Chapter 16 - Change of Plans

"Was it another dream?" Lia asked concerned.

"No...this is the first time that I didn't see anything..." I responded.

"Then that's a good thing. You normally trash around in your sleep. It's hard to watch and you don't even wake up when we try to wake you," Demi added.

I hesitated for a while, it was hard to put it into words but maybe they would have a different perspective. 

"I know. But I can't help but feel as though something bad is about to happen..." I said meekly.

"That's because you're always seeing those terrifying things! It's hard for you to let your guard down, right Demi?" Lia insisted, trying to cheer me up.

Demi nodded, "You've been asleep for 5 hours. We haven't encountered any problems either. Try to relax."

I let out a sigh and tried to do as they suggested. It took a while before I was actually starting to shake off that ominous feeling when the district alarms went off.

"Attention all citizens of D3, the suspect May Zepher was last sighted five and a half hours ago at the super-center. We have reason to believe she's headed to D2. All officers are urged to standby at D2 gates. I repeat....."

"What the hell?!" Lia exclaimed in confusion. 

The alarms kept ringing again and again while it repeated the notice. The red lights flashed steadily as Demi picked up the pace.

"It was Rina," I said quietly, but they heard.

Lia's head snapped back to look at me, her eyes widening in realization as she said softly, "I'm sorry May..."

She didn't have anything to apologize for. She probably thought I would be hurt by this and truthfully, I was.

Rina's tip off to the officers was something that I never expected. I knew she had contacts in high places but I didn't think she'd do this, but why? For revenge?

"She mentioned that there was something she needed to do in D1. Her access was denied so she most likely sold you out in exchange for passage there," Demi suddenly explained. 

After a few seconds of silence I spoke, "I'm sorry guys. I should've expected this...I didn't think....I....I'm sorry..."

"Don't apologize you idiot. You didn't do anything wrong. That purple highlighter is the one to blame. We all underestimated her," Lia comforted.

As she said this, The End's words came to mind. Was this the consequences that she spoke of? And where is she? If Rina gave them information then our route would be compromised. Isn't she supposed to appear at times like this?

I brushed those thoughts away, I didn't have time for questions with no answers. She'll appear when I'm in danger, the fact that she hasn't means that this path is still safe. 

But wait, Rina gave them information? On me only? 

"Lia check your phone. See if there's anything online about you and Demi," I said frantically.

"On it," She responded and took out her phone.

A few minutes passed before Lia let out a string of profanities, "We're everywhere! The car we're driving, our appearances, genders and...even the path we're taking."

"What...?" I asked as my eyes widened in realization, "That's...that's impossible. I didn't see anything in my dream and The End isn't anywhere to be seen either. This path should still be-"

I stopped my words in their tracks, The End's words replaying in my head. 

Is this what she meant by me being to dependent on her? Why...

"Snap out of it May!" Demi shouted, "None of us were depending on that strange power of yours. We'll get out of this so-"

His sentence was cut off as a police hover-car smashed into ours. Demi tried to swerve out of the way but they were pushing us into the building.

I was starting to panic. Everything was happening so quickly. Multiple cars started emerging from where this one came. There was no way they could organize all of this as soon as they let out that notice. I was trying to think of something but my thoughts were too jumbled.

Finally, Demi manged to get away from the car, causing it to ram into the building.

"Brace yourselves!" He shouted as bullets started to fly past us. 

"They're trying to hit the hoverboard!" Lia exclaimed.

"I know!" Demi replied trying his best to get away.

"She told them from the minute we parted ways..." I mumbled.

"What're you talking about?" Lia asked.

I clenched my teeth and then responded, "Rina's dad was a very influential man. He had a lot of good friends who kept in contact with Rina after he passed. She most likely sent them that information as soon as she was out of eyesight. This was just an elaborate trap."

Silence filled the car, albeit the loud sirens that followed us closely. 

I blamed myself, if only I had done things differently this wouldn't have happened. The officers were getting closer by the second and who knows what else they'd have in store for us up ahead.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh, "Hand me over to them."

"No," Lia and Demi replied simultaneously. 

"I told you that we'll always be on your side. And besides, there's no way I would betray a friend," Lia said as she turned to smile at me.

"Agreed," Demi said.

"Ohhhh? So she's only a friend yo you huh?" Lia tease him.

He cursed at her in response and they started bickering.

This wasn't the time for this, we were being chased and shot at and they were talking about nonsense. 

Tears began to fall, if only I had met these two sooner. My life would've have definitely been different.

They both teased me for crying, calling me soft and a baby. I couldn't even argue back with them and for some reason I started crying even more.

When I finally called down Demi spoke, "Let's have them capture us."

"Are you stupid?" Lia asked him immediately. 

He rolled his eyes at her and elaborated, "We don't know what's lying ahead. There are zombies, mutants and the officers. The alarms will probably distract the zombies but the officers won't let us get away easily. And let's say we do manage to somehow give them the slip, we still have to get to the gates."

"So by letting them capture us well get taken to D1 immediately for questioning. This way we avoid all the zombies and safely get to D1. But what happens then? I'm sure they won't give me a trial," I added.

I saw him smirk from the rear view mirror, "Did you forget who I am?"

"What? Are you just a high ranking officer?" Lia asked bewildered.

Demi glanced at me through the mirror and gave a small nod, "Actually Lia, that was a lie. His full name is Demi Vermillion. He's-"

"THE PRESIDENT'S SON?!?!" She interrupted, exclaiming loudly.

It seems like we gave her too much of a shock because unintelligible words tumbled out of her mouth. Seeing her response made me question if I under-reacted or if she's overreacting. 

"While Lia is reciruiting her brain, I'll continue my explanation," he paused to swerve out the way to avoid running into zombies. "It'd be nice if the officers ran into them and it slowed them down, but anyway. I'll send orders to my people in D1 and D2. The ones in D2 will blend with those that captured us, and as soon as we get through the D1 gates I'll have both teams cause a distraction so we can get away. Once we're free we'll make our way to my father and have him come clean."

"But won't the officers recognize you immediately? I mean it's one thing for Lia and I since you never made a public appearance in twenty-three years, but I'm not sure about the District Officers," I stated.

"They won't be able to recognize me either. I ran away from home when I was six, and they all think I'm dead," he said nonchalantly.

"What?" Lia and I said in unison.

He chuckled, "I'll tell you two that story some other time. Get ready, I'm sure they won't be gentle when arresting us."

We nodded. I could see Lia was a bit nervous, I couldn't blame her, I was too. I took a deep breath and slowly, the car came to a halt.

If The End was here maybe this would've been easier, but I can't worry about that now. I'll prove that I can survive without her.