Sofia awoke a few hours later. She shifted her body uncomfortably on my lap, causing me to awaken too. I groaned, pulling her back against me, trying to stop her from moving.

                She laughed, pushing away. “Stop, Clayton.”

                I released her, rubbing my eyes, “What time is it?”

                “Nine.” Sofia said, sounding surprised. “We slept in for a while.”

                I stood up, stretching my stiff body. I felt my joints crack as I moved, my back sore from the uncomfortable position I had been sleeping in.

                I glanced over at the two prisoners of ours. John was sleeping upright, a small trail of drool falling out of his mouth. Cassie was curled against his arm, pressing her body as close to John’s as she possibly could.

                I looked at Sofia noticing the disgust in her face.

                “That’s just pathetic.” She said, more to herself than me.

                “What is?” I asked, grabbing her attention. She glanced at me, crossing her arms around her waist.

                “Just the fact that we’re supposed to be in a war with you boys, and Cassie’s basically worshipping one.”

                I chuckled, “If I do remember correct, you don’t seem to have a gun point on me.”

                She raised an eyebrow, “Oh, you’d be surprised, Clayton. I don’t trust you as much as you think I do.”

                I frowned, “What do you mean?”

                “I may like you, Boy, but we’re still in a way and I can’t trust you just yet.”

                “But I thought…”

                “That I don’t believe in this?” She finished. “You’re right, but seriously, I can’t risk getting myself killed.”

                I thought for a moment, “So does this mean you’ve got a gun on me right now?”

                She laughed slightly, pausing before answering, “Not quite. But I know three different ways to incapacitate you if you tried anything.”

                “Oh.” I raised an eyebrow, impressed.

                She smiled gently at me.

                It was silent for a moment. Sofia walked over to the controls, messing around with the buttons. I glanced over at the sleeping prisoners thoughtfully.

                John stirred slightly, Cassie’s grip tightening around him.

                “I wonder what he said.” I thought aloud.

                “Hmm?” Sofia asked

                I glanced back at her, meeting her eyes, “John to Cassie. What he said to trick her into believing he was a good guy.”

                “That’s a very good question.” She said, sounding preoccupied.

                My stomach growled hungrily. I put a hand over top of it, my face heating up. I hadn’t eaten in what felt like forever.

                I glanced at Sofia innocently.

                She smirked at me, “Hungry?”

                “Just a little…”

                “I’m surprised you haven’t said anything until now.” She commented. “Unfortunately, it’ll be a little while until we get something to eat.”

                “How long?”
                She bit her lip.

                “Sophe?” I asked hesitantly, “How long?”

                “A while…”

                I groaned, tilting my head back slightly. Now that the thought as in my mind, I could feel my stomach aching painfully.

                “What are we going to do once we get back?” I asked quietly.

                She sighed, sitting down in the chair we had previously been sharing. I walked over, leaning against the dashboard of the Craft. I crossed my arms, cocking my head to the side curiously.

                “I don’t know.”

                “We need to come up with some kind of plan…”

                “I know, I know.” She groaned “But I just don’t know what.”

                It was quite for a while.

                What would we do with them? It would be easy to send John over to the Boys’ Side, but in the process, I might be forced to live here. There was no telling the amount of influences he had gained in the four years we had been separated. I could become the enemy in a matter of seconds if he returned.

                It would be easier to let another, stronger-willed girl find him.

                Yet there would always be the worry that he would manage to brainwash her too. After all, there was no telling his capabilities anymore.

                Cassie was an entirely different story. We couldn’t let her go. We didn’t know how trust-worthy she would be if she ever broke free from John’s control. If anyone found out Sofia had both, John and myself, all three of us would be in trouble.

                “We’re going to have to keep them for a little while..” Sofia said after a few moments.

                I met her eyes. “Or…”

                “Or..?”

                “There’s another option…” I trailed off.

                She raised an eyebrow, opening her mouth to speak.—

                “Yeah, you could just let us go back to our house and live the rest of our lives in peace.” A deep, unwanted voice entered the conversation.

                My eyes darted over to the now conscious John. He smirked at me playfully, still bound by the futuristic cuffs.

                “Well, he’s awake.” Sofia said with a monotone voice.

                “Been awake.” John said, “Just waiting for the perfect time to announce it.”
                I clenched my teeth, hating the sound of his voice.

