but I just know that I did and that they really did die in a car accident. I didn't know that this goodbye was the last goodbye, the last time I'd see them ever again. No more family trips, no more gatherings, no more Frank Sinatra in the morning, no more Maxon barging in my room, no more water fights with him, no more talks with my mum, no more anything of my old life. No more family; I lost them and I'm slowly losing myself too because I don't know how to be without them.  

"Stop the car right now!" I heard Vee scream and it felt like waking up from a dream. I was completely engrossed in the flashback it almost felt like I was reliving the day.

"Stop the car you heartless shit! Can't you see how she is?"

I looked down at my hands; I had closed them into tight fists, so tight that my fingernails had cut into the skin. I was holding back tears and felt my throat begin to constrict.

Steve was quiet as he pulled over to the side and stopped the car. Vee rushed out from the backseat and flung my passenger door open, pulling me out.

"I want... Miles," I chocked, my eyes were stinging and I couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

Vee urged me into the backseat and climbed in after, she put her arm around my shoulder and I leaned against her, my sobs muffled by her shoulder.

"You are cruel," she told Steve as he drove silently, "and I hope you never have a happy day in your life."

He did not reply and did not ask any more questions, the rest of the drive back to the hospital was silent.

◆ MILES ◆

I hear Will coughing before I reach his door, the sound was muffled and harsh, as if it was being ripped from his chest. The place was awfully quiet, causing the sound of his hacking to be reverberated through the hallway.

I slowly and quietly approach his window, dreading what I was to find. I find him leaning on the sink, wiping blood off his mouth that was immediately replaced by more, he coughed again and the blood spattered on the wall in front of him. The sight caused me to stagger backwards and away from the window before he could see me. 

He's showing signs too early!  Too fucking early.

How? Why?? What in the world are we dealing with here?

I lean against the nearest wall, trying to calm my breathing. My pulse was doing double time and I had to sit down for a moment to get my heart rate to settle into a safer zone.

Once I have calmed enough to think properly, I get up and walk back out. I have to call Luke; he has to come back right now. He did not pick up my last two calls and I pull out my phone to try again.

"Fucking hell Luke, why weren't you answering? Where are you?" I demand as soon as he picks up.

"It hasn't even been twenty minutes; I just arrived at the hospital. And I haven't even realized this weird phone you gave me was ringing. Any updates?"

"Turn around and come back immediately."

"What? What about the tests, we can't just use it without-

"Luke, we don't have time. David is dead, Will has hours and I don't know when his body will stop responding to any medication."

"I thought... you said at least twenty-four hours."

"I was wrong, now come back before it gets worse."

I hang up and lean against the wall again, sending a silent prayer up for this nightmare to end without losing anyone else.

"You're here," a voice speaks behind me. I turn to find Lexi, limping her way towards me with her right arm in a sling. I feel bad for not checking up on her, but with everything that's happened in the past twenty-four hours, I haven't even had time for a breather. "You must have really pissed Gerard off," she chuckles, waving her phone in my face. "I got the message about your suspension, good job Milo," she sarcastically remarks.

"Lexi," I pull her into a hug, careful not to hurt her arm. "I'm glad you're okay."

"I'm glad you're okay too, you scared us all by the way so fuck you for that," she lightly punches my arm with her good one.

"Why are you here? You should be resting," I tell her.

"And you should've told me about Will," she counters. "Instead I find out from some nurse? Really? Anyway, how is he? How serious is this shit?"

I sigh, rubbing my eyes, "it's bad, Lexi."

The smile drops from her face, "Let's go see him then," she doesn't wait for me and walks in determinedly looking left and right for the room Will is in.

"Wait," -I call for her- "don't mention that I was standing outside."

She doesn't question me, just nods and continues walking. She stops in front of the window of the room he's in and hesitates. I watch as she takes in the sight. For as long as I've known Alexis she has barely let any emotion other than stolid impassivity cross her face, it was in rare occasions such as this one that she lets down her guard and allows herself to look vulnerable, scared even.

