*Claire's POV*

My eyes fluttered open looking out into the cloudy sky through the glass portion of the roof above my bed. It looked like it had been raining. How'd I even get in here?

"You're awake." Oh. Cole brought me. "Are you okay? Zach is such an asshole for doing that." He spoke quietly as if it would give me a headache if he spoke too loud.

"I guess. I feel kind of dizzy and my body kind of hurts. You brought me here didn't you? Thank you Cole." I smiled in his direction. He's a good brother. I'm glad he is my brother, even if I do 'hate him' at times.

"No problem little sis." He stared off to the other side of the room, sitting in silence for a while before he spoke again.

"Hey, um... do you really think the government is that bad?" He asked in such a tone that made him sound like a little kid. I don't know how to answer it. I mean, it's Cole so I can be honest with him. He's my brother after all.

"Well, I mean..." I hesitated a bit.

"Please Claire. I need to know." He begged.

I sighed "Yeah. It isn't that great Cole." I answered quietly.

"Do you..." He paused for a moment looking lost. "Do you hate me?" He asked sadly. What kind of question is that? Who's putting this stuff in his head?!

"Of course not!" I snapped back at him. "You're my brother. I will always love you Cole. I couldn't hate you if I wanted to."

"Really? I'm glad to hear that." He sounded relieved. Relieved of what? What was he thinking?

"Hey, what's up? What's with all the questions? You sound upset." I asked worriedly.

"I don't know. Zach was saying all of this stuff when he made you pass out and I was hoping it wasn't true. He said that... You know what, never mind. It isn't really that important." He cut himself off before he could say anymore.

"Cole what did he say?"

"It's not important. It isn't true." He replied. Good dammit what did he say?

"It is important. What did he say?" I asked again.

"He said you were... That you were planning to kill me." He spilled.

"What?! That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard! I would never kill you. Never Cole. You're my brother. I love you to pieces, even if you can be annoying at times." Why the hell would Zach tell my brother that bullshit? He's trying to get Cole to turn against me. What the hell.

Wait. If Zach caused this questioning then he must know something about my plans, right? Why would Cole ask me about the government otherwise? Why would he think I was going to kill him? Unless that was party of my plan to escape. But what kind of idiots are they? I would never kill Cole. He's my brother. Everyone knows I love him with all of my heart.

"Zach said you were going to do it before you leave. That's crazy right? Are you... Are you actually going to leave Claire?" He asked, his voice saddened towards the end. Fear quickly took over my expression, but just as quickly as it came, it went. I was talking to Cole after all.

"Cole. You-you do know I couldn't tell you if I were to actually leave, right? You would be obligated to tell the council. You could be punished. I would never tell you if I were to leave." I spoke calmly, implying my plans.

"You have to be quieter when you talk like this." He spoke in a whisper. "They um. They overheard our conversation the other day. The council, Zach." Fuck. This can't be happening. They all have an eye on me. I have to make my escape smoothly. I have to be prepared for when an opportunity arises.

"Cole?" I whispered, the room nearly silent if it wasn't for the fan blowing towards us.

"Yeah?" He whispered back.

"Would you ever... Um. Let's say I were going to leave. I'm not saying I am, but if I did, would you want to come with me? What would you do?" I asked quietly, more fear flowing though me than ever before. I've never spoke my plans aloud and it is making me quite anxious.

"I don't know Claire. I can't- I can't answer that right now. If you were to leave... When would you be leaving?" He asked curiously. When would I be leaving? I guess whenever I get the chance, right? I need something they want. I know they want to kill me, to use me to scare the citizens into submitting to them, but I need something else. Something else to make it not so easy to kill me, not so easy to use me, not so easy to string me along in their games. I know exactly what I'm going to take.

"Whenever the opportunity rises I guess." I replied quickly.

"You know you can trust me, right?" Can I?

"Yeah." I replied back after a short hesitation.

"Just... Let me know before you leave, okay?" He asked, almost in a begging tone.

"Ye-yeah of course." I whispered back to him.

"Feel better Claire. Don't do anything stupid." He said louder in his brotherly voice.

"I'll try not to." I gave him a small smile as I spoke back to him.

Cole soon got up and headed towards the door. He turned the handle slightly before he turned around and looked toward me again.

"Be careful. Don't hurt yourself. I love you little sis." He said before turning and leaving the room for good this time.

"I love you too big bro." I laughed a bit as he shut the door the rest of the way.