                “So, you going to turn this sucker around and drop Cassie and me off?” He asked as if that’s exactly what we were going to do.

                “Shut up.” I snapped.

                John smirked, “Just asking.”

                “I said, shut up.”

                He opened his mouth to speak, but Sofia cut him off.

                “Answer a few questions first and we’ll see where this goes.”

                John sighed, rolling his head, “Lay ‘em on me.”

                “Why did you kill Ellie?” I asked, cutting off Sofia.

                She shot me a look.

                “Because she had brainwashed you, just like this Leech seems to have done also.” John said casually, “I never thought you were as stupid as that, Clayton.”

                “Stop.” Sofia hissed.

                He closed his mouth, finally.

                “Look, I have one question to ask you.” She said strictly, “I want a real answer. I don’t want a lie. I’ll shoot you now if I think you’re lying.”

                I looked at her, surprised at the tone of voice. I had never heard her as serious in that moment. It frightened me. She ignored me, focusing on John.

                She would… she really would shoot him.

                John kept his face neutral, hiding his emotions. “Go ahead, Leech.”

                “I want you to explain why Cassie is not reacting the normal way.”

                “That’s not a question.” He smirked.

                Sofia growled angrily, cursing under her breathe. “Can you explain why Cassie is not reacting in the normal way?”

                “Because she’s asleep.”

                “Don’t push me, Boy, I won’t hesitate to shoot you.”

                “I’m just answering your question.”

                “Now really answer it. How did you fool her into thinking you’re ok?”

                “She doesn’t think I’m ok…”

                Sofia cocked her head curiously.

                “She thinks she’s in love with me.”

                I didn’t know how to react. I wanted to hurt him, kill him. How could he fool someone into falling in love with him when he had destroyed my only love?

                John’s eyes flickered towards me briefly.

                “How did you…”

                “You said one question.” He smirked deviously

                Sofia frowned, “Fine. Then finish the question.”

                “I thought I…”

                “No, you told me she thinks she’s in love with you. I asked you how you managed to get her to think that.”

                I took joy knowing that John was embarrassed at that fact.

                He sighed, “Alright. I just kind of… told her the ‘truth’”

                “That’s not going to suit it, Boy. I need more details than just the ‘truth’” Sofia said, crossing her arms. She tossed her hair over her shoulder, leaning back in the seat.

                “You’re government is trying to prolong this war.” He said simply “It’s been 21 offical years already. It’s gone on far too long.”

                “So, you’re saying that you’re switching sides now?” I growled

                “I don’t believe that.” John snapped, growing irritated quickly “This is just what I fed to Cassie. I told her that boys and girls were meant to live together. I…er… showed her a few things.”

                “What things?” Sofia asked.

                “I’m sure nothing Clayton can’t explain to you.” John said, winking.

                She glanced at me, confused.

                My eyes widened.

                “You didn’t.”

                “Oh I did.” He grinned wickedly “I definitely understand how she could control you now. It was amazing.”

                “I can’t believe you!” I shouted.

                John shrugged, looking down at the now awake Cassie.

                She blinked confused “Wha…”

                “Forget about it, sweetie.” John said softly. She nodded, leaning her head against his arm. John seemed unaffected by it, his attention focused on us.

                “You’re despicable.”

                “And proud of it.” He grinned.

                “I’m confused…” Sofia said quietly.

                “Just forget about it.” I snapped.

                “No, Clay, tell me!”

                “We may have to put the alternative option into effect.”

                “What alternative option?”

                “Kill them.”

                She grabbed my wrist, forcing my attention on her. I hadn’t realized I had been glaring at John the entire time.

                I blinked a few seconds, softening my face. Her eyes were wide with surprise, as if she couldn’t do it. It was the best option in my opinion…

                “What do you mean?”

                “He… he can’t be allowed to do this!”

                “What did he—”

                “He slept with her! He had sex! He fucked her! They procreated! He raped her! He had intercourse with her!” I was fuming.

                Sofia’s eyes widened. “What?!”

******************************

I'll admit I've been on a writer's block for this for some time. Sorry guys, I'm trying, but finding John was like the big thing I had in mind. I'm trying to come up with what to do with them and how it will effect the story. Cross your fingers!

Thanks for all the support, btw. I do love it, even if I take forever.(: