Divided Allegiances
The first light of dawn crept over the horizon, painting the town in muted shades of gold and gray. A faint chill lingered in the air, clinging to the walls of the meeting hall where Elias's group had gathered. The room was quiet, save for the distant chirp of birds outside the cracked windows, but the silence was heavy, brimming with unspoken tension.
Elias stood at the head of the table, his tall figure bathed in the amber glow of a single lantern. His gray eyes scanned the room, taking in the faces of his companions. They were all here—Lara, Margot, Jack, Caleb, Lyn, Becca, Maddy, and Daniel—each seated around the large wooden table, their expressions a mix of curiosity, apprehension, and quiet determination.
Elias inhaled deeply, his voice calm but firm as he broke the silence. "We leave for Sujay Psychiatry Hospital next week."
At his words, the group exchanged glances, the name alone stirring unease. Lara, seated to his right, leaned forward, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly as she traced a line on the map spread across the table.
"The hospital is here," she said, pointing to a faded mark. "It's on the outskirts of the city, past the western ruins. If we take the main road, it'll take us three days on foot—two if we push hard."
"We're not taking the main road," Elias interjected, his tone decisive. "It's too exposed. The shadows will be watching for us." He gestured to an alternative route—a winding path that cut through the woods. "This will take longer, but it'll keep us hidden."
"Hidden from what, exactly?" Jack asked, his casual tone betraying a hint of nervousness.
Lyn, seated near the end of the table, spoke up, her voice steady but grim. "The hospital isn't just another ruin. It's… alive, in a way. The City's experiments started there, and the things they left behind—" She hesitated, her hands trembling slightly. "They're not human anymore."
The group fell silent, the weight of her words sinking in.
Elias broke the tension, his voice steady. "Margot, Lara, Jack, Caleb, and Lyn—you'll come with me. The rest of you will stay here to oversee the town's affairs."
Becca, seated beside Daniel, frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Wait, why aren't I coming? I'm just as capable as the others."
Elias turned to her, his expression softening slightly. "Because I need you here, Becca. You're in charge of supplies, and we'll need someone to support Daniel and Maddy while we're gone."
Becca opened her mouth to argue, but Elias smirked faintly, his tone turning teasing. "Besides, I think Jace might miss you if you leave."
Becca's cheeks flushed a deep red as Jack let out a bark of laughter. "Oh, this is going to be good," he said, leaning back in his chair with a grin.
"Shut up, Jack," Becca muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips despite herself.
Elias's tone grew serious again as he addressed her. "Stock as much as you can—food, water, medical supplies. We'll need everything you can gather. Sujay isn't just dangerous—it's unpredictable."
Becca sighed but nodded, her expression thoughtful.
Elias's expression darkened as he shifted the conversation. "There's another matter we need to address. Tobias."
The room tensed at the mention of his name.
"He's been spreading discord among the townspeople," Elias continued, his voice low but firm. "He's telling them our plans are reckless, that we're chasing myths. Tonight, when the sun sets, we'll call a town meeting. The people need to decide where they stand—with us or with him."
"Do you really think they'll choose us?" Margot asked, her tone sharp but laced with doubt.
Elias's gaze flicked to her. "Some will. Some won't. But we need to know who we can trust."
Maddy, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up, her voice tinged with worry. "Elias, promise me you'll keep Caleb safe. Amira—his girlfriend—she'll lose her mind if anything happens to him."
Caleb rolled his eyes, though a small smile played on his lips. "I can take care of myself, Maddy."
Elias chuckled, a rare sound that filled the room with warmth. "Don't worry, Maddy. I'll make sure your brother comes back in one piece."
The group laughed softly, the tension easing slightly.
"You know," Elias said, leaning back in his chair, "we've all been through hell together. But I'm curious—how many of us have actually found love in all this madness?"
The room fell into a thoughtful silence before Jack grinned. "Becca and Jace, obviously."
Becca groaned, burying her face in her hands as the group erupted into laughter.
One by one, the group shared their stories. Jack spoke about his secret crush on a fiery girl he admired from afar, while Caleb blushed as he described Amira's unwavering devotion. Maddy shrugged, saying she had no interest in romance, and Lyn simply shook her head, her expression unreadable.
Finally, Jack turned to Elias, his grin widening. "What about you, boss? Who's the lucky one?"
Elias's gaze softened as he turned to Lara, his voice steady but filled with quiet emotion. "The woman of my dreams."
The room fell silent as everyone followed his gaze to Lara. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, but she didn't look away from him.
Margot's face stiffened, though she forced a smile, her hands gripping the edge of the table tightly.
That evening, the group gathered in the town square as the sun dipped below the horizon. Lanterns flickered in the growing darkness, their golden light casting eerie shadows on the crowd. Tobias stood at the forefront of his followers, his arms crossed as he watched Elias step forward.
Elias's voice was calm but commanding as he addressed the crowd. "The City is alive. It's coming for us. We can either stand together and fight for our freedom, or we can wait for it to destroy us."
Tobias scoffed loudly, his voice cutting through the tension. "Freedom? From what? A girl's delusions and a man's arrogance?"
The crowd murmured, divided between fear and loyalty.
In the end, only forty people stood with Elias. The rest, hundreds strong, followed Tobias, their fear of the unknown outweighing their trust in Elias's vision.
Tobias approached Elias, his voice dripping with disdain. "You've lost, Elias. Take your little band of fools and leave when you get back. And don't come crawling back when this all falls apart."
Elias didn't respond to the insult. Instead, he extended a hand. "Promise me one thing—don't mistreat those who stand with me while I'm gone."
Tobias sneered but shook his hand begrudgingly. "That depends on how much trouble they cause."
Later that night, Elias and Lara sat together on the balcony of their building. The stars above shimmered faintly, their light reflected in Lara's tear-filled eyes.
Elias reached for her hand, his fingers brushing hers gently. "Are you alright?"
Lara nodded, though her voice trembled. "It just hurts, Elias. Seeing them turn their backs on us."
Elias pulled her closer, his arms wrapping around her as he pressed a kiss to her hair. "We'll prove them wrong, Lara. Together."
Their lips met in a tender kiss, slow and deliberate, filled with unspoken promises. The world outside faded as they clung to each other, their bond deepening in the quiet of the night.