The Program

Chapter Thirteen

"Can't we just cancel dinner?" Jack asked, running his hands through his black mop of hair. He looked exhausted, which he had reason for given the headache he still had, the newly remembered information taking its toll on him as the stress caused a sudden twitch of his hand as he brought it down from his hair. 

In one swift motion, I gently grabbed it, giving him a reassuring glance as I did so. "If I recall correctly, you were the one that wanted this to happen."

"Yeah, well I was an idiot." He squeezed my own hand and spoke again. "Whatever. Let's just go. The faster we get this done and you do your plan thing, the faster I can go back to normal."

"Normal isn't gonna be possible, Jack." I heard at the top of the stairs. We both turned to see John, taking the steps two at a time, a phone held to his ear. I figured he knew by now that Jack remembered, what with him being in the house and all, but that fact didn't even seem to phase him. "Reid is your dad. And let me tell ya, our butts are gonna get kicked from you knowing. But I guess Lexi did the right thing, considering her plan." 

"John knows about your plan and you won't tell me? I'm confused, princess. Wasn't it the other way around in the test?" Jack asked, turning back to me briefly.

"She didn't tell me. Natalie did." John was now down the stairs, phone no longer on but by his side. "That was her just then. I called her about Lexi going crazy and wanting to tell you and she just went along with it, said it was the logical thing to do when you know what Lexi has in store. So I guess there really are perks to her seeing inside of your brain." I just stood there, hoping he wouldn't say anything. When Jack realized what would be the result of this plan, he wouldn't be happy. "And let me just say, Natalie thinks it will work."

That was unexpected.

"Okay, so you two know." Jack released my hand and went back to running it through his hair. "But i'm out of the loop."

I didn't know what to say. God, even the fact that John knew was making me a bit queasy to tell the truth. I didn't need anyone worrying about me or the plan's outcome. I just need everything to go smoothly. And Jack knowing wouldn't do that. So, as I fumbled for the right words, John stepped in. "I think right now we have bigger problems." He said.

"Um, what kind of problems?" I asked as he made his way farther into the living room, grabbing the remote as he turned on the television.

"Natalie told me something else during the call." He answered quickly, stopping at the channel he needed to when he got there. "Got it. Okay, just watch and i'll explain."

It was a news station, something i've actually become accustomed to watching what with me being medical mystery famous. All of Florida, and many other states, knew about the strange coma that somehow effected one hundred and fifty teens without a clear sign as to why.

Not that I have paid much attention when watching the news because of this fact. It wasn't going to give me answers as to why it happened.

Because, of course, we already knew why. Or at least, most of us did.

"I don't understand. What's so important?" I questioned John, but right as he was going to shush me, I got my answer.

"It's a sad day for the families of three victims of the 'mysterious coma' that took place not even a month ago as we report to you now that they have committed suicide." A man began, my face then instantly glued to the screen.

"The three teens did so without leaving behind a note of any kind to tell us the reason, leaving each grieving family with more questions than answers. The fact that they were all part of the coma leads us to believe that the two things may somehow be linked and doctors are looking into it....." The voice started to get softer, trailing off. Or maybe that was just me getting dizzy. This couldn't be happening.

"For now, to the other families with a child involved in this, please watch them closely until we get a better understanding of what is going on." A woman continued for the man, and then she paused, seeming to clear her throat before saying, "And me being a parent of one of the ones who this horrible coma effected, I want nothing more than the truth behind what all is going on."

John muted it after that, causing us to see the faces in front of us only mouthing words and the woman who continued to look like she would burst into tears at any moment. 

"When did it happen?" I eventually asked, my head down, trying to hide my shaky voice with a mumbled tone. I don't think it worked.

"Natalie said the first one occurred yesterday morning. The two others happened around midnight last night." John replied. "Natalie didn't know about it til a few hours ago, said she found out from my mom and dad."

"Wait, hold up, what do mom and dad have to do with this?" Jack suddenly fumed. It was kinda nice to hear him call them mom and dad again though, instead of Martha and Henry. Or maybe I liked it because it seemed better than Reid being called his dad.

"They were part of the group of people that sent us to the test." I said simply, needing to get back on topic. "John, who were the three teens?"

"I had a feeling you were gonna ask me that." John responded. "But don't you think you should call your mom and tell her where you are, what you're doing? She may be totally freaked after that news."

"She's preparing for a freaking dinner right now and Marcus is probably watching something so they probably don't know anyway. I think it can wait." This time I fumed.

"Fine." John told me. "The first one was Sam Parker. You might know who he is. He was the short guy with red hair, helped Jack out a bit with the shacks."

I heard Jack make a noise beside me, but I didn't dare turn to him. My own mind was jelly as it was.

