Chapter Thirty-Four
"You want to hear about the deal that I'm making?" -Placebo
They had been driving for hours. Tristan had been going way over the speed limit and Sienna was surprised they hadn't been stopped by the police yet. Ana had turned on the car radio but it wasn't enough to drown out the overwhelming concern and worry they were all feeling. They had thought they had an ally in this twisted situation but now it turned out they were alone again. Three lost teens trying to do the right thing.
Tristan was exhausted, both physically and emotionally. He was tired of driving and he was tired of feeling like he couldn't trust anyone. People were so selfish. Everyone acted in favor of themselves, willing to do whatever to get ahead.
A gentle hand placed on his shoulder snapped him out of his sorrowful thoughts. It was Sienna. She was looking at him like she wanted to take away his pain but she was in the same state. Could two broken souls heal one another?
They didn't have a plan. They would simply arrive at the school and offer the medication in return for the safety of the students. Their only hope was that Mrs. Hale held up her end of the bargain. She had no reason to hurt the others if she had what she wanted. At least that's what they thought. Tristan hoped those guards weren't there when they arrived. The less threats they had to deal with, the better.
Two hours later Tristan stopped for gas on the side of the road. Sienna and Ana used the chance to stretch out their numb limbs. Ana went to buy some snacks while Sienna used the small restroom in the shop. The confinement of the stall reminded her of the one she'd had in her room back at the school. They'd escaped simply to return back willingly. Things certainly hadn't turned out as expected but they rarely did in Sienna's world. She thought she would stay at her old mental hospital forever and then her mother had broken the news to her about being transferred to the 'special school'. She had thought O.W was a normal school but it had turned out to be the experimenting ground of a research facility.
She'd figured everyone else was normal when in reality the students were just as crazy as her. She had trusted Tristan when he'd asked her to escape with him and now they were going back. She'd also thought his father was on their side when in fact he had practically used them to get what he wanted.
Nothing ever turned out like she expected. It wasn't all bad though. She hadn't planned on falling in love when she enrolled at the school. She certainly hadn't expected Tristan to come and sweep her off her feet. She never thought anyone could love a crazy person. That had been a big surprise.
She also never thought the voices in her head would ever disappear. Had that been product of the medication they'd secretly given her at the school? But no. It couldn't be. She had stopped eating the meat at the cafeteria, which was the product that contained the injected medication, a while ago. Tristan had warned her. She wondered if Tristan felt any different. Had he changed since being at the school? Had his mental illness improved?
She knew for a fact that Ana's condition hadn't improved whatsoever and from the outcome of things, Parry wasn't any different and he had been at the school longer than Sienna had. There had to be another explanation. Maybe that shrink at the hospital had been right. Had she healed herself? Was that even possible?
They got back on the open road and continued the long drive. Ana had decided to take a nap and was currently asleep in the back seat. It was almost as if Tristan and Sienna were alone in the car. They had both been very quiet for most of the ride. They were lost in their own thoughts. Sienna wanted to ask questions but she knew Tristan didn't have answers. He also didn't seem like he was in the mood for an interrogation. He was stressed about the situation. She wished she could say something to relax him a bit or at least distract him until they arrived to the school. There was no sense in worrying about the future.
All of a sudden a funny noise was heard from the back. Sienna turned around in her seat and saw it was Ana snoring lightly.
"Oh great," she heard Tristan mutter to himself.
"At least it's not that loud," she commented.
"Yeah, unlike your snores. Man, you kept me up all night," he teased her. She was happy to see this side of him again.
"I do not snore!" she smacked his arm playfully.
"It's cute though," he said with a smirk causing her to blush.
"You probably snore like a bear," she joked back.
"I'll always make sure to fall asleep after you then. That way you'll never know," she rolled her eyes at him. He laughed and took her hand in his. He was driving with one hand on the wheel and one hand intertwined with Sienna's on her lap. Anyone looking in from the outside would only see a happy couple in love. Anyone would think they were probably driving to some vacation retreat. No one would guess the mission they were about to embark on.
