《That Night √》58» That Plan
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Grace's POV
We didn't go back to our houses after that. Even if we wanted to, it clearly wasn't possible when those men –back from that restaurant– seemed to be following us, wherever we went. And letting them follow us to our houses would've been really stupid.
Luca kept on driving for the next half an hour or so, only stopping when those familiar black motorcycles lost us at some distance.
Raking his hands through his hair, he resting his forehead against the steering wheel. I glanced at the street from the rearview mirror and felt the panic subsiding away. I was pretty sure they were all Burner's men, and Nicholas had known that.
He had helped us but didn't tell us much.
One thing was clear though, I needed to go back to that Research Department. Both Luca and I knew that, we just didn't say it out loud. There was no way I wanted to go back to that horrifying place, but if this really was the last choice, I didn't want to pull Luca into this more than he already was.
I inhaled deeply and opened my mouth to state the obvious, when my phone rang loudly. Both of us looked at the lit up screen, my phone placed on the center console.
I picked it up and almost immediately recognized the unknown number. The time Jack had called me, I had memorized that number way too quickly, mainly because I was hoping for another call from him. But now that the same number was flashing over my screen, it took me few seconds to answer it and put it on speaker.
And all I heard were muffled noises from the other end. Painful, muffled screams.
I ended the call the same instant, hearing my heartbeat rushing loudly in my ears. Luca eyed me with a frown before looking away. "Waiting any longer is dangerous for them, Rose."
I clutched my phone in one hand and looked out of the window, at the unfamiliar street. I didn't even know where we were right now.
"I'll go there." I murmured. "To the department."
Luca inhaled deeply and nodded.
"You don't have to come with me." I added in a rush, looking at him this time. Because really, I had already done enough by pulling Alice into this mess. I didn't want the same happening to him.
Luca, on the other hand, regarded me with a surprised look. "What?"
"You don't–"
"Of course, I'm coming with you." He looked at me in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe I even said that. "I'm not stupid to let you go there all by yourself."
I opened my mouth to ask him if he was sure, but he spoke up first. "Don't, Rose." He started the car once again, looking away from me. Then he repeated, "I'm not letting you go there by yourself."
Even though it was selfish of me, I couldn't help but feel a bit relieved, relieved that he hadn't said no.
That's how Luca and I found ourselves driving further away from our houses, towards the Research Department. One of us –certainly I– was to disguise ourselves and go inside the insanely huge department building from the front, like the normal staff. While the other one of us was to go from the back passageways, the ones Nicholas had mentioned, and search for that underground tank.
It sounded easy when I thought about it, but I knew it won't be. We were risking Alice's and Jack's lives here, maybe even ours. But every time I tried to think of a second option, I'd hear those muffled screams and Jack's strained voice in my head.
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This really was our last option.
At one point, we stopped in front of one of the local shops and went inside. Luca got busy with calling Marleen, and I busied myself with exploring the vintage-style of this shop, looking for the things that we needed right now.
I was about to pick up a flashlight when I came across the wigs-section. Since I was the one to get disguised, I picked up few of them and headed towards the mirror beside the small changing room.
Although there weren't many people in here, it still felt like I was being watched, especially since we hadn't actually seen those black motorcycles driving away. They could probably still be searching for us.
I pulled on a fake brunette wig, the brown locks falling down my shoulders. If only it was blonde, I would've probably looked like my old self. With the whole brunette thing going on, I looked a lot different in the mirror.
"Is this different enough?" I spoke up, trying to tame the messy brown hair with my fingers as I turned around towards Luca. He had just switched off his phone, leaning back against one of the numerous racks in this small shop.
Luca's eyes flew over towards me and he took his time to answer my question. "You don't look like...Grace."
I couldn't help but glance around at the entrance doors of the shop. The only two shopkeepers in here were busy with the other few people, not even sparing us a single glance. Since I was the one who had the necklace with me right now, it got a lot harder to not feel paranoid.
"Do you think we actually managed to escape those guys?" I asked him, referring to those two motorcycles that had been following us all along. They had disappeared so suddenly and that didn't settle well with me.
Luca gave a short shrug and stepped towards me, before picking up a grey beanie I had taken from one of the racks, and sliding it over my head. "I think so."
Everything was happening so suddenly that it was a bit hard not to get scared. I was literally counting out all the possibilities that this all could somehow go wrong, and it was a bit terrifying what my head could come up with.
"I think I like you more as a brunette." He added, looking down at me. His brown eyes held this soft look, something that managed to ease the panic inside me—a bit.
I still frowned at him though, because I really didn't think this color looked good on me. "Are you serious?"
He breathed out a small chuckle and I felt him wrap an arm lightly around my waist. "No, I was just kidding." He spoke up. "You know how much I adore your blonde hair, Rose."
I almost smiled despite the whole situation we were in right now.
"Luca?"
He let out a questioning hum, his other hand sliding in my fake brown hair.
"What if we go there and things mess up even more?" I asked him in a small voice. Because the last time I was at that place, all those things still horrified me.
