Choice: Part II

Charity bit her lip and continued looking down. She hated asking anything from people, but the fear, guilt, and pain she felt earlier was too much for her to bear alone. She wasn’t sure how Andrew would respond and wouldn’t have blamed him for declining, but the silence that filled the room as she waited for an answer was deafening. Finally, after what felt like ages, Andrew stepped into the old kitchen and closed the door behind him without saying a word.

Hot tears raced down Charity’s cheeks as gratitude overwhelmed her. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around Andrew’s waist. Andrew, taken aback by the sudden embrace, awkwardly patted her on the back.

“Have you slept at all?” Andrew asked.

“No, not really,” Charity replied as she pulled away from Andrew and returned to the bag of pastries he had given her, using them as an excuse to hide her crimson face. What had gotten into her? She wasn’t sure, but her stomach’s loud roaring offered a much-needed distraction.

She returned to the couch, stuffing the first pastry in her mouth before even sitting down. Andrew sat beside her and – not wishing to embarrass her – suppressed an amused chuckle as he watched Charity devour the contents of the bag.

He admired her candidness and lack of pretense. Despite all she had been through, she still seemed so vibrant and bright, a light incapable of being dimmed by the cloud of grief lingering around her.

“Thank you, Andrew,” Charity muttered once the bag was completely empty.

“It was nothing,” Andrew shrugged.

Charity shook her head. “No matter how much you try to downplay it, it isn’t ‘nothing’ to drop everything for a person you haven’t even known for a week like you have for me.”

Andrew looked deep into the emerald eyes that refused to hide anything. “It is nothing when it concerns you.”

Charity stared at Andrew and, for the first time in her life, found herself at a complete loss for words. His simple statement sent her mind reeling with questions and assumptions she couldn’t seem to get past her tongue. Andrew sensed her struggle, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a subtle smile, as if knowing the inability to formulate a response bothered the typically talkative Charity.

“Charity,” Andrew sighed, wishing to stay in the moment a bit longer but knowing he needed to get to the reason he was really there. “Are you still having nightmares?”

Charity’s frowned, “Yes. It’s the same one every time, and I’m genuinely concerned I’m beginning to go crazy because of them.” She cradled her knees into her chest and hugged them tightly.

“Can you tell me about them?” Andrew asked before quickly adding, “O-only if you want, of course.”

“There’s not really much to them. I’m on a mountain somewhere. It’s dark, cold, and there are trees everywhere. Then, I get to this small clearing, and I-I,” Charity’s voice began to quiver as the horrifying sight of her mother’s death appeared in her mind’s eye. She took a deep breath and then continued, “I see my mom. She’s… dead. She’s surrounded by a pool of her own blood.”

Hot tears raced down Charity’s cheeks, and she frantically wiped them away. “I’m sorry. I’m sure you’re sick of seeing me so snotty and crying.”

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Andrew gently pulled her hands away from her face and wiped a stray tear himself. “I’m not,” he replied earnestly. “You can cry as much as you need. I don’t mind.”

Charity’s bottom lip quivered, and she burst into loud, inconsolable sobs as Andrew’s gentle touch opened a flood gate of emotion she couldn’t seem to hold back. Her head knocked against his shoulder, and frustration mixed with grief as tried and failed to pull herself back together. She wept bitterly for some time before the sobs finally slowed.

“You know what bothers me?” She whispered, “Mom… she isn’t even the worst part of those dreams. Every night, I’ve seen these horrible, terrifying monsters standing over her body. They’ve been the main reason I can’t sleep. I even imagined one outside of my apartment the other night like I told you about earlier.”

“Charity,” Andrew’s body tensed, and he did his best to choose his words carefully. “I didn’t mean to upset you the other day at work when you brought up what you saw. But, I also want you to understand that what you saw was more than a figment of your imagination. It wasn’t something your own mind concocted. It was real, and you and Leah could be in real danger.”

“How?” Charity’s brows furrowed in confusion.

Andrew’s eyes darted around the room, wondering if Peter’s house was bugged by the Elite. “I don’t know if I could explain it here.”

“Excuse me?” Charity’s voice was filled with indignation.

Andrew sucked in a deep breath, “I know that what I’m saying may sound crazy. I promised you yesterday that I would explain everything, and I will. I’m just not sure if this would be the best place to do it.”

Charity rolled her eyes, “What is with you? If you have something to tell me, just tell me.”

“I will if… you come with me,” Andrew replied.

“No,” Charity sat up, filled with indignation, “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on!”

Andrew rubbed the back of his neck. He may lose any chance to tell Charity anything. While he couldn’t give the full truth of what was truly outside her window without risking both of their lives, if he didn’t act now, she could be dead by tomorrow. “Okay,” he sighed. “What do you know about Immortals?”

“Immortals? Like from the Great War? The creatures that all left with the Creator when Abaddon defeated them?”

“What if I told you that there were still some here in Exoneron?”

“I would say that you sound like a lunatic.”

If he was not so concerned for her life, Andrew would have laughed at her retort. Instead, he clenched his jaw and racked his brain for a way to get Charity to understand. “What I’m about to tell you may sound like lunacy, but it’s true. If it were up to me, I wouldn’t tell you at all. But I’m concerned your life could be in danger, and if I don’t say anything, your blood will be on my hands. Whether you believe me or not is your choice.”

Charity remained silent and waited for Andrew to continue. He drew a deep breath and internally pleaded for Charity to believe him. “There are still Immortals here in Exoneron, and some of them can be dangerous.”

“Okay, but what does that have to do with me?”

“It has more to do with… Rose,” Andrew said cautiously.

“What?” Charity was in disbelief. “You knew my mom?”

“Rose, your mom, she… understood things about Exonernon that not many do, things that she shouldn’t have known. And I think you’re being pulled into a situation where you could be in danger because of that.”

A cold dread washed over Charity. He knew her mom? Knew secrets about her that lead to her death?

“Did you already know she was dead?” Charity whispered. When Andrew didn’t respond, she asked louder, “Did you know? Before you drove me here the other day?”

“Yes,” he replied quietly.

“When did you know?”

Andrew swallowed hard, “The night before we met.”

“She’s been dead that long?” Charity began to cry, “And you knew who I was already? You didn’t bother to tell me?”

“What was I supposed to say?” Andrew asked, his voice still barely above a whisper.

“I don’t know, but I think you should leave,” Charity said.

Andrew left without another word.