"So you plan on sleeping next to me again huh?" she said raising an eyebrow.
"If it was up to me I'd wake up next to you every morning, love." His sweet words would have sounded corny coming from someone else but from him it was truly romantic.
"As long as you don't snore," she teased.
"Please, you sleep like the dead. You'd never realize if I did anyway," he told her. She couldn't argue with that.
"Hey are you hungry?" Sienna asked him suddenly. They had bought some food to go at the convenience store where the gas station was but since he was driving, Tristan hadn't been able to eat his yet.
"Starving," he confirmed. She quickly took out the chips, bananas and sandwiches from the bag.
"What would you like first?"
"The chips. Are you going to feed them to me?" he asked with a sexy smirk. Even with how tired he was, Tristan still managed to look very attractive. His dark hair was tousled from running his hands through it and he had a bit of stubble on his cheeks and chin. If only he smiled a bit more he could definitely charm anyone.
"I don't think that's necessary," she replied handing him the bag of blue Doritos, his favorite.
"I think it is. How am I going to hold the bag, eat the chips and drive at the same time? I only have two hands, you know." She rolled her eyes and sighed. She handed him a chip and he took it with his mouth. His lips touched her fingers slightly as he took the bite from the chip. She shuddered a bit, praying he didn't notice. That would be embarrassing. He already knew he had an effect on her.
She handed him another and another until the whole bag was finished.
"Aw is that it? I was enjoying that quite a bit," he joked. She crumpled the empty bag and tossed it into the take out bag. She eyed her fingers and saw how sticky they were. All of the spices from the Doritos had rubbed off on her fingertips. Yuck.
"Do you have any hand sanitizer?" Sienna asked him.
"No but I can just lick it off," he suggested with a smile.
"Ew! Tristan, that's gross," she complained.
"That's the best part of eating Doritos!" he exclaimed as he laughed at her disgusted face.
She unwrapped the sandwich and handed it to him. That he managed to eat on his own.
A song Sienna recognized came on the radio and she turned it up a bit without waking up Ana. It was Clint Eastwood from the Gorillaz. She happily sang along to the lyrics. She was probably off key but she didn't care. She hadn't heard that song in so long. Tristan glanced at her and couldn't help but stare as she sang. She really seemed to be enjoying it. He watched as her eyes lit up and her lips formed the words to the song. He'd never thought he'd fall in love. He'd certainly hadn't imagined Sienna would be the girl he'd fall for either.
He still remembered the day they had met like it was yesterday. Everything else seemed like it had happened an eternity ago but that moment was clear in his mind. It was unforgettable. He'd been distracted at the airport trying to find the bus that would take him to O.W when all of a sudden he'd bumped into something-well someone to be exact. He'd spilled his coffee all over a beautiful girl's shirt. He was about to apologize when he realized more than half his coffee was gone. He remembered he'd been so annoyed back then.
He didn't think he'd ever see the girl again until he climbed onto the school bus and there she was, sitting with a stained shirt and wearing a glare that was directed at him. He had thought about her every day after that.
The sun had begun to go down and they were getting close to the school now. Tension settled in the car like a dark cloud.
Suddenly Tristan caught sight of the exit he was supposed to take and quickly got off the main road. He slowed down when he approached the building.
"What are you doing?" Sienna asked in alarm as she looked at the motel that was standing in front of them. It was a very small place and didn't look like it had had much business in the past few months or years.
"I'm dropping you guys off here. It's better this way. I couldn't leave you with my father because I don't know what he would have done to get me to come back but I also can't risk your lives and take you back to the school. I don't know what Hale is planning and I can't have you and Ana in the middle of that. It's not safe. Please don't argue. I've already thought this through," he said as he turned off the engine.
"Is this a joke?" she crossed her arms over her chest.