I close my eyes momentarily, wishing for the world to just disappear. I inhale deeply and step next to Lexi in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass that separates the room from the hallway. She taps lightly on the glass to get Will's attention; he was sitting on the edge of the bed, hunched over and facing away from the door, with his  elbows on knees and face buried in his hands. He slowly looks up, wiping the back of his hand against his nose and examining it for blood, but there was none and he visibly lets out a relieved sigh. He walks up to the glass, a weak smile appearing on his face.

"Who did you threaten to let you out of bed?" he looks at Lexi.

"Please," she scoffs. "You think I'd let one pathetically shot bullet keep me in bed for more than a day? Who do you think I am? You?"

He shakes his head while laughing, "Typical."

I eye him closely, searching his face for any signs of pain he's trying to conceal.

"Any updates?" he looks at me. His nose starts bleeding again and I follow the trickling line until it dropped to the neck of his shirt, where there were more bloodstains. He wipes it and looks away, "you think they'd at least put a box of tissue paper in here."

"Luke is on his way," I blurt out. "You'll be fine-" my words are cut off as I remember telling David that just seconds before he died.

"If it wasn't for the look on your face and the fact that I've known you since we were sixteen, I'd believe you," he replies once he's done wiping away the blood.

I'm spared from replying as both of our phones start buzzing in a stream of notifications at the same time. I pull mine out in confusion; the signal must be back on and all our pending messages and missed calls notifications must have all been delivered.

"Looks like the jammers are off," Lexi remarks, "probably the gate has been opened again too, I'll go check out what's going on."

She gives Will one last look before turning back and walking out.

"I have twenty seven missed calls from Gemma," he says, looking down at his phone, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Call her then, the place was swarming with reporters outside so she probably saw it on the news and got worried when you didn't pick up."

He nods, "I will, just need to talk to you for a minute."

I slide back against the wall in the hallway and he sits opposite to me on the other side of the glass, mirroring my position with his knees bent and arms resting on them, except that he doesn't have a wall behind his back like I do.

My mind was reeling with endless possibilities, but I was not able to focus neither on any of them nor on what Will was saying.

What if the cure Luke and I just created hours ago was a total failure? I just lost my parents and my brother and almost lost my sister, could I really take another loss? And my best friend at that?

"Miles!" Will stretched his leg and his foot hit the glass startling me. I blink a few times trying to shake myself out of my thoughts and look at him.

"Sorry, what were you saying?" I ask.

◆ WILL ◆  

I didn't want to think about dying; at least I tried not to. But it was on my mind. And with Miles here, looking like he's waiting for the last piece of his life to fall apart, I thought its best if I steer the conversation away from my possible death and maybe get some answers for the million questions in my head. I thought maybe if I appeared to be well he won't blame himself if I die. It was a foolish thought but in my head it made sense.

"I was saying how did you manage with the vials delivery if you weren't here in London most of the time?" I repeat my question.

He grunts in response, "long story."

"Should I go with 'we have time' or 'I don't have much time'?"

A small smile appears on his face, "your lame sense of humour is intact so I guess that's a good sign that you're not dying."

"Is that an honest medical statement?" I joke but his smile fades.

"I'm serious, Will," he says, "Luke is going to be here any minute and you'll get the antidote."

"Alright, until then tell me how did you manage?"

He shrugs like it's no big deal, "I just did, all I could think about was protecting my family and those I cared about, so I did what I had to do no matter the cost."

"But some things don't even make sense," I admit, "How'd you make them believe you're dead? If you weren't here in London... if you weren't here then how did you manage the vials delivery thing, did whoever is helping send them to wherever you were at the time? When-

He holds up an interrupting hand, "slow down with the questions dude."

"I want answers."

"It's simple," he sighs and leans back against the wall, "I lied."

"No way!" I exclaim with an exaggerated gasp and he makes a face.

"I was here in London and led everyone to believe I wasn't, it's literally that simple."

"But why? What's the point? You weren't hiding from The Agency so why go through all this trouble?"

"You really think our systems are faultless and beyond breaching? I hacked it when I was sixteen, multiple times," he scoffs, "or do you think that we don't have double agents between us?"

"I'd like to believe that yes, what are you on about? And even if... even if our systems are knackered, why wouldn't you tell me? Just me..."

