Experiment Zero

37. And The Plot Developes

"I can't let you three go by yourselves." Lager says, adamant.

"Your forgetting Peter." I remind him.

"Three and a half." He concedes.

My scowl deepens. "I need to save my dad, you can't keep me from doing that. Besides, what are you so scared about? Lynchers? We've encountered them before, we can handle them again."

I don't mention the fact that when we encountered them I was quaking in my shoes and I didn't even see the creature.

Lager clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing, and suddenly, I know this isn't just about Lynchers.

"You're afraid I'll run into Zero." I say monotonously, realizing this.

"If you run into him, who knows what could happen." Lashed utters quietly.

"Zero wouldn't-He'd never...."hurt me, I want to say, but after the past few hours I can't bring myself to finish the sentence. Not after all that was revealed.

Still, even after all of that, I can't bring myself to believe that he did all of that purposefully. Everything we've been through together, it couldn't have been for nothing.

"She will have us." Max volunteers, stepping up beside me and gesturing to Becky who nods once in agreement.

"Do you really think the both of you could stand up against a Kinling High Commander." Lager laughs humorlessly.

"Since when did we start talking about Zero as if he's the enemy?" I inquire, defending him because it's my instinct.

Even if Zero intentionally tried to harm me with this fake bond, and that's a big if, he was still one of my only friends on Braun island, and he protected me on here too.

"Besides," I continue, "we don't know for sure that Zero purposefully wants to hurt me. He may not have thought about the consequences when he created the bond, but I refuse to believe that he doesn't care for me at all now."

"You're missing the point." Lager growls, one fist clenching with the other rubs the bridge of his nose while his eyes squeeze shut. "Even if he never meant for you to get hurt now, you're still dying. And the closer you get to Zero, the closer you get to death. I can't let you take that risk."

"But why? Why won't you let me take that risk? Why am I so valuable?" I blurt the questions I've been meaning to ask for a while.

Lager pauses, eyes slightly wider than usual, before he recovers.

"Remember how  I told you I had this gut feeling, that I was sensing something strange coming from the island you were on? Well you're connected to that feeling somehow, and I need to figure out what is going on."

My shoulders slump slightly in disappointment. Is it wrong that I was hoping he would say something else.

Suddenly, Peter speaks up. "Wait, wait, wait......you're dying, Ashley?!?!?" He exclaims.

"She's been dying for a while." Becky retorts. "Get with the program."

I'm about to make a statement about how rude it is to casually mention my death, but then a light bulb goes off in my head, and I let out a short laugh like  a crazy person.

"Guys, I just thought of the most easy solution. I can't believe I didn't think of it before. Why not just destroy the bond?" I ask, looking around, excited about my great idea.

Max gives me a look full of pity, Peter looks confused, Lager is back to rubbing his forehead in short, soothing circles, and Becky slaps her forehead with her palm.

"You're more stupid than I thought." She mutters, and I frown.

"It isn't that easy." Max explains, his bright blue eyes full of apology. "To destroy the bond would be to destroy you. I can't extract the bond, or even touch it without causing you harm. The only way to get rid of it, would be for Zero to end the bond himself."

"Still  an easy solution." I say happily. "He knows I'm dying, but maybe he doesn't know that  he can stop it. If he did know, I'm sure he would get rid of the bond in a heartbeat. All we have to do is talk to him."

"Talk to him?" Becky snorts. "Yeah right, you're forgetting that he ran away!" I wince at her harsh words.

"I can talk to him." I say quietly. "Through our bond. It's kind of like speaking to each other through our minds. It's very easy-".

"Don't. You. Dare." Lager snarls, his golden eyes flashing open to pin me with their hard stare. "Doing that will only bring you closer to death. It isn't worth the-"

"Risk." I finish for him. "Yes  I know, but who cares if I have a raging headache? If I can communicate through the bond and then he ends it, I won't have to worry about dying any longer. It's the perfect solution."

"No! And that's final!" Lager hisses.

Anger boils inside me. Who does  he think he is, bidding me around, he can't stop me. If  I contacted Zero right now he wouldn't be able to do anything. It's not like he can get into my head.

Lager sees the expression on my face and realizes what I'm about to do.

"No!" He exclaims desperately, appearing in front of me in a flash and clamping his hands on my shoulders. "Don't do it! Just wait! I'll-I'll let you go save your dad if you don't."

I pause, right before I was going to use the bond for communication, and stare up at him. "Really?"

He nods quickly, relieved I stopped. "Yes, yes. I'll let you go, and if you run into Zero, then you can tell him. There's no reason to use the bond."

I smile victoriously, eyes lighting up. It's hard to keep myself from doing  happy dance.

"But," Lager says, tuning my moment of victory. "You'll have to take End with you."

"End?" I ask, confused. "What can he do?"

"You'd be surprised." Lager smirks. "He can also keep  an eye on you and make sure you don't get into any trouble."

"Trouble? Me? Pssch." I say, dubious.

Everyone gives me  a flat look. I sigh.

"Fine, but we leave right now."

"Heck to the no." Becky interjected, and Max nods, agreeing with her.  "I'm not leaving Highclere to go parading through the forest with only the clothes on my back."

I sigh again, rolling  my eyes.

"Fine. We leave in  a few hours."

Dear readers, and there you have it! You've learned a little bit more about this bond between Zero and Ashley, and you have seen some Becky and Max action. The last time  I did a bonus character interview was before we met the dashing Lager, so what are your guys thoughts on another one, this one including some new characters, like a certain Darkling high Commander someone. Tell me your thoughts. Vote, comment, and stuff yourself with sopapillas cause they are the best freaking pastry ever.
Lots of love,

Dangeroustoken