"Please. We don't have time to discuss it. I need to make it to the school before the 24 hours are up,"
"We need to make it to the school," she clarified. She couldn't believe this. Was he serious?
"I'm not risking your life again. Now please get out of the car and wait for me here. I'll be back as soon as I can. Here. This should be enough to cover everything," he said as he handed her $200 dollars.
"This is a lot. How long are you planning to be gone exactly?" she questioned in disbelief.
"Hopefully only a few hours but who knows what could happen." He shrugged.
"I can't believe you're actually thinking of doing this. We're not going over this again. You can't decide for me. I chose to go with you. I know the risks it entitles. It's my choice. We're in this together, Tristan. I won't let you do it alone. Besides, staying behind here and not knowing what's going on and if you're okay or not would kill me," she told him in a confident voice that didn't sound like her.
"This isn't only about you, what about Ana? Are you going to risk her life too?" he questioned tightening his hands on the steering wheel. He knew this wouldn't work. She was hard headed.
"If she wants, she can stay behind and wait for us," she replied. As if on cue a yawn came from the backseat.
"Mmm, what a nap. Man, I needed that. So, are we there yet?" Ana said as she woke up from her slumber.
"Depends on which there you're referring to," Sienna said sarcastically. Did Tristan think she would get in the way of the mission? Did he think she wasn't capable of handling it? Hadn't she proved herself already? "Tristan wants to drop us off at this motel while he goes and risks his life alone at the school."
"Well that's awfully selfish of you, Tristan," Ana said disapprovingly. Sienna smiled a bit to herself, despite everything. She knew Ana wouldn't chicken out.
"I don't want to put you two in danger if there's another option," he explained.
"We're already in this together, man. Now shut up, turn the car on and put your foot on the gas. We won't make it in time if you don't hurry up," Ana commanded.
Sienna turned the key in the ignition for him and snapped her seatbelt in place. She looked the doors which he'd opened and they both stared at him expectantly.
"You guys are impossible," he said before pulling out of the parking space. He couldn't believe he'd lost the argument to two girls. He was upset things hadn't gone according to his plan but in a way he was touched that Sienna wouldn't leave him alone. She was there in the happy and the hard times. He just prayed happier times would come along in the future.
The road became familiar as they reached the school. They had driven down it just yesterday. It was surreal to be back here. He'd thought he'd never see the school or Mrs. Hale again. It was funny how before this he hadn't left the school in months and now he'd driven hundreds of miles in just two days.
Sienna grabbed his hand and Ana leaned forward in her seat as they approached the school grounds. The magnificent gate loomed over them hauntingly. The initials "OW" were engraved in gold lettering on the metal gate. Once on the side of freedom and now willingly going back into that prison.
"It's ok. We'll be out of there in no time," Tristan tried to reassure himself and the girls. No one said a word.
Tristan slowed down until he rolled to a stop in front of the gate. He didn't know if they were expecting them or not but the gate opened up almost automatically at their arrival. Tristan took a deep breath and drove forward. No going back now.
Sienna couldn't help but think back to her first day at the school. The antique buildings and old looking architecture had seemed so impressive then. Now it only terrified her. She also noticed that the grass didn't seem as green as it had appeared that day when it had all began. Still, if she'd been given a chance to go back in time and do things differently, she realized she wouldn't because that would mean not meeting Tristan. She'd go through everything again for him. He was worth it.
The car came to a full stop. Tristan glanced back at the girls and nodded. "Let's get this over with."
They got out and Tristan went to the trunk to retrieve the boxes they'd taken. Just then a group of ten guards surrounded them. 'They're armed', Sienna realized with dread.
"Please step away from the vehicle. We'll take it from here," one of the guards said stepping forward. Ana and Sienna quickly did as instructed but Tristan stayed exactly where he was. The guard seemed to take this as a threat and the blink of an eye he had grabbed Tristan and had twisted his arms behind his back so he couldn't escape.