Sam. One of the only people to volunteer and help build. Someone who had to deal with the test like the rest of us. The guy I didn't even bother getting to know.

And now he's dead.

And I feel horrible for never taking the time to talk to him. I didn't know him, but he deserves something, someone who remembers what he may have done in there, to care about his death. 

"Who else?" Jack asked, pulling me from my thoughts. Without looking at him, I could still tell he was fighting the urge to cry. Over a guy we barely know. I felt the same.

"Well, uh...." John trailed off, wiping a hand over his face. "Brittney Pine. Brown hair, major flirt-" I stopped him, holding a hand up. 

Instead of my mind actually trying to piece together why she would kill herself, it forced the tears out. Just two of them, maybe three. But they were still there, now dripping on my cheeks.

I basically hated her, basing her personality off of that stupid hairbrush incident and her inability to not stare at every guy who could breath. 

But what do you do when someone dies? Well, I would hope you would feel something. Even after something like the test has changed you, feeling something will show you're still human.

I feared the last person might be a friend. And I even contemplated calling Annie to make sure she was okay, to make sure she would pick up the phone. Maybe Jack was in that situation too, with his best friend, Danny. So, with a choked up voice, I asked, "And the last one?"

John didn't meet my eyes, his head down and body stiff. I felt Jack's presence beside me, him awaiting the answer too. His fingers met mine, when finally, John looked up. "Lexi, we shouldn't have punched the guy."

My mind was piecing together his sentence, going over each word. Until it hit me.

"So, he's Luke then." I probably should have said it as a question, instead of adding the finality that I did by making it a statement. 

John nodded anyway. "Luke Walker. Blond hair, brown eyes, and made a choice to disrupt to help an evil freaking madman."

Part of me wondered why I cared that he was now dead, and why I would right then, at that moment, flop to the floor on the knees and bawl. The guy almost killed Jack, for a reason I will never properly get the answer to.

But he was my friend at one point.

He stood by me when John called me a freak. Just like Annie. And Danny. And Caleb.

And Jack.

He had been my friend. And that's hard to let go of. 

Again, Jack was next to me in a second. Curling around my body like a blanket. My hands clutched at his shirt and I allowed the tears to drop on that cloth. And based on the noises and grunts of sadness from him, he wasn't taking it well either.

Even Jack shed tears for Luke, our friend. Even though he almost killed him. 

"Do you know why they did it?" I heard Jack ask, me trying to calm my sobs and him smoothing my hair to comfort me.

"Not a clue." John basically whispered, maybe this was affecting him too. "But my money is on it involving Reid somehow. He probably thrives off of teen death. No offense." He told Jack.

"None taken. That man is not my dad." I felt his arms tighten around me as he slowly brought his face closer to mine. But I could tell it wasn't for a kiss, we both knew it wasn't the time. No, we just liked being close to each other, it was comforting. "Not anymore."

Then a phone rang, pulling each of us out of our saddened state momentarily. With my head now lifted up, watching as John answered his phone again, and Jack helped me off the floor, I couldn't help but see the change of John's features as the person on the other end spoke. 

After a few muffled responses between them, he hung up, facing us. "How in the heck did Reid get my phone number?"

"So that's who called then?" I asked. He nodded.

"Turns out Jack had his phone off and he couldn't get a hold of him. But Reid is already at your house, Lexi. And you two are late for dinner."

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"Come on, just say it again." Jack begged, gently placing his hand on mine in the truck, one of his hands still of the wheel. "I promise i'll give you a correct answer instead of mocking this time."

I huffed, clasping my hand in his and giving him a forced cheeky smile. I was only trying to make the situation better, by asking him the question. In one day, Jack remembered, three people including someone we were both close to died, and now we had a dinner to go to that if it ended how I wanted it to, would only make today worse for those around me. But at the same time, better.

"Jack Harrow, will you be my boyfriend?" He was driving me home, where we would both take part in a very interesting dinner. And if all goes as planned, would destroy Reid.

But John still warned me about the plan before we left. Even though he was told by Natalie that it might work, he was still hesitant about it. Literally anything could go wrong, that's how risky it was.

"God, I love the sound of those words leaving your mouth, making you finally admit you want to be my girlfriend." I sent him a look, hoping he would eventually stop the teasing he's been doing the entire ride, talking about how in the test I wouldn't confess wanting to be with him. And since I was now, he was gonna enjoy it. "Alright, calm down. I am a man of my word, so I shall give you a correct answer."

He said this while pulling into my driveway, Marcus sitting on the porch and probably waiting for us to show up so he could leave. Turns out, he had a date tonight too, I just don't know who with. "Go on ahead and give it to me then." I said, biting my nail and choking down what was left of my sadness at the same time. Besides, Jack was smiling more now, which is nice.

