The darkness slowly receded, giving way to a small sliver of light. It wasn't particularly bright, but it was enough to rouse El from her disoriented state. Opening her eyes, she felt an intense headache throbbing in her skull. Not exactly the ideal way to wake up.
As she assessed her surroundings, El realized she was in an unfamiliar place. The dim light revealed a wall of crates stretching into the distance, and the rough texture of the gray cement floor beneath her. It seemed she was inside a dark warehouse, alone and restrained in a wooden chair. Her arms and legs were numb from being tied down, but at least her mouth was free.
A familiar male voice broke the silence, causing El to startle. She couldn't make out the figure in the darkness, but she recognized the voice instantly. It was Parker.
"Surprised?" he said, dragging a stool and sitting down in front of her.
"You... you're responsible for all of this," El managed to say, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and anger.
Parker grinned with a hint of pride. "And more," he replied. "El, have you ever heard of a remarkable group called The Chosens?"
Wait... he doesn't know I'm a spy? El thought, her mind racing to make sense of the situation. She looked at Parker, confusion evident on her face, and shook her head slowly.
A manic gleam appeared in his eyes. "It's a group for people like you and me," he explained. "People who long for eternal life. A paradise that can only be attained by sacrificing others for our Saviors."
Confidence radiated from Parker as he spoke, his beliefs fueling his every word. "And I was chosen to carry out their will."
El kept her gaze fixed on the ground, her mind reeling from the revelation. "Those people..." she began.
"Those people deserve to die!" Parker interrupted, his eyes flashing with a menacing bloodlust. "How dare they defy our Savior! How dare they try to thwart our grand plan! We have waited so long for our moment in this world. We won't let a few rebellious fools disrupt our path. We simply can't allow that."
He suddenly leaned in closer, his face inches from El's. She could feel his hot breath against her skin as he continued to speak, his tone softening.
"But what I can accept... is you."
With that, he revealed a phone from his pocket. El's eyes widened as she recognized it—it was Gem's phone.
"Why?" she asked, her disbelief giving way to a glimmer of hope.
"Because I wanted to see you, El. I truly did, and I always have," Parker confessed, looking at her with affection. "I've loved you for as long as I can remember. Even during the time of my father's death..." His voice trailed off, haunted by painful memories. "You were the only one there for me. You spoke of changing fate, of our ability to reshape anything with determination."
"And you were right, El," he continued, a bitter smile on his face. "We can change anything. And I have changed something. I am changing the world for the better. This world will be rid of fools, and the rest of us will live on forever. Isn't that wonderful?"
He sighed, his expression turning cold. "I wanted to ask you out at the Halloween party, but that meddling Gem had to interfere. And Seth..." His eyes narrowed with hatred.
"Otokis County," El interjected, the puzzle pieces clicking together in her mind. "You set him up?"
"I wanted him to face consequences," Parker admitted. "When he went to Otokis County, people died. When he attended the Halloween party, that girl was killed."
He turned to El again, his eyes searching hers. "But I never expected you to be there. I never wanted you involved. I never wanted you caught up in this mess, fighting against our Saviors."
El met his gaze squarely. "Are you going to kill me too?"
Silence hung heavily between them. Parker's face contorted in anguish as he clutched his head, as though tormented by overwhelming thoughts.
"Stop making me think!" he shouted, stumbling across the room. He crouched down in a corner, breathing heavily.
El observed him, her expression neutral. Parker seemed so small, so lost. It was almost... pitiable.
Slowly, he rose to his feet and approached her once more. "There is a way out," he said. "A way to free you from this misery, to end the cycle of doom that plagues our world."
"How?" El asked, her voice steady.
Parker hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "Do you truly want to join me?" he questioned.
El nodded. "Yes."
Parker frowned, scrutinizing her. "Why?"
"Because... I care for you too, Parker," she replied, her heart pounding. "I want to be with you every step of the way. You're right—there are things we can control, including our fate. If we desire immortality, we must do what is necessary."
A glimmer of joy appeared in Parker's eyes at her words, yet he still regarded her with caution. "Is that truly what you believe?"
"Yes," she affirmed.
"I don't want to kill you," Parker confessed, his voice filled with anguish. "I love you with all my heart. But... I need to be certain. I need you to follow my every word, to ensure we both achieve the greatest outcome."
El nodded again, resolute in her decision. "Tell me what I must do to prove my loyalty."
Parker turned to her, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. "You've been dating Seth," he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of jealousy and suspicion. "How can I be sure you are genuine in your feelings for me?"
El pondered for a moment, her mind racing. "Parker, you must understand that I've known Seth for a long time, and he was persistent in pursuing me. I thought we could give our relationship a chance. Unfortunately, it hasn't worked out. We're too different," she said, glancing at Parker's reaction.
"Since our perspectives align, I believe you are more compatible with me. I would love to join you in your group," El asserted confidently.
Parker studied her, his head cocked to the side as he tried to decipher her expression and body language. Finding no obvious signs of deceit, he smiled.
"Very well," he said. "I choose to believe you, and I welcome you to serve our Saviors alongside me. But first, to prove your unwavering loyalty..."
He looked at her, a glimmer of excitement in his eye.
"You must kill Seth."
El's heart skipped a beat. Kill Seth?
"If you don't have genuine feelings for him, this should not be a difficult task. I also believe he opposes the works of The Chosens, and anyone who goes against us must face their demise," Parker explained, his smile growing crooked. "I bestow upon you the duty of ending his life yourself, as proof of your utmost loyalty to our kingdom of paradise."
El paused for a moment, the weight of the proposition sinking in. Then, with resolve burning in her eyes, she returned Parker's smile.
"Allow me to do it," she declared.
"Excellent!" Parker exclaimed, walking over to a corner of the room. With a dramatic flourish, he revealed an unconscious Seth, bound to another wooden chair.
El's pulse quickened as she prepared herself for the task ahead. The darkness that had engulfed her life was now intertwined with treacherous choices. She would have to navigate these murky waters carefully if she hoped to uncover the truth and bring an end to the reign of The Chosens.