I was frozen. I've never truly experienced that moment before; complete dissociation from the world around me. The feeling was odd, unfamiliar, paralyzing even. For what reason was my mom's number in Commander's reach?

My mom was a neurologist from NYC that stopped working after I was born. She spent most of her life in the small town of Virgina and after moving to NYC for college she met my dad there. Together they chose to stay in New York, in our apartment in the Bronx.

I tried to wrap my head around it. To understand how the Commander, Richard Anderson, could possibly have my mom's phone number. It wasn't even the question how, it was why? Why were they connected? Why didn't the Commander tell me he knew my mother if he had all my records and family history on the silver platter?

I glanced to look at the clock. 7 minutes left. It was the perfect time for me to leave unnoticed and not raise any suspicion. I found what I was looking for; every part of my body urged me to leave. I couldn't. Not yet. I decided to look through the records and folders messily ordered on his working desk.

Maybe I'd get some answers. Or maybe I'd get even more questions.

I frustratedly looked through the piles of papers. Each one looked the same, with a bunch of  meaningless looking paragraphs in the small font I didn't bother reading. If anything was important, it would stand out.

At the very bottom of one pile was the black folder, unrevealing itself in the midst of orange and yellows. I eagerly opened it, taking out one single sheet of paper.

PROJECT 2734 - team REK was a bolded title.

"What the hell," My eyes were scanning word after word. Chills ran down my spine. My hands began shaking. What is this?

A sudden ding of the elevator pulled me out of my trance.

Fuck.

No. No. No.

Commander was about to waltz into his place, and see me roaming through his things and then god knows what do to me and oh, boy, I was totally screwed. 

I folded the paper quickly, into a small square and placed it into my back pocket right by the key I found. Without thinking, I let out a small yelp, dropping on the floor and crouching inside his working desk.

Aliana, could you get any stupider?

I closed my eyes, regretting it instantly. If he was going to find me anywhere it would be here. He seems like the person that doesn't leave his desk. I tried to control my breathing, and my nerves but no matter what I couldn't stop my knee from shaking. I could practically count the seconds he was going to find me.

Surprisingly, his feet carried him to his bedroom. I peered from the end of the desk, noticing his movements but also trying to think of a way out. He just needs to close his door and then I can just run out.

He began taking off his tie, unbuttoning his white shirt. I moved away my gaze and rested my head onto the end of the desk. God, just help me get out.

I heard the buzzing of my phone that I recently got. Another one of the perks of being a trainer. However, it was highly protected and the only thing I could use it for was texts or calls, in between the people at the facility here. It signaled that I received a text. Never have I been happier that I always left my phone on 'do not disturb' unless I was on a run.

I pulled it out, setting the phone on the lowest brightness level, just in case. I saw that the text was from Jake. Somehow, he managed to steal a phone without being unnoticed. I still wasn't sure how he did all of that. He was sneaky, that was certain.

Where are u Allie?
I'm waiting for u by our place

Could this day get any worse?

I completely forgot I was supposed to spend the rest of the day with Jake. With the whole thing of me joining the trainers I barely had time to see him. I was always busy with practicing, or going on runs or something in between. And when I wasn't busy, then he was.

I began slowly typing a response when I heard Commander's phone ringing. Jake completely disappeared from my mind at that moment. Could this be my mom on the other end?

"Yes?"

A moment of silence on his end as he listened to the other person on the phone.

"Just stop worrying," he finally said, affirmative and boss-like. "Everything's going to plan and everything will go to plan as long as you follow through."

I wished I could hear the other person, their voice, figure out who they were. All I wanted was to stand up and snatch his phone from him. More silence followed.

"I'm confiding in you, son. Don't ruin it."

With that, he ended the call.

I furrowed my brows in confusion. Son? Now again that could have two meanings. Either it was his son, biologically. That wouldn't make sense. Who could be his son anyways though? I'm sure the whole Ground Zero would know if he had a family. Perhaps, he called someone that, maybe a younger acquaintance because they were close. I know my dad used to do that a bunch.

That wasn't my concern though. My concern was the damn "plan." It scared me. What exactly was he planning?

I finally heard the door close shut and I exhaled a deep breath I was holding the whole time. Relief washed over me that I'd be getting out of this unnoticed.

I slowly got out from my hiding spot, dusting off the invisible dust on my jeans in the process. I darted for the back door, slowly closing it behind me. I had a ghostly smile on my expression, knowing I got out of this. Part of me felt proud, forgetting for a mere moment the paper I took. My feet carried me down the damned 352 steps and I safely got to the bottom floor.

I began to type the response back to Jake as I closed the back door behind me. It has been 20 minutes since I left him on read. 20 minutes since he hasn't tried or bothered to text or call and make sure I was ok.

I bumped into a lean and strong chest as I rounded the corner to get to my dorm. Again, I was stopped from sending the text. Can I live? He smelt familiar and I silently groaned, instantly knowing who it was.

"Chase."

He gave me a small, forced tight-lip smile. "Guess bumping into people is your thing, huh?"

I rolled my eyes, already annoyed. I didn't have time for him. I ignored his remark, and turned the other way. It was better to take the longer way to my place than to spend any more seconds with him.

I began distancing myself from him but he called out, "Woah, woah woah."

Suddenly, he looped his forefinger around the ring of my jeans and pulled me to him. I yelped in shock, giving him a glare. What the heck is he doing?

"What do we have here?" He pulled out the folded paper that was protruding from my pocket. I hated that he had a good eye for everything. He could notice every single little detail.

"Project 2734-"

"Keep your voice down," I whispered but it was direct and clear and an order. I was surprised that he listened. I think he heard the fear in my tone.

"What's going on Aliana?"

I snatched the paper back as he was distracted looking at me. I shook my head. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"It's obviously something," he deadpanned, extending his hand and motioning for me to give him the paper. I refused.

He started advancing towards me, his expression annoyed. He didn't have time to play games with anyone.

"Look," I began, making distance between us, however it was no use. His body was getting closer and closer to me until I couldn't make any further distance between us. I was trapped between him and the wall.

I gulped, looking at my worn out white shoes. I didn't dare make eye contact with him but I knew he was staring. It was so intense it suffocated me. I could smell his fresh musky aroma radiating off of him.

I hated that I kinda liked it.

"Chase," I cleared my throat, trying not to appear as though he had any effect on me, "Get away from me."

A surprised flicker ran through his orbs and I guess he just then realized how close he was. He immediately moved back, rubbing his neck.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. I never saw him so...unlike him. It was weird. Since when does Chase apologize?

"Well, I'll be going," I started, moving slowly away from him. The silence was weird and uncomfortable. He was still in his own trance and I just wanted to know why he was so shaken by what just happened. By what I just said. I didn't even think this was that horrible.

He let me go this time. But as I was walking away, he called out, "If that's what I think it is... knowing you, you're not going to drop it."

"You're right," I admitted, not turning around to face him. I was staring at the hall, at a black dot in the distance. "I won't."

"You're going to get yourself killed finding an answer, Aliana."

I finally turned around, giving one reply before finally getting to my dorm. "Careful Chase, if I knew you better, I would've thought you cared."

After yearsss I finally updated the book. A lot has happened and I think it's finally time to go back to something I loved doing - writing. I missed it a lot, and I missed Wattpad.

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