Running on Empty

NEED | 5

"I can't explain it. I really can't." I opened my mouth but the look in her eyes had my snapping it shut again. Don't anger the captor's Amira, they've been good to you so far. I shoved the grilled cheese towards my mouth to distract myself from the questions dancing on the tip of my tongue.

"I would tell you if I could, but it isn't my place."

"Then whose place is it?" I bit out.

"I don't know, as I've said we haven't exactly been in this situation before," She groaned with a tone that just begged me to understand. But I couldn't wrap my head around what was happening. What situation were we even in exactly?

They were all hiding something from me, I don't know whether they were doing it for my protection, or not, but coming from the position of not knowing anything at all I would really rather make that decision for myself.

"Is it The Council's decision?"

"Gods you will never stop asking will you?" She dropped down onto her back in annoyance. I could tell Emma was the kind of girl that usually got her way, not because she was a brat, but because she was so kind. I didn't want to take advantage of anyone's kindness... but I was desperate. A cornered animal that was wounded.

"Can you at least tell me if I'm safe?" Emma just stared at the ceiling for a moment before propping herself up on her elbows.

"I'm being honest when I say I don't know. Axle doesn't know either which is why he's being so.." Rude? "...Distant. We're trying to find a way to make sure you are safe and stay safe. You're a good person Amira," I'm not. I'm not a good person. Emma kept talking, but all I could see was her moving lips as the roaring in my ears got too loud to let me focus on anything else except one fact. 

I was bad. 

There was something wrong with me. I didn't... I don't know why I'm a bad person, I just know that I am.

"She's not a good person Morris, she's fucking evil. Evil to you, to me, to the world. And she's dangerous, that's why you have to do this."

I stared up at Eon with wide eyes. His cold grey ones just stared back, and it made my body tense when I saw just how serious he looked.

"Why? Why do I have to do this?" He growled a bit in frustration and thrust a small bundle of something into my hand.

"Because we have to kill her, Amira." 

I unwrapped the cloth in my hands and my fingers barely brushed the cold metal of the dagger before my breath sucked in sharply and I shook my head fervently.

"No, no, there's no way I'm doing that, Eon. You can't make me-" His hand gripped hold of my hair and forced my head back.

"I can, and I will, Amira." My scalp burned and I hissed at the pain, tears pooling in the corners of my eyes. His eyes burned. Long gone was the cold, stony exterior as fire danced in his eyes. Crazed.

"-Amira?" I snapped from my daze, my breathing ragged. What the hell was that? "Did you hear anything I just said?" Emma had scooted closer, concern etched across her face

"No, I ugh, I just got caught up in my head for a minute there. What did you say?" It wasn't a lie, not exactly.

"Just that if you want I can take you on a house tour a little later. Are you sure you're okay? You looked, like, totally vacant. Like you weren't even there," I forced a laugh, ignoring how my chest tightened. 

Everyone lies, sometimes you just have to. I wasn't any good at it, I could tell by how Emma's head tilted at my laugh, refusing to let my gaze leave hers despite how I was trying.