A/N: Welcome back! It's been a bit since I updated, but thanks to the quarantine I've had a bit more free time. Hope you all enjoy! You'll be getting more answers to what's going on with Gis and Cade soon ;)

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05 - 28 - 2089

C A D E

The room is dark, void of all light beyond a single fluorescent bulb shining from the hallway. The single window in the doorway casts long shadows, just bright enough for me to see the holes the taser barbs left in my shirt.

My body still feels like it ran a marathon, overly sore and completely exhausted. As I sit leaning against the cold wall, I find myself drifting off to sleep. The hallway beyond my cell is silent beyond the occasional footsteps of what is likely a guard.

After what feels like hours, a thud sounds against the door. My eyes open, only just realizing I was dozing. I stretch my neck and peer up at the window, finding a young man likely in his twenties staring back.

He unlocks the door and slides it open before crossing his arms. "You're Cade, eh?"

"Who wants to know?" I cross my arms in a vaguely irritating imitation of him. I don't miss the weapon strapped to his belt or the way he remains standing in the doorway. 

"You're not what I expected."

I blink. "I could say the same about you. Mind introducing yourself?"

We stare at each other for a good thirty seconds before he sighs, long and dragged out. I raise my eyebrows expectantly.

Finally, he steps back and gestures to the hallway. "Follow me."

I consider giving a sarcastic response and remaining planted exactly where I'm at. But then my eyes go to the taser at his belt and recall the sensation of having one sending electric currents through my entire body. With some hesitation, I stand and approach the door.

"Just so you don't try something, I am authorized to use this," he says, patting the weapon on his hip. "Not that I would care." He says it offhandedly, but I catch the way his eyes watch me carefully. Studying my movements.

I shrug. "Fine. Lead the way."

We head back down the hallway towards the door where I was dragged through only a few hours ago. I mark all the hallways in my mind, doing my best to map out the area and focusing on any possible escape routes. At this point, I realize I can't just make a run for it. Whoever these people are, they are well equipped and prepared. My gut clenches as I realize how similar that sounds to my mother and the government.

My arms prickle, the sensation reminding me of all the scars that litter my forearms and inner elbow. I absently scratch my left arm, then my right, trying to shake off the feeling.

We only walk in silence for a few minutes before the guy leads me to a new section of the facility, laid out in a half circle formation with chairs and computers all focused on the farthest end of the room where a large screen is positioned. People occupy the various desks and stand around, all focused on various tasks.

The guy walks me past the back of the long room to the far corner where a glass wall reveals another room, decorated in office furniture.

Inside the room are three people, Tesrine, and two others who have their back to me. The first is an older man, who looks exactly like Mr. Tate.

I pause, glancing back at him, and his companion. Dark hair, sun-kissed skin, small frame.

As recognition hits, I stalk past the guy and into the room, my eyes wide. "Gis?"

She turns, her own expression one of relief as she sees me. "Cade!" She runs past Mr. Tate and Tesrine before throwing herself against me. I fold my arms around her, hugging her tightly in an effort to slow the feeling of panic pounding against my chest.

"What are you doing here?" I demand, pulling back enough to scan her for any injuries. Satisfied at her appearance, I relax my grip enough for her to step back. She smooths back her hair and takes a breath.

"I was worried about you." Her expression drops to her feet, her voice quieting. "You left... I mean, after our argument, I thought..." She folds her hands, wringing them together. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you mad. I was just trying to say what I thought, and it clearly wasn't the right thing to say." Finally, she looks up at me, her expression full of guilt.

Something twists inside me, painfully. "Gis... I..." I run a hand through my hair, then glance behind Gis to see Tesrine and Mr. Tate staring unabashedly at us. "Can we have a moment, please?" I take Gis' hand and guide her out the door of the office and turn to the corner of the large room, the best way of creating privacy in this situation. I'm aware of my escort standing not too far away, likely ensuring I don't try to bust out of here with Gis in tow.

"Gis, I shouldn't have reacted like that." I had plenty of time to cool off and think since our argument, and now's the time to convey that to her. I know she'll have been thinking about this way more than anyone else should.

"No," she shakes her head. "I don't know what I was thinking."

I squeeze her hand. "Stop. Don't apologize for using your voice. You have nothing to apologize for. It's okay to think about those things." I swallow. "It's just hard because I imagined what would happen if you actually did what you were thinking about, and that scared me." I hesitate, then add, "Man, it scared me to death."

Gis nods, avoiding my gaze.

"I love you. You know that, right?" I say, my tone gentle, imploring.

"Yeah." Her voice is small.

"If you don't mind, we have more important things to discuss than your lovers' spat," Tesrine calls from the doorway to the office. She's leaning against the doorway, an expression of impatience planted on her features.

"Yeah, of course," Gis says immediately, pulling her hand from mine and following Tesrine back into the room.

I stare after her, wondering what all I've missed while sitting in that cell. What has Tesrine and Mr. Tate said to Gis? Why did they bring her here, after waiting all this time? And most importantly, how in the world am I going to get both of us out of here?

"Get a move on it," my escort snaps finally, breaking me out of my thoughts.