"To protect you too, Will! To fucking protect everyone but I guess I did a shit job at it anyway because look what happened, they killed my family, kidnapped my sister and now you."

He was angry and hurt and I didn't want to push it further, but I still could not fathom how he thought that was a good idea.

"Was it Gerard's idea?" I ask.

"I almost forgot how persistent you are," he lets out an exaggerated sigh. "Why does it matter anyway?"

"Just tell me, was it his idea?"

"Not directly, no," he replies, "Gerard was- I don't know- talking?- Or more like thinking out loud, he said something about them realizing their mix-up later on and I got the idea, suggested it and he agreed."

"I still don't understand how-

"Will, just drop it!"

"No I won't drop it, and you're going to explain right now how... just how exactly did you think you could fool X8 into believing you're dead when the only ones who thought you're dead are your parents and siblings?"

A small smile appears on his face and it infuriates me, "For the love of god! What is humorous about this situation Miles?"

"Your short term memory loss," he's now full on grinning and my concern for his mental health grows.

"You know, all it took was a simple search for my name on any other database other than the one in London to find that my file no longer existed, anywhere but London of course. And again, it all goes back to just lying," he explains, "I unlinked my account from the server and since we go by code names it was easy for me to just create a new one with a different name to have international access to all our servers, that new identity was the one I used when I wasn't here-

"But you just said you were lying about travelling?" I interrupt.

"Not all the time Will, why are you being extra stupid right now?"

I flip him off as he continues, "I was living with a completely different identity when I wasn't here, and if you remember the mission we coincidentally met on in Prague last year, I didn't think the backup team would be sent from London so I didn't check the names and you didn't know I was going by a different code name so you didn't recognize my name on the list, which is why we were both surprised then when we saw each other, and in the heat of the moment you didn't ask me about it."

"But you would've lied about it anyway," I challenged.

When he doesn't say anything back I ask him another question.

"How often were you here when you claimed you weren't?"

He hesitates for a moment and then says, "seventy percent of the time..."

"Did Gerard know?"

"Only when I wanted him to, which wasn't very occasional. No one knew, I was here only for the vials and to work on the research."

"I can't believe it!"

"You're overreacting," he says, making me want to throw something at his face, like the bed or the sink.

"Are there any more ... lies?"

"I prefer the term concealed truths," he replies in a mocking tone.

"For fucks sake Miles, are you keeping any more secrets?"

He gets up, dusting his jeans, "No, no I'm not," he checks his phone distractedly and then looks back at me, "maybe you should call Gemma now, yeah? - or not ... because she is actually here, with ... Luke?"

"She's what?" I scramble up off the floor as Gem and Luke step in front of the glass.

It was the shock of Miles's words along with the sight of Gemma that left me standing there struggling for words. But it was the sight of Gemma alone, the girl I never confessed my love to, that triggered something inside of me. An emotion I just started feeling when I saw her face etched with worry and her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at me, and I realized then that I was afraid to die.

I didn't feel fear when I was put in this room and left alone for hours, I didn't feel fear when I started coughing up blood and realized that this might be the beginning of a very painful journey to the ... well, to the end of my life. That feeling, the fear, only sank in when I realized that I'd be dying without ever letting Gemma know how I feel about her, without ever getting to know how it feels like to be loved by her, to be touched by her and to be kissed by her.

It was Gemma who I went to for comfort after a rough day at work. It was Gemma who called to make sure I was alright whenever she watched the news. It was Gemma whom I felt I could be entirely myself with, almost like she knew me my whole life when in reality we met only three years ago.

Gemma was my safe place and in that moment I realized that my feelings for her were far stronger than I had imagined. This kind of love I felt, it was irrational and possessive. My feelings for her ran so deep that it became an essential part of my being and without Gemma I would forever be missing a piece of me.

I wasn't sure what scared me more then, that I could die and never have those feelings expressed or that I could live knowing that another human being can create this terrifying need and want and lust and all sorts of maddening senses and emotions, simply by the thought of them.

"Will," Gemma says, her voice pulling me out of my fear-filled spiral. She places a hand on the glass but her eyes were wild, looking all over the place until they finally meet my gaze.

