REDEMPTION (3rd Book of FEAR)

- chapter eleven -

"We fought alongside each other for years. How could you just turn your backs on us like this?" Tucker's voice sounded down the hall from Liz, and panic instantly surrounded her heart. It's only been thirty minutes!

"It's like Temple said. You're turning your back on us!" Sarge exclaimed, "We've got a war to win, Blue, and until you're ready to play ball, we're sticking you in the dugout. Only this dugout's got steel bars, and a toilet in plan view of everyone!"

Liz rounded the corner, flame burning through her hair and eyes. "What the hell is going on here?" She barked, hands planted on her hips like a disapproving mother. "Liz!" Tucker cheered, hope filling his tone.

What have you gotten yourself into? She sent him a glare immediately. "This doesn't concern you, little missy," Sarge placed a hand on her arm a bit too forcefully. Liz grabbed his hand, shoving him away from her abruptly. "Back off," she growled, her voice full of warning.

"Woah, there!" Temple laughed nervously from behind her, taking her hand and pulling her away from the scene, "Someone's a little feisty today!" Liz scoffed loudly, planting her feet to the ground to try and stop his tug. Tucker lunged forward, only to get stopped by Sarge, "Let go of her, you prick!"

Temple was too strong for her, and he yanked her out of view from the Reds and Blues before she could stop him. When Liz started to scramble out of his grasp and move her limbs in a spasm in an attempt to break free, he grew frustrated and pinned her to the nearest wall.

"Hey!" He snapped, spit flying on to the girl's face. She immediately stopped moving, terrified of his temper. "Why are you putting them in the brig?" Liz hissed, her teeth clenched in rage. Temple let go of her wrists, a scowl across his lips, "Because we don't see eye to eye."

He began to march away, and Liz followed after him for answers. "Eye to eye on what?" She hurried after him, trying to get a glance into his angry eyes. "It appears our new friends would rather befriend the UNSC instead of destroying them," Temple licks his bottom lip and shakes his head.

Liz freezes for a moment, her mind racing. She wants to scream at him, tell him that he's wrong for his hatred and his revenge. She wants to hit him. Punch him until he bleeds. But, then... She remembers her plan, and her angry expression changes to a bewildered one.

"What?" Liz sounds shocked, grabbing his arm, "Are they insane?" Temple places a hand to her cheek, stroking her face gingerly with his thumb, "Brainwashed, my dear. Brainwashed." The girl forces herself to show him a small smile, a sickening feeling turning in her stomach.

Her cheek burned from his touch, like his fingers were coated in acid. Out of the corner of her eye, an orange blur scuttled across the hallway. Temple noticed the disruption and started to turn his head towards the sound.

In pure instinct, Liz grabbed the black-haired man's jaw and smashed her lips into his. He sprouted into a grin almost immediately, his hands now gripping her waist. His mind was completely side-tracked now, and Liz didn't even risk opening her eyes to take a peek at the blur down the hall.

Instead, she looped her fingers around the soldier's chest plate, tugging him towards his office. She kicked the door open with ease, and Temple chuckled before he knelt down to scoop her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he hastily set her down on his desk.

As she settled on to the surface, her backside smashed against something hard. She winced and heard a click behind her. They pulled away from each other, curious about the strange noise. When Liz glanced behind her shoulder, the bright blue light from the computer screen illuminated on to her face.

"Control! Control, do you read? This is Church from Blood Gulch Outpost Alpha, over."

Liz squinted at the screen, confusion flooding her mind. Church? Temple scrambled to shut the recording off, yet it continued.

"If you're getting this it's an emergency! You've gotta send a plumber as soon as you get this, please!"

Suddenly, everything pieced together. The computer screen went black, and Temple was now heaving for air next to it. Liz hopped off of the desk, her eyes narrowed into slits. A roar erupted from deep in her throat, "How could you?!"

Temple's eyes grew wide in surprise and fear. As he began to back away from the girl, he shook his head, "Hey, I can explain!" Liz stared at him in disbelief. "Why did you lie to them?! Why did you bring them here?!" She exclaimed, clutching her hair with her fingers.

"It's all part of my plan, trust me," Temple scrambles for the right words, his tongue twisting and his hands shaking. He had been found out. "Your plan? They think they're leader is still alive! How can you live with yourself?" Liz spat in disgust.

Temple stared at her for a moment, his eyes scanning her quizzically. "Why do you care about them so much?" He mumbled, a crease separating his brows. Liz scoffs, suddenly feeling like the wind was knocked out of her. She couldn't believe how heartless he truly was.

"How could you not?" She whispers, her voice failing to go any higher. After a moment of quiet stares, Liz shakes her head and heads for the exit, "I have to go tell them." She pushes past the shocked soldier, her heart pounding in her throat.

Before her hand could touch the doorknob, a familiar sound of a pistol cocking appears behind her. Her blood freezes in her veins, and her hand falls from the air. She gasps as the cold metal of the pistol's barrel touches the back of her neck forcefully.

"I can't let you do that."

oh god we're getting close to the end! about two more chapters left! what will happen next?? lemme know your predictions for the next chapter/the end!