"We don't know what's going to happen there, Rose." His lips trailed along my forehead, placing a soft kiss there, and I almost closed my eyes. "But we'd know that we still tried, and that's what really matters the most."
"I don't want things to mess up." I stated truthfully. "I want everything to be fine again."
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He was silent at that, thinking. "Everything will be fine, Rose. I promise." And he said it like he really meant it, like he'd try his best to fulfill that promise.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed few more people filing inside the shop. Luca pulled me closer and I felt his lips trailing along the corner of my lips. Even if my stomach lurched at that little action, I realized that this wasn't the appropriate time, or the appropriate place to do this.
"Luca–"
"I know. I just can't help it." He murmured and I heard the smile in his voice. "I just feel so fucking different when you're around me."
I felt my face heating up involuntarily.
"And I wish we weren't in this situation right now," His lips left a trail of hot fire as they went lower towards my ear. "Just so that I could kiss you again and again and again."
I did understand him, because really, these things that I felt for him were just...unnatural. Something that felt beautiful and disastrous at the same time.
Even though I wanted him to keep on kissing me, he pulled away after placing another small kiss at the side of my head. "We should definitely get going."
I exhaled a small shudder, noticing the way one corner of his lips tugged up in a small smirk as he eyed me.
We really should.
•••••
"So," I broke the tense silence around us as we both stood in front of the only place that I was dreading to go inside right now.
The Research Department.
"What's the plan?" I asked, my eyes trained at the huge white building in front of us. Not surprisingly, the entire area was surrounded by an almost barren land, few tall trees at some distance. I was still as creeped out as I had been when I first came here with Cynthia.
Luca trailed his eyes towards me, his jacket lightly whipping along with the wind, just like the white coat I was wearing; a white laboratory coat that almost made me wish to throw up.
"You go up the front and I'll go from the back." He said, taking out the small card from his pocket; the map Nicholas had given us.
I nodded, eyeing the building again, the same building that I had been trapped in for days. The same place where Alice was somewhere trapped in, and Jack too.
"You're going to take the necklace with you." I murmured, knowing that we couldn't really keep on standing out here. This place was highly guarded and we didn't need anyone to spot us. "Find that tank Nicholas told us about. And I'll try to find the place where they've kept Alice and Jack."
Just saying that out loud made me almost step back anxiously. What if someone in there recognized me? What if I came across Cynthia?
Luca frowned and turned his head sideways towards me. "I think we should switch places."
I shook my head in response. "I'm the one who's disguised." I pointed out, pulling the ends of my white coat against me. "Besides, Jonathan would only recognize me. He might not even help you."
I really hoped to find Jonathon without any difficulty.
Luca nodded briefly and followed my gaze towards the big, white building.
"All right." I whispered to myself, building up the courage to walk towards the entrance. The same entrance that was surely guarded, one wrong move and they'd know who I was. "I'll get going then."
Even though my mind was screaming at me, telling me that this might not turn out well, I still braced myself and starting walking towards the entrance. But before I could've taken few steps, Luca seized my wrist and pulled me back. "Wait."
"What?" I turned around, furrowing my brows at him. If we waited for too long, I was pretty sure I'd back out of this whole plan myself.
"We'll meet back here when we're done, okay?" He asked.
I nodded because that was the plan. Once I'd find out where Alice and Jack were and Luca disposed off that red seed, we would somehow make it out of there—an escape plan that was going to include Ryder and his men. I didn't know why Ryder would even help us in the first place and I wasn't at all ready to rely on him, but Luca seemed sure and I trusted him.
Luca stepped closer and placed his hands on either side of my face, making me look at him. There was this unreadable emotion in his warm brown eyes, something that I couldn't quite decipher. "Don't stop anywhere else. Just go where you need to go."
I nodded, looking into his eyes that were already trained on me.
"You need to be careful, Rose." He murmured. "If something bad happens, just run away."
"What about you?" I whispered with a small frown. "You need to be–"
He took me by surprise and leaned closer, placing his lips on mine in a soft, gentle kiss. My heart had gone into overdrive by the time he pulled away.
"I love you." He said, and my eyes widened a little. "I do love you, Grace. Just know that."
When he started pulling away, the overwhelming sense of loss filled my insides. It felt like something was clawing at my heart, almost as if I'd never see him again. I responded quickly and gripped onto his hands. "Wait, I never told you this but...I love you too. I love you, Luca."
His eyes seemed brighter, almost like gold under the sunlight. "I know." His lips curved into a small, breathtaking smile. "You've told me that before."
My eyes widened a little more at that, and almost as if he knew that I would ask him about it, he closed the distance between us once again and gave me another small peck on my lips.
"Now before someone sees us, we should really get going." He smiled at me and it took me a whole minute to break out from that stupid, beautiful trance.
He pulled out the pair of fake glasses from the pocket of my long white coat and slid it over my eyes. "You look dorky."
I managed to roll my eyes at him, fixed my hair and beanie one last time before pulling away from him. "We'll meet here once we are done." I repeated, handing him the familiar necklace after taking it out from my jean's pocket.
He took it in his hand and curled his fingers around it, then looked back at me. "Okay."
And then we both separated our ways.
