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12.1

A/N: Phew! I didn't think I was going to get this out by today! This week is/was crazy for me. But I'm glad I was able publish this for you all :) And I apologize for it being a day late!

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02 - 10 - 2089

I'm in my room, picking at a loose thread on my blanket when Enzo enters. I look up, taking in his disheveled appearance and raggedy hair. His shirt is twisted, the buttons mismatched.

"What's going on?" I ask, realizing something is up. Enzo wouldn't just burst in here like that for no reason. And that is what worries me. My mind flashes to Cade, and I silently hope he is alright.

Enzo walks over and offers his hand. I take it and follow him to the door. "We need to leave," he says. "Gunner heard this morning that the government has sent out men to find you and they've arrived here in Fairbanks."

I stare at him, not quite sure I've heard him correctly. He tugs on my arm, trying to draw me out of the room, but I resist. "They know I'm here?" I ask, though I'm sure it's a stupid question. If they didn't know I was here then why send people?

"I don't know," Enzo says impatiently, trying to get me to go out. "But Gunner wants you to leave."

"Gunner does? But... but I thought he wanted to give me back to them," I say, confused. Wasn't Enzo the one fighting for me to leave? And Gunner was the one who wanted to sell me back to Doctor Acosta...

Enzo shakes his head, clearly flustered. "Like I said, I don't really know the details." He tries pulling me out again, this time harder, but I yank my arm out of his grasp. He gapes at me, and I send him a glare, feeling emboldened.

"Tell me what you know," I demand. I try to lock eyes with Enzo, but he avoids my gaze, looking instead at something past me. I try grabbing his arm to make him listen to me, but he jerks away.

"Just trust me," he says at last, glancing at me.

"Trust you?" I scoff. "How am I supposed to do that when you and Gunner were the ones who held us at gunpoint in the first place?" I demand. "How do I know this isn't some plot to sell me to them?"

Finally, finally, Enzo looks at me. He blinks. "I wouldn't do that to you."

I'm distracted by the intensity of his gaze, so heavy, so focused on me. What does he know that he isn't telling me?

"Well..." I say, trying to come up with another point. "What... what about Cade?"

"He's fine. He's still in the other room."

"Are you going to let him come with me?"

Cade looks doubtful, but I'm determined to only go if Cade is able to. There is no way I will leave him here after all he's done for me.

"Please, Enzo," I say, not able to stand the silence.

Enzo blows out a breath and runs a ragged hand through his hair. "Yeah, okay."

"Thank you," I say, immediately heading out into the hallway and towards Cade's room. I wait patiently while Enzo unlocks the door and pushes it open.

"Cade, we need to leave," I say, rushing into the room. I look around it, spotting Cade in the corner, sitting with his head in his hands. He looks up as I enter, his eyes widening.

"You're okay..." he breathes, rising and hurrying over to me. He rests his hands on my shoulders, looking down at me. "Have they done anything to hurt you?"

"No, I'm fine. But Enzo says we need to leave. Doctor Acosta sent people to come after me."

Cade doesn't need anymore reason than that. He takes my hand in his and heads out of the door, passing Enzo without so much as a glance.

"Thank you," I whisper to Enzo as I pass, trying to keep up with Cade's long stride. We head out of the dark hallway into the front of the store where we first met Gunner and Enzo. Light streams through the boarded up windows, showing every particle of dust we kick up. Cade pulls me to the side door where we first broke into, tugging on the handle. It doesn't budge.

"Here."

I jump and move aside as Enzo comes up behind us, bearing a key. He unlocks the door for us, but doesn't step back. I look at him questioningly, but he ignores me.

"They were spotted an hour ago entering Fairbanks. I'd suggest you stay to the back roads," Enzo tells Cade. He reaches into his pocket and withdraws a folded envelope before handing it to me.

"There's some cash in there for you," Enzo tells me.

"What about our stuff you took?" Cade asks, his tone icy cold. I shiver and look at him, startled to see the cold in his eyes as well. He clearly doesn't like Enzo, not that I blame him.

"Sorry, can't give that back. Gunner sold it."

"What?" Cade growls, his expression turning from cold indifference to angry in about two seconds.

Enzo takes a step back. "He sold it," he repeats slowly, his tone mocking. I pick up on it, and grip Cade's hand to keep him calm. I hope it helps.

"It's the middle of winter. And you've taken half our clothes. How are we supposed to survive?" Cade points out.

"We can use the money--" I start.

"You rob us, keep us captive, and then let us go with nothing but the shirt on our backs? Are you serious, man?" Cade interrupts me, not even noticing. I bite my lip and fall silent, considering his words.

"I can't do anything about that, okay? Either you leave now with what I'm offering you, or you go back to your rooms," Enzo says, his voice low, lower than I've ever heard it sound. It scares me that they seem to hate each other so much. I understand why Cade hates Enzo, but our stay here has shown him in a different light. Enzo really seems to care about me.

Cade grunts something unintelligible and holds out his hand for the envelope clutched between my fingers. I glance up at him, about to hand it over, when Enzo stops me.

"The money's hers," he says, stepping forward again. I look between him and Cade, seeing their eyes flash with fury.

Finally, Cade breaks eye contact and nods to me. "Let's go. I know of a department store where we can get what we need." He pulls the door open and follows me out. Before it closes, I sneak one last glance at Enzo. A soft smile pulls at his lips, but he looks regretful.

I nod, hoping he understands that as a thank you, that I'm grateful for all he did, no matter how it began.

"This way." Cade takes my hand again. He leads me out of the alley and towards the main street, a sight I haven't seen for several days. It feels weird leaving the building behind after having been in there so long. For some strange reason I felt adjusted to it, although I was still a prisoner.

A thought comes to mind a moment after, and it shocks me. I was a prisoner in the facility for Doctor Acosta, and that's how I lived my life. Maybe my mind was ready to be captive again, and it just... accepted it.

I shiver, forcing the thought away. I don't want to accept it. I want to fight back and win. I want to win my freedom, and find my color. Green, rich and full of freedom.

The cold hits me as we walk, and I shiver in my tank top, wishing for the blanket Enzo had given me to use. We need to find some warmer clothes soon or I'll turn into a popsicle. Only this time it won't be those blue ones I was given as a child for being good.

As we turn down a street freshly covered in snow, Cade yanks me back, and I barely catch myself before I land in a snow drift. I turn to see why he pulled me back into the alley, but then a shout rings down the street that freezes my veins.

"There she is!"

"Soldiers." Cade says something under his breath. He turns and gives my hand a squeeze before we start to run in the opposite direction of the soldiers.

I didn't get a glimpse of them, but I know he must be right. Who else would they be looking for? Not to mention I stand out with my pale skin and long, dark hair. Way too long, as haircuts weren't a common thing in the facility.

My hair, loose, flies out behind me as we run, the wind catching and whipping it about. I suck in one cold breath after another, my chest tight and aching. My legs scream for me to stop as we leave another street behind and continue running. But I don't stop, knowing I'll have to go back if I give up.

I can't do that.

The only thing that keeps me going as my strength fails is Cade's hand in mine, tight and confident.

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