I couldn't move or speak, the only thing on my mind was my unsaid feelings and I was afraid that if I open my mouth to speak, the words I have kept in for so long will come tumbling out.

It was not fear of rejection that I had not confessed to Gemma, but quite the opposite. I was afraid of dragging her into my world, into a world where I couldn't protect her and I couldn't bear the thought of her getting hurt because of me. But she was already in my world wasn't she? I already burden her with all my worries and she already knows of The Agency and of everything I was supposed to keep a secret.

All this time I pretended that if she was not officially my lover, then she was out of harm's reach, that she would not be associated with me and all this time I was stupid for believing so. And what was a stupid confession anyway when we both knew how we felt about each other?

I felt something rise in my throat and my stomach lurched but I wasn't quick enough as I doubled over and coughed up blood again, but this time right on the glass window, right in front of Gemma, Miles and Luke.

That seemed to pull both Miles and Luke out of their lament but sent Gemma staggering backwards until she hit the opposite wall and slid down, pulling her knees to her chest. I met Miles's eyes for a second, they were frantic, and he was shaking his head lightly in disbelief. He shrugged off his jacket and took off in a run towards the scrubs room until he disappeared down the hallway.

No one spoke, not Luke nor Gemma; until Miles came back wearing protective clothing that covered him head to toe.

"He's going to be fine, he's going to be fine," he repeated as he took a small bottle from Luke's hands and bent down to retrieve something from his jacket. He hastily swiped his access card and I noticed how his entire body was shaking lightly. The door lock flashed red as his access was rejected, and just then I remembered that I got the board message of Miles being suspended. He cursed out load and gave the door a solid kick.

I had my card on me but there was no way of opening the door from the inside or passing the card to the outside. Panic flashed over all of their faces and then Luke said, "I'll get someone's card they-

"No one will hand over their card Luke," I said, finally finding my voice. I looked at Gemma and gave her a weak smile, I had wiped my face clean of blood once the coughing stopped but there was an alarming amount of it still in sight, dried on my clothes and on the walls and the floor, "I'm glad you're here-

"Stop talking like you're dying! You're not!" Miles interrupts me, "we have the medicine right here and this hospital has about a hundred other agents who could unlock this door so we'll get one and you will be fine. Do you understand?"

It was very impractical and slightly difficult for Miles to run out with what he was wearing, so Luke took off instead. Gemma was biting down on her nails while her eyes followed my every movement. It was strange, being in the same place as her and not speaking. But what can I say? Do I burden her with a very much delayed confession with the possibility that I might not survive this? Or do I keep it in and let it die with me?

I felt a sharp, sudden pain by my side and I let out a muted cry as I steadied myself against the wall.

Gemma pushed herself up and almost threw herself at the window but Miles held her back.

"I'm not waiting for Luke," he said, pulling out his gun and aiming towards the glass. "Will, step away."

I felt my strength slipping away as I tried to stand upright and question whether or not he was being serious.

"What- what the fuck?" someone spoke. I recognized the voice as Steve's and looked up to find him approaching with a look of bewilderment across his face. Lia and her friend were nowhere in sight.

"Never thought I'd be glad to see you, Reid," Miles exhaled a breath and asked Steve for his card then he paused-

"Wait, where's Lia? Where's my sister?" he demanded.

"Upstairs with Luke and her intolerable friend."

Now my head was beginning to throb and whatever strength was holding me upwards vanished and I found myself slipping against the window, darkness beginning to edge my vision.

Gemma let out a cry and called my name. That was the last thing I heard before I was consumed in agonizing pain and then total darkness.

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A/N

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE CELEBRATING AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I THOUGHT THIS CHAPTER WOULD NEVER BE POSTED I ALMOST GAVE UP ON THE ENTIRE BOOK lol 

It was fun to write though because Will is always fun to write.  

Why is chapter 11 posted in 4 parts? (asked no one):
Because the entire four parts are happening simultaneously with alternating POVs and in the end all four parts (alllll 13,859 word [holy shit I should learn to write shorter chapters]) are basically just the events of a few hours it does not make sense (to me) to have them all in different numbers of chapters but it is totally fine (to me) to have them in a b c d. 

I hope you liked it! And THANK YOU for reading!! x

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29.12.17