Once I reached the entrance, I looked around the highly guarded security system, the one Cynthia had taken me past once. I tried not to show the anxiety as I passed the heavily armed guards and pressed Dad's ID over the huge security pad. It granted me access quite easily and I blew out a short sigh of relief, entering from the now opened glass doors.
I could still feel the guard's eyes on my back as I headed inside the long, familiar hallways, trying to remember where exactly I had walked with Cynthia.
I didn't want to necessarily encounter the other staff. I didn't want to face almost anyone, except Jonathan. I kept looking around, hoping that I spotted him somewhere.
I was still walking when I neared towards another hallway which led to a vast room, a room where a lot of hushed voices could be heard from.
I nervously fixed my glasses and went inside. The disguise worked well and not even a single staff spared me a second glance.
I quickly scanned around the numerous heads but failed to spot Jonathan.
"Hey you!" I heard a voice directed at me and I almost thought of running away at that exact moment, scared that someone had finally realized that I wasn't supposed to be here. "Excuse me."
An Indian woman came in front of me, her curly dark hair up in a bun and her chocolate-brown eyes trained at me. She offered me a sheepish smile and I was thankful to realize that her face wasn't familiar at all.
"Were you just leaving the room?" She asked, handing me a large blue file. I took it without any complaints. "Can you hand this over to Cynthia? She was right outside near the fifth chamber."
My insides curled up when I heard that name but I still nodded at the woman in front of me, even though I knew that I could no way in hell go anywhere near Cynthia.
"Are you new here, though?" She asked, raising a brow.
I had to discreetly pinch myself to force words out of my mouth. "Um, yeah. Kind of."
Instead of seeming even a bit skeptical, she smiled and nodded. "It's all right. I'm a bit surprised that no one introduced you."
I knew that I needed to leave right now before things went downhill. Getting indulged in conversations really wasn't the right thing in such situations—something that Luca had once told me.
"Where's Jon?" She looked around us. "He's usually the one who introduces the new staff."
I gulped, feeling my throat drying up.
The woman seemed to find who she was looking for and called him over, "Jon! Come over here."
To my relief, Jon also happened to be Jonathan, his familiar face coming into my vision. But at the same time, he did not know that it was actually me, Grace.
"Yes, Arya?" I recognized his familiar voice as he looked at me, then at the woman in front of me. He really didn't seem to recognize me.
"You didn't introduce her to us." The woman, Arya, spoke up while jerking her chin towards me.
Jonathan's gaze fell on me and he frowned a little. "Cynthia didn't mention any new staff coming."
I gripped the blue file in my hands, feeling a bit hot and clammy all of a sudden. I really needed to do something before Cynthia herself came into this room.
"Really? Who–"
"Actually, no." Jonathan raised his brows in slight surprise and let out a short laugh. I was a bit surprised myself when he gripped my arm and looked over at the other woman. "I forgot that a new one was coming today. I'll need to show her around before doing the introductions."
Arya nodded understandingly and pointed a finger at the file in my hands, then looked at me with another smile. "Well, please do give this to Cynthia on your way around. I'll see you later."
Once she was out of sight, Jonathan continued to drag me out until we were in an empty hallway. I looked around, just to make sure no one was here besides us.
"Jonathan," I started and he just eyed me with a narrowed gaze in response. "I need your help. Quick."
He shook his head impatiently. "Grace, what are you even doing here?" He spoke up in a hushed voice, even if we were far away from the others. "You can't come here. I told you—you need to leave right now, do you understand?"
This time, I was the one who shook my head.
"No, I can't. Look, I'm here for a reason. I need your help to do this. Please, Jonathan." I looked at him pleadingly. "You need to help me find them."
He frowned at me, almost seeming confused. "Find who?"
"Jack and Alice." I replied in a hushed voice, just like his. "You know where Jack is, and you need to tell me about it."
The frown left his face and was replaced by a surprised look. "Grace, don't. They'll find you. I won't be able to help you this time." He almost sounded desperate and that seemed to increase the uneasy feeling inside me.
But I had to keep on reminding myself that I couldn't back away. Alice didn't deserve this, neither did Jack.
"Where is he?" I asked him.
Jonathan just shook his head in response.
"I have the red seed." I hissed at him and his eyes seemed to widen a little at that. "I found it."
"What?" He gripped my arm once again. "Do you even know how much dangerous it is to come here, out of all the places, with that thing?"
I opened my mouth to say something but he cut me off. "Burner's here, Grace. He'll find out about this within mere seconds!"
"The hydrofluoric tank," I rushed out the words before he could've said something else, gaining his attention once again. "I know that's the only way to destroy it."
A bit of worry faded away from his eyes, almost as if he hadn't expected me to know that. "No one knows if that's even true–"
I shook my head frantically and cut him off. "You need to show me the way, Jonathan." I pleaded once again. "I need to find Jack. Please."
The worried frown came back on his face and for a second, it almost reminded me of my dad.
If only he was here.
Right before Jonathan could've said anything, we both heard footsteps approaching us from the start of the hallway. Footsteps that sounded like clicking of heels.
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