Chapter 21 - Even If....

I slowly opened my eyes and groggily looked around at the underground parking lot. It seems like I fell asleep again without realizing it. My gaze settled on Demi as he stood by a hover-car, his back facing me.

"Who was it?" I asked hoarsly.

He froze for a moment, probably because he hadn't expected that to be the first thing I'd asked. Or he was simply surprised I was awake.

"Edward Viola," he replied unusually curtly.

"What happened to him?"

"I killed him. With all that was going on, hiding my identity wasn't an option anymore. So, I used my ID watch and got access to the hidden passage in the gates. Edward didn't expect it, so he didn't put up much of a fight," he explained. 

His explanation shocked me, "Why didn't you say anything about the hidden passage before?"

"Because it would put us in more danger and-"

"Lia would still be alive," I interrupted him.

A cold silence befell us as those words left my mouth. It wasn't his fault, he did all he could and more but I swallowed my apology when he spoke.

"It was a sacrifice for the grater good."

I didn't process his words, I couldn't. My words came out shaky, "What....what do you mean...? The Demi I know woukd never say something like that!"

"Yeah?" He paused and turned to me, his arms crossed and his voice cold , "Well the Demi you know shot a child in cold blood."

My breath hitched at his response, I didn't understand why he was acting like this. If he was grieving I'd understand but-

My thoughts were cut off as I saw something. I don't know if it was because I was shocked, but as I read the words they tumbled out of my mouth at the sametime, "Liar."

His eyes widened in shock and panick masked his face. The words looked like it came straight out of a game and it confused me to no end.

But I didn't try to figure out what it was at that moment. Newfound courage fuelled my words and I continued, "You didn't shoot that child in cold blood, you were torn about it but had to hide your feelings! And you're even more torn about Lia's death so don't you dare bullshit me!"

When I finished speaking tears brimmed my eyes, while relief took over his expression. Though it was short lived as he became stoic and cold once more.

"Get off your high horse May Zepher, don't think you have me all figured out because your dreams happened to come true a few times," his words were harsh and pushed my tears over the edge. "I blame Lia for indulging you. If it weren't for her-"

I punched him. I'm not sure whwn I got up, or when I swung at him but I had pulled him to the ground at the sametime. 

I grabbed his shirt in my fists and yelled as tears fell, "That's a lie! Both of you believed me. You listened, helped and followed me. So don't you dare go back on your word! And don't you dare talk that way about Lia again!"

He looked at me, not one emotion betraying his cold gaze and he reached up and wiped a tear away.

"It's the truth," he said those words so softly, so gently that I almost believed him.

But the status widow blurred his face and continued overlapping with the one word over and over again. I took harsh breaths, I couldn't understand what was happening, too much was happening so quickly for me to keep up.

I didn't even realize Demi was talking to me,  or that I had let go of his shirt and was now clutching my head. A piercing scream clawed it's way up from my throat as I fell to the floor. Demi was shaking me, calling out to me but it didn't register, it was as though I was watching these things happen to someone else as they unfold.

That's when I heard it, through my disorientation and ear piercing screams I heard footsteps approach at a leisurely pace. Even as his face came into view I could do nothing but lay there.

"I told you she'd lose it sooner or later. If only you'd made your decision sooner, you could've saved her. Now she's going to die, and it'll be your fault," his voice came out mockingly.

"Do something! I'll agree to your terms just save her, please!" Demi desperately begged.

His actions and words a striking contrast to a few seconds ago.

"Then leave her and come with me. I'll send one of my people with the antidote," the man with graying hair said.

I begged him not to comply, I silently screamed that I would be okay. But as he hesitantly stood, even through the excruciating pain in my head, I felt a punch to my gut. And with one final, worried glance, he turned his head and walked away.

Once again, I lay on the cold, steel floor alone and in pain. And once again, she appeared kneeling in front of me.

She reached out with her left hand and covered my eyes as she said one word, sleep.

