Nature sucks. Sure, I do like to go on the occasional hike and see what meager wildlife Oklahoma has but romping through a thick forest filled with mosquitoes and killer bears? 

Definitely not my idea of fun.

Ken-which is what I've named the guy who took me here, due to the fact that he always acts like a smiling Ken doll- swats at the prodding branches, disgusted. His impeccable suit has already been streaked with dirt and a sheen of sweat breaks out on his face as we start on a slight incline. I'm guessing he's not the type to hit the gym. 

"Are we there yet?" I say, exhausted. My muscles ache as I jump over a particularly large boulder, glaring at my scratched arms. Why we couldn't stay on the hiking trail, I don't know. The smart part of my mind suggests not questioning the government's motives. The Secret Security dudes look like cliffs. Hard, jagged cliffs. They seem the least bit affected by our little trek.

"Does it look like we're there yet?" Ken snaps and I reel back, hitting a black-clad guard. He raises a brow, almost imperceptibly. I stammer out a hasty apology and regain my pace. 

Ken's face relaxes into that broad, fake smile he's been wearing this whole time. Honestly, who's he trying to convince? That smile really makes him look like a doll.

"Sorry, Elizabeth-"

"Lizzy." I say for the millionth time. The guy doesn't seem to take a hint.

"Right," he says, dismissive. "I'm sorry for snapping. You see, our destination is well-hidden for a reason. We'll get there when we get there."

"Peachy." I force through clenched teeth. Ken doesn't seem to hear it. 

After what feels like days, our entourage grinds to a stop, much to my relief. 

I should go to the gym more often.

That is, if I get out of this mission alive. The mission that I'm completely in the dark about. I whoosh out a breath and force myself to be optimistic. It's like saying that porky officer was in good shape; completely fake. I hold a hand up to my brow and do a 360. 

"There's nothing here." I tell them, annoyed. 

A guard chortles. "Just you wait, kid." 

"I'm not a kid." I huff, edging away. The burliest security guard takes a giant step forward, raising a small black device to his mouth.

"Freedman to Base. Do you copy?"

Freedman. Gotta remember that.

The device crackles and I jump slightly. 

"We copy. Raising door now." Almost immediately after a large whirring sound fills the forest. The birds flee in a screech of chirps and chitters. The ground separates, and a large, square black box rises from the hole. Leaves, dirt, and even a squirrel falls into the widening hole. I stupidly gape as a door opens with a smooth hiss. A guard pokes me and I walk forward, shooting him a dirty look.

"Watch it, pal." I growl. 

I still can't believe what I just saw. The ground literally split. Just like that. Like someone would open their mouth. I peer down the hole, feeling a pang of guilt for the poor squirrel. It's probably squished against the ground by now. 

Feeling slightly sick, I follow Ken as he strides calmly into the door. It shuts behind me and we're bathed in darkness. With a scuffle of boots and a small thud, light floods in and once more, I'm stunned into silence. It's a huge chamber and we're standing on a raised platform of grid metal. It's circular, despite the box shape of the exterior facade. It's completely made of chrome, all grays and blacks. People mill around in the lower platform, all outfitted in sleek suits. No one stops to see me, all content with ignoring me and getting on with their job. There's a huge screen in the front, spanning one whole wall of the chamber. Thousands of individual screens play, all at different part of the border.

Camera feeds, I realize. 

"Welcome to Control," Ken announces grandly. He makes his way down the steps, his fancy shoes clacking as he does. Some people nod at him and murmur their greetings, barely sparing a glance at me. I feel a small tick of indignation. What am I, invisible? A well-groomed woman sashays towards us, radiating confidence. She smiles, flashing perfect pearly teeth.

She holds out a hand and I take it, shaking firmly.

"I'm Janice," she says in a cool voice. She's sharply beautiful. Her glossy brown hair has been pulled into a tight spiral and her bright red lips take me in, pursed. She scrutinizes me with slate gray eyes, mildly disapproving. I'm no stranger to that look but coming from a government official, it's definitely more embarrassing. 

"You must be Aria." 

I shake my head, confused. "No, I'm Lizzy."

Janice's brows pucker.

"Elizabeth Selburn, but she goes by Lizzy." Ken clarifies. Janice gives him a short nod and spins on her-huge-heels. If I wore monstrous things like those I would surely trip and break both my ankles. On her, it just makes her look more sophisticated.

"I can take it from here." She sweeps her gaze across the guards and Ken. "Follow me, Lizzy." Ken doesn't protest as she takes me away, down a hall next to the big screen. It's quieter here and the only sounds are my breathing and the consistent sound of Janice's stilettos. 

"Who's Aria?" I finally ask. 

"The other girl who will be working with you on this assignment." She doesn't look at me when she says so. 

"Which is?" I say, hopefully.

Janice says nothing and I droop. I'm sure the government's downfall rests in its cryptic answers. I slink behind Janice, struggling to keep up with her. The woman's a powerhouse. 

However, I can't help but admire the respect she naturally commands. She's wearing a tailored suit that appeals to her femininity but also gives her an air. Janice takes a sharp right at a fork in the tunnels and leads me to door.

She yanks it open and I step inside. The two guys in the room turn and stare at me. The first one, who seems to be the older of the two, has a blank, emotionless face. The other looks at me with a cocky smirk. I can already tell he's the type that has girls falling at his feet. When he sees I'm not impressed, his smirk falls into a scowl.

"I'll leave you to get acquainted while the president arrives." Janice leaves abruptly and I shift, feeling awkward.

"I'm Lizzy." I blurt, a flush rising to my cheeks after.

"Oliver." The older one says quietly, nodding.

"I'm Lucas." He glares at me, obviously peeved. "Where's the other chick?" I lift a shoulder.

"You think I know? No one's told me anything."

Lucas stalks away and leans against the wall. Oliver stares past me, at the door. He's like a rock; nothing's displayed on his face. 

"Where are you from?" I ask, trying to be friendly. Oliver doesn't look at me while he speaks.

"Virginia." I spin to face Lucas.

"What about you, Grumpy?" 

He fumes at me, but answers anyways. "California."

"Oklahoma." I say, glaring when Lucas laughs.

"Oklahoma? Like, Wizard of Oz?"

"That's Kansas, nitwit." 

He straightens. "So what, do you ride horses and corral sheep?" I roll my eyes.

"You're a riot." 

Lucas opens his mouth to snap back but the door slams open. We all jump, even the stoic Oliver. President Harper strides in and I fight the urge to bow. How idiotic would that be?

"Ah, you're here." He peers around us. "Where's the fourth?"

"Your guess is as good as mine." I say under my breath. President Harper hums, choosing not to reply.

"Thank you for coming. You three-including the other one- have been picked for a prestigious mission that may save us from destruction."

Wow, talk about exaggeration.

"There's been evidence of a ingredient, a serum, that can combat the virus. We don't know much about it, but the bunker it's in has agreed to give us the directions to make it and where to find it. You four have been tasked to retrieve it."

"What?" I burst out, fear seizing me. The president nods pleasantly. Oliver broods, staring ahead.

"That's right. Isn't it exciting?"

Not exactly the word I would say to describe it.

"Where is this bunker?" Lucas asks, drawing out the words. 

"Glad you asked, son." President Harper chuckles. "You'll be venturing into a place where no man has gone before. Well, no one alive, that is." He laughs at his own joke. 

No one laughs with him. 

"And where is that, exactly?" I almost wish I hadn't asked. This conversation has taken a very bad turn.

"Why, past the border of course."

Oh, hell no.