Run With Me

I noticed him following me fifteen minutes ago.

I walked faster through the crowd, and he matched my increase in speed. I knew I wasn’t going to lose him. Every corner, I turned, he turned. He kept his distance, but was always on my tail. I tried losing him in the crowd, but he was quick. He squeezed and shoved through, always staying no more than ten steps behind me.

He must’ve known I noticed him now. Maybe it didn’t matter if I knew. I guess it was a matter of time before someone found me. I just didn’t know they’d send him.

Might as well stop playing games.

I walked into my hotel and strolled toward the elevators. I showed the guard my key before getting on the elevator. I watched as he was stopped.

I finally got a good look at his face. Not much has changed in five years. Same short brown hair. But that carefree, wild spirit in his blue eyes was long gone. They just looked empty and hollow. I wondered what they did to him. To break him.

I guess I hadn’t changed much since then either, though my black hair was now almost down my back.

When he met my gaze, I gave him a wink and a smile as the elevator doors closed. I pressed the button for my floor and watched the numbers climb up.

After getting to my room, I grabbed the bottle of champagne from the welcome basket and poured it in two flutes. I sat down on the bed, sipping on my glass, and waited.

After five minutes, the door beeped and opened. He walked through the door, and I downed the rest of the glass. I walked toward the table and poured myself another glass before walking the other over to him.

“Did you kill the security guard?” I handed him the glass.

“No. He’s just… on a break.”

“Good.” I took a sip. “Don’t need anymore bloodshed from The Division.” I set the glass down.

He didn’t move to take a sip. He just held the glass in his hand.

“I didn’t poison it.”

“I know. You wouldn’t poison me.”

“So they sent you to pull on my heartstrings?”

“They sent me because they want to convince you to come back.”

I took a sip. “I thought I made it clear I wasn’t ever going to work for them again. Or do I need to blow up another lab for them to get it?”

“But you made sure everyone was out. If you wanted to cut ties with us, if you wanted to make that clear, you wouldn’t have cared if people were in there or not.”

“No, that’s what you do when you actually care about people’s lives.”

He finally put the glass to his lips and I watched as he down every single drop of the champagne. I grabbed the bottle and refilled his glass. He grabbed my hand. “Come back. I want you to come back.” He tucked my hair behind my ear.

I set the bottle down. “Or you can come with me.” I placed a hand on his cheek. “We can stop them. Together. Come with me, Hayden. What they’re doing. It’s not right.”

“And do what? Blow up more labs?”

My hand fell and I took a step back. “They’re experimenting on people. We were ripped away from our parents, and then they killed them. How are you not more angry? How do you not want to stop more people from suffering like we did?”

“I am angry but—”

“Then why are you still working for them?”

“Because I know we can’t win. It’s suicide to try otherwise.”

“Well I’m not coming back. Not for anything, or,” I looked him straight in the eyes. “Anyone.”

There was a flash of sadness in his eyes, before he shut them. When he reopened them, dark shadows danced in his eyes. I looked down at his hands and shadows swirled around them.

“I’m to bring you in by any means. I don’t want to—” He started swaying. “What did you do?”

I sipped on the champagne and watched as he fell to the ground. I picked him up and sat him up right, leaning against the couch. I grabbed the rope from the kitchen drawer and quickly tied his hands.

After a few hours, he finally started to stir. I slipped on my jacket and backpack, and crouched down in front of him.

“I thought you didn’t poison it.”

“Is putting crushed sleeping pills in your glass technically poisoning?”

“Yes.”

I shrugged. “Semantics then.”

“You know I can break free within seconds.” Hayden’s shadows started making quick work of untying the ropes.

“I know. But I think you’ll let me go.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because. Deep down, you want me to go. You want me to succeed. You’re afraid, but you actually hope I can take down The Division.” I didn’t even tie them tightly or use any complicated knots. Part of me hoped he would change his mind and come with me. Maybe he still could. “You can still join me.” I knelt down and pressed my forehead against his. “Come with me.”

“I—I can’t.”

“This isn’t a one time offer. If you ever change your mind. Come find me.”

The rope fells from this hands. “Or I can take you in now.” He grabbed a wrist.

I placed my other hand on his cheek and kissed him. He kissed me back and let go my wrist, his hands traveling to my face instead.

I pulled back and stepped back, walking through the ring of fire that surrounded us. He reached for me but the flames grew as he tried.

“You can’t run forever.”

“I don’t plan to. I’ll come back, but when I do I’m burning the place to the ground.” I walked toward the door. “If you ever change your mind. Come find me.”

I walked out and ran out the fire escape. I gave it about five minutes, before I let the fire disappear. I walked outside and looked up toward my hotel room. Hayden stood out on the balcony, watching me. I knew if he wanted, he could be down here in seconds. But he just watched and I turned my back and disappeared through the crowds.

I hoped he would come find me one day.