I shoot him a glare on my way into the room, hearing as the door shuts behind me.

"Take a seat." Tesrine points to a chair next to the one Gis is seated in. Mr. Tate stands against the glass wall while Tesrine stands across the room, facing Gis and I.

Gis casts me an encouraging smile as I sink down into the plastic chair beside her. I try to smile back, but I'm sure it doesn't look convincing. 

"I assume you've calmed down enough to think rationally?" Tesrine smirks, which only inflames my anger more.

I stamp it down, doing my best to remain calm despite the fact that I really want to punch her face in. "You mean after you tased me and threw me into a cell?" I say it sweetly enough to maintain my calm appearance, but hard enough to get my point across.

"They did what?" Gis gasps, turning to me for confirmation.

"I don't know what they told you, Gis, but they were likely lying."

"Slow down, now," Mr. Tate says, trying to step in.

Tesrine holds up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. "Cade, shut your mouth for a second before we have to do it again."

I do as she says, but only because I know she means it.

Tesrine sits down in a chair across the desk and crosses her arms. "That was an unfortunate incident that could have been avoided if you only would have listened to us."

"What did you do to him?" Gis demands, her fingers curling into fists. "You told me he was taking a nap. That he had a headache and didn't feel well."

"That was the truth," Tesrine says mildly. "Perhaps not all of it, but a portion. Your boyfriend would not listen to reason, and was threatening the safety of everyone in this organization. We could not risk exposure."

"So you hurt him and locked him up?" Gis looks to me with horror, her eyes searching mine for answers.

Tesrine sighs. "Please calm down. This is not how this meeting was supposed to go. You are both guests here. Gis, you are the very reason this organization exists. Please do not jump to conclusions."

"It's hard not to when I find out you've been mistreating someone I care about," Gis snaps, more fire in her voice than usual. "I demand an explanation. Now." Her voice trembles slightly at the end, her fists shaking in her lap.

"We were merely explaining the organization and its purpose, when he became extremely hard-headed and decided to attack several of our people. When he wouldn't stop willingly, we were forced to use a certain amount of force. For the safety of others, mind you." Tesrine sends me an aggravated look. "Would you tell her to calm down?"

As much as I want to stir up this conversation, I realize it isn't productive. We can't get out right now, so the best thing to do is sit and wait. Gain information. Bide our time. Besides, Gis being here changes everything. It's clear the Tates were working for these people the entire time, so we really have no safe place to go. My thoughts spin, trying to figure out a solution to this mess.

"Gis, I'm okay. They were idiots, but it's done with. Let's just hear them out and then decide what to do."

Gis considers for a moment, glancing from me to Tesrine. Finally, she nods and leans back in her chair. "But only the truth, this time. No more lies or partial truths. I've had enough of that to last a lifetime," she mutters.

"Fair enough." Tesrine nods.

"So why don't you explain exactly why we're here?" I say. "And don't skimp out on the details."

"Cade, you have to understand that a lot of the secrecy is for your safety and ours," Mr. Tate interjects, likely hearing the frustration in my voice. "We couldn't tell you because of the risk of compromise from outside the organization. GIADA and the government are both cracking down on rebellion attempts all over the country, due to the high infection rates. Panic is spreading, and with it people willing to fight back against unjust laws. But we're still small, and because of that we aren't equipped to take on the government face-to-face."

"I still don't understand what this has to do with us," Gis says. "Why keep us in a safe house for months without telling us anything?"

"You are the reason this organization exists, Gis," Tesrine explains.

Mr. Tate nods. "Exactly. But we couldn't tell you everything, because we needed to be sure you were safe and secure first."

"You mean contained," I mutter.

Tesrine shoots me a look. "We aren't the enemies, Cade. GIADA is. The government is."

"You say that with as much conviction as they have when they argue the same thing. Everyone views themself as the hero, even the villains. They all think their cause is just. But that's the thing with delusion. It can make a villain believe themself to be a hero even when they're not."

"Then how do we know who to trust?" Gis asks.

"Clearly, we can't trust anyone but ourselves." I look at her. "You can trust me. And I can trust you. Beyond that, I'm not really sure."

Tesrine rolls her eyes and groans, exasperated. "This wasn't supposed to be difficult. And I am not equipped to do this." She stands and begins pacing. "Can we start again? I can explain better if we start from the beginning."

"I think I've heard enough," I snap, rising and pulling Gis up with me. I'm not sure why I feel overwhelmed, but I can't listen to another word. "I think it would be best if you let us leave. We'll go back to the safe-house, if you want. But can someone please show us the way out?"

"Cade, I haven't heard anything. Can't we give them a chance? They helped us escape from your mom and Doctor Acosta. They gave us a place to live. They even saved your life," Gis points out, pulling away from me. "I'm not sure why you're so upset, but I think we should give them the benefit of the doubt. Like you said. Just hear them out."

"You don't understand," I say. "They want to use you, just like Doctor Acosta. It's basically the same organization. Different names. Different goals. But they both want to use you like a tool. Like a freaking piece of machinery at their disposal." 

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