He exited the vehicle and quickly made his way over to my side, right as I was opening the door. "I would love to be your prince, my dear princess." He smirked.

"If you even for a second think i'm going to call you prince, you better think again. It's bad enough you call me princess." I said, hopping from my seat.

"Oh, you know you love it when I call you that." He stated, pulling me close suddenly and laying his head against my own. "Unless of course, you want me to start calling you by your real name, Alexandria."

I scoffed and pushed him from me. "Sometimes I really hate you."

"That's a load of crap, you know you love me." He joked. But it wasn't really a joke, not for me.

"Yeah, I guess I do." I mumbled, following after him as a minute later he was making his way to the front door.

"Hey, Jack." My brother said when we got there. "You do realize your dad's already here, right?" Jack grimaced. "Got here about a half hour ago. Him and my mom have been taking it up, waiting for you two to arrive."

"Yeah, well. Blame it on Lexi." Then Jack got real close to Marcus and said jokingly, "She couldn't keep her hands off me." To which I hit him up side the head.

"That's not actually something I think any brother would want to hear." Marcus said back.

"Well, so you know, it's not true." I pointed out. But then again, it's not like I would willingly tell him the real reason.

"Thank god." He announced. "But I assume you two are all buddy buddy now right? And i'm assuming she told you a certain something?" He hinted. Jack turned to me, raising an eyebrow.

"Mind explaining what he's talking about, Lexi?" I became beat red, I could feel it. Why in the world did Marcus have to do that?

I coughed and ignored it. "Don't you have somewhere to be, Marcus? You know, something involving a date?"

"Oh yeah, right. I got to go. Talk to you guys later." And instantly left his spot and headed to his car, waving as he did so. But I didn't think anything of it and didn't wave back.

I instantly regretted it, everything falling back to how this plan would end. Maybe I could chicken out.

Jack started walking up the steps, but not without questioning me again. "So, either Marcus knew about the test and I didn't, or he's talking about something totally different. Don't tell me you're still hiding something from me, princess."

"No, I just um, it doesn't even concern you." I said, opening the door and letting mom know I was here.

"Ha, doesn't freaking concern me my butt." He snorted. "If it doesn't, then tell me." I fumbled with my fingers for a minute while hearing my mom and Reid in the other room, heading our way. I didn't really have a reason anymore for why I couldn't tell Jack that I love him, he knew about the test again. So there wasn't a problem.

"Well, you see, I might kinda, in some weird kind of way, I lo-"

"There's my son." I heard behind me, for once thrilled by the fact that Reid interrupted me. "I was about to think you weren't going to show up."

"Yeah. Hey, dad." Jack responded, keeping his face from lining up with Reid's. And Reid may have caught that.

"And this is Lexi, correct? I recall sharing a meal with you not to long ago." Reid continued.

"Yep, that's me." Were the words from my mouth right as mom grabbed my arm and drug me to the kitchen. It was a very sudden action, and one I wasn't prepared for in the least, causing my arm to pop. "There a reason for what you just did?" I asked, holding my arm and glancing back at Jack, who now looked awkward next to Reid.

"Oh, hush and grab the lasagna from the oven while I get the salad. Don't think you aren't helping." She demanded. I rolled my eyes and did as she said, after all, if my plan actually went as planned, I would much rather my mom not being mad at me before it occurs. Which is why I should probably finish that sentence Reid interrupted earlier. Because once the plan was in full motion, there would be no going back.

Moments later, me and mom walked into the dining area, mom thinking since we were going to sit down and talk that it would be better done at the table. Again, I didn't argue. I gave a big smile, setting the meal on the table and pulling out a chair, one I had purposely made sure was right next to Jack. He seemed to be going with what I said about not mentioning the test or anything like that in front of Reid. But hopefully, he would blow up later.

Reid outdid himself by praising my mother about the food, before he even got any I might add. She and him sat next to each other, me and Jack sat parallel them, me in front of Reid. 

"So, Lexi, Jack has mentioned you a bunch since you two woke up at the hospital. But more recently he's mentioned dating you." Reid started. "So I would like to get to know you a bit." 

I quickly swallowed what food was in my mouth when he said it, completely facing him. "Uh sure, what would you like to know?" His response was simply asking about my hobbies and a few more things. I answered how I felt any normal person would, even adding a smile at times. That is until I decided to ask a few questions of my own.

"What about you, Mr. Harrow? What have you been doing all of the years you were gone? Anything interesting?" I asked.

"Lexi, don't be nosy." My mother snapped. 

I ignored it. "I mean, I heard that everyone thought you were dead and then suddenly you show up out of nowhere. And I guess that would be a joyous occasion and all, but what, you just thought it was a good idea to abandon your son until he's practically an adult?"

