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  “And not listened to orders? This is not your fault.” He pleaded with me. Trying to calm me down.

  “I let him die.” I slumped against the wall of the cottage, my head in my arms. He crouched beside me and pulled me into him. Holding me, trying to make it better.

  “No. Lance had him killed to take our provisions. Lance was not at the ambush, he probably did it himself. Murderous little bas…” Colt was interrupted by Tristan.

  “The assistants collected the body.” He said from the doorway.

  “Cameron.” I looked up, tear tracks marking my face.

  “The assistants took Cameron.” He corrected and walked closer to me. “They just left. They asked what happened, but I said we didn’t know as we had left the cottage.”

  “You should have told them that Lance murdered him!” I snapped.

  “We don’t know that he did.” Tristan said diplomatically.

  “Well he didn’t stab himself.” I spat back.

  “Whoever it was they took pretty much everything, Colt.” Tristan changed the subject. He was looking for guidance.

  “Of course, they did.” I shook my head. We should have known that Lance would play dirty. I also did not really care the provisions were gone. That was something for Colt to deal with.

  “If you need to talk Vi, I’m here.” Tristan said carefully and I knew what he meant. He was not talking about grief but about what he had seen when he walked in.

  “I know.” I nodded and I knew that Tristan knew a lot more than he was letting on, it was not some big shock to him what I had done. It was in that moment I realised that the Resistance had a deeper infiltration into the Inperium than even I knew.

  Tristan walked back inside and pulled me into him. Colt held me, I just sobbed into his chest. I let it happen. Needing the comfort, forgetting about the rules. Not caring about what his touch meant. I just needed him.

  39

  Viola

  6pm 12th September 2025

  Everyone had gathered in the main room of the Cottage. Colt and Tristan whispered in the corner. Mike was comforting Doe who was still very visibly upset. Sam had been changing their features one by one repeatedly for at least an hour. It was clearly the way that they dealt with grief. I sat near to James but neither of us spoke. I realised that things had become weird between us after the Ball. I think it had taken the conversation outside the cottage when we had first arrived for me to figure that out. We had not discussed what the underlying issue was. He was unavailable to me on many levels and I could not give in to liking him.

  “You should say a few words.” He whispered to me and I frowned at him.

  “You guys all knew him way better than I did.” I argued back.

  “Yes, maybe but he really liked you.” He replied smiling.

  “I do feel like we need to do something to honour him. It seems so cold to just sit here and let his death pass without saying anything.”

  “I know how you feel. In Oblituus we have these huge ceremonies when someone dies, we mark their passing with fire.” He told me and I thought for a few minutes.

  “It’s not really my place to say anything.” I felt defeated.

  “I don’t think anybody has a specific place anymore, not after what happened today. If you want to do something, I certainly stand with you and so will the other hybrids.” He was solemn. It was clear they were feeling betrayed by the human commanders.

  I stood up and looked around the cottage. Colt eyed me but I ignored him, I was still a little mad at him from earlier. Eventually he gave up watching me and came up to me.

  “What are you doing?” He asked.

  “I’m looking for something.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not sure. I want to do something for Cameron.” I said. “James said in Oblituus they mark death with fire and if I’m honest I want to send a message saying that we will not let Cameron’s death stand.” Colt raised an eyebrow. “Without violence.” I added. For now, I thought.

  He walked over to his backpack and pulled out a flare.

  “Will this work?” He asked showing it to me.

  “It’s perfect.” I nodded. “Tell everyone to meet me outside in like five minutes.” He did as he was told, and I went outside. I looked up at the stars that ornamented the sky. It was a beautiful evening and one that Cameron would have enjoyed. The others began to work their way outside and stood in a messy semi-circle. Once everyone was gathered, I began.

  “Today we lost one of our own. Cameron was not just a member of this team, or a hybrid. He was a friend. He treated everyone with a level of love and respect that I have never experienced before. I think we must honour the sacrifice he made. His life was ended but his memory will live on and we will avenge his death.” I finished and Colt handed me the flare. I removed the lid and pulled the tab. Holding the flare high as the orange smoke bellowed out of it filling the sky above us. I just hoped wherever Cameron was that he could feel the love that we had for him.

  40

  Viola

  7pm 12th September 2025

  We stood for a while, long after the flare had gone out. One by one we said our silent goodbyes.

  I turned and watched as Colt went back inside the cottage first. I moved forward and sat down on the dry grass, just taking a moment for myself. I was still sad about Cameron. I was mad at Colt for leaving him alone as well. Everything was so fucked.

  I played with the grass underneath my finger types. Letting myself get lost in my own thoughts. I needed to do something I just was not sure what. I took a deep breath and allowed myself some time to plan my next move.

  “What you said was perfect.” He placed his hand on my shoulder crouching behind me.

  “I wished I had more to say.”

  “I think that was enough.” He smiled at me. He moved to sit next to me, and we sat in silence for a few moments watching the stars.

  “I still can’t believe that today happened.” I said lost in my thoughts.

  “Me either.” He agreed. “One thing I do know if I would do anything for you.” He whispered.

