The Program

Chapter Twenty-One

I've tried to stop it, the constant thinking about Riley. It's been an hour now, John is sleeping, or maybe he's faking it. 

Everything's coming at me all at once. I can see it, hear it again. She's sitting beside me, telling Reid's story, telling me all she can.

And now she's dead, or not. Whatever.

She told me she can't die, she's a program after all. But my sleepy mind isn't focused on that. It's concentrating on the words she said after.

No. Programs don't die, not really. Only humans die. Her words in my brain, sounding as if she was next to me again, not dead. And you'll die too. So I guess that means the only one dying out of the two of us is you.

It's just happening for you at a really slow pace is all.

These words have echoed in my head for the past hour, causing me to bite my lip nervously. She knew and I didn't catch it. Riley knew the test was killing me.

John is stirring next to me and I contemplate waking him, telling him what I know, but I don't, letting him sleep so that at least one of us has the simulated feeling of being well rested before we both risk everything tomorrow. Plus, not just these thoughts from Riley are the only thing on my mind.

I'm thinking over every outcome, making another plan of what to do after I finish this one. I list off steps of the entire thing in my head.

Step one: Me and John do whatever it takes to combine our disrupting powers together, making us both an extremely powerful weapon against the test, hopefully breaking it forever this time.

There were risks, especially given the fact that Natalie never mentioned that something like this could be done. But something definitely had happened when me and John became intimate, and that kiss...

John groans a bit and tosses, distracting me from my thoughts. I hear the slightest hint of a name leaving his mouth and try not to focus on the fact that its Annie's as I go back to what I was thinking.

Step two: Most likely Reid or his boss will throw another obstacle at us, somewhat like the one Reid used as I was waking up from the test. I still haven't figured out what that tree business was about, and I don't really want to know either.

Step three: Hopefully, we both wake up. And if for some reason one of us doesn't make it, I hope it's me. John came in here to save me, he was being a good person, he deserves to make it out.

I look at John again. Is it really possible that perhaps he has feelings for Annie? He didn't flat out say it, but that's what he meant right? Have I really been so distracted by the feelings I felt for Jack that I missed them growing closer, that I wasn't told that they had.

Running my fingers through my hair, I sighed. I knew my friends could still be in danger. Jack was in jail. Annie could be being targeted by this organization right now. Danny too could be in trouble. And who knew how my dad, mom, and brother were taking this. They didn't even know the whole story, and I would have to make John promise that if I didn't make it, they never would. My family can't know everything that happened here, it will only make things worse.

Step four was a bit hazy. I had a plan of finding the headquarters, taking down Reid's boss. But to do that I had to know who she was.

Again, Riley's words filled my head.

You know her, and hate her. God, do you hate her. And she knows you do.

That was the last thing she every muttered, and then she was gone. I've thought about what she said but never said it to John, he wouldn't believe my theory even if I did.

Because the fact is, there is only one woman in this world I hate.

And even I don't think my step-mom is capable of this.

The facts swarmed through my brain though. The possible way she did it taking effect.

One, she burns down Jack's house, leaving him thinking he was orphaned and making the perfect opportunity to snatch Reid up as Riley said.

Two, becomes best friends with his new parents before they are.

That's all I can come up with, and it seems useless. It couldn't be her, no. All the facts are both against it and not, or maybe i'm just paranoid. 

Yep, I decided. I'm just scared and paranoid.

But still my thoughts stayed. What if it was her? Has she ever done anything that would hint at it?

The answer was simple of course; no, she hadn't. Besides, wouldn't John's parents know, wouldn't Natalie know who the boss is. I mean, they work for this woman.

No, Mary wasn't the boss, couldn't be. I would have been told.

But either way, I placed another step in my head before positioning myself on the ground, trying to find a way to sleep before the hours ticked down to the moment it would all be over.

Step five: Find Reid's boss.

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My eyes snapped open after they had been closed for what felt like only a second. I heard the cracking of branches, and yelling.

I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Annie was screaming and kicking at multiple trees.

More branches fell.

"Um, what are you doing?" I asked, getting up and walking to her. She turned around, her face full of sweat and her hair matted and her purple streak barely visible.

"I'm trying, Lexi." She panted. "It's not working. I tried to disrupt this freaking tree, just to see if I could and I can't. It's not working."

"And beating up the tree helps with that how?" I questioned, ignoring the fact that she was here and that she was trying to disrupt for some reason. 

She stared at me. "It's not like it's alive." She huffed. "And you and John won't be either if I can't figure this out."

"John will figure it out. He's the one who's going to help me, you don't have to-"

"We're just kids." She stopped me, falling to her knees as if the ground had pulled her down with force. It took me a second, but I quickly made my way to her. She was sobbing. "We don't deserve this, we never did. I mean, what does any of this have to do with humanity. Nothing, that's what. No person that has an ounce of humanity would do this."