______

I can't say I missed this feeling, one moment I was in paralyzing pain and the next I was standing in a dream. Though I should be thankful there wasn't much blood or zombies around me.

Instead, I stood beside Demi as he held me over his should with one arm, and pointed his gun at that man with the next.

"Come now, I don't think I've done anything that warranted so much hostility," the man said with mock confidence as he held his hands in the air.

"I used my ID watch one time and my father's favorite lackey shows up in less than an hour. I think my hostility is justified," he glared and took a step forward.

The man's wrinkled filled face glowered and his confidence waned, "I am not anyone's lackey. And you should watch your tongue with me boy. All it takes is one word from me and the girl's head will blow right off."

Worry flickered through his eyes for a moment but it was long enough for the man to see, "What the hell are you talking about?"

He smiled in amusement, his earlier rage gone as quickly as it came, "I'm sure she told you about that...incident that happened at her apartment?"

Demi was getting impatient, "Well? Are you going to continue of do I need to give you an incentive?"

His motion towards his gun made the man clear his throat, "Young people are so impatient these days. But as I was saying, you know the work I do for your father. He has people create certain...concoctions, and I find people to test them on. Experiment 079 was the most difficult when it came to finding someone due to compatibility issues. That is until..."

As he finished his sentence he motioned towards me with his eyes. Thay was all it took for Demi to pull the trigger.

The man let out a slew of curses as he held his bloodied shoulder.

Demi approached him and he held his hand out, his voice panicked, "Wait wait wait, if my people don't hear back from me they'll activate the fail-safe and the chip in her brain will explode!"

His steps came to a halt and he gritted out, "Explain."

He swallowed and let out a small relieved breath, "Like I said experiment 079 had compatibility issues, a lot of them. Some people would die within a few hours of being injected with it and others would slowly go mad. Sometimes when we tried to extract the serum subjects would put up resistance. After trial and error we finally developed it enough to imbue a chip that would crystallize after two weeks. It's a remote detanator, the serum has complex componets and once it's host dies it separates itself from them and we're able to extract it."

Shock was written all over Demi's face at the man's explanation, "Why May?"

He let out a bitter scoff and smiled mockingly at Demi, "Why not? Her mother didn't want her and she would constantly use her to pester me. Two birds, one stone and all of that."

I could see the gears turn and click in place at the man's words. "You're her father?" He asked in both disbelief and disgust.

He gave him a mocking smile along with an ultimatum, "I'll forgive your mishap with shooting me. So let's make a deal, I have an antidote for the girl. I'll give you that if you leave her and come with me. Kill me and the girl dies either way. Ignore me and sooner or later she'll go mad like the rest of them."

I was witnessing it but this all seemed like one bad play. My father was the one who had those people break into my apartment just so he could experiment on me, and I have an exploding chip in my head.

I clenched my fists, but realeased them a second later and let out a sigh. I didn't think I'd had such a lacking response when I found out the truth. There was a time where I thought id get angry, cry or even try to kill the person who did this to me, but oddly I felt...nothing.

I didn't know if it was because this was a dream but I should've still felt something. Relief that Demi didn't abandon me, anger towards my so called father for experimenting on me, even the grief that I felt for Lia was gone.

"Why can't I feel anything?" I asked as I continued to watch the scene replay.

Because it's too much for you to handle. I was going to leave you on your own for a bit more, but that was proving to be....dangerous.

"Because I would go mad?" 

That, and well, the next few days will prove to be too much for you to handle on your own.

"Will I get them back?"

You can, but I don't advise it. In a world where you have free reign, your emotions tend to cloud your judgement.

"Then I want them back. Now. I want grieve and feel sad for my friend's death, I want to feel anger towards those that killed her and I want to make them pay. I want to confront Demi and have him apologize too." 

Even if you regret it?

"Even if I regret it."

Even if you don't know the full truth? Even if the path you've chosen is riddled with tegedy?

"I'll accept it all. Now give them back and wake me up."

Very well, I'll go along with all your choices,  regardless of what would've been better for you, I will walk with you until the end.