"Alexandria Ann James." My mom warned again.

"Of course, sure, you had a good reason. After all, i'm sure kidnapping teenagers is a very demanding job." I said, this time my mother not having anything else to say to me, just blankly staring at Reid. Jack gave me a look of confusion but I just continued.

God, I hope I knew what I was doing.

"Or maybe, I don't know, making them all go into a coma to save mankind. Even though, I might add, you haven't explained why mankind needs saving." Everyone was silent, my voice probably rolling around in their brains. I had just spoiled everything. My mom looked mortified, Jack was still confused. But Reid, oh Reid seemed furious.

"You little-" Reid stopped himself, glancing back at Jack instead of me. "I knew there was something going on here. You're angry with me, Jack."

"Who wouldn't be? Not to burst your bubble, but sending your son that you haven't seen in years to a computer program isn't exactly father of the year material." Jack boomed, now up from his chair. Yep, there was the blow up. My mom stayed silent.

"You are my son. You don't talk to me like that."

"I stopped being your son the day I had to wake up in the test and see your stupid face and not even remember you." Jack screamed. Oh god, this is more of a blow up than what I needed. "And when you sent bears after us, and those stupid monsters. My freaking hand went through Lexi's arm. I had to kill things. You might be okay with that, but i'm not. I'm not you."

After that, the room fell silent. But Reid couldn't have that. "I shouldn't have just killed you, Lexi. Why I ever listened to my boss and kept you around is beyond me." He pulled a remote from his pocket. "This look familiar?"

I wanted to smile, it was the remote he had in the test, the one I was hoping could still send people in. The plan was falling into place. I hit a few rough patches but it could still work.

Because the thing i've learned, i'm more powerful in a computer, where disrupting is possible. Out here, i'm a short and weak nothing. If I wanted to defeat Reid, I had to make him think he was winning first.

"At any moment I could just send you back in." He continued. "I could cause you pain and then all at once, kill you. You took everything from me. My son, my life's work, everything." He snarled. I noticed then that my mom was backing away from the table, her eyes wide but fixed on the remote.

"Then do it." I said. I heard mom and Jack gasp but I kept my gaze on Reid. "Kill me. Just like you forced three inocent people to."

"Oh, so you did pick up on the fact that I did that." He smiled. "I was hoping you would. You see, messing with their brains to make them go crazy and kill themselves was the easy part. I thought getting you to realize I did it would be the hard part."

"I'm curious though. Why not just kill me, why not leave them out of it?" 

"What's the fun in that?" He asked and answered as if it were obvious. And it was, Reid is a lunatic.

With a now shaky breath, I guess the whole realization of the plan was taken full effect, I asked, "Are you gonna push that button, send me into the test again?"

"I'm thinking about it." His thumb skimmed a red button, his grin growing and my fear rising.

Here it comes, I could feel it.

"No." Now my head snapped to Jack. "Lexi has gone through enough. If anyone goes in, it's gonna be me. So what do ya say, dad. I don't think sending me in again would lessen or greaten my love for you. You're dead to me anyway."

"Oh my dear boy, I sent you in the first time to save you. Now it would just be cruel. Mainly because the first test was disrupted, I had to start over." Reid started going around the table, walking to me. "This one is much worse."

That put a damper on things. 

Reid's thumb kept skimming over that red button. But something told me he wouldn't push it, not yet. Suddenly, my mom came up from behind and smacked him. "You leave my daughter alone. Ugh, and to think, I thought you were a nice guy." I wanted to cheer my mother on but everything happened at once.

The remote hit the floor, I grabbed the remote. Reid lunged. Jack did too. Mom fell and screamed. And then Reid suddenly had me pinned to the floor, his finger against mine on the remote I still had in my hand but the button wasn't yet pushed, his evil smile being all I could see. "I'm sorry we had to end dinner on this note. If it helps at all, at least one of us will be happy."

I know he meant him when he said it. But I couldn't help but think about that fact he was just helping me finish the plan, he was giving me what I wanted.

But there was something I had to say before I went.

"Jack." I tried to yell, hoping Jack would hear it, almost out of breath. "This might be a bad time, but I love you. I just wanted you to know that." I don't even know he heard me, my voice sounding like a whisperin my head. Reid just glared at me, almost a growl coming from him and I didn't try pushing him off. I was ready.

A second later I heard a soft click of a button, feeling it too as his finger crashed against mine on the remote.

I don't know what happened after that.

Because all I saw was darkness, and then suddenly blue glowing icicles, orange bark, and red curled up roots to my right.

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Please don't get mad. I hope you like. Vote and comment if you do and um, bye now :)