My mind was confused. Why was she here? What was the point?

"He was hallucinating." She said finally, looking over to the memory wipe tree. "You both were dying. Me and Natalie, we-"

"Wait, you and Natalie? Annie, what's going on, where are you?" I asked.

"I'm outside, but me and Natalie, we um, had to..." She trailed off. "God, I don't remember what I had to tell you. Crap, there's not much time."

I'm sure I had crazy eyes. "Not much time for what? Annie, why were you trying to disrupt? God, what are you trying to say?"

She had tears in her eyes as she answered. "Um, there uh, there's a glitch in the program. Natalie sent me in here to disrupt it and to tell you something. Reid's boss put it there, to stop you two from being able to combine your abilities."

"You mean we actually can?"

"Natalie said you can. Maybe, I don't remember."

"Why are you in my dream?"

"I think it's because Natalie said it was too dangerous to come in here fully, what with you and John already in here. She already had to send John in here so he could fully help you after all, I would just be a burden." She paused. "Wait, the thing I had to tell you, there's no time to explain, but trust me."

"Annie..."

"Listen." She demanded. "I know this is confusing, that it doesn't make sense. Natalie said that would happen because dreams, especially dreams inside of dreams are extremely complicating to make understandable. But Lexi, she said it will work. Your plan will work."

"It will?" I smiled and she nodded. "Wait, what about the hallucination you told me about, what was that?"

"John was hallucinating when he kissed you." She answered, I went blank faced. "Natalie found some kind of file in the system, you two were so high on the scale of disrupters, said something about that you guys were compatible or something."

"Compatible? Annie, what does that mean?"

"My head hurts, Lexi." She whined, placing a hand on her face. "Anyway, Natalie did something to John to make him see something else. She said she just needed you both to fully connect. I don't know."

"Wait, she made John see you?" I wondered aloud. 

"Yep," She nodded. "we were rushing, trying to find something to show him that would make him kiss you. Sorry, by the way. Then, Natalie just looked at me, and she smiled. That when she told me John had a crush on me, I don't even know how she would know that, and she had me face a camera and do everything I could to flirt with John. It was harder than you think, but i'll get past it for John's sake, and yours. Besides, it's not like I haven't started feeling things for him too."

"So, that's it?"

"Uh-huh." She mumbled, still holding her head. "I know this is confusing, isn't everything about any of this. But me and Natalie will explain everything when you get out."

"I miss you, Annie." And then as an afterthought added, "How's Jack?"

"He's good, we visit him everyday. He's really peeved about John coming in here though. But he's getting over it considering it was a mouth ago."

"A month? What?"

"Yeah, you've missed a lot of school." She laughed. "But right now, just try not to die. And Lexi, I miss you too. We all do. But I have to go now, because you have to wake up and kick some test butt so...But one more thing, no matter what you think, you'll have to kiss John tomorrow there's no way around it, it's the only way it will work. Do you understand?" I let her know that I did. She was becoming pixelated.

I was crying, and everything as fading. "Tell Jack that I love him, please. Tell my mom that i'm sorry. And tell Natalie thank you, for everything."

"Okay." She smiled. "See you in another month, or hopefully less." Flesh toned bright cubes replaced her then, them suddenly gone.

"See you tomorrow." I whispered, the last thing I remember being the tear rolling down my face as it all went dark.

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"Lexi, wake up." I jerked awake, John's hand on my shoulder, moving me a bit. "You okay?"

"Um, yeah. Why?" I asked him. 

"You were crying." He said. "Bad dream? Was it something about Jack?"

I shook my head, lifting myself up. "No, i'm good. Everything's good."

"Then, are you ready?" He asked, looking at the simulated sun above us as I did too.

I stared at him next and answered, "John, let's go home."

❒❒❒❒

IF THERE IS ANY CONFUSION ABOUT THIS CHAPTER PLEASE READ. ALSO PLEASE READ FOR SOMETHING IMPORTANT I NEED HELP WITH.

So the dream was just Natalie's way of using Annie to contact Lexi without throwing off the test. If you add another person to the test it becomes weaker, and right now, Lexi doesn't need that so Natalie found a way around it. I'm sorry if it was at all confusing to read, I have a migraine really bad and i'm barely understanding what I wrote or if it even came out how I wanted it to.

Anyway, onto the thing I need help with.

I'll be on Wattpad for a year towards the end of March and I wanted to do something special for all of my followers and readers who've come in to my life over the past year.

I've seen some users follow a huge group of people back or update all of their stories on that day as celebration. I want to do something cool too and I wanted some suggestions from ya'll on what you think I should do. I just really want to thank everyone for sticking by me and that's what that day will be about.

So, if there's anything that you think would be cool to do, comment below or PM me and suggest away.

Dedicated to @allie_hawk_10 for being a sweet and amazing reader! Bye guys! I love you guys :)

(not edited or proofread very well)