  “That is sweet James.” I brushed him off. I was not about to start a mutiny against Colt because of what had happened.

  “I mean, if it meant I had a chance with you, I would break my arranged marriage agreement.” He said and I frowned at him.

  “You said that would be an act of war.” I shook my head. “I can’t have that on my head.”

  “It wouldn’t be on your head; it would be on mine.” He stated.

  “I would still feel guilty.” It was all strange. I had been told since I was child to be wary of things like that. My trust in James was fading.

  “Viola, I am not going back there. Ever. I want to stay here with you. At least for now. I have no place there. At least here I know who I am.”

  “That is a lot to take in.” I sighed. It all seemed too much too fast and it had me feeling more suspicious.

  “Please give us a chance.” He begged and I was silent for a moment. I was really torn over what to do. My head was still reeling from Cameron’s loss and from Colt. My true self being awakened had not helped matters either and now I had to worry about so much more than a light-hearted crush and just trying to survive the Inperium long enough to escape. I had a purpose for being there. A huge purpose and I had not remembered fast enough. It had taken to long for the wall in my mind to break. Perhaps I had not wanted it to. It was certainly easier before.

  Suddenly his lips were on mine. It felt good. His lips were soft yet strong. The kiss lasted a mere moment.

  As I pulled away and opened my eyes, I saw something from the corner of my eye.

  Standing in the doorway of the cottage Colt looked at the two of us. His face blank. He was upset. My eyes caught his and he turned away and walked back into the cottage. Fuck!

  41

  Viola

  1am 13th September 2025

  I waited. I had waited in silence planning every second
of my revenge.

  Night had fallen hours before, but I wanted to make sure the entire team was asleep before I did what I had planned. After lying on the hard floor awake for hours, I was ready. I had replayed the kiss with James in my head a thousand times. Thought about Colt and the hurt look he had. Tristan catching me using my abilities kept creeping up on me and playing with my anxiety. I knew what I had to do.

  I left the cottage cautiously and set out to avenge Cameron’s needless death. I had begun to plan my attack ever since I had finally calmed down enough to think straight. Before we even had the memorial where I had vowed it.

  I had calculated, based on the direction that Lance’s team ran after the ambush, that their base was in the west. I was determined to find it and make them pay for what they had done to Cameron. I marched off through the forest stealthily. I did not have to walk as far as I thought. I was thinking about all the things I was going to do and say. Suddenly I stopped dead. Stood in front of me was Lance. He was clearly watching us from not too far away. He had seen the memorial and still stayed there, not an ounce of guilt. It made me feel sick. He had not seen me come towards him, luckily, as his back was turned away from me, pacing around. I charged forward, shoulder first. Connecting with his body hard and knocking him to the ground. He shouted in surprise as his face hit the dirt floor.

  “What the hell did you do?” I spat at him. Turning him over to look at his unremorseful face.

  “Nothing the little piggy did not have coming to him.” He laughed heartlessly and I saw red.

  “You killed someone today and you think they deserved that?” I snapped at him. Holding him down.

  “All of you Mutts deserve to die.” He replied, trying to struggle free.

  “Do you really believe that?” I sat on top of him to stop him moving.

  “I like it when a girl is on top.” He laughed at me and I could not even think straight. I had enough of his sexist comments and his vile behaviour. His attitude towards us was disgusting and most importantly he had killed a friend. Cameron had more compassion and love in his little finger than Lance had in his entire being.

  My fists went into overdrive and I began punching his face and head over and over again. He shouted and winced, but nothing could stop me. He began to swear and scream as I just went mad. Hitting him at hard as I could. Smashing his head against the hard floor. I was determined to kill him with my own two hands. My hands stung from beating him but still I continued, and they felt wet from his blood.

  I kept going. Punch after punch. Lance stopped trying to fight back. He stopped wincing and shouting long before I had stopped. Standing up and pulling away from him. Looking at his disfigured bloody face. It was barely recognisable as human, let alone as Lance’s face. I began to shake from head to toe as I stumbled backwards. Bile rising in my throat.

  I looked down at my hands. They were covered in abrasions and Lance’s blood. My entire body was covered in his blood.

  I was in shock. What had I done, I thought?

  The limp corpse that lay on the ground in front of me did not even look like a person anymore and I had done that. I was broken. Guilt washed over me, and I had to remind myself that he earned it. He killed someone. I questioned myself. Was an eye for an eye justice to me now? My two worlds were colliding in my head and it was clouding my judgement. I was confused.

  “What the hell did you do?” Colt was behind me and I turned scared. What the hell had I done?

  42

  Colt

  2am 13th September 2025

  “I pushed his emergency alarm; someone will come and fetch him.” I said pulling her up from the tree she leaned against, she was in a trance. Shock had truly set in. I was angry with her. “

  “That was more than he did for Cameron.” She muttered.

  “Is he dead?” She asked dead pan.