"What the hell is going on? We're here to return the medication!" Tristan shouted in rage as he tried to free himself.
"Oh we know why you're here, Mr. Bellicose." The guard spoke in a spiteful manner. Suddenly, at the top of the stairs that led to the school appeared the one and only Mrs. Hale. She stood with an air of arrogance and danger. She slowly descended and Sienna couldn't help but compare it to the way royals walked. 'Wow she really thinks she's important', Sienna thought to herself. When she was finally at their level she glanced at each one of them and smiled coldly. It was the kind of smile that would give children nightmares.
"Well I certainly wasn't expecting you three," she said. "I didn't think he would come through," she said more to herself and then "I trust everything I requested is in the car?"
"We brought the medication like you asked. Now tell this moron to let go of me," Tristan growled.
She ignored him and directed her orders to some of the other guards. "Check the car. Make sure it's not wired and unload the boxes. Bring them to my office and secure them." They quickly did as they were told. They acted as if they feared her. What could one woman do to ten men with guns? Sienna wondered.
"Did you bring the formula?" Mrs. Hale questioned Tristan. They watched as the guards unloaded the boxes and disappeared inside the main building. The guard who held Tristan tightened his hold on him.
"I don't know where he keeps it," Tristan said. Mrs. Hale fumed at this.
"You mean to say you came all this way without the most important thing? How will I replicate it if the instructions are missing?!" she shouted. Sienna had never seen that lady lose control. It was a shocking and scary sight.
"Look, we brought the medication and that's what you wanted. I don't know anything about the formula. We've done our part. Now let the students and ourselves go," Tristan said trying to be calm. Mrs. Hale glared at him and signaled to two other guards. They grabbed hold of Ana and Sienna.
"Hey! Let me go!" Ana said as she struggled.
"What are you doing? We came willingly. We gave you what you wanted. Let us go," Sienna said. She didn't struggle though. She knew it was useless. The guard was stronger and bigger than her.
"Ah, but you didn't bring everything I wanted. You failed. You did not follow instructions and now I don't have to uphold my part of the bargain," she said. Sienna's eyes widened. "Lock them up." She ordered to the guards who held them. Tristan went crazy and started bucking and kicking the guard in a frenzy. Ana was struggling and yelling profanities at her guard and Sienna was frozen in shock.
The sound of a pair of shuffling feet grabbed everyone's attention for a moment and looked to see a man rushing to Mrs. Hale's side. He appeared to be some kind of doctor or scientist. He wore a white lab coat and black rimmed glasses. His skin was flushed from the running and he was a bit out of breath.
"What is it Dr. Henry?" Mrs. Hale asked with an arched eyebrow. She didn't look like she appreciated his interruption.
"Mam'," The man was still trying to catch his breath. He was bordering on pathetic in appearance.
"Breath and spit it out." She was losing her patience.
"Mam'," he tried again "this is patient E 62," he finally said. Mrs. Hale's eyes widened in surprise at the new information.
"Wonderful," she said to the doctor. "Lock those two up," she instructed the guards pointing to Tristan and Ana. Ana's guard began to drag her away kicking and screaming. Tristan's guard was having a harder time hauling him away. He was putting up quite the fight. Sienna was the calmest out of the three but even she had begun to struggle. She didn't understand what was happening.
"And bring this one to the lab," she said as she smiled evilly at Sienna. It was then Sienna's guard began pulling her in a separate direction. Sienna was paralyzed in fear.
Tristan went crazy.
"LET GO OF HER, YOU BASTARD!" He shouted at the top of his lungs. He fought harder until he was almost free but then two other guards jumped on him. They restrained him and all he could do was watch as they carried the love of his life away from him.
A/N: Whoa! Lots going on in this chapter. It was over 6 pages on word. What do you think is going to happen next? Why are they taking Sienna? What is Mrs. Hale planning? Will Tristan and Sienna be reunited again?
Until the next chapter!
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