  “No, not quite.” I sighed. “You were never here.” She was staring blankly, and I slapped her face gently, to bring her to. She looked at me. “Listen to me, Viola.” My fingers dug into her arms as I held her close to my face. “You were never here; you did not do this. Okay?” She nodded. Pulling away from me to vomit on the floor whilst leaning against a tree. I stroked her back until she stood back up again. “We have to go, and we need to clean you up.” I said taking her hand and pulling her down towards the stream at the valley of the hill near to the cottage. The anger I had for her from earlier when she had kissed James was temporarily gone. We half jogged to get there. I pulled me down beside me and gently washed her hands and Lance’s blood from her face. I smirked at her and she frowned. “My god, you are a bad ass though.” I spoke quietly, revelling in just how strong she had been in fighting a tyrant we should have brought down a long time ago.

  “Did I…I…kill him?” She asked shakily again.

  “No, he is still breathing.” I shook my head reassuring her again. “This time tomorrow he will be fully patched up.” Something rustled in the trees behind us. I expected it to be Lance’s team or even Inperium soldiers coming to arrest us for what had been done to Lance.

  A figure stepped into the dim light. Its head cocked at an awkward angle. Sharp teeth glinting in the moon light. I tried to push Vi behind me. Trying to protect her. She was having none of it. I noticed that there was a lot more than one of the creatures all around us. I pulled a branch from the closest tree, revealing a sharp end. I darted forward and stabbed the first creature in the chest, it disappeared. Faded away. Viola followed my actions and grabbed her own weapon. We stood back to back. Touching. As the creatures descended on us. The simulations were evaporating all around us. One charged at me as I fought another one. Vi spotted it, she kicked off the ground hard, rolling over my back and into the air. Landing as she stabbed the advancing creature, she fell to one knee steadying herself. She was suddenly a very impressive warrior and I knew she had not told me the truth.

  The last of the vampires ran away, back to their nest. I only hoped that they were not fetching more creatures to fight. We collapsed on the floor exhausted. The entire day had been too much.

  “You are good at this Viola.” I said breathless. My arm was beneath her head. “Too good.” I looked at her. “Suddenly, too good.”

  “I’m not sure that is a good thing.” She ignored my comment.

  “I’m glad you are here. You shake this place up. I like it.” I tried a different tactic to get her to open up. I had a million questions about her truth, James, and us. Our faces were incredibly close again. I wanted to lean forward and kiss her, just to see what her lips felt like again, but she was interested in another man, I had seen them. I could not win against a prince. She saw me looking at her face, studying it. She broke the tension.

  “Thanks, I’m glad you are here too… muscles.” She smiled and I laughed at my new nickname flexing my biceps at her.

  “Well then, little lady.” I jested and she shot me a pretend dirty look and we both just laughed.

  “What is going to happen now?” She broke the fun. The temporary escape was over. She sat up and I followed her lead.

  “I’m not even sure.” I sighed. She leant back into me and put her lips to mine. Plunging into a deep and needing kiss. I held the back of her head. Feeling her warmth next to me. My hand massaged the back of her neck.

  “I have to tell you something.” She confessed looking at me breaking the kiss.

  “What?” I said, she looked worried, tucking her hair behind her ear.

  “I know who I am.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked needing her to be clear.

  “As in I remember everything. I remember who I am.” She said and the full realisation crept over me.

  “Your true identity was hidden from you when we found you, wasn’t it?” I asked.

  “Yes, they blocked my real memories.” She confirmed.

  “The night we found you, it wasn’t an accident or some program that Mike had come up with was it?” I asked as all the puzzle pieces fell into place in
my head.

  “No, we planned the whole thing.” She answered honestly.

  “We?”

  “The Resistance.” She replied.

  “Fuck.” I muttered under my breath. The fact she was part of the resistance was on a completely different level. “Please tell me you are kidding.”

  “I’m not.” She sighed.

  “The nightclub?”

  “All a setup.” She responded.

  “Your friend that you were upset about?” I pressed further.

  “She doesn’t exist.” She shook her head.

  “When did you know?” I asked.

  “It all came back to me when Lance attacked me. It awoke me.”

  “You’ve known for that long?” I was getting mad. “How could you not have told me?”

  “I didn’t know I could trust you.” She answered.

  “But you trust me enough to kiss me.” I snapped.

  “That is different.” She replied.

  “You lied to me.” I was angry.

  “I had to protect you.” She argued.

  “No, you had to protect yourself.”

  “I’m sorry.” She pushed me to look at her again.

  “But you aren’t, are you?” I responded.

  She thought for a moment and could not even look at me.

  “No.” She said solemnly

  “I can’t believe you. I trusted you.” I felt betrayed.

  “I’m still me.” She sighed.

  “No, you aren’t.” I stood up. “You nearly killed someone tonight. The Viola Hart I met a few days ago would never have done that. You are Resistance scum.”

  “Resistance scum?” She questioned.

  “Yeah, your lot are the reason the Immortuus gate got opened.” I snapped. “My family died because of your friends.”

  “That wasn’t us.”

  “Sure, it wasn’t.” I mumbled.

  “Don’t pretend like you don’t have a secret Colt. As soon as I woke up as my real self, I knew what you were. I can sense it.” She added. She knew my secret, I thought. That was dangerous. I wondered what else she knew and if she had told the other hybrids we she knew about me. She was certainly awfully close to some of them, I thought.